1. home and garden

NEWSLETTER
Issue 84
Spring 2015
The gnomes of the LHS work on your behalf even in January! Sandra, Tony, Annie, Roy,
Eveline, Brendan and Betty enjoy a well-earned break from stocktaking.
_____________________________________________________________________________
In this issue
Editorial
2
The secret garden discount
change
2
Roots & Shoots Apple Day
2014
2
Membership news
3
Membership renewal form
3
Chiswick House Camellia
Show 2015
LHS Spring 2015 Newsletter
4
LHS Coach Outings 2015
5
LHS Summer Show 2014
6
LHS Summer Show - awards
7
Letter from our Northern
Correspondent
8-9
RHS London Shows
9
Spring Show 21st March
2015 – hints & tips for
showing
10
Coach outing: Castle Ashby
11
Broaden your horizons!
12
Prize-giving & Social 2014
13
Talk: Who does your garden
grow?
14
Talk: Bulbs for all seasons
Dates for 2015
14
LHS officers
15
The Hut – hours and events
16
Page 1
EDITORIAL
As I write the sun is shining, but it is only a brief respite in the middle of a properly old-fashioned, cold winter.
How long ago that warm autumn seems! The days are growing longer, though, and we can think smugly of all
those bugs succumbing to the cold or being gobbled up by hungry birds, and apply our minds to the seed
catalogues.
We have much to look forward to – the Hut re-opening on 14th February , and the Spring Show on Saturday
21st March. The thought always is – what will there be in the garden fit to show? Well, whatever you have, or
decide to make, presenting it well is always a big help. See p10 for tips and hints on showing.
Our talks start in April (see p15), and on May 16th many of us will be in a coach with Brendan, heading for
Sussex. See p5 for his full list of outings. A booking form is enclosed with this newsletter.
If you have developed a special interest in any area of gardening, why not see if there is a society dedicated to
your subject? Our website, lambethhorticulturalsociety.org.uk , has links to the RHS, National Vegetable
Society, National Fruit Collection, British Iris Society, National Chrysanthemum Society, London Parks &
Gardens Trust and The Garden History Society. On p12 you will find several more societies, selected by
member Jill Smith, which you might find worth investigating. Yes, broaden your horizons in 2015!
The copy date for the Summer 2015 newsletter is 19th April.
Happy gardening!
Val Hunn
THE SECRET GARDEN – CHANGES TO OUR DISCOUNT
The Secret Garden in Crystal Palace has for the last 25 years given LHS members 10% discount on plants.
This has changed, and from now on the garden centre will allow LHS members 5% discount on anything ,
plants or otherwise, purchased from their premises, except tokens, Calor gas and pet food.
Please show your LHS membership card when making a purchase! This brings our discount allowance in line
with the Secret Garden’s new loyalty scheme, which we do not have to join.
The Secret Garden, Coxwell Road, 70 Westow Street, Upper Norwood, London, SE19 3AF
020 8771 8200 email: [email protected] website: www.thesecretgardencentre.com
ROOTS & SHOOTS
15thAPPLE DAY
Sunday 5th October 2014
Alan, Antony and Bob
sunning themselves on the
LHS stand at the Apple Day
last autumn.
It really looks like the
season of mellow
fruitfulness!
And The Valentinos jazz
band made Alan’s day.
LHS Spring 2015 Newsletter
Page 2
MEMBERSHIP NEWS and RENEWAL REMINDER
Your membership runs for one year from spring until the following spring, when membership must be renewed.
The Spring Newsletter is the final one included in a year’s membership, and contains the renewal form, below.
You will see on the renewal form that you can choose to have your newsletter and other leaflets sent by post, or
by email link and weblink (the thrice-yearly Newsletter is too big a file to be sent directly by email). Please indicate
your choice for the coming year on the renewal form. Please choose one method only!
Another service run by our excellent webmaster Peter Day is the monthly reminder calendar, which lists LHS
events for the coming month. If you would like to take advantage of this service, please email Peter at
[email protected]
If, during the year, you would like to change the way you receive your paperwork, or, importantly, if you change
your email address or your home address, please drop an email to:
Peter Day [email protected] Val Hunn [email protected]
and to Rhiannon at [email protected] so that all mailing lists can be kept up to date.
For most members this will be the last newsletter covered by your 2014 subscription.
Membership is due for renewal from January 2015. You can do this by post (in which case please enclose a
small stamped self-addressed envelope for your membership card); or in person when The Hut reopens on
Saturday 14th February 2015; or at one of our talks.
Please note that if you took advantage of the special price membership offer at the Lambeth Country Show
in September 2014, you have already paid up to Spring 2016 and do not need to pay again now.
The subscription, which entitles you to shop at The Hut and have priority booking for our Coach Outings, is
excellent value at £7.00!
PLEASE be sure to use the form below when renewing.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………….
LHS Membership Joining / Renewal form 2015
I wish to join/renew my membership of the LHS (please indicate)
I enclose £7.00 cash/cheque (payable to LHS)
Date…………………………………..2015
Title…………. .. First name…………………………….
Surname………………………………………………..
Address…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
…………………………………………………………………………..
Telephone……………………………………………………….
Postcode……………………………………...
Mobile………………………………………………………..
Email………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
If you would like to receive the newsletter and other leaflets ELECTRONICALLY, tick here ……………….
OR (Please choose one only!)
If you would like to continue receiving the newsletter and other leaflets BY POST, tick here ……………….
If you are a couple at the same address paying a subscription each, would you like ONE or TWO newsletters by
post? (Please circle)
Lambeth Horticultural Society (LHS) undertakes not to disclose your details to any third parties.
The information provided here by you is for LHS use only.
Please return to: Rhiannon Harlow Smith, 32 Chatsworth Way, London SE27 9HN
PLEASE ENCLOSE SMALL S.A.E. FOR MEMBERSHIP CARD
LHS Spring 2015 Newsletter
Page 3
CHISWICK HOUSE CAMELLIA SHOW 2015
The Chiswick House Camellia Show is taking place from 28th February to 29th March 2015.
Admission to the show is FREE this year - for the first time in five years - so it is well worth going along if you
have never been. Also new for this year, the shop will be selling a limited number of 12 heritage varieties
from their rare collection. There will be other camellia plants, and camellia-inspired merchandise including a
limited edition print by Sir Peter Blake, who lives in Chiswick, and a tote bag designed by the well-known local
designer, Marthe Armitage.
The camellias that grow at Chiswick are all of the species C. japonica. Today’s conservatory collection of 33
different varieties includes many of the earliest introduced to Britain and is believed to be the oldest
collection under glass in the Western world. It includes rare and historically important examples of these
beautiful plants, with a gorgeous array of blooms; pink, red, white and striped. Many of these are descended
from the original planting in 1828. Among them is the unique Middlemist’s Red, originally brought to Britain
from China in 1804 by John Middlemist, a nurseryman from Shepherds Bush. It is one of only two in the world
known to exist – the other being on the other side of the globe in Waitangi in New Zealand.
The Chiswick House Camellia Show 2015 -- Chiswick House, London, W4 2QN
Dates: 28th February to 29th March, 2015
Conservatory opening hours: Daily 10:00am – 4pm (Closed Mondays)
Admission: Free
Chiswick House: Special Camellia Show weekend openings Saturday and Sunday 10am – 4pm
Group bookings, guided tours and information on admission prices for Chiswick House visit: www.chgt.org.uk
Information from: The Plant Heritage London Committee, via Jill Smith
Membership form for 2015 is on the other side
LHS Spring 2015 Newsletter
Page 4
LAMBETH HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY COACH OUTINGS 2015
We have again arranged our annual four outings for this year, to all corners of the home counties. We have
some wonderful and historic houses and gardens to see, including the Arts & Crafts house Standen, the
contents of which were the subject an excellent talk in June last year; Warley Place, the garden of the
renowned and rather infamous Ellen Willmott, who liked to scatter seeds of Eryngium gianteum in other
people’s gardens [see Autumn 2014 newsletter]; Leeds Castle, one of the residences of another renowned
personality, whose life story has been much in the media recently, Henry VIII; and Cliveden, associated with
infamous goings-on in the 1960’s, but with centuries of history before that!
Enclosed with this newsletter is the leaflet giving full details of our outings and a booking form. Please
complete the booking form and send it to me as soon as possible to ensure a place. You must apply on this
booking form.
In case you are not aware, members may bring a non-member as a guest on these trips for the same price as
members. Do try and entice them to join the LHS as well. For only £7 the benefits are great. The Hut has a
good selection of horticultural items and advice is freely given; monthly talks are free; there are two annual
shows and a very good crowd of friendly people. One does not have to live in Lambeth in order to join the
Society.
If there is enough interest I may be able to arrange an outing for a Christmas lunch to a themed garden.
Organising will depend on your responses. It could be fun and break up the winter a bit. Please let me know if
you are interested.
I look forward to seeing you all again, and many new people, on the coach outings!
My contact details are:
Email: [email protected] Tel: 020 8761 5651
Address: 10a The Pavement, Chapel Road, West Norwood, SE27 0UN
Brendan Byrne
The following are the outings we have arranged for 2015
For details, please see the accompanying leaflet and booking form. Members who receive electronic
mailing will find that a booking form has been sent to them by email. The booking form is NOT
available on the Society’s website.
Saturday 16th May Cost £38, NT members £33
East Sussex - Standen House and Caxton Manor
Saturday 13th June Cost £21
Essex - Warley Place (Ellen Willmott’s garden) and RHS garden Hyde Hall
Saturday 11th July Cost £45
Kent - Leeds Castle and Tram Hatch Gardens
Saturday 12th September Cost £30, NT members £25
Buckinghamshire - Cliveden
LHS Spring 2015 Newsletter
Page 5
LHS SUMMER SHOW: Saturday 6th September 2014
It was a sunny, warm day for the show, and after a year of distinctly iffy weather a terrific display of items
was entered. Once again the chrysanthemum and salad classes had suffered, but there were good ranges of
flowers, fruit, vegetables and shrubs. It was lovely to see an increased number of floral art entries.
The handicraft and domestic titles were hotly contested, and the photographic section showed how digital
techniques have enabled talent to grow in this area.
The tea bar was keenly patronised, and another very pleasant and sociable day culminated in a raffle.
A selection of views
and prize-winning entries
Thanks are due to the judges - Patricia Barrett, Colin Jones, Audrey Head, Mig Kimpton, Iris Smith and Peter
Schmeiter; all the helpers: St Luke’s Church for their welcome; and Audrey and Ken Luff for sponsoring the
vase of cut flowers.
LHS Spring 2015 Newsletter
Page 6
THE LAMBETH HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY
SUMMER SHOW 6 SEPTEMBER 2014 – TROPHIES AWARDED
CLASSES
1 - 96
BANKSIAN MEDAL most prize money won
2012 Ben Pizzoferro 2013 Sue Wallace
Robert McConnell
1 - 23
VEGETABLE SECTION best exhibit,
NVS society medal
Brendan Byrne
24
COLLECTION OF 4 SALAD VEGETABLES winner, Society trophy
No Entry
25
COLLECTION OF 4 KINDS OF VEGETABLES, The Lambeth cup
Val Hunn
26
LHSTOP TRAY £10 hut voucher
£5 hut voucher
£3 hut voucher
VEGETABLE SECTION most points
Eric Hunt challenge cup
Val Hunn
No Entry
No Entry
Val Hunn
27 - 33
FRUIT SECTION best exhibit, The Worshipful Company of Gardeners cup
Sue Wallace
27-33
FRUIT SECTION most points,
David Shaw cup
Don Willsmore
34 - 43
CHRYSANTHEMUM SECTION
NCS silver medal
NCS bronze medal
CHRYSANTHEMUM – vase of 5 blooms
The Charles Jeal shield
1 - 26
38
No Entry
No Entry
No Entry
44 - 50
DAHLIA silver medal
bronze medal
Annette Kingsley-Scott
c
Norma M Carthy
73
HANGING BASKET Garden News shield
Eveline Cragg
78
LHS TOP VASE £10 hut voucher
£5 hut voucher
£3 hut voucher
GENERAL FLOWERS most points
Les Cooper cup
Annette Kingsley-Scott
Eveline Cragg
Robert McConnell
Eveline Cragg
51 - 78
GENERAL FLOWERS best exhibit
Mrs E Plant cup
Carol Pacifico
79 - 83
PELARGONIUM SECTION best exhibit,
Society trophy
Brenda Wheeler
84 - 96
HOUSEPLANT & CACTUS best exhibit
Tony Farrow shield
Richard Holdaway
97 - 103
FLORAL ART best exhibit
The Turton trophy
Gladys Halley
103
FLORAL ART beginners trophy
No entry
104 - 111
DOMESTIC SECTION most points
The Lambeth trophy
Michael Grimwood
112 - 116
HANDICRAFT SECTION best exhibit
Bronze trophy
Mrs Beryl Mealing
117 –119
PHOTOGRAPHIC SECTION best exhibit
Society trophy
Mr K J Luff
120 –123
CHILDREN'S SECTION best exhibit
Society trophy
Benjamin Kingsley-Scott
51 - 78
LHS Spring 2015 Newsletter
Page 7
LETTER from our NORTHERN
CORRESPONDENT
Dear Friends,
Well here we are again, another year rolled by, so
time, I felt, to send another report from the North.
It was so wet and windy at the start of January
that it was the 16th before I even reached the
garden. At least it was rain not snow until 23rd
January, and even that snow was soon washed
away by more rain. Since I made a note on the
31st that it was the wettest January ever recorded
you must all have had a similar tale to tell. What
was unfortunate was that my only New Year
Resolution was to get the garden back under
control, so not the best start – 1 day in a month!
February was no better, slightly less wet but
windy, with one day having gusts to 90mph. One
day I made the sort of mistake which, in other
circumstances could have been very nasty. I
noticed some whitefly on the overwintering
geraniums in the spare bedroom and grabbed up
the green spray-can and gave them a good
drenching. Later in the day Ken remarked on the
odd smell on the upstairs landing so I went to
investigate . As soon as I saw the poor geraniums
with every leaf hanging down shrivelled I
realised what I had done – the green spray-can
held the black mould killer we had had to use on
one corner of the room. I picked off every leaf
and to my amazement as the spring arrived so the
plants all grew new leaves and flowered in the
summer as if nothing had happened.
March continued the pattern – very strong winds,
too much rain and only the odd day here and
there was good for gardening. The first daffodil
opened on the 22nd. At the very end of March I
began sowing seeds in pots in the greenhouse.
April kept the cold winds and a good deal of rain
so more got done in the shelter of the greenhouse
than in the open garden. Then suddenly at the end
of the month we got a couple of really warm
days. One of those days we were at the Harrogate
Flower Show and returned home with three more
small acers (I must stop as now I have 14!) and a
variety of summer bulbs including a few dahlias
as Ken fancied trying them in big pots on the
terrace.
May was kinder and with no late frosts we spent
most of our time sorting out the pots on the
LHS Spring 2015 Newsletter
terrace and planting up hanging baskets and wall
boxes. Hopeful as ever, I had put in tomato seed
again and pricked out 23 seedlings. As the weeks
went by that number dwindled down to ten, five
in the greenhouse and five on the terrace, but our
season simply isn't long enough and although the
plants grew well and were full of flowers that
wasn't until September! In all I suppose I got
half a pound of fruit as most of the flowers were
too late, and picked the last two tomatoes on the
21st November.
June and July really felt like summer, we even
reached 84°F one day, but mostly it was in the
68-72°F range. We seemed to have quite a few
activities other than gardening and we mistakenly
thought we didn't need to cram every hour – we
could get more catching up done in August and
September with luck! Sadly we were wrong –
August was very wet a good many days, and very
windy indeed some days and The Fates decreed
that the fine days were the ones we had to do
things other than gardening – and every gardener
knows you cannot turn your attention from the
garden for several weeks without consequences!
September was kinder but it was switch-over
month once more – summer displays moved to
the house and greenhouse and bulb planting,
along with a visit to the Harrogate Autumn Show
and time spent planting the purchases. We'll start
on the big pruning and digging jobs in October
we said! However, there was a plentiful supply of
wind and rain and we seemed, like Alice, to be
running hard in order to stay in the same spot,
and in November, despite being so mild, we have
had day after day of thick wet fog which rather
puts the garden out-of-bounds for me. The lack
of frost has produced some strange results with
camellia and hellebore flowers and hydrangeas
going on and on. Also, without the frost, this has
been a pretty colourless autumn. Most of the
trees have hung on to their leaves which have
slowly turned a sort of khaki green and been torn
off by the high winds to lie in soggy, rotting
mounds.
Nevertheless plans are being made for next year.
There are 8 more roses on order, lots of pots of
bulbs planted up (some already coming through
in the house) and this week we have begun
putting together 3 more raised beds on the veg
plot, and one to go on the border by the hawthorn
hedge in which I am planning to sow annuals for
cutting. All we need now is a young assistant,
Page 8
someone who wants to learn on the job. We have
the knowledge but definitely lack the energy!
During the year we had some visits to interesting
gardens. We paid return visits to the alpine
garden in Lister Park in the spring when the
bulbs and primulas were flowering, and to
Kettlewell for the Scarecrow Festival. In addition
to the splendid scarecrows the whole village
makes a tremendous effort on the garden front
with hanging baskets, windowboxes and pots
where they have no garden, and a riot of colour
where they have more space. We went again later
in the year to enjoy the gardens and the very
attractive setting of the village. Another return
visit was to Manor Place Gardens in Halifax to
see both the gardens and the tropical
greenhouses. A number of tropical butterflies had
also been introduced since our last visit and these
certainly added an extra dimension. There was
also a trip to a new-to-us garden at Wentworth
Castle. There is a large mansion but it is occupied
by a college and not open to the public. We went
a little late for the main display as they have a
large collection of rhododendrons and shrub
roses which were finished when we went in late
August, but the Victorian-style formal bedding in
an enclosed area was at its colourful best. The
whole garden is on a fairly steep hill and at the
very top you get great views of the surrounding
park and farmland. There is a 'ruined' mediaeval
castle folly crowning the top of the hill with a
whole tower, a remnant of a tower and walls and
gateway built by a previous owner where the
original house stood.
Good gardening and a happy, healthy New Year
to you all.
Audrey Luff
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
RHS LONDON SHOWS
RHS London shows are held in the RHS Lindley Hall, SW1P 2QW and RHS Lawrence Hall SW1P 2QD
NB: RHS Members get free entry on production of a valid membership card to all RHS London Shows apart
from the European Orchid Show and Conference. Members who attend without their card will be charged at
full public rate and this is non-refundable. Public: £5 in advance; £8 on the day.
Members' and public tickets are available on the door, but can also be booked in advance. Members may
bring one guest in free of charge on the second day of the London Shows (does not apply to the Orchid Show
or any one-day show). Please remember to bring your RHS membership card with you as we have no way of
checking card numbers and the full price will apply to anyone not in possession of a valid card.
Please note: public tickets booked in advance are subject to a £2 fulfilment fee per transaction. There is no fee
for RHS members. Postage charges may apply.
RHS Shows in 2015
 RHS London Plant and Potato Fair - 20–21 February 2015
 RHS London Botanical Art Show - 27–28 February 2015
 RHS Secret Garden Sundays - March–November 2015
 European Orchid Show and Conference - 9–12 April 2015
 RHS Great London Plant Fair - 14–15 April 2015
 RHS London Alpine Garden Show 26 April 2015
 RHS London Rose Show - 29–30 May 2015
 RHS London Harvest Festival Show - 6–7 October 2015
 RHS London Shades of Autumn Show - 23–24 October 2015
For details see: www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-london-shows
LHS Spring 2015 Newsletter
Page 9
HINTS and TIPS for SHOWING - SPRING SHOW 21st March
It’s always useful to know a few tips and wrinkles to help you get the best grade when entering your produce
in shows. The following are points I have heard judges bring up when I have accompanied them as a steward
in the LHS Spring Show plants/flowers and domestic classes.
The main thing to remember is – keep your judge happy! Take care with the presentation and avoid the
dreaded “Not as schedule”( NAS), which judges hate having to award. Reading the schedule carefully and
sticking to the correct measurements of jars, pots, containers and cake tins can make all the difference. A
good clean presentation can often lift your entry by a grade or more.
Count carefully in classes where more than one bloom, twig or bun is required. If 5 are asked for and you
have 4 or 6 – well, down you go, no matter how good the entry. It is very easy to miscount, especially if
you are setting up in a hurry – so arrive early and give yourself plenty of time for tweaking.
Ensure that you know your trumpet daffodil from your narcissus (trumpets are longer than the
surrounding petal ring) and get your bloom into the correct class. Measure the diameter of your container
– because the judge will! - and put it in the correct class. Don’t enter a flowering pot plant in the foliage
pot plant section, and vice versa – this happens frequently.
When displaying blooms in vases, it stands to reason that you will enter the best blooms you have.
If they are outdoors, check them the day before – and if they are in peak condition, and it is not practical
to protect them from the weather, pick them with long stems. Seal the stems and put them in water in a
cool porch, glasshouse or conservatory overnight. Many a prize bloom has been ruined by an unexpected
gale or sleet shower.
Display your blooms to their best advantage. Large blooms can be supported by pushing the stems
through a chunk of Oasis; small blooms are fine with a strip of kitchen roll wound round the stems and
submerged in the top of the water. Make the blooms at the back slightly taller than those at the front, so
that all are visible to the judges. For vases of mixed shrubs or flowers with foliage, snip off any dead or
dangling bits, and again ensure that all the different varieties are visible.
Containers and troughs are often lifted from the garden on the morning of the show and put straight on
display. They can be very dirty with rain-splashed mud and grit up the sides, and moss and dead foliage on
the surface of the compost. A quick clean-up can make all the difference. Some “weathering” can look
very attractive, but neglect is not.
Use a standard-sized jar for your jams, jellies and chutneys – most are about 340 grams. Very tiny jars
prevent the judge from seeing the colour and consistency clearly. Ensure the jars are clean and clearly
labelled with the name of the contents and the date of manufacture. Jams and jellies should have a
waxed disc on top of the fruit, and a screw top or cellophane and rubber band closure. Screw tops cause a
vacuum seal as the jar cools. On opening, there is a reassuring “phut” as the seal is broken. However – if a
large blob of mould is revealed as the judge opens the jar, it will not be placed. So – check a jar of anything
sweet before entering, even if you have to break the seal.
Cover your cakes and buns with clingfilm for display. The judge has to taste them and it is good to protect
them from passing sneezes, flies, dust etc. Read the recipe carefully, and then read it again! Try not to
bake when short of time. Leaving out a vital ingredient is heart-breaking……
Don’t let all this put you off entering! You can relax in the knowledge that even if your entry is not perfect, it
will look its absolute best. Do enter, because you don’t know what the competition will be like – yours might
be the only entry in the class, or a lot better than the others; and with the daffodils, narcissi and flowering
shrubs, whatever you enter will add to that delicious perfume which always perfuses the Spring Show. Enjoy!
LHS Spring 2015 Newsletter
Page 10
COACH OUTING: CASTLE ASHBY GARDENS
Saturday 13th September 2014
We visited Castle Ashby on our last LHS outing for 2014. Although our visit was in September, the borders
and gardens were laid out in immaculate condition and the plants and flowers looked stunning everywhere.
We were delighted to be greeted on arrival by a very friendly teacher who worked in the café during the season.
She made us feel very welcome, explained about the gardens in great detail, and advised us on how to visit each
garden at a leisurely pace.
The garden of 25 acres was included in the 10,000
acres owned by Earl Compton. The grounds were
designed in 1761 by Capability Brown. I was most
impressed by his ha-ha, which overlooked an expanse
of lake; this is so typical of his engineered design,
including an arboretum. Lots of changes in the
landscape have occurred since. He also built a temple
that was in view across the menagerie pond.
There was a spectacular view of an avenue
complemented with horse chestnuts, beech and limes,
leading to sweeping lawns.
In the 1860’s a terrace garden was made and the old
kitchen garden was made into an Italian-themed
garden, with parterres using the family’s monogram
as a motif .
The imposing façade of Castle Ashby
On a less expansive scale there were various smaller gardens. The orangery dated back to 1872 and this was
designed by the architect Matthew Digby Wyatt, housing a large pond of over 100 goldfish and scattered with
water lilies. Around and about there were decks of fuchsias, geraniums and petunias plus many others. Many of
our group took advantage of the serenity to relax and take in the eclectic atmosphere.
The butterfly garden was the perfect eco-system. Its rich nectar was specially designed to attract a variety of
bees, butterflies and other insects. The buddleia attracted over 18 varieties of butterfly. Lavender and hebe
shrubs additionally attracted other butterflies. Honey from the hives is sold in the shop.
There was so much to see in one day, but our group was most
impressed with the grade1- listed fuchsia house, which housed a large
selection of different cultivars.
There was a very historic stone church close to the big house and
gardens, with many family members buried in simple graves. Lots of
our members spent some time there because of its history.
The garden surrounding the house where the Earl now lives was a blaze
of colour. This was the house on the right hand side before we reached
the gardens, which many of us thought was the head gardener’s house.
The earl moved out of the big house to make way for his son and heir.
I noted from a plaque that a previous head gardener had a secret recipe
for quince jam, but unfortunately, it was buried with him.
The Head gardener Mark Brooks and his team are to be congratulated
on keeping all the gardens in such immaculate condition.
Antony Glaser
The Orangery
LHS Spring 2015 Newsletter
Page 11
BROADEN YOUR HORIZONS! GARDENING SOCIETIES and SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS
There are a number of societies and interest groups that can add to our enjoyment of plants and gardening,
offering us information, a newsletter, journal or magazine, lectures, outings and field trips, seed swaps and
contact with others with similar interests. Just looking at their websites is very informative.
The Cottage Garden Society.
Regional groups, seed swaps, a quarterly magazine also available on audiotape, talks, garden visits, plant
sales. Membership: £12 single, £15 joint. Renewal October.
Brandon, Ravenshall, Bentley, Cheshire CW3 9BH. www.thecottagegardensociety.org.uk.
South London Botanical Institute.
If interested in mosses, lichens, grasses etc. Evening lectures, field trips, use of facilities, botanical garden,
herbaria and microscopes. Educational courses and events, plant drawing classes. Twice yearly publication
SLBI Gazette. Up to 20 packets of seeds from the seed list. Volunteer opportunities.
Membership: £15 Individual. Renewal January.
323 Norwood Road, London SE24 9AQ. www.SLBI.org.uk
Plant Heritage (nccpg)
Local groups, members events, plant sales, workshops and demonstrations, visits to gardens and nurseries
and National Plant Collection Holders. Two journals a year and the National Plant Collection Directory
annually.
Individual membership: £28 per year, £44 joint.
12, Home Farm, Loseley Park, Guildford, Surrey GU3 1HS. www.nccpg.com
London Parks and Gardens Trust
Discover a range of garden squares, small parks, churchyards, and community gardens. A free ticket to Open
Garden Squares Weekend.
Magazine 3 times a year, self-guided walks and cycle rides, audio guides, android app. Lectures, study days,
visits. Scholarly Journal: The London Gardener
Membership: Standard £25/28, Joint 40/45 per year.
Duck Island Cottage, St James Park, London SW1A 2BJ. www.londongardenstrust.org
Hardy Plant Society
Perennial Plants. Local groups, lectures, garden visits, plant sales, educational and social events, specialist
groups, plant study days, correspondence groups, photo library. Exhibit at major shows. Annual seed
distribution scheme, 2000 varieties of rare, unusual and familiar seeds. List of members’ private gardens that
can be visited.
Journal twice a year, newsletter 3 times. Membership: £17 individual, £19 joint.
15, Basepoint Business Centre, Crab Apple Way, Evesham WR11 1GP www.hardy-plant.org.uk
Women’s Farm and Garden Association (includes men).
Make gardening friends, visit gardens, workshops on a range of skills eg Coppicing, Pruning, Willow Garden
Obelisk, Grafting, Hedgerow Basketry and workdays. Make gardening contacts, tours, ask questions on the
interactive forum, be eligible for a fund to help your career change.
Membership: 1 year £25/28, 3 years £75 post or £66 email option for newsletter .
175, Gloucester St, Cirencester CL7 2DP. www.wfga.org.uk
There are many more organisations out there: you can google them or see contact information in magazines.
Information courtesy of Jill Smith
LHS Spring 2015 Newsletter
Page 12
PRIZE GIVING and SOCIAL: Wednesday 22nd October 2014
St Luke’s Church was once again the venue for this event, with our Chairman Tony Pizzoferro ensuring smooth
running, and prizes presented by the Mayor of Lambeth, Councillor Adedamola Aminui.
We began with a wonderful variety of entertainment. First, our Secretary Rhiannon Harlow Smith and her team
of handbell campanologists played D’ye ken John Peel and In an English country garden – twice!
Then the talented young Josh Pizzoferro, accompanied by Virginia Kennedy on the piano, treated us to three
pieces on the violin and French horn.
Finally we had a sing-along with the excellent soprano Tessa Crilly (whose mother, Mary Allen, baked a
superb cake for the tea break). We warbled to Tessa’s sublime lead through Bare necessities, Sunrise, sunset,
Edelweiss and You’ll never walk alone. A few hankies were out after that.
Then the presentations were made by our Hon. President, the Mayor of Lambeth.
Around Annette and the Mayor are, from top left: Don, Sue, Carol, Eveline,
Michael, Val, Gladys, Brendan and Richard.
Refreshments, served by Dot and Val, followed, with a variety of cakes and other goodies supplied by members
- many thanks to all of them. This is always such an enjoyable part of the evening, catching up with old friends
and greeting new members. The evening concluded with a raffle, and a reminder from Tony that we had only
one more talk to look forward to before the Christmas break.
LHS Spring 2015 Newsletter
Page 13
Talk: WHO DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW?
by Colin Jones, 27th August 2014
Talk: BULBS FOR ALL SEASONS
by Bill Lockyer, 26th November 2014
Plants have been named in many ways over the ages,
starting perhaps with the shape or origin of the plant dandelion comes from the French, dent de lion, from
the jagged shape of the leaf. Rhubarb, originally from
Turkey, means “root of the barbarian”.
Some plants are named for areas of the body which
they resemble – the spotted leaf of lungwort
(pulmonaria) is said to look like a diseased lung.
Wormwood (artemisia) was used for expelling worms
from the gut. St John’s Wort flowers on 24th June, St
John’s Day. He was known to cast out evil spirits, and
the plant is used to treat depression even now.
Of all the thousands of flowering bulbs in existence,
Chelsea gold medal winner and auricula specialist
Bill could select only a few. He chose to begin his
wonderfully-illustrated talk with the harbinger of
spring, the snowdrop, Galanthus. Many places have
huge snowdrop displays, such as Welford Park in
Berkshire. Bill has himself grown 100 varieties, of
which Galanthus “Lockyer’s Delight” is a new type.
For centuries plants could have several names,
depending on their form, use and locality, until Carl
Linnaeus, a Swedish botanist, decided that each plant
needed a unique identifying name. Born in 1707, he
started his mania for organisation as a child by listing
all his toys! He decided that plants could be classified
with just one, two-word name, Genus and Species.
First he counted the parts of the plant and put
similarly-arranged plants together in families. Then
he named the genus, using both Latin and Greek, and
the names of famous people, usually the people who
had discovered the plant.
Tradescantia was named for Sir John Tradescant,
head gardener to Charles I; dahlia for Andreas Dahl, a
friend of Linnaeus; fuchsia for Dr Leonard Fuchs, an
eminent physician; peony for Peon, physician to the
Greek gods.
The second, species, name was often descriptive –
vulgaris meaning common, auricula resembling ears,
pupurea being a purple colour; officinalis indicated
medical uses; sylvestris means “of the woods”;
chinensis, from China; japonica, from Japan.
This method of identification is still in use today,
although occasionally plants may be reclassified in
the light of new discoveries.
Cultivars have additional names, often being named
for connected people. Granny Smith, of the apple
Malus sylvatica “Granny Smith”, was born in
Peasmarsh, Sussex in the 1800s, and emigrated to
Australia. Dianthus “Mrs Sinkins”, a white pink, was
grown by John Thomas Sinkins, master of the Slough
workhouse in the 1850s, and propagated by the head
gardener at Windsor. Fuchsia “Mrs Popple” was
found growing on that lady’s tennis court.
To bring the naming process right up to date, Colin
revealed that Auricula “Margaret Clare” had been
named by breeder Bill Lockyer after Colin’s own
wife!
LHS Spring 2015 Newsletter
As the spring develops, you might find snowflakes
(leucojum), Iris reticulata, pleione (indoor plant),
erythronium, Cyclamen coum, crocus, chinodoxia,
hyacinths, anemones and many others in flower.
In late spring – to coincide with our own Spring Show
– we have tulips, daffodils and hellebores – all of
which Bill grows at his nursery. Muscari, grape
hyacinths, come in many forms, not all the light blue
invasive form! English bluebells, Hyacinthoides nonscripta, have all the flowers on one side of the stem.
These are in danger of being hybridised by an
invader, the Spanish bluebell, Hyacinthoides x
massartiana, more upright with flowers all around the
stem.
Camassia is an unusual bulb, and can be seen in a
large area at Wisley.
In the early summer come the alliums, of which
Allium “Purple Sensation” is the most popular, and
Allium christophii has the biggest head. Eucomis, the
pineapple lily, is dramatic. With all lilies, watch out
for the dreaded lily beetle, and also the pollen, which
can stain clothes [and poison cats!]. Cut off the
stamens on indoor displays.
Crocosmia has several varieties, “Lucifer” being the
most popular. Gladioli like full sun and a well-drained
soil. Schizostylis, the Kaffir Lily, comes in shades of
red through to white, and will grow almost anywhere
moist and in the sun.
The RHS Autumn Show has a plethora of nerines,
bulbs which flower before the leaves appear. Like
schizostylis, they are South African.
The autumn-flowering cyclamen is C. hederifolium,
useful for growing under trees. Autumn-flowering
snowdrops appear at the end of October
Amaryllis (Hippeastrum) make universal Christmas
presents and can be helped to flower several years in
succession; and we can cheer ourselves up with
indoor displays of hyacinths and narcissi, until the
snowdrops pop up again!
Page 14
Dates for 2015
February 14
March 25th
th
The Hut reopens (Saturday and Sunday – see p16 for opening hours)
Annual General Meeting If you have any questions for discussion, please send them to the
Secretary beforehand, for inclusion in the agenda.
March 21st
LHS Spring Show (Saturday – open to the public 2pm)
April 22nd
Talk: Planting in tufa troughs by Ray Bates of Rotherview Nurseries, where hand-made hypertufa troughs are a speciality. Ray will be showing us how to plant up with alpines, herbs and
succulents. Troughs and plants will be on sale.
May 20th
Talk: Heritage vegetables We have again snaffled Gold Medal winner Chris Smith of Pennard
Plants. Always a charismatic speaker, Chris will be talking about one of his specialities and
hopes to bring samples with him.
Please note that this talk is being held on the THIRD Wednesday of May to coincide with
Chelsea week.
June 24th
Talk: Winning ways with Mig Mig Kimpton, Chelsea Gold Medal winning floral artist, will
be taking us through the steps to a successful show display. Volunteers will be needed to
bring raw materials and work with him on the demonstrations – if you would like to be one of
the lucky participants, please let Rhiannon know in advance.
July 18th-19th Lambeth Country Show (Saturday & Sunday)
July 22nd
Talk: Gardens in France Colin Jones will take us on one of his beautifully-illustrated tours of
gardens across the Channel.
Please see the Summer 2015 Newsletter for the talks programme for the rest of the year
Talks take place on the fourth Wednesday of every month from April to November inclusive.
All talks start at 8.00pm (doors open 7.30pm) and finish at 10pm.
Entry is free and non-members are welcome!
We shall continue to meet at St Luke's Church, Knights Hill, West Norwood,
for the foreseeable future.
LAMBETH HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OFFICERS
LHS website address: www.lambethhorticulturalsociety.org.uk
Chair
Show Secretary
Tony Pizzoferro
Bob Tydeman
Flat 2, 1 Chatsworth Way, West Norwood
58 Gipsy Hill, London SE19 1PD
London SE27 9HR
Phone: 020 8761 5543
Phone: 020 8766 6438
Secretary and Membership Secretary
Outings Organiser
Rhiannon Harlow Smith
Brendan Byrne
32 Chatsworth Way, London SE27 9HN
10A The Pavement, Chapel Road, SE27 0UN
Phone: 020 8244 9317
Phone: 020 8761 5651
Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected]
Newsletter Editor
Trading Secretary
Val Hunn
Eveline Cragg
33 Boughton Avenue, Hayes, Bromley, Kent BR2 7PL
8A the Woodlands, Beulah Hill, London SE19 3EG
Phone: 020 8402 0433
Phone: 020 8771 4311
Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected]
LHS Spring 2015 Newsletter
Page 15
TRADING HUT
Cedar Tree Close, Cedar Tree Grove (off Lakeview Road, Knight’s Hill, London SE27)
Opening times: Saturday: 2.00pm – 4.30pm (last customer 4.15)
Sunday: 10.00am – 12.30pm (last customer 12.15)
The TRADING HUT reopens on Saturday 14th February 2015, when you will find it well-stocked with
all your spring gardening needs.
On sale will be a wide variety of bulbs, some potted, ready for flowering, at keen prices and capable
of being planted out later. These are sure to cheer us up after this extreme winter!
Many varieties of SEED POTATO will be in stock. Buy early while stocks last!
First early – Red Duke of York, Foremost
Second early – Catriona
Maincrop – Desiree, Kerr’s Pink, Cara, Maris Piper
Salad – Belle de Fontenay
Also in stock - ONION SETS – Red Baron, Sturon SHALLOTS – Golden Gourmet, Red Sun
BULBS (from Taylors) – lilies, dahlias, cannas, garlic, gladioli, begonias, cosmos, eucomis, galtonia,
bessera, agapanthus, and polygonatum.
SALE DATES
BRING & BUY SALE: 11/12th, 18th/19th April 2015
Bring all those potted-up cuttings that you haven’t got room for – and buy something that suits your
space! Vegetable plants will be especially welcome.
BEDDING PLANTS SALE: 2/3rd, 9/10th, 16/17th May 2015
Patio plants, vegetables, roses, tender perennials, annuals, hanging basket materials - everything you
need to get the gardening year off to a flying start.
**************************************
A new venture at The Hut!
A garden is being made along the brick wall at the library end. It started as a place to put the plants
that nobody loved enough to purchase at the Bring & Buy. I have now planted some bulbs as well,
and hope for it to be an ongoing project. I am dreaming of eventually taking up all the grass and
putting in shrubs and herbaceous plants. Hopefully it will brighten up the area. Unfortunately, we
now have scaffold poles the whole length of the bed, 6 poles on top of wooden supports. Luckily I
can’t remember all the plants and bulbs, so I don’t know what is struggling to survive! Anyway, as
the saying goes, “Watch this space”!
Betty Cox
If you would like to join the happy band of helpers at The Hut, for one day a month, one weekend a
month, or any other permutation, please call in at the Hut, or contact our Trading Secretary, Eveline
Cragg, on 020 8771 9212, or [email protected]
********************************
Our Spring Show is on Saturday 21st March – see the enclosed Schedule – why not enter this time?
You may find, in your house or garden, daffodils, narcissi, hyacinths, foliage plants
and succulents, or you could plant up a trough – there are classes for all of these.
Maybe you could make jam, or bake a cake?
Don’t forget the photographic classes! You could win a prize! And it’s all good fun.
LHS Spring 2015 Newsletter
Page 16