MARLBOROUGH GARDENING ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER 2014 OCTOBER NEXT MEETING: WEDNESDAY 8th OCTOBER AUTUMN THE FORGOTTEN SEASON SPEAKER: DON EVERITT Venue: Christchurch Wesley Hall, Oxford Street, Marlborough Doors open 7.15 for 7.45 p.m. Our topic for October is 'Autumn The Forgotten Season' by Don Everitt from Bristol who has been a Horticultural Lecturer throughout England and Wales for over 40 years. He trained at R.H.S. Garden Wisley and is a member for Somerset Group Plant Heritage and other Horticultural Societies. Refreshments are served from 7.15 so come early to chat to friends. Sales of raffle tickets make a useful contribution to our funds so please let us recycle your unwanted brica-brac or plants. SEPTEMBER MEETING: JOSEPH PAXTON Rosina Brandham gave a highly entertaining talk on the early life of this eminent gardener. Joseph Paxton was born in Bedfordshire in 1803 into a farming family. From these humble beginnings he had a meteoric rise in his chosen profession until by the age of 23 the Duke of Devonshire appointed him Head Gardener at Chatsworth House. The two men became friends and Paxton designed gardens, fountains, a model village and an arboretum for his illustrious employer. He also built a conservatory – known as The Great Conservatory – and a lily house, specially designed for a giant lily with a design based on the leaves of the plant. Paxton developed a scientific approach to gardening, researching and keeping detailed records of his plants. He had a mission to spread his knowledge more widely and his "Horticultural Register" was aimed at ordinary people, not just the "upper ton". Having married the niece of the Chatsworth housekeeper, Joseph settled down and, inspired by some wallpaper, grew the first banana in England. He designed the fore-runner of all the curvi-linear greenhouses in Kew, Wisley and Eden; it covered an acre of ground, cost an unbelievable £36,000 in 1835, and was described as "a jewel box set on a sea of grass"; all this to grow the Duke's orchids! Paxton's genius flowered with his revolutionary design for the Crystal Palace built for the 1851 Great Exhibition. Its novelty was its modular, prefabricated design and its extensive use of glass. Knighted by Queen Victoria that same year, Paxton stayed on at Chatsworth but took on other prestigeous projects, working on the layout of public parks, improvements to the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew and designing Mentmore Towers for Baron Mayer de Rothschild. OPEN GARDENS AFTERNOON Pauline Berryman writes: On Sunday 7th Sept four MGA members opened their gardens in our continuing support of The Womens' Garden in Gunjur The Gambia. It was a pleasant sunny afternoon and the 20 or so visitors enjoyed the stroll round, and were very generous with their donations. £145 will be forwarded to Gambia to help with the buying of seeds and for a paid head gardener to teach. Thanks to Cheryl Pickles, Pauline Berryman, Camilla Johnson Smith and Toni & Griff Lawson Hall for giving us a delightful afternoon with delicious tea and cakes and thank you all who came. MARLBOROUGH in BLOOM Alison Galvin-Wright, Chairman of the Marlborough in Bloom committee, writes: This was our first time and with such a short lead in and such a tiny budget it was a miracle that it turned out so well. Marlborough has so much going for it and the community rose to the occasion when asked to contribute their time and horticulture as well as showing the pride they have in their various projects. To win a Silver Gilt and trophy for Best Town in our Category, Silver Gilt and trophy for Best Newcomer and the award and trophy for Best Community Initiative (The Community Diamond Jubilee Orchard), as well as a nomination for Marlborough College (Best Non-municipal Garden) and Wye Gardens (best municipal garden) on our first entry into the competition is marvellous. The MiB Committee were especially grateful to members of MGA for their help on Judging Day. It is hoped that in 2015 MiB will involve more of the community at all levels and that MGA will play a significant part in 'going for Gold' as this year's judges recommend. THE 2014 FRUIT AND FLOWER SHOW The Annual Show on Saturday 30th August was enjoyed by all. Many thanks to members who helped with preparations beforehand and clearing up afterwards, as well as everyone who helped during the Show itself. It is a great team effort and also a good shop window for the Association. It is disappointing that entries in some classes were down so any ideas on how to encourage more entries would be welcome. The Committee will be discussing the Show at its next meeting so if you have any suggestions on ways to increase participation please get in touch with Amelia ([email protected]) or Tricia ([email protected] ). PLANT A BULB FOR CHRISTMAS Saturday 1st November 9.30am – 12.30pm This year we are joining in T.H.White's Christmas Bonanza, so as well as planting a bulb for mum's Christmas present the youngsters can meet Santa's reindeer, who are flying down from the North Pole, play on the bouncy castle and climb aboard a big, shiny tractor. All this for £1 a pot (proceeds to charity), while the grown-ups can do some early Christmas shopping and benefit from the special 10% discount for MGA members. MEET YOUR TREES The Woodland Trust are seeking volunteers to become Citizen Scientists and help the Trust to keep tabs on their trees. Members of the public can often find things that the Trust scientists have missed so why not sign up to the Woodland Trust (www.woodlandtrust.org.uk ) and go out and meet your trees. You can also help to record ancient trees, the changing seasons, the first ladybird in Spring, the first blackberry in autumn. It's a delightful website and your input can help preserve our woodlands. JUST A THOUGHT... With Winter approaching, it is time to put the garden to bed, splitting and thinning perennials and bringing frost-tender plants (dahlias and pelargoniums) under cover. Please don't forget to pot some up for our Plant Sale next May to help fund the MGA's activities. I'm still enjoying the non-stop-flowering Streptocarpus some generous gardener donated last May. The copy deadline for the November Newsletter is Friday, 24th October 2014. Contributions to Anne Crawley, 3 River Park, SN8 1NH or email [email protected] WEEKEND VISIT TO RHS HARLOW CARR FRIDAY JUNE 19th – SUNDAY JUNE 21st 2015 Our 2015 weekend away will take us to RHS Harlow Carr, Harrogate, together with visits to Wollerton Old Hall garden at Market Drayton, Shropshire (as featured in July's issue of "The Garden") and Arley Hall gardens in Northwich, Cheshire. The price, to include all coach travel, two night's bed, breakfast and evening meal at the 4*Dunkenhalgh Hotel in Clayton Le Moors,Lancashire, together with all garden entrances and a light lunch at Wollerton Old Hall, is £179 for a minimum of 30 people and £159 for 40 people. Single supplement £15. A deposit of £40 per person will secure your place. Please complete the booking form below and return it together with your cheque to Carolyn Davis (address below) by November 1st 2014. The final balance is due April 15th 2015. You will be advised of the amount due and also the pick-up points/departure times etc. in the April 2015 Newsletter. Please note that the booking is made through Barnes Coaches Ltd., who are members of the Bonded Coach Holidays Group – i.e. Should the company cease trading you are guaranteed repayment of any money paid. Travel Insurance – if you do not already have a policy, cover can be provided at a cost of £17 for the three day tour. To comply with FSA regulations, a representative of Barnes Coaches Ltd will have to contact each individual who requires insurance. Please indicate on the booking form if you require this service. __________________________________________________________________________________ BOOKING FORM : WEEKEND VISIT TO RHS HARLOW CARR Name:.......................................................................................................................................................... Address:...................................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................................................... Telephone:.......................................................e mail.................................................................................. Accommodation - Please state how many rooms of each type required Double........................ Single (£15 supplement)........................ Twin............................ sharing with (name)................................................................. Any special requirements (dietary or otherwise)......................................................................................... Travel insurance – required/not required (please delete as appropriate). Deposit £40 per person. Cheques should be made payable to Marlborough Gardening Association and sent to Carolyn Davis, Bridleway Cottage, Ogbourne St Andrew, Marlborough SN8 1XF by November 1st 2014. Please note that cheques will not be presented for payment until after this date. For further details please contact Carolyn Davis 01672 841294 or Cheryl Swan 01672 841521