NOTTINGHAM AND NOTTS
FUCHSIA SOCIETY
MARCH 2017 NEWSLETTER
What is happening in the Garden Centre:
I have changed jobs and no longer work in a garden centre, so going forward will not be able to provide such a hands on account of what is available at the Garden Centre. The good news is that I have my weekends and bank holidays back and already I seem to have achieved a lot in the garden. I will just have to make the odd trip to Bardills Garden Centre and Trowell Garden Centre for the sole purpose of keeping you all updated!
At the moment you will still find bedding plants and summer bulbs. Garden Furniture is out on display to tempt those who enjoy Outdoor Living!
What is happening in the Garden:
- Fruit & Vegetables
I have been busy in the garden since I have started my new job as I have had more time to potter around. I had previously bought 2 potato barrels which I finally put together and have planted my seed potatoes – 1st earlies: Arran Pilot and Main crop: Desiree. These, I have positioned on the patio at the back. Last year, I grew my seed potatoes in compost bags and they were positioned by the side of the house. Hopefully, now that I have moved them where they should get more direct sunlight, they will produce a better yield this year. In any case, I had enough seed potatoes to put in compost bags as well, so can do a comparison.
I have also prepared a metre square ‘plot’ in the back garden and have sown some garlic, spring onions, carrot, beetroot and kale. I have also sown peas; tomatoes; runner beans and French beans in seed trays to pot on later.
- Perennials/Garden Shrubs etc
I have started weeding and mulching the main borders at the back this week and have pulled out a lot of the invasive wild garlic which, as I’ve said before, is a becoming a real nuisance. I have dug up a small hazel tree sapling which I’m excited about. And lifted and divided my hardy geraniums. These I hope will sell at one of our future plant sales.
A few of my daffodils are out in flower, but not as many as I would like, a lot are still coming up blind, so I will have to lift and divide at the end of spring.
I have pruned my Pieris, ‘Forest Flame’ as there was a lot of dead wood and given it a good mulch. I have a fatsia in a square stone planter on the patio near the pond, which is ailing and may have to be repotted. I will then have a spare planter in which to plant up one of my young Acers (a task to do in April). I have also used some of my ‘worm wee’: - diluting it and watering the borders.
- Fuchsia Growing
- I have continued to check on my fuchsias, watering them sparingly as required. I have had trouble with one of my mini greenhouses located at the front as it is constantly being blown over when we have strong winds.
On inspection, I have lost one plant to vine weevil and have immediately treated all fuchsias, in an attempt to kill any other grubs that have dared to attack my fuchsias!
- Wildlife/Pondlife
Squirrels are regular visitors to our garden and I had to smile when I saw 3 squirrels all hanging upside down on our feeders. Usually they are competing with each other, so it was great seeing them eating together, in harmony. A blackbird was underneath in case they dropped any titbits and a dopey wood pigeon was nearby waiting for his turn. Unfortunately our sparrows do not seem to be visiting us as much. However, Bob spotted a sparrowhawk the other day, so perhaps we know why now!
The pond is running smoothly after cleaning the filter box and I am starting to feed the fish more regularly. Frogspawn has appeared but the frogs aren’t guarding it this year!
THANK YOU to our volunteers last month. I’m sure will all agree that they did a splendid job. I have certainly learnt lots and found all the talks really interesting.
I hope everyone enjoyed the buffet afterwards. Thanks to everyone for making it such a success.
PLANT SALES VENUES 2017
This year we intend to hold 3 plant sales in the hope of not only boosting our funds but also to promote our society. Please note the following dates: -
Coffee Morning at Wollaton Park Community Centre – 12th May 2017 (morning only).
Autokarna – 4th June 2017 - this is our regular event which we hope will follow Cossall Open Gardens which will mean any plants left over from Cossall Open Gardens can be sold at Autokarna.
Cossall Open Gardens – 11th June 2017 - last year, this venue was purely promotional, but this year, we will be selling plants which will hopefully bring in the crowds and give us the opportunity to talk to more people and promote our society and show.
If you are able to donate plants for the society to sell at any of these venues, we’d be most grateful. Please bring them to the monthly meeting prior to the sale. Thank you.
BEGINNERS CLASSES
Please note a couple of extra dates for your diaries: -
24 April 2017 - 7.00p.m at Wollaton Community Centre
22 May 2017 - 7.00p.m at Wollaton Community Centre
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NEWSLETTER
If anyone wants any item included in the Newsletter, please let me know, either at a meeting, or phone me on Tel: 0115 8758928, or email: jayne.daykin@ntlworld.com I will gladly include any article or event in the Newsletter.
Also, if anyone would rather I send them an electronic copy, please let me know.
Remember: It is YOUR newsletter.
Back Issues are available on our website – www.nottinghamandnottsfuchsiasociety.org
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28 Mch |
Monthly Meeting: Alan Soloman talking on Fuchsias
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7 – 9 Apr |
RHS Flower Show, Cardiff
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25 Apr |
Monthly Meeting: Trevor Strickland talking on Fuchsia Species
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11 – 14 May |
RHS Malvern Spring Festival
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23 May |
Monthly Meeting: Colin Nicklin talking on Hanging Baskets in General
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23 – 27 May |
RHS Chelsea Flower Show
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7 – 11 June |
NEW! RHS Chatsworth Flower Show
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27 June |
Monthly Meeting: Geoff Smith talking on Fuchsias
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4 – 9 Jly |
RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show
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8 Jly |
Long Eaton & District Horticultural Society SUMMER Show - held at the United Reformed Church, Midland Street, Long Eaton. 10.00a.m to 4.00p.m. ADMISSION FREE
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19 – 23 Jly |
RHS Tatton Park Flower Show
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23 - 24 Sept |
RHS Malvern Autumn Show
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FUNDRAISING
The easiest way for all internet users to help raise funds for our Society is simply by every time you search the Web you use easysearch. Easysearch combines results from Yahoo!, Windows MSN Live Search and Ask.com in one simple search, the address is http://nottsfuchsia.easysearch.org.uk Please try it and encourage others too. Don’t forget if you make any purchases on the internet, to go through our webshop to make sure we receive commission from the retailers (currently over 2000 well known retailers), the address is http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/nottsfuchsia .
NOTTINGHAM AND NOTTS FUCHSIA SOCIETY
Please note that we now have our own website, so please make a point of visiting it and let us know if you have any ideas on how we may improve it.
www.nottinghamandnottsfuchsiasociety.org