ESTABLISHED 1892

Our Society was formed in the 1890's, with annual spring plant sales, and summer “Garden Produce and Craft Shows".
The Society meets monthly, on the second Thursday evening of each month at at 7.30.pm. at Stalbridge Hall, mainly with visiting speakers. In July, the meeting is replaced with an evening coach outing for a garden visit. December's meeting is often a social evening with a sometimes garden related quiz!

​You may be surprised to see Stalbridge residents' gardens and individual features on the Facebook page "Stalbridge Gardens Photos". Stalbridge residents are very welcome to post photos on the Facebook Page. 

Stalbridge Garden Photos

Stalbridge Garden Society present their talk -"Plants that should be better known" on Thursday 11th November 2021 at 7.30pm in Stalbridge Hall, with guest speaker  Katherine Crouch. Visitors and new members are most welcome. For more information please telephone 01963 365848

2021
October Meeting Report
Our Chairman, Tony Moore, welcomed everyone to this month’s meeting: we had several new people who came for a visit, and now wish to become a member which is fantastic.
Tony gave out the notices, one of which was that Ann Brown who had been our secretary/ programme organiser for a great many years had now sold up and was moving away from the area. We all wish her the very best and give thanks for all she had done for the society.

This evening’s speaker was Chris Francis and his wife Diane from” Thorngrove” Gillingham: their talk was to be on “Winter Hanging Baskets “.
Chris is the manager of the nursery section at Thorngrove where he has worked for the best part of thirty years. He looks after all the bedding plants, shrubs , trees , perennial plants, bedding and of course pots, planters and hanging baskets, along with  his team..
Throughout the year they also run workshops, for hanging baskets, wreaths and planters. If you would like to have a go yourself, please contact the nursery for workshop dates.
Chris and his team this summer produced over one hundred and fifty planters and baskets for Shaftesbury in bloom, which was a lot of work. They have lots of regular customers some of which have up to twelve hanging baskets for their home.
​
Chris began the demonstration by putting a 14inch wire basket onto a stand then placing in a liner which was plastic on the inside and a moss effect on the outside into it, this was a square and was not trimmed at this point, only when the basket had been finished.
Then he cut a small hole in four places to do the bottom layer of plants, pansies were then rolled into a tube of plastic threaded through, then the plastic was carefully tugged off. Compost was added only a small amount, then the second layer was ready to be done using the same method, Tony and I and one of our new members had the opportunity to have a go.
Chris worked up through the layers until he reached the top. So far ten plants had been put in: ivy, heathers, primroses, and thyme. The next layer was inside the basket, where he placed crocus, tulips and miniature daffs. The basket was now filled to the top with compost ( Thorngroves’ own mix which you can buy). Finally Chris put another nine plants into the top of the basket, things such as, pansies, ivy, oregano and a grass. It was now quite heavy and you would need a strong bracket to hang it on.
In total this basket had nineteen plants and lots of bulbs: it just now needed a good water and you can purchase these large filled baskets for £40.00  - they can last for a few years.
Chris gave us lots of hints and tips along the way. Then it was time for us to all have the chance to buy some of the beautiful quality plants Chris had brought from the nursery. I think that he did really well. I managed to buy ten plants myself! This was a very helpful talk and we all enjoyed it.
We finished with a raffle and a cup of tea. Next month we will have another interesting talk so do join us on Thursday 11th November at 7.30pm in the hall.
Time now to harvest the last of the garden crops, except sprouts, chard and winter greens, it’s not too late to sow green manure, late lettuce, and plant out your daffs, crocus and tulips. You can also split and divide perennial plants as the soil is still warm.
Michelle Howell

​Our programme for the remainder of 2021 will be: 
Thursday 9th December, "New Zealand Plants and Gardens" with Martin Young of Myplants, Upwey.

THIS PAGE IS EDITED BY TONY MOORE FROM STALBRIDGE GARDEN SOCIETY