ESTABLISHED 1892
Our 2019 Programme of Talks, outings and events
JANUARY |
Thursday 10th "Space & Climate Change" Tony Davies |
FEBRUARY |
Thursday 14th "Snowdrops" Lyn Miles |
MARCH |
Thursday 14th "Dahlias" Geoff Jeans AGM and SPRING SHOW |
APRIL |
Thursday 11th "Bonsai Spring Care" Tony Moore |
MAY |
Thursday 9th "How to impress the photographic Judge" Bob Indge Saturday 11th SPRING PLANT & JUMBLE SALE – Stalbridge Hall, 10.30am. |
JUNE |
Thursday 13th "From Garden boy to Woodland Supervisor" Geoff Greenhaugh ROSE COMPETITION |
JULY |
Thursday 11th Evening Outing |
AUGUST |
Thursday 8th "Preparing Flowers & Produce for the Show" Geoff Jeans et al Saturday 17th ANNUAL PRODUCE & FLOWER SHOW, Stalbridge Hall, 2.30pm |
SEPTEMBER |
Thursday 12th " New Tricks for Old Gardeners" Katherine Crouch and members DAHLIA COMPETITION |
OCTOBER |
Thursday 10th "Seeds & More Plants for Free" Neil Lovesey APPLE COMPETITION |
NOVEMBER |
Thursday 14th "Gardens of World War 1" Christine Stones |
DECEMBER |
Thursday 12th Home Grown Quiz and CHRISTMAS BUFFET |
Stalbridge Garden Society Annual Produce, Craft & Flower Show 2019 was held on Saturday 17th August. During the previous evening and the morning of the show, the halls slowly filled with exhibits of all colours, shapes and sizes, from miniature flower displays to decorated wheelbarrows; from beetroots to bonsai. More than 60 exhibitors put on a display featuring in excess of 400 items, giving the five judges a huge but pleasant challenge.
Despite the vagaries of the recent weather, there were lots of entries achieving a very high standard, as usual, including in the childrens’ sections.
26 impressive trophies were there for the winning, and the displays did not disappoint!
The newest trophy in the cabinet was presented in memory of long-time member Bev Hall, by her husband, Ray. The trophy, a carved outline of a tree, framed in a beautiful bowl, all contained in one piece of wood and called ‘Bev’s Bowl’ was presented for the best Rose in the show and was won by Marigold Edwards.
Although advertised as opening at 2.30.pm, there was a queue at 2.15pm, so the doors were opened.
A ‘Peoples Choice’ exercise was undertaken to decide the best exhibit in the whole show. Visitors were invited to vote for their favourite. The prize was a £15 voucher kindly presented by Williams’ Florist and was won with a beautiful quilt, hand-made by Wendy Bailey.
The village Hanging Basket competition saw 12 entries this year, - the most ever - competing for the William Dike Memorial Cup. This was judged and photographed ahead of the show by the management of Dikes, who also kindly provided Dikes Vouchers for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places. The winner was Wendy Bailey.
The spread of trophy winners was wide; the overall winner was Chris Jeans who was presented with the Westminster Rose Bowl for most points across the whole show, although there were only 6 points separating 1st and 3rd.
The trophies were presented by our Postmaster, Paul Wavish, wearing best bib and tucker, a sight many villagers hadn’t seen before! The organisers thank everyone for making the show such a success: club members, exhibitors, judges, our photographers, visitors and our guest of honour, Paul Wavish.
Many thanks to John Foster-Pegg for the photos of all the winners below!
Despite the vagaries of the recent weather, there were lots of entries achieving a very high standard, as usual, including in the childrens’ sections.
26 impressive trophies were there for the winning, and the displays did not disappoint!
The newest trophy in the cabinet was presented in memory of long-time member Bev Hall, by her husband, Ray. The trophy, a carved outline of a tree, framed in a beautiful bowl, all contained in one piece of wood and called ‘Bev’s Bowl’ was presented for the best Rose in the show and was won by Marigold Edwards.
Although advertised as opening at 2.30.pm, there was a queue at 2.15pm, so the doors were opened.
A ‘Peoples Choice’ exercise was undertaken to decide the best exhibit in the whole show. Visitors were invited to vote for their favourite. The prize was a £15 voucher kindly presented by Williams’ Florist and was won with a beautiful quilt, hand-made by Wendy Bailey.
The village Hanging Basket competition saw 12 entries this year, - the most ever - competing for the William Dike Memorial Cup. This was judged and photographed ahead of the show by the management of Dikes, who also kindly provided Dikes Vouchers for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places. The winner was Wendy Bailey.
The spread of trophy winners was wide; the overall winner was Chris Jeans who was presented with the Westminster Rose Bowl for most points across the whole show, although there were only 6 points separating 1st and 3rd.
The trophies were presented by our Postmaster, Paul Wavish, wearing best bib and tucker, a sight many villagers hadn’t seen before! The organisers thank everyone for making the show such a success: club members, exhibitors, judges, our photographers, visitors and our guest of honour, Paul Wavish.
Many thanks to John Foster-Pegg for the photos of all the winners below!
THE PHOTOGRAPHY CLASSES
FOR NEXT YEAR’S
ANNUAL PRODUCE, CRAFT & FLOWER SHOW
TO BE HELD ON AUGUST 15th 2020
ADULT CLASSES
POPPIES.
TREE REFLECTED IN WATER.
SUNFLOWER.
RAINBOW.
PLANTER - PLANTED TUB.
CHILDREN’S CLASSES
WILD FLOWERS.
AN INTERESTING GATE OR GATES.
FOR NEXT YEAR’S
ANNUAL PRODUCE, CRAFT & FLOWER SHOW
TO BE HELD ON AUGUST 15th 2020
ADULT CLASSES
POPPIES.
TREE REFLECTED IN WATER.
SUNFLOWER.
RAINBOW.
PLANTER - PLANTED TUB.
CHILDREN’S CLASSES
WILD FLOWERS.
AN INTERESTING GATE OR GATES.
August Meeting 2019
Our Chairman, Tony Moore, welcomed everyone and after asking for members to help with our annual show next weekend, he introduced our speaker, potter Jonathan Garratt from Stour Row. The title of his talk “Breaking the Rules. Container Gardening with a Twist.” Opening with slides of buildings, he made the point that anything can be a container, if it can contain something! He showed us a picture of an 18th century orangery containing Camellias, as it was initially believed they were not frost hardy, and were very popular when first discovered and imported here.
Moving on to pots, he showed how he designed some of the larger pots with clay embellishments. One in particular was dressed with representations of African countries and was very tasteful and a beautifully rich colour.
Using pictures from around the world, Jonathan explained how to use pottery as sculpture, particularly large urns. He also explained how containers can help us to be flexible in the garden, beginning with large Versailles Tubs: wooden hinged boxes on short legs, which can be moved empty into position, in a garden or a street, then a potted tree or shrub is placed inside the hinged door. Plantings help make buildings look more attractive and welcoming.
Transferring this principle to our gardens helps us to be flexible with our plants and pots, particularly when placing a potted plant into a larger pot that has a neck narrower than the body of the pot.
His pictures illustrated various methods of disguising less attractive plastic containers with wood and with bricks, inspired by what he had seen in other countries.
The potter’s work came next, explaining how various construction materials are used, including why some terracotta pots delaminate. He uses an extruder to make clay shapes for details, such as rope shapes for ornamental pot handles etc, making his own tools for patterns. He told us some of his firing secrets, telling us how critical the drying and cooling process is. He favours a wood-fired kiln, buying wood up to two years ahead.
Rounding up with a picture of grasses growing in an orange-box placed in a 1950’s pushchair, Jonathan encouraged us to check out the local tip for cheap container ideas!
An excellent, inspiring talk.
After coffee and the raffle, we settled down to hear our own Geoff Jeans describe how to prepare Dahlias for our upcoming annual show next weekend. He was eminently qualified, having just won the trophy for “Best Flower in the Show” at Motcombe Village Show, with beautiful Dahlias.
He told us that many of the principles he demonstrated to us, could be transferred to showing most other flowers too. Buying tubers from Halls of Heddon in Yorkshire, he recommended ‘Hillcrest Candy’ and ‘ Kenora Challenger’ as good for showing (and winning, in his case!)
He told us we should tidy up the back of the flower head before the show. If possible, show flowers with small number of leaves, lower down, standing flowers in Oasis inside a vase, for support.
Another excellent talk, with good advice.
Next month we’ll have the members Dahlia competition.
Take care in the garden at this time of year as usual sources of nectar and pollen become scarce: wasps in particular will expect us to share ours with them, in the form of barbecue sauce! We have a “Waspinator” which works for us, allowing us to have wasp-free meals in the garden.
Tony Moore. (Michelle will back from holiday for next month’s report.)
Our Chairman, Tony Moore, welcomed everyone and after asking for members to help with our annual show next weekend, he introduced our speaker, potter Jonathan Garratt from Stour Row. The title of his talk “Breaking the Rules. Container Gardening with a Twist.” Opening with slides of buildings, he made the point that anything can be a container, if it can contain something! He showed us a picture of an 18th century orangery containing Camellias, as it was initially believed they were not frost hardy, and were very popular when first discovered and imported here.
Moving on to pots, he showed how he designed some of the larger pots with clay embellishments. One in particular was dressed with representations of African countries and was very tasteful and a beautifully rich colour.
Using pictures from around the world, Jonathan explained how to use pottery as sculpture, particularly large urns. He also explained how containers can help us to be flexible in the garden, beginning with large Versailles Tubs: wooden hinged boxes on short legs, which can be moved empty into position, in a garden or a street, then a potted tree or shrub is placed inside the hinged door. Plantings help make buildings look more attractive and welcoming.
Transferring this principle to our gardens helps us to be flexible with our plants and pots, particularly when placing a potted plant into a larger pot that has a neck narrower than the body of the pot.
His pictures illustrated various methods of disguising less attractive plastic containers with wood and with bricks, inspired by what he had seen in other countries.
The potter’s work came next, explaining how various construction materials are used, including why some terracotta pots delaminate. He uses an extruder to make clay shapes for details, such as rope shapes for ornamental pot handles etc, making his own tools for patterns. He told us some of his firing secrets, telling us how critical the drying and cooling process is. He favours a wood-fired kiln, buying wood up to two years ahead.
Rounding up with a picture of grasses growing in an orange-box placed in a 1950’s pushchair, Jonathan encouraged us to check out the local tip for cheap container ideas!
An excellent, inspiring talk.
After coffee and the raffle, we settled down to hear our own Geoff Jeans describe how to prepare Dahlias for our upcoming annual show next weekend. He was eminently qualified, having just won the trophy for “Best Flower in the Show” at Motcombe Village Show, with beautiful Dahlias.
He told us that many of the principles he demonstrated to us, could be transferred to showing most other flowers too. Buying tubers from Halls of Heddon in Yorkshire, he recommended ‘Hillcrest Candy’ and ‘ Kenora Challenger’ as good for showing (and winning, in his case!)
He told us we should tidy up the back of the flower head before the show. If possible, show flowers with small number of leaves, lower down, standing flowers in Oasis inside a vase, for support.
Another excellent talk, with good advice.
Next month we’ll have the members Dahlia competition.
Take care in the garden at this time of year as usual sources of nectar and pollen become scarce: wasps in particular will expect us to share ours with them, in the form of barbecue sauce! We have a “Waspinator” which works for us, allowing us to have wasp-free meals in the garden.
Tony Moore. (Michelle will back from holiday for next month’s report.)
The Society, established in 1892, meets on the second Thursday of each month
in Stalbridge Hall at 7.30.pm
in Stalbridge Hall at 7.30.pm
Why not come and join us?
We would love to see you.
Annual subscription £10.00
or just come as a visitor for £2 per evening.
Each month we have a talk by an expert
on an aspect of gardening or garden related topic.
Alongside some of our talks we hold
season-related informal competitions.
Just come along,
or for more information please telephone:
Tony: 01963 365848
We would love to see you.
Annual subscription £10.00
or just come as a visitor for £2 per evening.
Each month we have a talk by an expert
on an aspect of gardening or garden related topic.
Alongside some of our talks we hold
season-related informal competitions.
Just come along,
or for more information please telephone:
Tony: 01963 365848
Look at the map below to see where the Hall is in Stalbridge
