Lavant Horticultural Society,
Chichester
APRIL
MEETING
How to Make a Winning Flower Arrangement
Lyn Constable
Lyn has judged the flower arrangement section of our Annual Show for the past few years, writing comments and advice for every entry, not just the prize winners.
With a
combination of information, demonstrations and discussion she was
able to convey her knowledge and enthusiasm to the experienced and
novices alike.
She stressed the creative use of colour, texture &
form, rather than adherance to any
set formats, and encouraged everyone to try, particularly men - in
fact many of the very best flower arrangers are
men!
Jim
Morrris pointed out that Show Rules had restricted entries to one
per household - this has now been
amended, so that every individual can now enter
their own flower
arrangements in the 2019 Show.
GARDEN VISIT
2019
Wednesday
3rd
July
The
Savill Garden
The weather was exceptionally good for this visit of some 50 members and guests to these 35 acres
of gardens set in Windsor
Great Park
The Golden Jubilee Garden was
magnificent, with large swathes of planting in harmoneous colours.
The herbaceous borders also made a tremendous impact.
There were many other areas of the gardens to explore.
A really worthwhile day
out
JUNE
MEETING
Steps to Make your
Garden Less
Work
Roger
Hirons
Roger again impressed with the depth of his knowledge and his engaging way of presentation.
He illustrated his talk by
showing the actual plants, a vast rangeof them, and circulating
large photos, with the names of the plants helpfully written on the
back.
He stressed that the most
important thing is to decide what we want from our garden, reducing
our input to what we enjoy or find therapeutic and reducing chores
by getting help for the heavy work.
Mulching should be used as a way of ...read
more
MARCH
MEETING
The Secret History of Vegetables
Martyn Cox
Martyn gave an
interesting and entertaining review of the history of a wide range
of vegetables, from the garlic cultivated for millennia to a 19thC
Belgian farmer's chance discovery of chicons growing from the
animal fodder chicory stored in a dark barn.
Onions had been cultivated long before the Egyptians showed their high esteem by placing them in the mouths and eye-sockets of mummies.
Egyptomania helped Victorian charlatans sell "mummyI peas", supposedly from peas found in tombs,, which in fact could never have germinated.
Martyn recommended beetroot 'Chioggia' with its red & white concentric circles,Xand the best basil for pesto, from pesto's home region of Liguria,X'Tigullio'
This meeting was preceded by the
LAVANT VILLAGE
FETE
Saturday
15th
June
Click any picture to enlarge
The Plant Stall, run by LHS, was overflowing with
more plants than ever before - a great variety with lots of colour.
However, rain arrived before the Fete opened and threatened
to put a damper on things.
Gradually the visitorsIcame and the sales built
up; in the end we even surpassed last year's
record sales figure - in spite of the
weather!
Many thanks to all who donated plants,
and
particularly for the help of Mick Bleach of
DECEMBER
MEETING
Lordington
Lavender
Andrew
Elms
Andrew led us through his exit dairy farming, his
search for other crops, planting 50 ha of lavender
and the development of the lavender
business.
Click above for Lordington Lavender website
With conservation of habitat & environment key, the farm has become haven for wildlife: at least 12 red-listed birds including skylarks, barn owls & red kites.
With Bulgaria & China undermining wholesale prices
of lavender oil, Andrew developed
his own range of products using lavender's antibacterial,
antifungal & antiviral properties, as well as its fragrance
& flavour.
The whole story was told in a very
engaging way and the evening was rounded off with coffee &
mince pies.
JANUARY MEETING
Wildlife of a Working
Forest
Mike
Read
Our 2019 programme started with an excellent talk.
Click above for Mike's own website
Mike began with the management of
the New Forest, smallest of the UK's National Parks, developed over
900 years from its origins as a royal hunting forest, today's
thriving timber production and, of course, the
ponies.
He then presented the forest's rich wildlife through the four seasons - the amazing variety of birds, mammals, insects, plants and fungi. All brought to life by the superb quality of his photograhs. His knowledge & enhusiasm enlivened the talk and then his answers to questions.
So, not only an enjoyable afternoon, but also plenty of inspiration to go and see the New Forest in a new light.
ANNUAL PLANT SALE
Sunday 12th May
Click any picture to
enlarge
As soon as the doors opened visitors poured into the Hall and it remained very busy throughout the afternoon; those who came found plenty to interest them in the
wide variety of plants on offer, as plant sales
exceeded all previous levels.
The
refreshments were also very popular, with many clearly enjoying the
home-made scones and cakes.
Many thanks to all those who
donated plants and to our partner for this event, East Ashling
Nurseries.
A very successful & enjoyable afternoon - we hope that the plants purchased will continue to give pleasure.
OCTOBER
MEETING
The Garden in
Autumn
Patricia Elkington
She spoke with the authority from her first-hand
knowledge of from growing them in her 3 acre chalk garden near Winchester that she has been opening
for the National Gardens Scheme since 1984.
Click above for more on Patricia's garden.
Patricia gave an impressive presentation of
many plants that enhance the garden in autumn.
Click below for notes on some
of
For information from previous
talks and events, please go to the
Archive
