COLINTON GARDEN CLUB
NEWSLETTER NO 73 February 2006
COLINTON GARDEN CLUB |
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Stop pressSPRING FERTILISER ORDER See the article, and simply complete the Spring 2006 Order Form NEXT MEETING “Climate Change” – Peter Levy: Monday 27th February 8pm “GARDENING SCOTLAND” See below and consider buying your ticket in advance PALLET GARDEN COMPETITION See below– would you like to join the team? NEXT YEAR’S PROGRAMME Let’s have your comments! See below Club Membership May we remind those members who have not yet paid, that the 2005/06 fees of £5 per household are due. Please tell your friends and family about our Club - they are very welcome
to come along to any of our meetings Newsletter We are always on the lookout for short articles for our newsletter,
so if you have a gardening tip to pass on, or a new technique to share
or even discover a plant that does particularly well in our Colinton
micro-climate, why not contact Secretary Christopher Davies Club Library Many thanks to Jim & Maureen Heardman for donating their surplus gardening books to the library and Club - look out for the latest additions on the library table. Jo McEwan 441 5034 |
From the pen of our Chair...“Blackbirds on the lawn peck with desperation. This is how I see my bleak January garden but already the green spikes jagging through the soil give promise of Spring flowers as the daylight stretches just a little longer. We gardeners can begin to plan our planting and list our tasks for the Great Outside! To help with this, the Club has planned a series of talks which will inspire and inform. Last summer, members visited the beautiful gardens at Kellie Castle and on 23rd January, the head gardener gave a talk on organic gardening in the flower garden. He gave us many good tips on how to deal with the nasty wee beasties which munch our plants and useful advice about placing our plants in the right places in a fascinating and informative talk. In February, we will receive advice on climate change from an expert. As the changes are affecting all the plants and wildlife in our gardens, this will be of considerable interest. In March, Billy Carruthers, who is a prize-winning nursery-man will bring exotic colour to our lives with a talk on peonies. Anyone who saw his display at the Scotland Garden Show could not fail to have been mesmerised by these magnificent plants. The workshop at the Botanics on the topic of plant division to be held on 1st April is now fully subscribed but a reserve list is being compiled. If you were too late in applying but would really like to go, please give your name to Jonathan Davey. In the event that there is sufficient interest, it may be possible to organise a second workshop. This should prove an excellent learning opportunity and those who want to attend on April Fools’ Day are certainly no fools. As part of planning for the Summer planting, many of you will wish to renovate and feed the soil of your gardens. I am pleased to report that after discussions with Archie Hunter, an application form will be provided with this newsletter and a wide variety of fertilisers will be offered. Due to pressing work commitments, Dina Milne has relinquished the role of purchasing officer and Dawn Ellis has taken over this position. We are looking forward to our summer events; our open gardens and outing. I can promise that unlike our Christmas pantomime the outing will not be to Hell Again! More details will be available in the next newsletter. As we are hoping to participate in the microgarden competition at Gardening Scotland, I would urge you to don your creative thinking caps now and join a little group to plan the garden. It was good fun, last year and I know we have a talented membership. While looking forward to Spring, I am going to allow myself a glance backwards. It seems a long time ago since we gathered in the Loan Hall for a sparkling occasion to celebrate our silver anniversary in style with suitable quizzes, singing and a special pantomime entitled “The Outing to the Lost Gardens of Hell-Again”! It was a night to remember and I would like to thank all those who made it possible: the members of the Committee and their partners who worked so hard; the members of the cast and production team who turned in a magic performance on the night; Margaret McDougall, who took charge of catering and Carol Lumsden and Pam Hume who all produced delicious food despite struggling with a veritable beast of an oven; Elisabeth Davies who created beautiful silver and green decorations to trans-form the hall; and of course chiefly your-selves for entering into the spirit of the evening in your lovely silver outfits. The Colinton School Club finished on the 1st of December with a session making pine cone decorations with glitter. It was wonderfully messy and enjoyed by the children. Prior to that they had made garden plans and then created their own mini gardens in large trays rather like pallets. They were very creative and indeed this was identified as their favourite activity. The sessions were well attended and feedback from the children was very positive with comments such as “fabby dabby” and fun. Johanna Carrie will give a small presentation to the members at the February meeting. We hope to start the club again at the beginning of February. As the main topic will be propagation, we would be grateful for donations of a large busy lizzie or spider plant for cuttings if anyone feels they can part with their treasures? Our newsletter editor, Alasdair Ferguson has been seriously ill and is currently in hospital. We are all very concerned for him. I am most grateful to Christopher Davies who has stepped into the breach and edited this newsletter. Happy New Year to you all. I look forward to seeing you at our events. Isobel Lodge
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Improved Access to Dreghorn Loan Hall Some members may be discouraged from coming to meetings because their mobility may be restricted and they fear problems with negotiating the steps at the entrance. No longer do we have to rely on strong young men (though we have those as well!). The Parish Church has installed a ramp and lift which overcome any problems. So if you would like to come to a meeting, please let us know in advance so that we can obtain the key for the lift from the Church. If anyone would like to come, but is lacking transport, or may not wish to walk through the dark evenings, please let a Committee Member know and it will probably be possible to arrange a lift for you. A welcome will await you when you arrive. Christopher Davies
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ARCHIE HUNTER GARDEN SUPPLIESWe are very pleased to advise that Colinton Garden Club is working once
again with Archie Hunter to provide Spring and Autumn supplies of fertilisers,
mulches and everything you need for a lush, healthy garden. Garden Club
members will benefit from the Archie Hunter free home delivery service
and 15% discount on all orders. Simply complete the Spring 2006 Order
Form and enclose a cheque
payable to Colinton Garden Club remembering to reduce the total bill
by 15%, and send to Dawn Ellis, 14 Bonaly Crescent (Telephone 622 0623)
by 27th February 2006. Here's a quick reminder of planned events in 2005/06:
GARDENING SCOTLANDJust to give you advance warning that this annual gardening and outdoor living show will be taking place again at the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, Edinburgh, from Friday 2nd June to Sunday 4th June. There will be the well established Floral Hall, show gardens, displays, patio and garden ideas and fun for the whole family. Entrance to Gardening Scotland costs £14 on Friday 2nd June, £12 on the other days. You can save £2 by booking in advance. Please phone 0906 701 2000 or book on line: www.gardeningscotland.com Christopher Davies 441 2152 |
WHY NOT GET INVOLVED AND HAVE FUN?
Last year, the Scottish Gardeners’ Forum, of which the Club is a Council
Member, introduced a “mini-garden” competition and we took part.
It proved
to be a popular feature of GARDENING SCOTLAND and those present at
the November meeting will remember that we showed photographs of the
creation and display of our entry. The Club received a letter commending us
for our submission.
With your help we are planning to compete again. It is a way of promoting the Club and at the same time stimulating interest in gardening amongst the general public.
As last year, we want to establish a group to create this pallet garden. Some people are stronger at creative ideas, others have practical skills. All are welcome – we need you! Please contact Isobel Lodge (441 3934) so that an inaugural meeting can be arranged.
Thank you and looking forward to hearing from you.
Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh
Saturday Morning, 1 April 2006
All the places for this workshop have been taken. There is a reserve list in
case of cancellations. Please contact Jonathan
Davey (tel: 441 2827) if you
want to be added to this list. If there is sufficient interest Jonathan will
attempt to organise another session.
Over the next few months the Committee will be hard at work planning the next programme. Here are a few ideas we have received so far; Spring & Autumn Bulbs, Digital Garden Photography, Saving Seeds and Plant Explorers. Why don't you contact me and give me your suggestions for speakers or topics? We want a programme that you will find worthwhile and stimulating.
Jonathan Davey 441 2827
Just a reminder – if
you have access to the internet, it really is worth checking out our website
regularly. The website (www.colintongardens.org.uk) is updated often and it’s
useful to visit the site often. You’ll find:
• Photos of recent events
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Up to date information about forthcoming events and meetings
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A copy of the most recent newsletter – just in case you mislay your paper
copy – and back copies of earlier newsletters
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Details of available discounts
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Links to other useful gardening websites
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An e-mail link to enquire about services offered (e.g. implement loans, bulb
sales)
All in all, an excellent source of up-to-date information on Club events and
the advantages of membership.
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