COLINTON GARDEN CLUB
NEWSLETTER NO 85 February 2009

As has now become our tradition, the Club performed a topical play, in the traditional form of a pantomime, specially written by Isobel Lodge and her co-writers. There was a feeling of anticipation – among actors and audience alike – as the curtain rose for the première (and only per-formance) of “Don’t Bank on It”, the story of an orderly and beautiful bank (of flowers) and its threatened destruction by a flash flood. Parallels with the current global financial turmoil are entirely appropriate. The Garden Club discovered the solution through seasoned experience, trust in nature and good cooperation. Do you think we should send the DVD to Gordon Brown?

But to come back to the Christmas Party, it was a magical evening, enjoyed by guests, organizers and actors, and with the carols and the angelic descant arising spontaneously from skilled sopranos in the audience, we knew that the season of peace and goodwill had come.

With the New Year, the Committee met to discuss the programme for the next few months. You will see details elsewhere in this newsletter. After Bruce Robertson’s excellent talk on “Enjoying Orchids” we are having a Members’ Evening, on February 23rd, with three short, illustrated talks, chosen by members on subjects of their interest. I can assure you that the talks will be entertaining and know that the speakers can look forward to a warm welcome from the audience. Thank you to Euan Scroggie, Bryan Dale and Isobel Lodge for offering to speak to us.

Then we have what promises to be an interesting evening on March 23rd when Agric Hadron will speak on “Year-round Vegetables – Lessons from Utopia”. The Utopia Experiment was a project designed to explore the issues of self-sufficiency and how idealism might be reconciled with reality. Our member Johanna Carrie has been involved with this, and we are grateful for her support in arranging for Agric to come to us.

Don’t forget the AGM on 27th April. Some time off still, but an occasion when you can hear about our plans, ask questions and make comments. As usual, a glass of wine will round off the evening, and enable informal (and frequently very productive) exchanges.

We then have four outdoor events where your help and support are greatly appreciated.

Open Garden Evening (May): three years ago, thanks to the initiative of Alex Kerr, we held our first evening open garden. Since then we have had the pleasure of visiting Elizabeth and Ron Partington, and Ann Duncan. If any member would like to open their garden for members around the middle of May (date to be fixed) we would be pleased to hold this event again this year.

Pallet Gardens (29 – 31 May at Gardening Scotland): the pallet gardens have become a popular attraction at Scotland’s annual Gardening Exhibition, and our Club has taken part from the outset. Christine Ireland (445 2266, email: dungavel@btopenworld.com) already has ideas and is recruiting a team to put them into effect. Would you like to join in the fun and be part of a winning venture? Please contact Christine.

Colinton Open Gardens (Saturday 6 June, 10 - 1200): this event, together with plant sale, teas and refreshments always seems to attract the sunshine, and provides the backdrop for a relaxed, social morning. Following the success in Bonaly last year, we are hoping that 4 to 5 gardens in the Pentland Road, Spylaw Bank Road, Gillespie Road area will be offered for opening. Please don’t be shy and get in touch with us (Christopher at 441 2152 or email: chair@colintongardens.org.uk)

Summer Outing (4 or 11 July): Planning is in hand with a view to visiting St Andrews and/or Dundee or the northern part of Fife. Not too much travelling, a good place for coffee and lunch and interesting and varied gardens to visit. The exact date will depend on commitments at the gardens in question, as we want them to have time to show us round properly. Further news will follow.

All that remains, for the moment, is to thank you for your support of the Club, to wish you energy and strength as the warmer weather approaches and the garden beckons, so that we can clear away the debris of winter and look forward to a glorious spring.

Happy gardening!

Christopher Davies
Chairperson

The Colinton Garden Club Players received their greatest acclaim to date at the Christmas party on 17th. December 2008. Here’s a reminder of some of the high points:

		“Doom” (Ian Stewart) foretells a bleak future for Colinton
		Honeysuckle (Patricia Maclennan) and Meconopsis (Elspeth MacGregor) in the mood to charm us
		Viburnum (Isobel Lodge – centre) and Michaelmas (Colin Whitehead) urge us to “Dig for Victory”, with a sceptical Meconopsis looking on.

Dates for your diary…

Cuttings

• Forthcoming Suntrap events - on Saturday 7th. February at 2.30 p.m., David Mitchell will give a talk about his career – David will be well known to Colinton Garden Club members and is a regular member of BBC Radio Scotland’s Potting Shed Team. This event is open to all. And on Saturday 7th. March Suntrap will be having a Flower Show and Quiz
• The Caley Spring Show will take place at the Royal Botanic Gardens on Saturday 28th / Sun 29th. March 11am - 5.30. The Caley Bicentenary will be commemorated in the floral clock in West Princes Gardens this summer - and look out for the logo on the mound
• Remember that the Garden Club website is an excellent source of information - just log on to www.colintongardens.org.uk. Some of the events in the spring and summer don’t have exact dates yet but as soon as we have these dates we’ll put them on the website
• The new session of the School Club starts on 29 January. The Club was very popular, last term, with a regular attendance of 15 or 16 young and excited pupils. Outdoor gardening and activities planned for Spring include work in the courtyard garden; taking outdoor cuttings; and an eco treasure hunt in the Gallolee Wood (now a nature reserve). Another session has an eco theme - we ask the children to re-use materials like old CDs (any no longer wanted by members gratefully received) and egg boxes for use in the garden, eg.bird scarers, plant pots, etc. In late January, we will make bird cakes and have a quiz about wild birds in the garden. Some members have kindly offered plants for indoor cuttings. We intend to make mini pallet gardens in compost trays and our final session before Easter will consist of making Easter trees with decorated eggs.
• If you discover that you have inadvertently let your subscription lapse, please send it to Colin Whitehead, Membership Secretary, 21 Laverockdale Park, Edinburgh EH13 0QE. If you need a membership renewal form, you can download one

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