COLINTON GARDEN CLUB
NEWSLETTER NO 89 February 2010
COLINTON GARDEN CLUB |
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Coming soon...Monday 22nd February, 8p.m. Monday 22nd. March, 8 p.m. Spring 2010 Fertiliser Order Here you will find the Fertiliser Order form for Spring 2010. Please complete this and return to Dawn Ellis by Monday 22nd. February (full details on the form) |
From the pen of our Chair…
The snowy mantle covering Colinton over the Christmas weeks brought with it fresh enchantment. By day, families were out walking, sledging and skiing and at Hogmanay the slopes of the Pentlands were the ideal place to meet for the turn of the year. In a temperature several degrees below zero, bathed in the silvery light of the full moon, you could not fail to be filled with a feeling of promise by the colourful display of fireworks ascending from across the city panorama below. Beneath our feet nature was biding her time, holding her breath, waiting for stirrings of warmth to release her own profusion of colour for the Spring and Summer to come. Sure enough, as the snow and ice relax their grip, we observe that the bulbs are starting to break forth and the faithful witch-hazel in our garden is bursting into its welcoming blossom. The memories of the cosy companionship of Christmas still linger. Remember the Garden Club Christmas Party on 16th December? We continued our tradition of performing a specially written play, this year “High Moon”, a pantomime dealing with the theme of plant tourism and the CGC’s ambitions to colonise the moon. Isobel Lodge with her co-writers and musical director, Audrey Dobson, excelled. The cast with choir surpassed themselves. The production was amateur in the best sense of the word, and the audience was wonderful. “A really happy evening,” said one of our members. |
By the time you read this, your garden will be visibly responding to the call of the New Year and our thoughts will be turning outdoors again. There is still a lot to happen in the Garden Club. Since Ian Douglas took us on “The Redwood Trail” in November, in January Margaret Kilpatrick, together with Neil, told us about her adventures closer to home, in “Creating a Country Garden” in Kinross-shire. The packed and eager audience were very well entertained by a most interesting talk and brilliant illustrations. As a sequel to this talk, Margaret and Neil have kindly invited a group of us to pay them – and the garden – a visit in May or June. We will probably do this by sharing cars, with plans and details being announced nearer the time.
Then we will learn about “Roses” (from Iain Silver) in February, and “Birds” (from Stan da Prato) in March. The programme of talks is traditionally rounded off by the AGM in April when we review the year and talk about our forthcoming plans.
Talks (and talking) are not the only things that the Garden Club does, of course. As the weather improves, we naturally move outside. On Tuesday 23rd February a group of us will visit the Botanic Gardens for breakfast, a meeting with Alan Bennell (the Head of Visitor Services) with a guided tour of the new John Hope Gateway, and a look afterwards at the snowdrops. In May we plan the now well established “Evening Open Garden”, followed a few weeks later by the “Open Gardens” – a Saturday morning stroll – and then our annual outing in July. Details of all these events will be announced well in advance, so that you know where to go, and if necessary how to sign up.
Last year, Christine Ireland and her team won us a gold medal at Gardening Scotland’s “Pallet Garden Competition”. This was a really good achievement and recognition of the hard work and creativity of the team – and the fun they had getting there. We are delighted that Christine will again be leading our entry this year. If you would like to take part, contact Christine (phone number in your membership booklet) and make arrangements.
As we approach the AGM, our thoughts turn to the Committee. We are looking for someone to join us who has specific skills in “communications” – masterminding the newsletters and creating the monthly posters. This implies some understanding of editorial skills and a moderate level of computer literacy. The formal duties are not onerous and you can be assured of pleasant colleagues. Interested? Contact me at chair@colintongardens.org.uk
Which brings me to our website. This is a real source of information as well as an archive. You will find not only our current programme and the latest newsletters or downloadable forms, but also photographs of events, e.g. the Christmas Party and past issues of the newsletter. A gold mine for social historians, full of interesting insights unto the activities and personalities of that species termed Colinton Gardener.
But instead of sitting here, writing and gently chatting to you, pleasant as that is, I have the feeling that with the weather improving, it’s time to get outside into the garden and to have a go at sorting out the soggy residue left by the departure of the snow. Perhaps in the process I might uncover a worm for my curious companion, the robin.
Happy
Gardening!
Christopher Davies
This will take place on Tuesday 23rd. February at the new centre at the Botanics.
We will meet for breakfast at 9.30 am, and there will then be a guided tour
of the Gateway Building (led by Alan Bennell, Head of Visitor Services) followed
by a guided tour of the snowdrop garden.
Getting there – make your own way by bus or perhaps share your car – please
note that there are just a few places left. Contact Christopher chair@colintongardens.org.uk or phone 441 2152
Are you interested in promoting Colinton Garden Club?
Have you got some experience of desktop publishing and/ or putting together newsletters?
Colinton Garden Club is looking for someone to take over this newsletter, which is produced four times a year.
Printing and distribution arrangements are already in place and work well,
and the vacancy will arise in the summer of 2010.
In addition to putting together the newsletter, the current post-holder (!) also produces the posters which are displayed in various locations throughout Colinton.
Remuneration: out-of-pocket expenses are met.
For more information please contact Alasdair Ferguson on 0131 477 0178
Date
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Monday
22nd February 10 |
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Tuesday 23rd February 10 |
Visit to John Hope Gateway/Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh |
Monday
22nd March 10 |
Meeting: “Birds in Your Garden” |
Monday
26th April 10 |
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Monday evening
May 10 |
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Saturday
May/ June 2010 |
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Saturday
June/ July 2010 |
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Christine Ireland writes:
It’s that time of year again when we need to be thinking about Gardening Scotland and the pallet garden competition. With all this snow about it is difficult to imagine anything growing again! Once we have an idea it is a matter of sourcing artefacts and deciding which plants might be in flower and available. It’s amazing how much is needed to fill a meter square! If you would like to be part of the team please let myself or Chris know. This is what last year’s winning entry looked like:
Can you identify these stars of stage? They include:
Christopher Davies, Isobel Lodge, Penny McKee, Jenni Connaughton, Elizabeth Partington, Ian Duncan, Elspeth MacGregor and Keith Gordon.
See also our pictures on this website.
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Dear
Friends