Review

When Stephen Desmond came to Ticknall Garden Club in September to give a talk with the title The Kitchen Garden it was probable that most of the audience was expecting to hear lots of advice on growing vegetables. They were in for quite a surprise as instead, he took listeners back in time to the seventeenth century.

Patsy Rayner‘s son went to Japan while a student nineteen years ago and this led to him making his home there. As a consequence Patsy is now very familiar with the Japanese way of life. She has made a study of Japanese gardens and Ticknall Garden Club were treated to the results of this in a fascinating talk at their July meeting.

Jeff Bates made a welcome return to Ticknall Garden Club for their April meeting. He gave a guided tour of seven of his favourite English gardens. He illustrated his choice with his own stunning photographs taken on location.

Philip Aubury was director of Birmingham Botanical Gardens for many years so it was no surprise to find that he was exactly the right person to talk to Ticknall Garden Club about the care of houseplants at their February meeting.

There was no doubting the subject of Ticknall Garden Club’s talk on November 14th when Stan Griffin and Vicky Newman arrived both resplendent in matching waistcoats and jackets covered in cacti.

If you want clear and helpful advice on growing and pruning climbers then you cannot do better than listen to Jeff Bates. This is what an attentive audience did at the Ticknall Garden Club meeting on January 10th. After many years’ experience as a lecturer in horticulture his advice is always practical and down to earth.

Members and guests of Ticknall Garden Club attended the Annual Christmas Social Evening on December 13th. They were treated to a tempting and generous buffet which had been prepared by committee members and helpers.

Ticknall Garden Club were privileged to have a visit from Tony Kirkham, Head of the Arboretum at Kew Gardens, at their November meeting. He proved to be a genial guide to his chosen topic of Trees that Made Britain. His TV programme, made a few years ago, highlighted the important role that native trees have played in our history and culture.

What can you plant in your garden to cover the gap between the fresh colours of spring and the dazzling shades of high summer? That was what Martin Blow came to talk about to Ticknall Garden Club at their June meeting. He brought a choice selection of perennial plants with him to demonstrate the wide variety available.

When Robert Barlow came to talk to Ticknall Garden Club in May he told a familiar story of an enthusiastic gardener’s interest in a particular plant developing into an all-consuming passion that has taken over his life. That plant was the popular perennial the hosta. Within twenty years he has amassed a collection of over 4,000 plants of 350 varieties. He was therefore well qualified to give an interested audience a masterclass in their cultivation.