Clematis For Every Season. Peter Skeggs-Gooch, October's meeting.

If you were not sure which variety of clematis to grow in your garden before last month’s meeting, then you would certainly know following Peter’s talk. Peter Skeggs-Gooch, from Thorncroft Nursery, was a most professional speaker with an abundance of knowledge on clematis. Peter’s nursery specialises in clematis from around the world, and has won twelve Gold Medals at the Chelsea Flower Shows.

Peter explained how clematis make excellent companion plants as they easily grow through larger shrubs along with trees and are ideal at covering up old sheds or fencing. Some clematis, such as vanilla scented Montana Van Gogh, is a vigorous grower where as Integrifolia Alba, is small and has dainty sweet scented bell shaped flowers, making it ideal to scramble through other shrubs. Peter reminded us of the importance of planting most clematis into a deep hole below the first leaf joint, to avoid dieback and wilting. It is important to keep the roots cool, in shade and moist.

We were treated to a wonderful selection of stunning photographs from Peter’s collection most of which are available to purchase. Peter provided a useful handout of clematis for the different seasons, if you would like a copy let John know.  Peter’s nursery has two sites the one at Eversham in Worcester is for collection but plants can be ordered online at:  thorncroftclematis.co.uk.

If you are looking for a great variety and selection this is the place to go to.

 

 

Folklore - Believe It or Not! Nina Lewis September's meeting

 

Nina Lewis gave us a wonderful insight into the development and importance of folklore through the centuries, even today folklore plays a part in some societies. Folklore is evident  in so many aspects of life from births, weddings to funerals. Nina explained the different ways in which folklore is passed on and how our club meeting last month was a way of passing on local customs and traditions.    

We were told how red and white flowers would not be combined together, this dates back to the first world war as the red flower was seen to represent blood and the white flower bandages.  If you have a Hawthorn tree in your garden think carefully before cutting it down, as according to folklore it has many different powers, some claim that the Hawthorn is a tree of magical enchantment  and associated with celebrating spring when branches are brought inside on May Day but at no other time.

It was interesting to hear about the thistle and its importance in Scottish history. Nina told us how folklore tells of when Sterling Castle was under attack by Vikings. As the Vikings approached the castle during the night they had to walk across a field with thistles growing the thorns cut into the Vikings bare feet forcing them to cry out and alert the caste guards. 

Our thanks go to Nina for a most interesting evening and with a reminder to pass on our own folklore stories to our families.

 

      

Julie Charlesworth - Gardeners And Their Buildings, August's zoom meeting

Julie’s talk last month gave us a wonderful insight into the lives of gardeners  on the grand estates of the past, the hierarchy of the garden workforce reflected that of the house servants. The head gardener was the equivalent to the head butler, this gave the head gardener the best accommodation. Julie is a freelance author and lecturer with a great interest and knowledge in historic garden estates, she provided some amazing old photos of gardeners and their homes, along with some interesting adverts from newspapers in the 1800s.

Gardening positions on the estates often required the wives and children to also do work. Gardening positions were dominated by men during this time, we were shown one advert which gave details of the weeding which the women were expected to do along with household chores. A campaigner for women to be involved in gardening was Frances Garnet Wolseley, the daughter of Sir Wolseley, she rejected her upper class background in favour of gardening. One of her famous books is Gardening for Women which contains brilliant illustrations for the period.     

 

  

The head gardener’s home was of a high standard with all the mod cons of time, however the junior gardeners were not so fortunate. Junior staff often lived in the Bothy which was very basic and could be cold and damp. Junior staff would keep warm by sleeping in the hot houses during the winter, although their sleep would be interrupted as the boilers needed to be maintained throughout the night. Julie’s talk was a fascinating looking to gardeners of the past.