6th October 2022 • The HERALD • Page 51 v SAY YOU SAW IT IN THE HERALD v ✿ DOWN THE GARDEN PATH ✿ A J GLEESON BUILDING & GROUNDWORK DRIVEWAYS EXTENSIONS BRICKWORK GROUNDWORK BLOCK PAVING Colours & Designs to suit your requirements Local Work Available to View CALL FOR A FREE QUOTATION New Forest & Southampton 023 8084 4180 Mobile: 07770 771475 Bramdene, Main Road, Dibden, Southampton RYAN FENCING Quality Fencing & Gates 07769 706516 • 023 8084 1203 www.ryan-fencing.co.uk • Find us on Facebook THE TREE & LANDSCAPE WIZARD All aspects of tree surgery, garden maintenance and landscaping undertaken Family run business for over 20 years No Job Too Big or Small Please call 07552 977731 for a Free Quotation BEAULIEU HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY On Saturday 3rd September, Beaulieu Village Hall was lled with a colourful array of owers, fruit and vegetables when Beaulieu Horticultural Society held its Autumn Show. We can all understand that the summer of 2022 has been a challenge for gardeners in the New Forest. A er a relatively dry spring, the hot, dry conditions in the summer, when only 1.4 mm of rain was recorded in Southampton in July, has meant that keeping owers, fruit and vegetables growing with watering during a drought and a hosepipe ban has been di cult, to say the least! However, gardeners are generally an optimistic breed and so, whilst the overall number of entries was slightly below pre-Covid levels, particularly in the oral section, the experienced judge, John Trim, was able to congratulate the participants for their exhibits. ere was particular praise for the onion and pear exhibits. It was also encouraging that there were several novice exhibitors who won awards for their vegetables. Lord Montagu commended the exhibitors for a good e ort in spite of the drought impact and said that Palace House was fortunate to have its own water supply from the Abbey spring. He presented the following cups: e Solomon Cup for the best exhibit in the Flowers Section to Stephen Bishop. e Holder Cup for the best exhibit in the Vegetables Section to Barry Short. e Ehrman Cup for the best exhibit in the Floral Arrangements Section to Liz Coppack. On 15th September, a group of members had a most enjoyable visit to Gilbert’s Nursery in Sher eld English near Romsey, which specialises in Dahlias. Nick Gilbert, the Nursery owner and Dahlia expert, gave a most informative talk before leading a tour of the Dahlia eld. Nick and his team actually grow over 700 varieties of Dahlias from which they take cuttings each year and 300 of themmay be on show in the Dahlia eld and available to purchase or order . ere is a very helpful catalogue. It was a sunny early Autumn a ernoon and the Dahlia eld was a very colourful picture but Nick understandably said that it had been a very challenging growing season. Whilst Dahlias are a native of Mexico, this summer’s uctuating temperatures and lack of rain had hampered growth and suited red spider mites, a pest. Interestingly, Dahlias, which are named a er the Swedish botanist Anders Dahl, were rst introduced to Europe in the 18th century as tubers for human consumption. e single owered Dahlia Coccinea was the rst introduction and since then natural hybridisation by insects, especially bees, and also by controlled hybridisation by cross-pollination and seed head collection has produced hundreds of varieties in a wonderful selection of colours and ower forms. e search is still on for a true blue. Nick and his team create their own cultivars and he o ered very helpful cultivation advice including how to grow Dahlias from one’s own plants’ seeds and also the important job of keeping the tubers over Winter. Dahlias are the supreme late summer and early autumn ower, easy to grow whether in a border, container or as a cut ower and a visit to Gilbert’s Nursery, including its co ee shop at that time of year is a real treat for plant lovers. On Thursday 20th October, a talk by Jane Balfour ‘ e Renaissance Gardens of Florence’ at 2pm in East Boldre Lord Montagu presenting the Soloman Cup to Stephen Bishop Village Hall. is is a rescheduled talk. Visitors welcome. Followed on Thursday 4th November at 2.30pm AGM and Gardeners’ Question Time, refreshments, East Boldre Village Hall. Snowdrops Woodlands Gardening Club meets on the second Tuesday of the month. Meetings start at 7.30pm at Netley Marsh Community Hall, Woodlands Road, Netley Marsh and their next meeting takes place on Tuesday 11th October for a talk by Lyn Miles titled ‘Snowdrops’. Followed on Tuesday 8th November for a talk by Pip Bensley titled ‘China’ - A wonderful adventure as part of an international jury for oral designs in China. Visitors are verywelcome at £2.50; formore information about the club, call Susanna on: 023 8029 2953. AGM AND PUMPKIN COMPETITION Bartley Horticultural Society next meeting is on Thursday 20th October for their AGM and a Pumpkin Competition with Pumpkin Carving. Followed on Thursday 17th November for a talk by Alan Edmondson titled ‘Gardening for Wildlife’. Meetings take place on the third ursday of the month at Copythorne Parish Hall, Pollards Moor Road, Copythorne SO40 2NT at 7.30pm. New members and visitors are always welcome. Visitors fee applies. For more information you can write to them at: Mavis Cottage, Pollards Moor Road, Copythorne, SO40 2NZ, call: 07789 352505 or visit their website: www.bartleyhs.org.uk
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