125th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

Thanks to Sandra and Alan we were able to celebrate the 125th Anniversary of LODHS in the lovely setting of the home in Rockfield Road. To make things even better the sun shone, and the "light " lunch was very tasty. Here is the setting and a couple of pictures of the garden. Thank you to all those who helped to make the day a success and not least those who were able to join us.

PIMM'S NIGHT JULY 2014

As has been our practice for a number of years our last monthly meeting of the summer includes a glass (or two) of Pimm's plus strawberries and ice cream. Delicious!
We were also entertained by Sylvia, who gave a demonstration of "how to exhibit at shows". A most enlightening, and a timely reminder to get ready for our show in September. Sylvia is seen here assisted by Linda plus a table full of vegetables and plants of all shapes and sizes.

New for this year is our Sweet Pea challenge. Rick and Linda were the joint winners with Julie a worthy third.

Hurst Green Summer Flower Show 2014

Wednesday 11 June was the date for the Summer Evening Flower Show at St Agatha's Hall staged by the Hurst Green Gardening Club in association with LODHS. What a happy occasion it proved to be with a good number of exhibits and a good size crowd to enjoy it all, refreshed by a glass (or two) of Pimm's. The show was judged by the inimitable Sylvia Pocock, and the best entry in show was awarded to Linda. Congratuations on her prize winning vegetable entry.
What a delightful and relaxing occasion.

The fruit and veg entries. Linda's winner is on the left

VISIT TO STANDEN

We were fortunate in obtaining an invitation from James Masters for a private visit on Thursday 5 June to the garden at Standen, near East Grinstead. Despite his busy schedule we were given a first class tour and were able to see things at their very best. Here is a picture of some of the party that went along. Thank you James for making it possible.

Photo by Rick Meakin

JUNE 2014 MEETING

Roger Platts wowed the crowd with his tale of mounting his Chelsea Centenary entry in 2013. Apart from anything else an incredible lesson in logistics to get everything built and set up in time for the opening. Roger also takes pride in the fact he does not use any particular mechanical aids except to lift pallets off the lorries. Will he do it all again? Well never say never.
He brought along a tremendous selection of plants from his nursery near Edenbridge. Just look at one of the monsters.

  

 Below is the winning entry from Roy Eaton to our Monthly Competition.  A delightful collection of aquilegas.

ROGER PLATTS WEDNESDAY 4 JUNE

ROGER
PLATTS

To mark the centenary of The Chelsea Flower Show, Roger created a garden for M&G in 2013 called ‘Windows through time’.
We are delighted to welcome him back to speak to us about exhibiting at Chelsea and the Centenary garden.
So make a note of Wednesday
4 June to come and hear him.
If you are not a member a very limited number of tickets are available. Please call/text 07913016687 for further details.

PLANT SALE 2014

Our Plant Sale took place on a rather wet and uninviting Saturday morning in the middle of May. The top photo shows the what goes on setting up the hall, and the lower the action when the buyers are let in. Lots of first class plants to choose, most of which are not offered by supermarkets. All the proceeds support our activities throughout the year, and the plants are donated by members.

Hops and Hop Pickers

At the beginning of May our speaker was Chis Stewart, whose subject was Hops and Hop Pickers in the county of Kent. This was a combinations of general and social history, horticulture, beer and not not to mention a drop of economics. What a deluge of information to take in to what was a very large industry that has all but disappeared in the country.
It seems that that largest hop growers in Europe is Germany.