Daffodils "Fortune": The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

At the AGM last December daffodil bulbs were handed round, in readiness to grow for a competition at the Monthly Meeting in April 2020. Alas,  because of the Coronavirus outbreak the meeting has been cancelled.
So, we thought it would be an idea to see what has happened to those that are growing the bulbs, with hopefully a comment on how they have got on.
We hope the early  photos will show us how things are at the beginning of April.
Any submissions will be added to those below:

WS makes progress with the 2020 bulbs plus the 2019 (background) as well

PW's effort.Will it be flowering in early April?

Planted in December, moved it indoors in January and it flowered early March.

This year planted 12 Jan & grown on a shelf inside the small window of my shed. (I don’t have a greenhouse). Doing well. CD

Promise I’ll do better next year.  😂😂😂 MR

Only one of two bulbs in this pot....

.....but two in this one. However, both pots are too early in flower, and likely to be over by April MY

The Coronavirus: a note from the Chairman

Following the Government’s advice your Committee have taken the decision to cancel the April meeting of the Society and we will make a decision in due course about the cancellation of the rest of our meetings up to the summer.

As our daffodil competition will not happen if you have any photographs of them can you please send them to Malcolm Young (lodhsgardens@gmail.com) and we will put them up here.

It also looks likely that we will have to call off both the plant sale and the planned ‘Summer Show’

We will try and keep you informed of developments via e-mail and on our blog. The monthly newsletter will be going out by email only.

If we are required to self-isolate at least we have our gardens to enjoy.

If your daffodils are looking good can you add them to the Woodhouse Centre garden to give it some more spring colour. Just tuck them away nearby and Chris will plant them.

Wishing you all the very best

Yours

Richard Meakin

Chairman Limpsfield Oxted and District Horticultural Society

Primula Auriculas - March 2020

On Wednesday 4 March, at our Monthly Meeting we enjoyed a well presented talk by Rachel Castle. 
She  owns and runs Swallowfields Nursery, a small specialist nursery at Elmstead in Kent, specialises in, her true love are Primula Auricula in all its various forms
Their natural habitat is the mountain regions of Europe, Pyrenees, Alps and Dolomites which gives a clue to their preferred conditions, good drainage, sunshine but partly shaded with little nutrients.
The Huguenots were keen horticulturists and when they fled Europe to the UK brought Auriculas with them. 50,000 of them fled from France  to England and many settled in Kent. There is even a Huguenot Chapel in Canterbury Cathedral.

Rachel after her talk

We viewed images of the various categories of Primula Auriculas. Borders which smell divine, Alpines without the dusting of farina with dark to light gradation of the blooms with little scent and Doubles with a wonderful scent. Then there are the Show Auriculas: selfs, green edged, white edged, stripped and fancy most with wonderful dusting of farina giving them an almost unreal appearance. They are, however, difficult to grow.
Rachel concluded with her top tips for successful growing:
No Swimming 
No Sunbathing 
Regular bottom inspections 
We then had the opportunity to view and purchase a selection of Auriculas.

Above and below: some of the plants for sale

 

Dan Ryan - Febbruary 2020

Our first meeting of 2020, which took place on Wednesday 5 February, the Guest Speaker was Dan Ryan, the Head Gardener of Gatton Park, Reigate RH2 0TW.
Of particular interest at the moment is the snowdrop season, which will make a visit particularly worth while. As the main building is a school, opening times are limited, please check details here: https://gattonpark.com/visitingtimes.html
Basically, the 260 acre estate was designed by Capability Brown, with the addition of Edwardian gardens by the then owner of the property Jeremiah Coleman (of mustard fame). He grew, and had a personal passion for orchids.
The estate is privately owned and is being restored by the Gatton Trust. The work continues to conserve the park. Dan would love to see the rather special Edwardian Greenhouses restored, and will do so as soon as funding permits.
There are water features, and in particular a main lake with a pan handle.
We were given the opportunity to purchase Gatton snow drops, Galanthus "elwesil" .
The 2020 Monthly Competition started at this meeting
and Chris D was the winner.

AGM 4 Decmebr 2019

A good crowd of members joined us for the AGM.
Chairman Rick got through the formalities in half an hour or so. 
We made a small surplus in the last financial year, which is good news.
Roger H and Sandra E have retired from the Committee, but are joined by Chris D. Otherwise the rest are the same familiar faces.
Then it was on to our Christmas Celebration. Out came the hot Mulled Wine, which was very welcome on such a chilly night. Then there was lots of tasty food which many of those present brought in for all to enjoy. They must have done just that as there was very little left at the end of the evening.
Karen provided all the material necessary to create some Christmas wreaths. Several tables had a go and we ended up with four.
In addition, Jenny asked if a large outline star could be decorated. This is to provide an exhibit at the Christmas display at the Woodhouse Centre next door to the Red Cross Hall.

Choosing the materials for the wreathes

The star gets decorated

The star ready for the Woodhouse Centre

Christmas Wreath in preparation

One table completed two wreathes

Another on here

Then we have the four to admire

LEN STEBBINGS RIP

Len with his wife Pearl

We were saddened to learn that one of the local pillars of all things gardening, Len Stebbings died on 29 November 2019. In 2012 he moved to Lowestoft, but up until then he was resident in Oxted, and was a force for good in all matters horticultural.He was someone who the expression "green fingers" was created. Almost everything he touched seemed to grow, and flourish.
As an RHS judge and he was a familiar sight at many shows.
Not only a keen member of LODHS, he was an active participant in the Hurst Green Gardening Club, and as an exhibitor he was always up there with the best.
He was on our Committee for many years and his final role, up until his departure for the East Coast was President of the Society.
The following was written by Len's son and is worth repeating here:
"It is with sorrow that I have to announce that dad passed away on Friday November 29 at about midnight. He suffered a fall almost two weeks earlier and had been in hospital since. I was fortunate that I visited earlier last week and saw him while he was as outspoken as ever, but by Wednesday he was much quieter. I had to return to Ireland but was pleased to have spent time with him on what turned out to be his last days. He passed away surrounded by the rest of the family who have been so supportive of mum since.
Many people will remember him, either as Father Christmas in the Oxted area, through his horticultural endeavours, including as an NVS judge or as a teacher at Oxted County School.
Mum and Dad returned to their family home in Lowestoft several years ago where they enjoyed the support of our extended family.
Dad passed away just a few weeks off his 86th birthday.
Lamp posts and supermarket shelves need fear his electric buggy no more, but I am sure he is causing mayhem somewhere still."
In conclusion, those of us that came into contact with Len will retain very happy memories of him, his general exuberance and his enthusiasm for life.
Our condolences to Pearl and his family. May he rest in peace. 

HARVEST SUPPER

On Saturday 12 October we enjoyed our third Harvest Supper at the Red Cross Hall, Oxted. On the menu was a choice of either Steak & Ale Pie or Chicken Parmiagno (Chicken with a Tomato, Basil & Mozzarella Sauce), followed by a crumble or pavlova and to finish, coffee. It all seemed to go down very well as there was very little to clear away at the end.

Sylvia C did a splendid job of organising the evening. To stimulate the mind and assist digestion, a couple of quizzes were included. No prizes, but just the satisfaction of getting some (or all) the answers right. One quiz was a particular tease. This was to guess six varieties of apple. They were all British and all purchased locally. Some unusual varieties were there. How many would you recognise: Cox, Rubinstep, Delbard Estivale, Bramley, Smitten and Red Windsor? 

Guests made contributions of non perishable goods for the Caterham Food Bank.

The evening rounded off with a lot of conversation, and a reluctance to head for home. We think they enjoyed the evening.

Getting ready for the meal to be served

Guess the variety of apple

Post Supper Chat

Chris Stewart: The Mole Man

Chris Stewart is seen on the right

On Wednesday 2 October our speaker was Chris Stewart, who gave an illustrated talk about the facinating, yet secret life of the mole. Chris is a professional mole catcher, but from what he said it is evident he has a great respect for the small creatures.
They have great strength, can carry loads heavier than their body weight, are very territorial and mostly live on their own.
These days poison is not permitted to catch moles as it too cruel, but traps are used instead. The implements in the photo are examples of what has been used, and look like something out of a torture chamber.

Implements used to trap moles

Years ago, there was some value in mole pelts to make clothing, but presently the only use seems to be for use on fishing lines, with a very small financial return.
Did you know the collective name for moles is "company"?
Chris had one piece of advise for gardeners. Always wear a pair of safety glasses. There are just so many hazards that can damage the eyes, and it is better to be safe than sorry.

Below are the winning entries to our monthly competition. What a colourful display they make.