Page 11 - HGS Suburb News 136 - Autumn 2018

All I want for Christmas is a WW1 trenching tool

gratefully received a myriad of Believe it or not this speaks could keep my secateurs in without piranha jaws. Best gift of all?
tools, the majority now suspended volumes about the tasks I stabbing my leg or tearing the Three pairs of heavy-duty cargo
purposefully on your shed wall, perform and the environment I pockets of my trousers with style trousers with built in
while I’m guessing you only work in. Surgical gloves under their blades. The best tool carrier? kneepads and holster multi-
ever use about half a dozen. So gardening gloves preserve my A Japanese saw bag. pockets; one on, one in the
which are your Must Have nails, and as an all season Here are some other slightly wash, one in the drawer!
tools? Once I identified mine I gardener, keep my hands warm more decorative suggestions: A And finally, floral tool gift
donated the other tools to schools and dry. My primary activity is good set of support loops, hoops sets are very thoughtful but if
or charities, and doubled up on pruning shrubs and perennials. or stakes. I find that even though they are pressed into service in
my essentials. If you’ve ever I don’t go up ladders so the I have dozens of semi-circular clay soil they won’t make it to
watched Monty Don messing shrubs I prune are no higher than hoops and loop stakes, none of Easter; a good gift however for
around in his potting shed, no my extendable loppers. A hand them are tall or broad enough, junior garden novices. Now if
doubt you will have noted the fork cuts through clay soil far a definite case of plant growth you’ll excuse me, I’m off to the
dozen or so Felco secateurs lined better than a trowel and a underestimation! There is an garden centre to spend my
up on the wall behind him. grubber loosens compacted soil increasingly imaginative but National Garden Gift Vouchers!
My everyday equipment surfaces. Incidentally, did you practical selection out there at Bird feeder plant stakes, that’s CAROLINE BROOME
includes, in order of usage: surgical know that the bar joining the plant fairs and garden centres. another Must Have (although
My hobbies are gardening, gloves, soil care gloves, sizes 6 & handle to the prongs – aka tines the risk of bird seed germination
baking and cats so you can bet 8 Felco secateurs, (no, I haven’t – of a hand fork, is called a Tang? might put some people off.) Or
your bottom dollar that my got shares in Felco!) light weight Anyway the tang and the tines even bird feeders (squirrel proof);
Christmas presents will be of a trimming snips, extendable need to be very securely welded lovely way to while away the
horticultural, culinary or feline loppers, garden shears, hand together as this is the weak spot time, watching the birdies.
nature. Well its almost that fork, grubber and last but not that usually snaps or bends in Oh how I would love to
time again folks, so I thought I least my WW1 trenching tool. cheap tools. Tines should be waft about in floral eau de nil
would offer some practical stainless steel and the handle and pink dungarees, carrying a
advice on choosing really useful hardwood. Not that I’m hinting wicker basket full of paisley
and prized gardening gifts that by any means! But my WW1 hand tools. I went through a
will put the recipient in mind trenching tool is a life saver; the phase of requesting jaunty or
of the donor every time they pick is ideal for breaking through humorous kneeling pads until I
are pressed into operation. baked soil and yanking out got sick of dragging them around
It’s likely that you have your thatched roots, whilst the three with me. The next best thing
faithful well-worn implements inch mattock blade severs thick appeared to be pastel coloured
but just as likely that they have roots and prizes out extensive root kneepads, the sort you attach
seen better days, so good quality balls. Got it on eBay of course! around the back of your knees
replacements would be very Don’t know about you, I’m with Velcro straps. Torture!
welcome. Over the years you may always losing my tools. An ideal After about half an hour it felt
well have bought, inherited or gift would be a holster that I like you were wearing a set of
THE GARDEN GIRL • 79 CHURCH LANE, EAST FINCHLEY, LONDON N2 0TH • M: 07757 016287 T: 020 8444 2329 EMAIL: CAROLINE@THEGARDENGIRLS.BIZ • LONDON GARDENS SOCIETY: BEST SMALL BACK GARDEN 2017 & 2018

Prize-winning Suburb gardeners Allotment

As the cheerful strains of London Gardens Society in its gardens next year on 7 July, book and on the NGS website – Harvest Supper
Harrow’s Grimsdyke Brass band annual garden competition, when the Horticultural Society www.ngs.org.uk – and on posters
rang out in the garden of the which covers the whole of celebrates its 110th year and nearer the time. There will be two The Allotment Committee had with an exquisite arrangement
Free Church Hall in Hampstead Greater London. opens 12 gardens on the same fabulous professional nurseries a wonderful Harvest Supper on of figs in a glass cylinder.
Garden Suburb, visitors inside At the presentation ceremony day in the Suburb in aid of the in attendance and teas in October 6 at Fellowship House. Margaret Lancaster, the
were enjoying the sights and held at the Guildhall on 4 National Garden Scheme (yellow Fellowship House. Check the There was a terrific turn out allotment committee secretary,
scents of HGS Horticultural October, the society was very book) charities. There will be Horticultural Society website of allotmenteers and friends who announced the winner of the
Society’s Autumn Flower Show proud to hear that committee full details on the Hort. Soc. for details of all the special all provided a sharing dish. The Phyllis Young Trophy, which
on 8 September. members had walked away with website – www.hortsoc.co.uk – events in their 110th year. food was superb, mostly home- was shared this year between
Despite, or perhaps because the two major prizes. Diane Berger in Suburb News, in the yellow MARJORIE HARRIS made and using allotment produce. Chris Page and Peter Hodgson.
of, the summer’s hot weather and and Suburb News correspondent The tables were decorated with For more information about
later torrential rain, exhibitors Caroline Broome and husband hand-thrown flowerpots full of Suburb allotments you can contact
produced a stunning array of David came first and won cups flowers and herbs, while the raallotments@hgs.org.uk.
flowers, fruit, veg and cooked and certificates in the ‘large back main food table was decorated RUTH BEEDLE
and baked goodies from their garden’ and ‘small back garden’
gardens and allotments. There competition categories respectively
was also a photo competition and – for the third year running!
a constant flow of customers Horticultural Society member
met friends and family in the Rosie Daniels was runner-up in
small hall for home-made teas. the ‘Best Patio Display’, and she
The Horticultural Society along with Marjorie Harris and
has good reason to be cheerful, Yvonne Oliver won gold certificates
as six of its members have just for their gardens.
won awards for beautiful gardens Many of the LGS prize-
in a competition run by the winners will be opening their

(Left) LGS prizewinners, David and (our own) Caroline Broome; (top) Caroline (again)
with Rosie Daniels and Diane Berger, also prizewinners; and (above) Hort Soc Flower
Show winners Chris Page and Ruth Beedle with their prize winning fruit and vegetables

Suburb rainfall

The June comment on rainfall was very dry (7.4 inches compared
concluded that we were in a dry with a norm of 11.6 inches) but
I specialise in all domestic and heatwave and were hoping for not the driest over the last thirty Four Seasons
commercial carpentry rain. Not nearly enough has come years (the normal time for GARDEN MAINTENANCE
to the highest possible standards since then. Even in August when averages to be calculated). 1989,
Professional decorating services we did hear some thunder, it with 5.8 inches, 1990, 2003 and
also managed with over 10 years was some way away and we 2016 were all lower than 2018.  Weekly or fortnightly maintenance contract  Garden clearance
 Lawn care (mowing, turfing, fertilisation etc.)  Planting
of excellence didn’t get a real downpour. So, with rainfall in the Suburb,  Weed killing & treatment  Hedge trimming, tree works
With climate change on many as with weather in Britain  Patio cleaning  All general garden services
Call now for a free quotation people’s minds, it is interesting generally, climate change is We offer a professional, reliable service with 10 years of
to look at some comparisons. It bringing larger variations from experience at an affordable price. Call Roland or leave a message
For all your professional seems reasonable to take May to normal rather than a steady for a free quote.
carpentry needs joshuabergercarpentry.com September as the overall summer drift towards more or less rain.  07584 574520  fourseasonsgarden@hotmail.com
months. Using this period, 2018 DIANA IWI FROM MEADWAY
SUBURB NEWS IS PRODUCED AND DELIVERED TO YOU BY RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION VOLUNTEERS 11