Page 11 - HGS Suburb News 139 - Summer 2019
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HGS Horticultural Society Group Open Gardens Day – A Lesson in Team Work
Opening your garden to the public is about people down to a whisper. 121 Erskine Hill has canine gossip from plot to plot and sent across extra
not gardens really. Yes, the fourteen gardens and friendly artificial grass bordered by eye popping help to each other. A well-oiled machine.
one allotment were at their peak, all unique and displays of small cluster roses, blowing And then there’s the small matter of Teas!
inspiring in their own right. Indeed, our donation preconceived ideas about fake grass right out of The gardens, pah, piece of cake (if you’ll pardon
to the National Garden Scheme charities amounted the water! The gardens in Addison Way show the pun) but the catering at Fellowship House
to a record breaking nearly £9,000. But my what horticultural gems can be created out of was like a military operation. At the height of
lasting impression will be one of camaraderie the smallest, most challenging spaces. Wheel the afternoon a dozen volunteers were going full
and well-being emanating from the streets and out the Big Guns of Willifield and Wordsworth, pelt manning the urns. It’s a long time since I’ve
twittens in and around the Artisan Quarter. Asmuns and Erskine. Although award winners had to prepare a staff rota but with fifteen
We gardeners don’t need to be reminded by everyone, none are content to rest on their locations covering about a square mile it came in
the government or the medical profession that laurels, constantly updating their planting very handy and raised a few laughs amongst
gardening is good for your health. (Although the schemes. Pity the poor performers in their friends! One team on savouries, one on cakes.
garden openers and volunteers who were involved borders, swiftly sacrificed for newer, more Local residents arriving with home baked cakes Allotment abundance
in the NGS Group Open Gardens Day in the unusual specimens! and relatives of Garden Openers co-opted to
Suburb on Sunday July 7 might have disagreed, As NGS Assistant County Organiser I elected help wherever needed. E-mails from volunteers
after their back breaking six-hour stint!) to coordinate this HGS Hort. Soc. Open Gardens thanking me for including them in the event,
Four new gardens, eager to join the party, Day: If visitors wondered who that strange proud to be part of the community. Well, if that
lured our regulars, whilst the prospect of an woman was following them through the twittens doesn’t speak volumes for the goodness of
afternoon of home-made tea and cakes and joining in their conversations, they were far gardening, then I don’t know what does! Wanna
accompanied by local pianist Alexandra Westcott, too polite to comment. Strangers were be in my gang? Join our Horticultural Society at
and a tipple here and there whilst admiring comparing the merits of this garden and that, hgshs.membership@virginmedia.com.
some of the prettiest gardens in London, attracted and, “Have you been to so and so yet, you must CAROLINE BROOME
500 visitors. Yes OK, to the uninitiated the go.” One Garden Opener felt a palpable buzz in
Suburb might fall somewhere between Midsomer the air, created by the anticipation and
Murders and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, but enjoyment of visitors strolling around the
as an Outlander from the other side of the A1, Suburb, map in hand. Talking of which, these
it’s the HGS Horticultural Society that that has Garden Openers are seriously driven, or proactive
given me that feeling of community and in politically correct terminology! Their
belonging that had evaded me as a city dweller. efficiency is scary: They were to be seen placing
Over the years I’ve been to numerous bucolic traffic cones outside the Fellowship at 9pm
Village Garden Festivals and urbane Town Saturday evening, ensuring parking space for the
Garden Group Openings, but I’m fairly sure that visiting professional nurseries, and fixing up
a combination of both, a stone’s throw from one directional signage at 6am Sunday morning in
of the largest city centres in the world, is pretty the pouring rain. Each logged the number of
unique. Gardens to suit all tastes: At 102 visitors to their own gardens, some sold home-
Willifield Way, the calm white and lilac colour propagated plants and produce, held raffles, fed
palette brought the volume of chatter right and watered their guests. They passed on garden Before and after, North Way Calm oasis at 102 Willifield
EMAIL: C.BROOME.GARDENGIRL@GMAIL.COM
Summer Flower Show Horticulural Society
The Summer Flower Show took work of Yvonne Oliver and the feeling inspired to cultivate their 110th anniversary
place in June at the Free Church show committee resulted in the gardens and allotments to the
Hall. The morning began early high attendance and hopefully high standard on display here. It doesn’t seem 10 years since Hampstead Garden Suburb, and
with exhibitors preparing their many more Suburb residents AUGUSTA WOLFF the society celebrated its 100th is the only one to have survived
produce and gradually over the birthday. But time stops for no to the present day in more or
course of the day the Hall was man (or woman) and this year less its original form. In addition
filled with the heady scent of is in fact the 110th anniversary to many other cups and prizes,
sweet peas and roses. of our foundation in May 1909. it also awards its own medals to
Classes ranged from the Just two years after the first show winners. Until 2008 they
traditional flowers and vegetables families moved into Hampstead were bronze, but they were
to the Smelliest Rose as well as Garden Suburb, Henrietta Barnett changed to silver to celebrate
birthday cakes to celebrate the called a meeting of interested our centenary. Please go to www.
Society’s 110th birthday. Suburb residents together, they hortsoc.co.uk for a full history.
Christopher Matthews, a first formed a committee and within Here’s to the next 110 years!
time exhibitor, won first prizes months they had put on a We couldn’t do it without your
in both the single and double flower show in a marquee on participation and support.
delphinium spike classes. Central Square. MARJORIE HARRIS
Another of the competitions Double first-prize winner, Christopher Since then shows have been
is for the best display in the 12 Matthews held every year except during
plus children’s category. This is the Second World War. At first
named after Anthony Arnold they took place in the Henrietta
Holton, the son of Suburb SYLVIA COURY Barnett School Hall, but for many
residents Walter and Gertrude years now they have been held
Holton and a trooper in the in the Free Church Hall, with
Royal Tank Regiment, who died smaller shows such as the
in Normandy in June 1944. centenary Spring Show being
First Awarded in 1951, the held in Fellowship House.
present holder of the Holton The Horticultural Society
Cup is Joe Coury-Reid. was the first society to come
There was an ever popular into existence in the fledgling
Punch and Judy Show. A major
attraction is always the cake and
tea provided by Barbara Perry Hungry caterpillars are
and her team. Marjorie Harris
curated a fascinating display of eating up our hedges!
the history of the Society.
The number of visitors was Check out your box hedges and by picking off the caterpillars
higher than last year. The hard Summer Flower Show preparations Holton Cup holder, Joe Coury-Reid trees as box tree caterpillars and some people like to use
(Cycladima) are very much in pheromone traps. However I have
Suburb rainfall evidence on the Suburb. successfully used an organic
bacterial insecticide Bacillus
They can strip mature hedges
caterpillars and protects bees
caterpillars have overwintered and
It will come as no surprise to precipitation. Indeed, since these two of those have been in the the driest part of the year and in a short time and the large thurengiensis which only affect
readers of this column that yet records started in 1980, there last five years. So it hardly seems this year they were drier than are very hungry. Our beautiful and other wildlife. It needs to be
again the first half of the year have only been four similarly like undue scaremongering to usual. The four or five inches box hedges that run almost all sprayed every two weeks between
has seen well below average dry first halves of the year, and suggest that climate change is that used occasionally to make the way down the north side of April and October. It is possible
real, and a crisis, and is going to June an easier month for water Temple Fortune Hill are looking it to buy on line as ‘Raupenfrei’
Four Seasons result in some very difficult supply seem to be rarer now. very moth eaten. made by Neudorf. RUTH BEEDLE
To protect themselves the
problems for us. Those trying to
Granted that, at 2.35 inches,
GARDEN MAINTENANCE care for their gardens will have precipitation in June has caterpillars cover the plant in a
found that the 1.5inches, which
provided some relief, but not
white cocoon. They grow slowly
fell over the April to June period, enough to make up for the hidden within the foliage before
Weekly or fortnightly maintenance contract Garden clearance meant watering cans or hoses shortage before. Unfortunately, becoming mature and voracious
Lawn care (mowing, turfing, fertilisation etc.) Planting were necessary for any things there is only one example of caterpillars. In good conditions
Weed killing & treatment Hedge trimming, tree works not fully established, and even over four inches from these the box tree moth can have
Patio cleaning All general garden services
We offer a professional, reliable service with 10 years of for some that were. records (in 2012) to suggest that three generations in a year. For
experience at an affordable price. Call Roland or leave a message It seems to be in the months July might result in anything to more information on them see
for a free quote. of April and May that the driest comfort our supposedly green the RHS website.
07584 574520 fourseasonsgarden@hotmail.com times have been experienced. and pleasant land. You can save the plants in a
They are, with March, on average, DIANA IWI FROM MEADWAY number of ways, the simplest
SUBURB NEWS IS PRODUCED AND DELIVERED TO YOU BY RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION VOLUNTEERS 11