WELCOME

Welcome to our Gardening Club Rhydlewis and District Gardening Club has been around since the time of Adam and Eve. In fact, it is believed that one of our members planted and tended the very apple tree that gave rise to the pair being expelled from the garden!!

Whether this urban myth is true or not, the club is here to encourage, improve and extend the members' knowledge of all branches of horticulture. It is open to everyone and new members are all always welcome to come along.

Our activities during the year include a varied programme of talks and social events, summer garden visits, a plant sale, social gatherings/bbq and an annual open show in August.


Saturday 1 December 2018

Dreaded Gardening...

Photo Credits; Facebook The Dreaded Gardener
A huge thanks to Malcolm Berry, the "Dreaded Gardener"  who came in November to give us a talk called  'Weaving the Web: Towards a Natural Garden'. This turned out to be a fascinating journey into how he creates a really natural garden that has no real boundaries mixing his veg with his herbs and flowers as they would grow in the forest - with incredible results. 


We listened enrapt, while Malcom shared the secrets of nature itself by talking about his own gardening techniques and careful observation of the natural seasons, and showed us some fabulous pictures of his fabulous garden which is filled with wildlife, beautiful birds, reptiles, amphibians and insects like the comma and the meadow brown butterflies. 

He explained how we can invest in diversity while still having a beautiful, productive plot and we were newly enthused about our own gardens!
You can follow him on Malcolm's Facebook Page, The Dreaded Gardener


This will be the last meeting of the Rhydlewis Gardening Club in 2018; join us at 7.30pm on Tuesday 29th January for our Annual General Meeting. We try to keep the 'dry' stuff short, so that we can mingle afterwards with wine and cheese, and share our festive experiences. Please bring your subscription for 2019 to this meeting; £10 per person per year. 

In the meantime, have a wonderful Winter Solstice, a very happy Christmas and a fabulous start to 2019.

Thursday 6 September 2018

Rhydlewis Gardening Club Autumn Produce Show




A bumper harvest led to a record number of entries across all categories at the Rhydlewis Gardening Club annual Autumn Produce Show. 

“We had a lot of new members showing for the first time, and the village hall was packed with members, families and the local community.  Our club is
growing, with more keen gardeners joining each year” comments Liz Blackler, chair of the club. 

There was a particular interest in the homecraft sections, with sixteen categories in all.  The arts and craft categories were well supported, especially 'An Item of Embroidery', in which some fine work was exhibited.





  
There was a mouthwatering range of cooking selections, including bread,, apple pie, quiche and Welsh cakes. 

 The prize winners were; Vegetable Challenge Cup -Jannette Sharman; Floral Challenge Cup – Kevin Myerscough; Homecraft Shield – Cindy Ackerman and Sara Redman; Roses Shield – Sara Redman; Best Onions Shield – Carrie Davies, and Best Exhibit in Vegetables and Fruit – Jannette Sharman.

Monday 6 August 2018

A Day Out at Bwlch y Geuffordd Gardens.








On Tuesday 31st  July the club went on an all-day coach trip to  Bwlch y Geuffordd Gardens outside Aberystwyth. These quirky gardens, owned by Gay Acres, who gave us a talk last year gave was shortlisted for the  Welsh Garden of the Year 2016 in Wales on Line, and runner-up in the Gardener's World competition, "Gardening in difficult places".
Fourteen of us plus one child took off at 11am and arrived back around five. It made a great day out complete with a lunchtime picnic and tea and cakes later in the afternoon. We spent all day wandering around this three-acre garden which. despite being 1000 feet up in the Cambrians,  has something for everyone, including a treasure hunt for the kids. There is a huge range of plants, especially shrubs,
 

trees and a spectacular lily pond. It manages to combine sculpture park, water gardens, wildlife garden and a strong musical element, too with instruments everyone could have a go at turning up everywhere. Inspiring, colourful and full of mad surprises, there are a number of themed areas, including the 
Mediterranean garden, cottage garden, the woodland, an oriental space, and a memorial garden. 
The built areas include a hermit's cave, a temple, a willow den, a gazebo, a jungle with African-style carvings and a jungle hut, as well as a lot of tucked-away spots where one can find peace and tranquillity. I particularly loved their stone circle, which is on the very edge of their land, only a mile or so from an ancient well.We kept discovering fantasy spots all over the garden for children and those who are children at heart.

  Thanks to Gay and Jim Acres for letting us have such a lovely time at their garden. 
All photos curtesy of Jane Cain.



Saturday 21 July 2018

A Visit to Sara Redman's Flower Meadow.



On Friday 20th July, we had an afternoon visit to Rhydlewis Gardening Club member Sara's and gardens, where she runs her business – The Flower Meadow. 

After tea and cakes, Sara showed us round her flower growing areas. She has a polytunnel full of sweat peas and other flowers, and works her picking area in rows of spring flowers, annual summer flowers, perennials and flowering and foliage shrubs. 

Sara talked about how she arrived to a field full of brambles in 2016, and has developed her cottage industry from that difficult start. 

She also talked about her plans for expansion and what she offers now, which includes hand-tied bouquets, which can be personally chosen in the garden. She also does wedding arrangements and holds regular courses for flower arranging and growing flowers for arranging.


 Soon, she will be exhibiting at the Royal Welsh Show in Builth Wells, concentrating on buttonholes.


Her lovely flower meadow had to be mowed early, because of the local council's concern over tinder fires, but earlier on, it really was a picture;


We all have a super time, despite a welcome drop of rain, and came home with flowers. 



Miar Morgan won the prize (a box of chocolates) for 'Naming the Most Flowers'.

Don't forget the next event, which is our GARDEN VISIT - 31st July  
 Bwlch y Geuffordd Gardens


Booking essential for this minibus trip to these award winning gardens owned by Gay Acres, who gave us a talk last year. Start-out 11am, (PROMPT), Rhydlewis Hall car park. The trip has an inclusive price of £12 per person, to include travel, entrance fee and a cup of afternoon tea and cake. We'll take a picnic and there is shelter if the weather isn't quite perfect. There are just a very few seats left, but you can still book now by ringing the secretary, Nina Milton on 01239 851096 or emailing ninahare00@googlemail.com

Tuesday 10 July 2018

The Summer Garden Party 2018

 A huge thank you to Judith, who created a lovely space for us to have our garden party 2018  in, and opened  her very new garden to us all. We had a huge turnout, for the party, everyone who could make it did make it.  The weather was fantastic, the garden bloomed with colour and interest, and the food was fabulous. 










 As with every party, it's the people who came that made this event such a success. And we owe a debt of gratitude to Jane, who took all these great photos, which create a memory of a lovely evening. 

Our next outing is our Garden Visit, toBwylch y Geaffordd Gardens. There are just two seats in the coach on offer now, so do let us know if you would like to take them.

Ring Nina on 01239 851096

Thursday 31 May 2018

SUMMER EVENTS



RHYDLEWIS AND DISTRICT GARDENING CLUB have a summer of great events on the programme, including garden visits and parties:


June 26th SUMMER PARTY
Judith Russill will host the party at the her new home, starting at 6pm. Bring a contribution to the supper and drinks. Further details and directions from the secretary on 01239 851096 or email ninahare00@googlemail.com


Friday, 13th July 
A VISIT TO THE FLOWER MEADOW
We’ll be meeting in Sara Redman's garden to walk around her flower beds, cut flower polytunnel, and wild flower meadow, with a talk about growing flowers for sale. 3pm at Llain Manal, Penrhiwpal, SA44 5QH, 01239 851576

31st  July 
GARDEN VISITBwlch y Geuffordd Gardens
Booking essential for this minibus trip to these award winning gardens owned by Gay Acres, who gave us a talk last year. Start-out 11am, Rhydlewis Hall car park. The trip has an inclusive price of £12 per person, to include travel, entrance fee and a cup of afternoon tea and cake. We'll take a picnic and there is shelter if the weather isn't quite perfect. Possibility of a tavern stop on the way home. Book now by ringing the secretary, Nina Milton on 01239 851096 or emailing ninahare00@googlemail.com

28th August
PRODUCE SHOW
The schedule is now up on this blogsite; print it out and pin it up to be ahead of the game!