CLWB GARDDIO RHYDLEWIS & DISTRICT GARDENING CLUB: October 2024

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.

Thursday 24 October 2024

Flowers, Fun, Facts and First-Class Winners on the Autumn Gardening Club Programme

FLOWERS, FUN, FACTS & FIRST-CLASS WINNERS; A ROUND UP OF GARDENING CLUB NEW FOR LATE SUMMER AND AUTUMN.

The Rhydlewis Gardening Club has been on its travels again, starting with a joyful coach trip to Llwyngarreg. This beautifully tended 4 acre garden near Whitland was full of flowers in July and the weather really showed off their colours. The gardens are owned and tended by Liz and Paul O’Neil and part of the National Garden Scheme. After our long trip, we needed the tea and delicious selection of cakes on offer! It was warm enough to enjoy our treats in the garden.

Afterward, Paul O'Neil

guided us round the gardens, explaining how they gardened and naming the plants and trees. This trip was open to friends and family, and it was voted a lovely garden and a magical afternoon trip.

THE FLOWER AND PRODUCE SHOW was held on the 27th of August and we were surprised at the number of wonderful entries after such a mixed spring and summer. The Show Secretary, Jane Puddephatt, said;

"Members dug deep to produce an amazing display of color and variety which kept our judges Bob and Rannveig Wallis very busy." Thanks to Barry the photographer for taking these marvellous pics of the winners, which appeared, with Jane's write-up of the event in the local paper, Teifi News, and on the Cambrian News Online.

Winner of the Liz Blackler Award Jacqui Harries

Category Results in Full are at the bottom of the blogpost

On Tuesday September 24th, 7.30pm we had our annual round-table discussion. This time we looked at “PESTS AND DISEASES”. Members mostly wanted to talk about how we all cope with pests and plant disease and how, in our different ways, we address the problems. Sue Edmunds gave us a really interesting short talk on the problem of slugs in the garden, and how to approach this and still to do the least damage to the fragile eco system. She came up with some very interesting ways of combatting these slimy invaders. Come and tell us your tips and tricks, and find out how others deal with these problems, including copper bands, nematodes, caffeine repellant planting and garlic! We had a short Friends and Foes Quiz along with the raffle and refreshments.

The Prize Draw was announced. This is a great chance to win one of three electric propagators for greenhouse or indoor use. Tickets are £2 each; contact Nina for details if you want to have a go. or come to the next two meetings! The Draw winners will be announced at the end of the Winter Party in November. 40 Cell LED Propagator

This month, on Tuesday October 29th 7.30pm, we have

HOUSEPLANTS FOR BEGINNERS

Ruth Bramley from Farmyard Nurseries, will give an illustrated talk on how to care for your houseplants, covering the vast variety of plants that can be brought inside to be enjoyed. Do bring along any ‘difficult’ houseplants that you may have, and of course your questions on houseplant gardening. There will be chance to examine the prizes of propagators, and buy tickets for the Draw, and as always, there will be a raffle and refreshments.

On Tuesday November 28th this year, we will complete our 2024 meetings with a festive meeting––THE WINTER PARTY.

This perennial celebration is the chance for you to enjoy each others company. Refreshments will be provided, but do feel free to bring your own contributions of nibbles and your choice of drinks to make this a great evening where we can relax and chat about gardening and anything else! Just for fun, we're going to have a session of Gardening Bingo, so hold on to your gardening hats as you go for the stupendous prizes!

Here are those up-coming dates again, for your diary.

October 29th 7.30pm

HOUSEPLANTS FOR BEGINNERS

Tuesday November 28th, 7.30pm

WINTER SOCIAL EVENING

Tuesday January 28th, 2025 7.30pm

AGM

The first meeting next year; please come along and be an active part of the AGM of your gardening club. Please bring your subscription fee of £10. New members welcome and the 2025 programme will be available.

Category Results in Full: White Potatoes 1st. Janette Sharman, 2nd. Gary Soltys; Coloured Potatoes 1st Gary Soltys, 2nd.Janette Sharman; Beetroot 1st, Carrie Davies; Marrow, 1st, Sarah Taylor, 2nd, Gary Soltys; Runner Beans 1st, Janette Sharman, 2nd, Erica Knight; Pods of peas, 1st, Ann-Marie Dewhurst, 2nd, Carrie Davies; Onions, 1st, Janette Sharman, 2nd, Jim Milton; Shallots, 1st, Jim Milton; Tomatoes, 1st, Gary Soltys, 2nd, Marj Fogg; Cherry Tomatoes, 1st, Joy Wason, 2nd, John Piggott; Cucumber, 1st, Joy Wason, 2nd, Janette Sharman; Longest Runner Bean 1st. Erica Knight 2nd. Anne Tod; Best Comic Vegetable, 1st, Janette Sharman; Collection of 6 Vegetables, 1st, Janette Sharman, 2nd, Carrie Davies; Bunch of 5 mixed herbs, 1st, Janette Sharman, 2nd, Gemma Cohen; Cooking Apples, 1st, Carrie Davies, 2nd. Rob Taylor; Dessert Apples 1st. n/a 2nd. Jim Milton; Vase of 3 Dahlias, 1st, Jacqui Harries, 2nd, John Piggott; Vase of 3 Hydrangeas, 1st, John Piggott and Gary Soltys, 2nd, Ruth Potter; Vase of 6 Sweet Peas, 1st, Gary Soltys, 2nd, Ann-Marie Dewhurst; Vase of 6 Garden Flowers, 1st, Erica Knight, 2nd, Joy Wason; An arrangement for a Golden Wedding Anniversary, 1st, Marj Fogg; Arrangement A Summer Gift Hand Tied Arrangement, 1st, Joy Wason 2nd. Nina Milton; Photograph A Stunning Summer Landscape, 1st, Sophie Heath, 2nd, Jane Puddephatt; Photograph Something Fluffy, 1st, Jane Puddephatt, 2nd, Rob Taylor; Painting My Garden, 1st, Jim Milton, 2nd, Jim Milton; Metre of Bunting, 1st, Jacqui Harries, 2nd, Sophie Heath; An Article of Hand Made Jewellery, 1st, Jacqui Harries, 2nd, Carrie Davies; Handmade Greeting Card, 1st, Carey Jones; Sausage Rolls, 1st, Nina Milton, 2nd, Marj Fogg; A loaf of Brown or White Bread, 1st, Marj Fogg, 2nd, Marj Fogg; A cake made with a vegetable not Carrot, 1st, Sophie Heath, 2nd, Marj Fogg; Decorated Cup Cakes, Nina Milton; Novelty Biscuits, Sophie Heath; Jar of Jam or Jelly 1st, John Piggott, 2nd, Carrie Davies; Jar of Relish, 1st, Marj Fogg, 2nd, Nina Milton; Childs Class Item Made from Recycled Material, 1st, Jazmine Jones and Georgia Heath; Child's Class Glove Puppet, Georgia Heath.

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PAST WINNERS AT THE RHYDLEWIS GARDENING CLUB PRODUCE SHOW

2024 SPRING SHOW Winner of the most points in classes 1-17, AND Best exhibit in Classes 1-14 Jane Soltys Artisan Award for most points in Classes 18-31 was a draw between Jane Soltys and Sophie Heath The Pam Hufferdine Trophy 1st. Jim Milton 2019 -- The prize winners were; Vegetable Challenge Cup – Janette Sharman; Floral Challenge Cup – Janette Sharman and Sara Redman; Homecraft Shield – Sara O’Conner; Best Onions Shield – Carrie Davies Best Exhibit in Vegetables and Fruit – Janette Sharman. 2018 --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, Best Exhibit in Vegetables and Fruit – Jannette Sharman. 2016 --- vegetable Challenge Cup - JANETTE SHARMAN floral cup - DILYS DAVIES Rose Shield - SARA REDMAN D&G Williams Shield - Most points in the Homecraft classes - VICKY WADE JT Memorial Shield - Best exhibit in class 10 - 3 cooking onions - CARRIE DAVIES 2015 -- Challenge Cup (most points gained in vegetable and fruit classes) Janette Sharman, Rhydlewis. Floral Prize (most points gained in the floral classes) Jenny Archibald, Newcastle Emlyn. Roses Shield for class 33 Marg Fogg, Tregroes. D & G Williams Shield (most points gained in homecraft section) Vicky Wade, Brongest. 2014 -- Vegetable and floral Challenge Cups,Janette Sharman Roses Shield and the D&G Williams Shield, Pam Evens and

RECIPIES

Have you got a recipe you use to take care of the gluts of veg, fruit, even flowers, in the garden? We already have ideas which range from chocolate beetroot cake, courgette tea loaf and broad been humus. If you have a recipe you'd like to share with the club, please type it out and hand to Liz Blackler or send as an attachment to liz_blackler@hotmail.com.

Liz is going to collate our recipe collection so that at every meeting (but especially during harvest time!) we can take home a new idea for enjoying our fruit and veg abundance.

RHYDLEWIS GARDENING TIPS

ROSES

Richard came from Farmyard Nurseries to give some secrets on growing roses in West Wales.

His top tip was; avoid tea and floribunda, which will ball up every time it rains and go for classifications that will survive; Rosa Rugosa, Bourbon and ramblers, rather than climbers.

SEEDS

Speaker Malcolm Berry gave a great talk on saving seeds in January 2014. His top tips for seed propagation are;

1/ Never try to save F1 seeds; the strain is too weak

2/ Start with easy veg seeds, like beans and peas, which you can leave on the vine until they're dry

3/Dry seeds in air (use muslin bags)

4/ Store in an airtight container with a silicone bag (or dried rice) to take away moisture

5/ Store in a cool dry dark environment (he recommends your fridge!)

7/ Do a 'control' test of ten seeds on damp kitchen roll to find your percentage germination

PESTS

New member Vicky has a great tip to help control slugs; using old plastic pots or jam jars, add sugar and a pinch of dried yeast to a slurp of orange juice or beer and sink the pot into the earth near your precious plants. The slugs happily make their slimy way towards the pub, and 'drop' in for a drink! Change daily, and works most effectively on rainy days and if recharged at dusk.

TOOLS

Jilly Hollins, of Waun LLan, recommends you always carry a pair of secateurs about your person, so that you never 'tear or break' when you spot a plant that needs a trim or a dead-head

PESTS

Mothballs, crumbled and complete covered by soil/bulb fibre, will keep mice away from your tulip bulbs.

TOOLS

Jilly also has a money-saving tip for flower-arrangers; search the charity shops for pretty vessels, such as teapots and ramekins. Then, if you want to offer your arrangement as a gift, you won't need to have the pot back

PESTS

Slugs hate ash, so if you light a fire, use the clearings around your precious plants to keep them off. We know they also hate coffee grounds, etc, but ash is often available in larger quantities!

FRUIT

Ash is also a renown source of potash, so most people use it under their fruit trees and soft fruit buses.

PESTS

Monty Don recommends a humane treatment for moles and their hills...Moles cause a huge amount of damage...but I like moles. I think that they are beautiful. I always hate it when the cats catch them...because they seem such harmless, special animals - in the same catagory as otters, badgers or field mice. Monty says the molehills make good potting compost - we've already discovered that trick - and that although the desecration might feel vast it is usually only one mole in spring at mating time as they are otherwise solitary animals...I refuse to trap them...I think the only solution is to live and let tunnel...(he says inThe Complete Gardiner...Moles cause a huge amount of damage...but I like moles. I think that they are beautiful. I always hate it when the cats catch them...because they seem such harmless, special animals - in the same catagory as otters, badgers or field mice. Monty says the molehills make good potting compost - we've already discovered that trick - and that although the desecration might feel vast it is usually only one mole in spring at mating time as they are otherwise solitary animals...I refuse to trap them...I think the only solution is to live and let tunnel...he says inThe Complete Gardiner...Moles cause a huge amount of damage...but I like moles. I think that they are beautiful. I always hate it when the cats catch them...because they seem such harmless, special animals - in the same catagory as otters, badgers or field mice. Monty says the molehills make good potting compost - we've already discovered that trick - and that although the desecration might feel vast it is usually only one mole in spring at mating time as they are otherwise solitary animals...I refuse to trap them...I think the only solution is to live and let tunnel...(The Complete Gardener)

MEMBER'S POSTS

Grass-free lawn opens in London park

A floral, scented lawn, planted in a west London park provides a better habitat for pollinating insects than traditional grass, according to researchers.

The grass-free lawn, which is believed to be the first in a public park, was the brainchild of PhD researcher Lionel Smith from the University of Reading and was commissioned for the park by Kensington and Chelsea council.

Mr Smith told BBC News how he devised the lawn and explains that its plants, which include daisies red-flowering clover, thyme, chamomile, pennyroyal and Corsican mint, create a "pollinator-friendly patchwork" - with 25% more insect life than that found in "traditionally managed grass lawns".

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-22846419

Grass Free Lawns Revisited

Richard and Susan Edmunds are creating a small grass free lawn at their house Tir-y-c-coed in Pontgarreg. If you're intrigued, go the the grass free lawns website below.

Richard has been on the lookout for suitable plants to mow at approx 3" height and traveled down to...

Moorland Cottage Plants.

We are a small hardy plant nursery and garden located in the upland region of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, positioned at 700 feet above sea level on the wild, northern slopes of the Preseli mountains, an area famous for its Neolithic monuments and remains of iron/bronze age settlements. The nursery and garden both offer magnificent views over the vast open hillsides, moorland and the acid bog below.

The nursery and garden have featured in the national gardening press and have received coverage on both national and local television.

Address: Moorland Cottage Plants, Rhyd y Groes, Brynberian, Crymych, Pembrokeshire, SA41 3TT Telephone: 01239 891363

Contact: Jennifer Matthews

10.30-5.30 daily except WednesdaysPlant Nursery Opening Times

March 1^st to September 30^th

10.30-4.30 daily except WednesdaysGarden Opening Times

Mid May to September 30^th

http://www.grassfreelawns.co.uk/links.html

Garden to Visit

Local Garden Centres and Nurseries

Farmyard Nurseries, Llandysul - 01559 363 389 - email: richard@farmyard nurseries.co.uk
Farmyard Nurseries specialise in a wide range of unusual plants especially hellebores, herbaceous and perennial plants, shrubs, trees and alpines

Trefhedyn Garden Centre - Newcastle Emlyn -
Wide range of plants, shrubs and trees, pots and garden containers, gardening equipment. When you go there tell Roger to get his website up and running so we can link to it!!

Penrallt Garden Centre and Nurseries - Moylegrove Cardigan - 01239 881 295
Set in 70 acres of farmland, woodland and coastal walks, the 3-acre nursery site has a vast area of glasshouses and tunnels - providing the ideal conditions for the enormous range of home-grown plants.

Gwynfor Growers - Pontgarreg nr Llangrannog - 01239 654 151
The nursery has a good range of herbaceous perennials, scented shrubs, climbers, and herbs. Many are unusual or rare. Plants for exposed sites, damp and shady places, and dry and sunny coastal gardens.

Penlan Perennials Nursery - Llandysul - 01239 711 102
Penlan Perennials is a specialist peat free nursery, propagating and growing over 750 choice plants for the eco-conscious gardener.

Saflora Plants, Lampeter - 01570 422 924 - email: nursery@safloraplants.com
Mail order nursery specialising in plants and seeds from South Africa and Australia, in particular the protea and amaryllis plant families - Not open to the public - shop online.

Dyffryn Gwyddno Nursery, Narberth, Pembrokeshire - 01834 861684
Produces and sells its own Pembrokeshire bamboos and a range of other unusual plants - hardy and exotic.

Carmarthen Tree Nursery, Carmarthenshire - 01267 275 254
Quality cell-grown seedlings, grown in West Wales using British seed - specialises in local provenance seedlings.

Local Garden Clubs and Societies

Hardy Plant Society Email: hpswestwales@zoomshare.com
Programme and News. All talks at Trinity Church Community Hall, Church Street, Newcastle Emlyn.
Pentrecwrt & District Garden & Countryside Club, Llandysul - 01559 362 975 Email: mail@rogerwgadams.idps.co.uk
Pentrecwrt & District Garden and Countryside Club has 40 members and meets in the village hall each month on the third Tuesday at 7.30PM.

National institutions

Organic growing

Plants

Help & Advice

Garden wildlife

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Thursday 24 October 2024

Flowers, Fun, Facts and First-Class Winners on the Autumn Gardening Club Programme

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