OGC News March 2009
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Thanks To

• Kim Jackson, Martin Page and Roger Stevens for setting up the hall this evening and also to Myra Field, Gillian Jenkins and Caroline Seaman for preparing the refreshments.

• Also, many thanks to Jennifer Kelley who, with the help of Shelley Choat, arranged our annual Dinner at the Charlton Arms.  The venue, the new function room, was very spacious, and welcoming and the food excellent. 

• Those of you who have offered to grow seeds to sell on the club stall and at the Village fete.

Don’t Forget

• Tonight’s speaker is Sue Russell and her subject is ‘Perfume in the Garden’.

New Members

The Club welcomes Ola and Naomi Andersson from Leominster; Sue Brown, all the way from Builth Wells; Christine Buxton – our speaker last month! - from Hayton’s Bent; Sue Evans and Guy Poulton from Moreton Eye;  William Jones from Luston and Chris Wells from Leominster

Village Fete - Important Information

Please note that the Village Hall Committee have changed the date of the Village Fete.  It is now Sunday 7^th June.

Please let us know if you are able to help with the Gardening Club Stall on this date, whether for a couple of hours or all day.

Outings

Application forms for the outing to Aberglasney on June 10^th are available this evening from Shelley Choat.  The cost is £20.00.  This covers the coach, entrance fee, tea/coffee on arrival and a guided tour by Graham Rankin.  The coach will be leaving Orleton Village Hall at 8:30 am and Bridge Street Car Park, Leominster at 8.45 am. 
The form should be handed to Shelley with a cheque, together with a second form showing your menu choices for lunch (unless you are taking a picnic).  Lunches to be paid for on the day.

Chris Beardshaw

YES!  Tickets are on sale this evening.  Please see Jennifer Kelley. These tickets are only available to card-holding, paid up members at present and you will only be able to purchase one.  The price is £7.00.  Tickets sold to members are non-transferable. Details for guest tickets will be given at a future date.  Please do not ask to be put on a waiting list for guest tickets - this is not an option.

July Supper Evening

This year we are having a change!  Some of you may be disappointed that there will be no visits to members’ gardens, however, we hope you find the planned evening interesting and useful.

We have invited 4 of the judges from the August show to come along for the evening and asked them to give us their top tips for showing.

As usual, the Village Hall will open at 6.30pm for you to bring your food to share.  We are asking each of the 4 Judges to spend 10 – 15 minutes talking about their subject.  This will take place in the Small Hall from 7.00 pm – 8.00 pm.  There may not be much time for individual questions, but the judges will be on hand throughout the remainder of the evening, so you should have plenty of opportunity to speak to them individually.

Midsummer Show

Midsummer show schedules will are available this evening.  They are of course available on the web.  Please let a member of the committee know if you are interested in stewarding at this and/or the August Show.

Yet Another Plea for Surrogate Seed Growers

Monica Todd would like volunteers who have the space to grow extra plants, vegetable and floral, to grow as many seeds as possible, with the view of supplying the plant stall at the Village Fete and also to have plants for the stall on our club evenings.  The Club has a supply of seeds.

Plant Supports

Last chance to buy plant supports at a discount -  brochures by the notice board (please do not remove) from Plant Supports (UK) Ltd who are based near Tenbury Wells.  They have offered a 10% discount to the club for any order over £50, but only up to the end of March.  If you would be interested in ordering any of these items please let Sue Brown know.  Samples are by the notice board.

Compost

Monica Todd has compost available to purchase at very good rates.  We are able to sell you Levington’s compost in 70 litre bags for £4.25 per bag.  The retail price (Hintons) is £6.00 per bag or 2 bags for £10.  You must be able to collect the compost from Monica. (Address and phone number on membership card)

Things to Do, Places To Visit

• Wall End Nursery, special opening event.  Saturday April 4^th and Wednesday April 8^th, between 10.00 am and 3.00 pm

• The British Red Cross Great Spring Gardening Event, Wednesday 29^th April at Hampton Court Castle.

• Advance notice in case you wish to purchase tickets: the RHS Show, Cardiff will be 17-19 April and the Malvern Spring Show will  be 7-10 May.

• There are plenty of Herefordshire NGS Yellow Books on the table at the back of the hall.  Please help yourself to a copy. 

• We also have leaflets about an event at The Nest, in Moreton Eye.

Seasonal Tips

• Put supports in place for perennials and divide clumps of herbaceous perennials

• The deadheading begins!  Daffodils, tulips as well as pansies and other spring bedding.

• Prick out your seedlings before they become leggy

• Prevent flea beetle attacking brassicas by covering with fleece

• Apply a spring lawn feed.

• Sow or plant a wildflower meadow.  Cornfield annuals for an instant display in summer or perennial mixes for long term.

Next Meeting

April 28th, the speaker is Donald Everitt – “Rock Gardening”