March 2018
17/03/18 15:32
Kirton and Falkenham Gardeners Club
April meeting –Thurs. 12th. April 7.30 pm Village Hall
Karen Kenny -‘ Water,Water Everywhere ‘
followed by AGM.
March meeting – Alan Gray – ‘History of East Ruston Old Vicarage Gardens’.
For our March meeting we welcomed Alan Gray and Graham Robeson, owners and creators of the famed East Ruston Old Vicarage 32 acres exotic coastal gardens.
Alan and Graham bought the Arts and Crafts vicarage with just over 2 acres in 1973 and over the ensuing years expanded to what is now 32 acres gardens of formal design and brilliant planting. The gardens are very close to the North Sea but are protected from the full blast of the winds by dense wind breaks making it possible to grow remarkably tender plants. Lack of frosts allow banana plants to flourish , both flowering and fruiting. The church towers of Happisburgh and East Ruston and the Happisburgh lighthouse stand on guard nearby.
There are now some 30 plus varied gardens and Alan took us on an illustrated journey through King’s Walk, Exotic Garden, Woodland, Mediterranean Garden, Wildlife Pond, Long Borders, Wildflower Meadow and Corn garden and many more.
Amazingly neither Alan nor Graham have had any formal horticultural training other than granny’s knee!
The following quote from the garden brochure says it all – ‘ The vision and hard work of Alan and Graham have together created a place of beauty, charm and tranquillity that is truly unique ‘
This is a must visit garden, Alan does guided tours and events or you can just visit and wander at leisure. Open Wed-Sun, 3rd. March to 27th. October , 12.00 to 5.30pm.
April meeting - Karen Kenny ‘ Water,Water Everywhere’.
Thurs. 12th. April 7.30pm Village Hall.
For our April meeting we welcome back Karen Kenny talking on ‘ Water,Water Everywhere’. Karen is a very popular speaker and is well known locally and nationally as an expert on all things gardening.
She is a regular broadcaster on local BBC radio, a writer, and features with Lesley Dolphin on Garden Answers and Garden of the Year. She is associated with Suffolk Allotments Association and is president of National Allotment Society. She has been organiser of Britain in Bloom and champions organic gardening.
All in all a very experienced gardener who ,in fact, was the club’s very first paid speaker some 18 years ago.
This promises to be a special evening so come early and if not already a member join up for just £10 and qualify for the summer visits now on the horizon.
The club’s AGM follows Karen’s talk.
AGM
The club’s AGM will follow the April meeting when we have to elect chairman, secretary, treasurer and auditor plus there will be the annual report and the club’s audited accounts for 2017. This is your chance to have a say in all things concerning our club.
Dobies seeds
it’s a late season so still time to order seeds from Dobies and take advantage of the 45% discount on seeds orders. Get your catalogue at the April meeting or direct from Ray on 448291. If necessary orders can be placed by telephone to save time.
Summer outing - RHS Gardens Hyde Hall and Flower Show
A reminder that our summer outing this year takes place onThursday 2nd of August when we visit RHS Hyde Hall gardens and the annual flower show. This is a chance to visit one of RHS’s top gardens which is just a short trip down the A12.
Tickets are £10 and include coach trip and entry to gardens. Tickets on sale at the April meeting or from Jenny on 448571.
Tales form the Allotments
The plots are still recovering from a very harsh winter of snow, rain and icy blasts. Remarkably crops in the ground seem to have come through unscathed but Spring planting is still on hold , mangetout peas and early potatoes will have to wait a bit.
I still have b/n squash seeds to spare and this year will be trialling a squash ‘Golden’ from Afghanistan, bright red flesh and quite sweet.
So we now have bollards along the village green or OK Corral as some now call it! One rumour has it that this is a practice slalom course for the Kirton Winter Olympic down hill skiing squad but I rather lean toward the suggestion that the council have planted the bollards to meet the demands of the growing dog population, giving the pooch somewhere to cock their legs. Certainly made facebook! Answers on a post card c/o plots 11/12.
Roy Mallett 616
April meeting –Thurs. 12th. April 7.30 pm Village Hall
Karen Kenny -‘ Water,Water Everywhere ‘
followed by AGM.
March meeting – Alan Gray – ‘History of East Ruston Old Vicarage Gardens’.
For our March meeting we welcomed Alan Gray and Graham Robeson, owners and creators of the famed East Ruston Old Vicarage 32 acres exotic coastal gardens.
Alan and Graham bought the Arts and Crafts vicarage with just over 2 acres in 1973 and over the ensuing years expanded to what is now 32 acres gardens of formal design and brilliant planting. The gardens are very close to the North Sea but are protected from the full blast of the winds by dense wind breaks making it possible to grow remarkably tender plants. Lack of frosts allow banana plants to flourish , both flowering and fruiting. The church towers of Happisburgh and East Ruston and the Happisburgh lighthouse stand on guard nearby.
There are now some 30 plus varied gardens and Alan took us on an illustrated journey through King’s Walk, Exotic Garden, Woodland, Mediterranean Garden, Wildlife Pond, Long Borders, Wildflower Meadow and Corn garden and many more.
Amazingly neither Alan nor Graham have had any formal horticultural training other than granny’s knee!
The following quote from the garden brochure says it all – ‘ The vision and hard work of Alan and Graham have together created a place of beauty, charm and tranquillity that is truly unique ‘
This is a must visit garden, Alan does guided tours and events or you can just visit and wander at leisure. Open Wed-Sun, 3rd. March to 27th. October , 12.00 to 5.30pm.
April meeting - Karen Kenny ‘ Water,Water Everywhere’.
Thurs. 12th. April 7.30pm Village Hall.
For our April meeting we welcome back Karen Kenny talking on ‘ Water,Water Everywhere’. Karen is a very popular speaker and is well known locally and nationally as an expert on all things gardening.
She is a regular broadcaster on local BBC radio, a writer, and features with Lesley Dolphin on Garden Answers and Garden of the Year. She is associated with Suffolk Allotments Association and is president of National Allotment Society. She has been organiser of Britain in Bloom and champions organic gardening.
All in all a very experienced gardener who ,in fact, was the club’s very first paid speaker some 18 years ago.
This promises to be a special evening so come early and if not already a member join up for just £10 and qualify for the summer visits now on the horizon.
The club’s AGM follows Karen’s talk.
AGM
The club’s AGM will follow the April meeting when we have to elect chairman, secretary, treasurer and auditor plus there will be the annual report and the club’s audited accounts for 2017. This is your chance to have a say in all things concerning our club.
Dobies seeds
it’s a late season so still time to order seeds from Dobies and take advantage of the 45% discount on seeds orders. Get your catalogue at the April meeting or direct from Ray on 448291. If necessary orders can be placed by telephone to save time.
Summer outing - RHS Gardens Hyde Hall and Flower Show
A reminder that our summer outing this year takes place onThursday 2nd of August when we visit RHS Hyde Hall gardens and the annual flower show. This is a chance to visit one of RHS’s top gardens which is just a short trip down the A12.
Tickets are £10 and include coach trip and entry to gardens. Tickets on sale at the April meeting or from Jenny on 448571.
Tales form the Allotments
The plots are still recovering from a very harsh winter of snow, rain and icy blasts. Remarkably crops in the ground seem to have come through unscathed but Spring planting is still on hold , mangetout peas and early potatoes will have to wait a bit.
I still have b/n squash seeds to spare and this year will be trialling a squash ‘Golden’ from Afghanistan, bright red flesh and quite sweet.
So we now have bollards along the village green or OK Corral as some now call it! One rumour has it that this is a practice slalom course for the Kirton Winter Olympic down hill skiing squad but I rather lean toward the suggestion that the council have planted the bollards to meet the demands of the growing dog population, giving the pooch somewhere to cock their legs. Certainly made facebook! Answers on a post card c/o plots 11/12.
Roy Mallett 616
