KIRTON AND FALKENHAM GARDENERS CLUB August visit - Thurs. 11th. August – Foraging Walk, Newbourne Details TBA Summer Outing The summer outing 9th. July was another double header and our first stop was the Henstead Exotic Garden situated between Southwold and Beccles and we were greeted on arrival by owner and creater Andrew Brogan. Andrew first bought the cottage and adjoining land some thirteen years ago and has single handedly created a vast garden, which in some areas resembles a jungle, with an amazing array of tropical plants including many types of bamboo, bananas, echiums, tree ferns, palms and a whole lot more. The garden is open every Wed. May – Oct, 2-5pm and on some Sundays and has been featured on many TV programmes. Then it was on to the famed Peter Beales Roses where we paused for lunch and were then given a conducted tour by nursery manager Ian Limmer with a few tips on rose care thrown in. The roses were at their very best but it is not just roses and other plants include clematis, iris, hellebores, and so much more. An added attraction is the wild life area planted to create the perfect habitat to attract insects and mammals. The rose and plant centre are open week days 9-5pm, and Sundays 10-4pm, but be sure to visit when the roses are at their best. Our thanks to Jenny for organising another great day out. July visit Our good fortune with the weather held firm for the July visit which was to the Suffolk Lavender Farm at Bucklesham. We were met by the owner Karen who gave us an introductory talk. There are about 4 acres of lavender with another 2 acres of land available for expansion. Karen showed us how oils are produced from the harvested lavender. Total production of lavender for the year is about 2 tonnes which produces 4 litres of oils. Soaps, creams and other lavender products are produced. Ruth then took us on a walking tour of the lavender fields showing us how the lavender is harvested. Keeping the lavender weed free is a problem and rabbits cause damage to the plants. A lavender plants flowers for about 15 years before being replaced by a new one. Then it was tea and cakes , purchases before we said good bye and made the short trip back to Kirton. August visit - Thurs. 11th. August For our August visit we take the short trip to Newbourne where we assemble at the Newbourne Village Hall . Our host is Julie Foster who will lead us on a foraging walk around the Newbourne Nature Reserve and we finish up with complementary drinks and cakes. The nature reserve is a fascinating area , ideal for a leisurely summer evening ramble. Stout footware for this one and time details will be in the monthly email. Open Gardens, 26 June The June open gardens got off to a soggy start but by opening time at 12.00 the clouds gradually cleared and the sun appeared to herald a fine afternoon. Many of our members had their gardens open , the bowls club was open to visitors and the popular train rides at station master Fred Last’s Kirton Light Railways were in great demand for the younger visitors and indeed some not so young. Fred was able to send £100 to one of his chosen charities, the children’s hospice. The ladies produced excellent refreshments all day at the Methodist chapel and Alex and John Paul from the scouts took care of parking on the green. £847 was raised for the Methodist development fund , an excellent result bearing in mind the morning’s wet start,but, of course, these were gardeners and they do not worry about a few rain drops! Special thanks to those who opened their gardens because this does take a lot of work. September meeting – August is the last of our summer visits and on Thurs. 8th. September, 7.30pm, we are back in the village hall and welcome Barry Gayton from Brandon who will be talking on ‘ Succulents ‘. Tales from the Allotments Set aside and will return in the autumn. Roy Mallett 616