June 2015
14/08/15 11:09
KIRTON AND FALKENHAM GARDENERS CLUB
Thurs. 9th. July Visit Botanica Nursey, Campsea Ashe
Green 6.15pm assemble 7.00pm.
June visit – Suffolk Seasons Flower Farm.
More an endurance test than a visit, the flower farm at Cratfield is hidden away in sleepy mid Suffolk but 38 intrepid members, who used almost as many routes, finally reached their goal. Elizabeth Mobbs and Alison Pim started this enterprise on the family farm and grow 80 different varieties of flowers for all occasions and also offer a full floristry service. This is not easy on exposed land consisting of heavy, clay soil. After a tour around the farm we are tempted by homemade cakes and coffee before setting off home through the still sun bathed countryside.
July visit – Thurs. 9th. July. Botanica Nursery.
Botanica Nursery is a traditional English growing plant and tree nursery at Chantry farm, Eyke Road, Campsea Ashe, Woodbridge, IP13 OP2.
Situated in 15 acres it has 4500 species of plants and trees, all English grown. There is no charge for this trip and there will be the chance to purchase!
Summer outing – Sat. 18th. July.
Only a short while to our summer outing – a conducted tour of King’s Seeds, Coggeshall in the morning, then on to Mark’s Hall and gardens where we have time for a snack before a tour. Coach departs the green 9.00am, returning around 6.00pm. Jenny (448571) may still have a few tickets, £17.
Open Gardens
Richard Ayres, 21, Lode Rd. and Carpenters End, Lode are open Sunday 19th. July under NGS . 12 – 5pm, £5. Teas.
International Dept. Troyes 2015.
Thurs 21 May – 6.00 am and a mass exodus at Kirton Green with bags, suitcases everywhere ( we’re only going for 4 days folks) and bleary eyed travellers falling out of cars and taxis making their way to Galloways coach with driver Brian ready for the off. This is the worst bit for the organisers as we always have a tight schedule and have to make Eurotunnel for our booked train otherwise the first day’s programme goes out of the window with months of planning.
We depart on time only to find Orwell Bridge closed due to an accident. However we are on the move after 40 minutes and even have time for a coffee stop before the train to Calais where Johan and Ria await. Johan is sporting his latest guide’s ‘must have’ , a folding fly fishing rod sporting bright yellow and green ribbons, is this an omen for the playoff final?
There is the sad sight of hundreds of migrants in surrounding fields and roads desperately seeking a route to UK . Meantime shops and businesses in the area are closing because of soaring crime.
So we head south and after a short stop in Urvillers we reach the famous hill city of Laon and its Notre-Dame cathedral (1150-1235), a masterpiece of early Gothic architecture. No vehicles in the city so we board the carriages of the POMA for a scenic ride to the top. Johan’s walking tour is followed by the cathedral before we have free time to explore and relax over coffee in the sun.
Soon it’s time to board the hill train back down and, amazingly, we are all at the coach on time including Jenny’s coat which had an extra free round trip. Laon is a must if you are in the area.
We head for Troyes and Johan recounts the tale of the racing pigeon sold for quarter of a million euros after his owner became allergic to dust from the feathers. We decide these special racing class are category A pigeons, homing Cat. B and those that plague our village and gardens, Cat. C.
Our home for the next few days is the Ibis Style Troyes Centre and we arrive at 8.00pm, just time to ‘ freshen up ‘ ( Johan speak) before we hit the town and more specifically L’Illustre for a welcome dinner.
So a long first day sees us back to the hotel just after midnight and I sleep undisturbed by the millstream beneath our window.
Friday 22 – after breakfast its off to our first visit La Motte – Château Tilly in Nugent sur Seine , a family home built from 1754 onwards in wooded parkland on the banks of the Seine. A formal garden with flower beds and boxwood hedges, vast lawns and a mirror lake with two artificial islands.
Next we head for the medieval walled city of Provins and La Roseraie de Provins , a charming rose garden with 300 different varieties in 3 hectares with 16 garden rooms.
It’s then on to Jardin Botanique de Marnay sur Seine where we meet owner Didier and daughter Emile who give us a tour of their two hectares containing over 3000 species of plants from all over the world. After a long day in the hot sun its back to Troyes for a tour taking in the cathedral with its amazing stained glass windows and huge columns and not so amazing choir! Then the stained glass museum before dodging the victorious Troyes FC fans celebrating in the city. We celebrate with a second dinner at the excellent L’Illustre.
Tales from the Allotments – is in summer recess.
Roy Mallett 616
Thurs. 9th. July Visit Botanica Nursey, Campsea Ashe
Green 6.15pm assemble 7.00pm.
June visit – Suffolk Seasons Flower Farm.
More an endurance test than a visit, the flower farm at Cratfield is hidden away in sleepy mid Suffolk but 38 intrepid members, who used almost as many routes, finally reached their goal. Elizabeth Mobbs and Alison Pim started this enterprise on the family farm and grow 80 different varieties of flowers for all occasions and also offer a full floristry service. This is not easy on exposed land consisting of heavy, clay soil. After a tour around the farm we are tempted by homemade cakes and coffee before setting off home through the still sun bathed countryside.
July visit – Thurs. 9th. July. Botanica Nursery.
Botanica Nursery is a traditional English growing plant and tree nursery at Chantry farm, Eyke Road, Campsea Ashe, Woodbridge, IP13 OP2.
Situated in 15 acres it has 4500 species of plants and trees, all English grown. There is no charge for this trip and there will be the chance to purchase!
Summer outing – Sat. 18th. July.
Only a short while to our summer outing – a conducted tour of King’s Seeds, Coggeshall in the morning, then on to Mark’s Hall and gardens where we have time for a snack before a tour. Coach departs the green 9.00am, returning around 6.00pm. Jenny (448571) may still have a few tickets, £17.
Open Gardens
Richard Ayres, 21, Lode Rd. and Carpenters End, Lode are open Sunday 19th. July under NGS . 12 – 5pm, £5. Teas.
International Dept. Troyes 2015.
Thurs 21 May – 6.00 am and a mass exodus at Kirton Green with bags, suitcases everywhere ( we’re only going for 4 days folks) and bleary eyed travellers falling out of cars and taxis making their way to Galloways coach with driver Brian ready for the off. This is the worst bit for the organisers as we always have a tight schedule and have to make Eurotunnel for our booked train otherwise the first day’s programme goes out of the window with months of planning.
We depart on time only to find Orwell Bridge closed due to an accident. However we are on the move after 40 minutes and even have time for a coffee stop before the train to Calais where Johan and Ria await. Johan is sporting his latest guide’s ‘must have’ , a folding fly fishing rod sporting bright yellow and green ribbons, is this an omen for the playoff final?
There is the sad sight of hundreds of migrants in surrounding fields and roads desperately seeking a route to UK . Meantime shops and businesses in the area are closing because of soaring crime.
So we head south and after a short stop in Urvillers we reach the famous hill city of Laon and its Notre-Dame cathedral (1150-1235), a masterpiece of early Gothic architecture. No vehicles in the city so we board the carriages of the POMA for a scenic ride to the top. Johan’s walking tour is followed by the cathedral before we have free time to explore and relax over coffee in the sun.
Soon it’s time to board the hill train back down and, amazingly, we are all at the coach on time including Jenny’s coat which had an extra free round trip. Laon is a must if you are in the area.
We head for Troyes and Johan recounts the tale of the racing pigeon sold for quarter of a million euros after his owner became allergic to dust from the feathers. We decide these special racing class are category A pigeons, homing Cat. B and those that plague our village and gardens, Cat. C.
Our home for the next few days is the Ibis Style Troyes Centre and we arrive at 8.00pm, just time to ‘ freshen up ‘ ( Johan speak) before we hit the town and more specifically L’Illustre for a welcome dinner.
So a long first day sees us back to the hotel just after midnight and I sleep undisturbed by the millstream beneath our window.
Friday 22 – after breakfast its off to our first visit La Motte – Château Tilly in Nugent sur Seine , a family home built from 1754 onwards in wooded parkland on the banks of the Seine. A formal garden with flower beds and boxwood hedges, vast lawns and a mirror lake with two artificial islands.
Next we head for the medieval walled city of Provins and La Roseraie de Provins , a charming rose garden with 300 different varieties in 3 hectares with 16 garden rooms.
It’s then on to Jardin Botanique de Marnay sur Seine where we meet owner Didier and daughter Emile who give us a tour of their two hectares containing over 3000 species of plants from all over the world. After a long day in the hot sun its back to Troyes for a tour taking in the cathedral with its amazing stained glass windows and huge columns and not so amazing choir! Then the stained glass museum before dodging the victorious Troyes FC fans celebrating in the city. We celebrate with a second dinner at the excellent L’Illustre.
Tales from the Allotments – is in summer recess.
Roy Mallett 616
