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Newsletter October 2022
Hope you all had a glorious summer. The long heat wave, now a distant memory of course, made me realise I needed more sources of water for the garden so am considering adding more water butts. Most things survived, though some were spectacularly unsuccessful such as my runner beans for some reason??
We have had our Autumn Show which was my first behind the scenes and by the end, you knew you had been on your feet all day! The venue was again a great success and congratulations to all our prize winners, details are below. Thanks also to everyone who helped make it a success.
Lawrence
Sept. 2022 Autumn show
Another spectacular display was to be found at our Autumn Show in early September with approximate 250 entries festooned around our new venue. An amazing sight of roses, dahlias, vegetables, and arrangements greeted not only our judges but also the people who came along in the afternoon. A lot of thanks have to go to the committee members, judges, other volunteers, and of course the exhibitors for making it a successful show. Here’s to the Spring Show next year!
P.S. I am definitely putting my name forward next year to be the Home Produce judge!
Lawrence Rodgers
A Kind of Homage to the Whetstone
Whilst delving recently into an old toolbox, which is usually in my cellar and doesn’t normally see the light of day, not only did I find a whetstone but also an old garden knife from my brother-in-law, underused for the most part due to its bluntness.
The whetstone is a generic name for any stone used to sharpen knives and tools and can come in a range of compositions including “artificial”. The “Japanese stone” is much prized in some circles I am informed. In today’s throwaway and “there are other sharpening tools on the market” society, I wondered how many other people have whetstones? And use them? Not long afterwards, having rediscovered my whetstone, I had a conversation with an old friend who, on visiting his elderly parents earlier in the year, his father had very ceremoniously passed on whetstone to my friend for posterity. I then realised that not only did I have fathers’ whetstone but my wife had father’s whetstone (she does wood carving)! So, the questions I suppose are “When do whetstones wear out?” and “How many generations down the line will it take to have to buy a replacement?”
Now I know you want to ask, “Well did you use it?” and I can honestly say that during the course of drinking a cup of coffee I did try on the aforesaid garden knife! Was it any sharper? Only marginally I have to admit but when winter comes and I need something indoors to occupy my time and there is nothing on TV, I might have another go. Plus, I probably need to see if there are any YouTube videos to pick up some tips!
Lawrence Rodgers
Recipe - Vegetarian Sausage Rolls
Deeply flavoured vegetarian sausage rolls wrapped in crisp, flaky pastry - perfect for Christmas, for packed lunches, for summer picnics or just because...
Prep Time:20 minutes Cook Time:30 minutes Total Time:50 minutes
Servings:24
Calories:145kcal
Ingredients
• 320 g ready rolled puff pastry sheet
• 200 g Double Gloucester/Mature Cheddar grated
• 1 large onion grated
• 200 g fresh breadcrumbs
• 2 tbsp crème fraîche
• 2 tsp dried mixed herbs
• 2 tsp mustard powder
• 2 tsp paprika
• salt and freshly ground black pepper
• One lightly beaten free range egg to glaze
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 220°C/425°F/Gas Mark 7
2. Lightly grease two baking trays
3. Place all the filling ingredients into a bowl and combine well
4. Cut the pastry sheet into three equal sized strips
5. Squeeze generous handfuls of sausage mixture into shape and lie down the middle of your pastry strips
6. Brush one side of each pastry strip with beaten egg and fold the other side over the top of the filling to join it making sure you tuck it in well so you don’t have space around your sausage – there’s nothing worse than biting into an air-filled sausage roll (there is, obviously), but a stingily filled roll is a very mean-spirited thing
7. Turn your rolls over so they are seam side down
8. Cut to size for mini sausage rolls as I have or larger for lunch box rolls
9. Snip the pastry top of each roll with a pair of scissors two or three times, brush with beaten egg and place on greased baking sheets
10. Bake on the top shelf of your hot oven for 20 – 25 minutes until browned and crispy
11. Cool on a wire rack if you are not scoffing them immediately
12. Store in an airtight container
Notes:
Nutritional information is only an approximate guideline. Calculations will vary according to the ingredients you use and your cooking methods.
Nutrition:
Calories: 145kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Choles-
terol: 9mg | Sodium: 147mg | Potassium: 46mg | Fibre: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 175IU |
Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 81mg | Iron: 1mg
Thinlyspread.co.uk via Pam Sykes
Autumn Flowering Perennials and Bulbs
Recently, one of our newest CBHS members asked me if I could recommend some reliable autumn flowering plants for her garden. To answer her question, I walked around my own garden and noted which plants were still in full bloom.
Here are a few personal good ‘doers’. All pictures in below are from my garden in Rhos on 23rd September this year.
Rudbeckia (Coneflowers) www.rhs.org.uk/plants/rudbeckia
Rudbeckias have daisy-like flowers that provide a blaze of colour in the garden.
• Rudbeckias flower between late summer and autumn
• Thrives in sun
• Grow well in most soils
• Suitable for borders, containers, and prairie-style plantings
• Heights range from 25cm (10in) to 3m (10ft)
• Many are perennials, lasting many years
• Single flowered rudbeckias are good for pollinators
• Seedheads are attractive in winter
Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldstrurm' AGM (up to 60-70cm) Rudbeckia laciniata 'Herbstsonne' AGM (up to 3m)
Asters www.rhs.org.uk/plants/aster
Asters are a large group of plants, consisting of many different species, each one offering something different in height and colour. There are many cultivars available to provide good displays of late summer and autumn colour, with daisy-type flowers in shades of white, pink, purple, blue and red.
• Most asters flower in summer and autumn
• They thrive in full sun, but many flower in partial shade
• Asters grow well in moisture-retentive fertile soils
• Heights range from 20cm-2m (8in-6⅔ft)
• Single daisy flowers are good for pollinators
• Most asters are perennials, lasting many years
• Suitable for a range of garden styles, including borders, prairie-style plantings, and rock gardens
Symphyotrichum (Aster) novi-belgii White Nerine bowdennii AGM(up to 90cm) (up to 50cm)
Nerines www.rhs.org.uk/plants/nerine
As well as perennial plants, there are some excellent bulbs that flower during the Autumn. Nerine is one such example. A bulbous perennial, with strap-shaped rich green leaves preceded by erect stems bearing umbels of lily-like pink flowers 6-
8cm in width, with wavy, recurved segments.
• Flowers September to November
• They thrive in full sun
• Fertile, well-drained soil
• Average to fast rate of growth
• Borderline hardy (may need winter protection)
In summary, a few easy to grow and very colourful plant suggestions to brighten up your garden in autumn. Also, remember well after the flowers have faded, seedheads can bring eye-catching structure to the garden in winter. Perfect when covered in morning dew or frost in winter sunshine.
Happy planting everyone ☺. www.colwynbayhorticultu
Another Grand Day Out – Acorn Bank, Temple Sowerby, Cumbria, CA10 1SP
Acorn Bank is probably one of the lesser-known National Trust properties but its garden provides an atmospheric and tranquil haven for the visitor. Founded by the Knights Templar, the land has been worked for over 800 years and there is a strong sense of history and longevity at the property. Ancient apple, pear and plum trees, beehives and meadow planting are contained within red sandstone walls which offer warmth and shelter to a selection of vegetables too. Terraced planting meanders around the side and rear of the house and has a languid and relaxed feel to it, giving the impression that many plants have just been left to get on with it. During our visit in early June, peonies and erigeron were in flower with many other cottage garden favourites also in abundance. The medicinal herb garden (the largest in the National Trust's care with over 250 varieties) provides plenty of interest. Spring and Autumn visits also bring their own rewards with many rare pre 1900 varieties of daffodil or lots of Autumn fruit to try. Views of the Lakeland hills and Howgill fells are always breathtaking and there is plenty of wildlife to spot in the woodland and near the working watermill.
This was a very relaxing day out which can also be combined with a visit to Larch Cottage Gardens Nursery at Melkinthorpe, but that's another story.
Caroline Cornwel
Rachel’s Garden - Open Day
Quite a few CBHS members went along in late August to the home of one of our committee members, Rachel Haslock, who opened her garden in aid of the MS Trust. Oh my, talk about garden envy! Just when you thought you had come to the end of the garden, you peered round and found another area full to the brim with flowers! Rachel has cleverly made her garden into “rooms” which are quite distinct from each other. She must have to put many, many hours into its maintenance and I only hope she gets time to sit down and enjoy the fruits of her labour. All in all, it was a very successful day raising £480 for her chosen charity.
Lawrence Rodgers
Events (Dates for your Diary)
AGM plus speaker Saturday 4 March
Based in North East Wales, Joe is an award-winning professional garden photographer who works across the UK. He is a full member of the Garden Media Guild and Professional Garden Photographers' Association, his images are widely published and he has won awards in the 2021, 2020, 2018, 2016 and 2015 International Garden Photographer of the Year competitions. He was also a finalist in the Photographer of the Year and Portfolio Photographer categories in the 2020 Garden Media Guild Awards.
His clients include: public and private garden owners; national and international publications; garden designers; and organisations including the National Trust and Visit Britain. He is also a National Garden Scheme registered photographer.
Hope you all had a glorious summer. The long heat wave, now a distant memory of course, made me realise I needed more sources of water for the garden so am considering adding more water butts. Most things survived, though some were spectacularly unsuccessful such as my runner beans for some reason??
We have had our Autumn Show which was my first behind the scenes and by the end, you knew you had been on your feet all day! The venue was again a great success and congratulations to all our prize winners, details are below. Thanks also to everyone who helped make it a success.
Lawrence
Sept. 2022 Autumn show
Another spectacular display was to be found at our Autumn Show in early September with approximate 250 entries festooned around our new venue. An amazing sight of roses, dahlias, vegetables, and arrangements greeted not only our judges but also the people who came along in the afternoon. A lot of thanks have to go to the committee members, judges, other volunteers, and of course the exhibitors for making it a successful show. Here’s to the Spring Show next year!
P.S. I am definitely putting my name forward next year to be the Home Produce judge!
Lawrence Rodgers
A Kind of Homage to the Whetstone
Whilst delving recently into an old toolbox, which is usually in my cellar and doesn’t normally see the light of day, not only did I find a whetstone but also an old garden knife from my brother-in-law, underused for the most part due to its bluntness.
The whetstone is a generic name for any stone used to sharpen knives and tools and can come in a range of compositions including “artificial”. The “Japanese stone” is much prized in some circles I am informed. In today’s throwaway and “there are other sharpening tools on the market” society, I wondered how many other people have whetstones? And use them? Not long afterwards, having rediscovered my whetstone, I had a conversation with an old friend who, on visiting his elderly parents earlier in the year, his father had very ceremoniously passed on whetstone to my friend for posterity. I then realised that not only did I have fathers’ whetstone but my wife had father’s whetstone (she does wood carving)! So, the questions I suppose are “When do whetstones wear out?” and “How many generations down the line will it take to have to buy a replacement?”
Now I know you want to ask, “Well did you use it?” and I can honestly say that during the course of drinking a cup of coffee I did try on the aforesaid garden knife! Was it any sharper? Only marginally I have to admit but when winter comes and I need something indoors to occupy my time and there is nothing on TV, I might have another go. Plus, I probably need to see if there are any YouTube videos to pick up some tips!
Lawrence Rodgers
Recipe - Vegetarian Sausage Rolls
Deeply flavoured vegetarian sausage rolls wrapped in crisp, flaky pastry - perfect for Christmas, for packed lunches, for summer picnics or just because...
Prep Time:20 minutes Cook Time:30 minutes Total Time:50 minutes
Servings:24
Calories:145kcal
Ingredients
• 320 g ready rolled puff pastry sheet
• 200 g Double Gloucester/Mature Cheddar grated
• 1 large onion grated
• 200 g fresh breadcrumbs
• 2 tbsp crème fraîche
• 2 tsp dried mixed herbs
• 2 tsp mustard powder
• 2 tsp paprika
• salt and freshly ground black pepper
• One lightly beaten free range egg to glaze
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 220°C/425°F/Gas Mark 7
2. Lightly grease two baking trays
3. Place all the filling ingredients into a bowl and combine well
4. Cut the pastry sheet into three equal sized strips
5. Squeeze generous handfuls of sausage mixture into shape and lie down the middle of your pastry strips
6. Brush one side of each pastry strip with beaten egg and fold the other side over the top of the filling to join it making sure you tuck it in well so you don’t have space around your sausage – there’s nothing worse than biting into an air-filled sausage roll (there is, obviously), but a stingily filled roll is a very mean-spirited thing
7. Turn your rolls over so they are seam side down
8. Cut to size for mini sausage rolls as I have or larger for lunch box rolls
9. Snip the pastry top of each roll with a pair of scissors two or three times, brush with beaten egg and place on greased baking sheets
10. Bake on the top shelf of your hot oven for 20 – 25 minutes until browned and crispy
11. Cool on a wire rack if you are not scoffing them immediately
12. Store in an airtight container
Notes:
Nutritional information is only an approximate guideline. Calculations will vary according to the ingredients you use and your cooking methods.
Nutrition:
Calories: 145kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Choles-
terol: 9mg | Sodium: 147mg | Potassium: 46mg | Fibre: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 175IU |
Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 81mg | Iron: 1mg
Thinlyspread.co.uk via Pam Sykes
Autumn Flowering Perennials and Bulbs
Recently, one of our newest CBHS members asked me if I could recommend some reliable autumn flowering plants for her garden. To answer her question, I walked around my own garden and noted which plants were still in full bloom.
Here are a few personal good ‘doers’. All pictures in below are from my garden in Rhos on 23rd September this year.
Rudbeckia (Coneflowers) www.rhs.org.uk/plants/rudbeckia
Rudbeckias have daisy-like flowers that provide a blaze of colour in the garden.
• Rudbeckias flower between late summer and autumn
• Thrives in sun
• Grow well in most soils
• Suitable for borders, containers, and prairie-style plantings
• Heights range from 25cm (10in) to 3m (10ft)
• Many are perennials, lasting many years
• Single flowered rudbeckias are good for pollinators
• Seedheads are attractive in winter
Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldstrurm' AGM (up to 60-70cm) Rudbeckia laciniata 'Herbstsonne' AGM (up to 3m)
Asters www.rhs.org.uk/plants/aster
Asters are a large group of plants, consisting of many different species, each one offering something different in height and colour. There are many cultivars available to provide good displays of late summer and autumn colour, with daisy-type flowers in shades of white, pink, purple, blue and red.
• Most asters flower in summer and autumn
• They thrive in full sun, but many flower in partial shade
• Asters grow well in moisture-retentive fertile soils
• Heights range from 20cm-2m (8in-6⅔ft)
• Single daisy flowers are good for pollinators
• Most asters are perennials, lasting many years
• Suitable for a range of garden styles, including borders, prairie-style plantings, and rock gardens
Symphyotrichum (Aster) novi-belgii White Nerine bowdennii AGM(up to 90cm) (up to 50cm)
Nerines www.rhs.org.uk/plants/nerine
As well as perennial plants, there are some excellent bulbs that flower during the Autumn. Nerine is one such example. A bulbous perennial, with strap-shaped rich green leaves preceded by erect stems bearing umbels of lily-like pink flowers 6-
8cm in width, with wavy, recurved segments.
• Flowers September to November
• They thrive in full sun
• Fertile, well-drained soil
• Average to fast rate of growth
• Borderline hardy (may need winter protection)
In summary, a few easy to grow and very colourful plant suggestions to brighten up your garden in autumn. Also, remember well after the flowers have faded, seedheads can bring eye-catching structure to the garden in winter. Perfect when covered in morning dew or frost in winter sunshine.
Happy planting everyone ☺. www.colwynbayhorticultu
Another Grand Day Out – Acorn Bank, Temple Sowerby, Cumbria, CA10 1SP
Acorn Bank is probably one of the lesser-known National Trust properties but its garden provides an atmospheric and tranquil haven for the visitor. Founded by the Knights Templar, the land has been worked for over 800 years and there is a strong sense of history and longevity at the property. Ancient apple, pear and plum trees, beehives and meadow planting are contained within red sandstone walls which offer warmth and shelter to a selection of vegetables too. Terraced planting meanders around the side and rear of the house and has a languid and relaxed feel to it, giving the impression that many plants have just been left to get on with it. During our visit in early June, peonies and erigeron were in flower with many other cottage garden favourites also in abundance. The medicinal herb garden (the largest in the National Trust's care with over 250 varieties) provides plenty of interest. Spring and Autumn visits also bring their own rewards with many rare pre 1900 varieties of daffodil or lots of Autumn fruit to try. Views of the Lakeland hills and Howgill fells are always breathtaking and there is plenty of wildlife to spot in the woodland and near the working watermill.
This was a very relaxing day out which can also be combined with a visit to Larch Cottage Gardens Nursery at Melkinthorpe, but that's another story.
Caroline Cornwel
Rachel’s Garden - Open Day
Quite a few CBHS members went along in late August to the home of one of our committee members, Rachel Haslock, who opened her garden in aid of the MS Trust. Oh my, talk about garden envy! Just when you thought you had come to the end of the garden, you peered round and found another area full to the brim with flowers! Rachel has cleverly made her garden into “rooms” which are quite distinct from each other. She must have to put many, many hours into its maintenance and I only hope she gets time to sit down and enjoy the fruits of her labour. All in all, it was a very successful day raising £480 for her chosen charity.
Lawrence Rodgers
Events (Dates for your Diary)
AGM plus speaker Saturday 4 March
Based in North East Wales, Joe is an award-winning professional garden photographer who works across the UK. He is a full member of the Garden Media Guild and Professional Garden Photographers' Association, his images are widely published and he has won awards in the 2021, 2020, 2018, 2016 and 2015 International Garden Photographer of the Year competitions. He was also a finalist in the Photographer of the Year and Portfolio Photographer categories in the 2020 Garden Media Guild Awards.
His clients include: public and private garden owners; national and international publications; garden designers; and organisations including the National Trust and Visit Britain. He is also a National Garden Scheme registered photographer.
Newsletter June 2022
Hopefully your gardens are coming into full bloom or maybe in full bloom already and you have managed to relax there during the recent bout of hot weather? This year, we have managed to fill a lot of gaps in our herbaceous border and put a small paved area down at the bottom of the garden so we can take advantage of the early morning sunshine when we have our coffee. Since the last newsletter and the easing of Covid restrictions, we have had a couple of notable events namely our early May Plant sale and a “Behind the Scenes at Bodnant” tour which are reported on below. I am hoping to announce more events later in the year. The Autumn Show is scheduled for the 3rd September so please keep a look out for the show schedule.
This was my first involvement “behind the trestle tables” at our annual plant sale and believe me it was an eye opener! The amount of organisation involved was incredible and hats off to those who came along on the Friday evening and early Saturday morning to set everything up. Our new “home” at the United Reform church, proved to be a winner as it gave us the extra space to spread out and provide room to manoeuvre for those who were still Covid cautious. We manged to fill most of the tables with a wide variety of plants and vegetables on the Friday evening and then as many again on the Saturday! Thanks need to be extended to all those growers who kindly donated their surplus. By the end of the sale, there were one or two exhausted helpers and to sum up, the sale was described as “manic but well organised”. And a last thank you to Jaqui and her team for the excellent cake and refreshment service which broke the £100 barrier for the first time!
Lawrence Rodgers
June 2022 t - ‘Behind the Scenes’ Visit to Bodnant Gardens,
CBHS members gathered in eager anticipation one fine June morning just inside the garden. The weather was kind to us and the gardener (Fiona Braithwaite, a mature student who graduated from the National Trust’s flagship Career ship training programme and a winner of a rare City & Guilds Medal for Excellence award) arrived on time with plenty of information and old photographs in hand. Our group was the very first ‘Behind the Scenes’ tour and if successful then it could be a more regular event. Fiona started with a brief history of the owners (the McLarens), house and gardens (more can be found before moving down to the Front Lawn (main grassy area next to the house looking towards the ha-ha).
Henry McLaren was president of the Royal Horticultural Society from 1931 until his death. In 1948, he persuaded the National Trust to accept gardens on their own merit into the fold of the charity - Bodnant was supposed to be the first, but was the second admitted, in 1949, 3 months after Hidcote. She showed us old photographs of the main glasshouse attached to the house and what she called ‘The Range’. This was an area of low glass houses attached to the wall between the main house and the new NT entrance building – it is now flower beds with hot colours just before you go out of the turnstile to the Garden Centre. The owners hope to get a grant to renovate the main glasshouse and if successful, the glasshouse will be open to the public on certain days of the year (condition of the grant).
Fiona directed the group across the upper rose terrace and to our first ‘not open to the public’ area. We gathered in the old stables yard on the back side of the house. Currently, the old stable buildings are used by Bodnant gardeners (and volunteers) to rest between work and to store various equipment and machinery. It was fascinating to see Bodnant House from this side (gold painted decorations). From here, we walked north to one of the main composting areas. This is only one of many such areas located around the garden. The 3 bins are stirred by digger and loaded with soft and hard garden waste (after shredding) which is used to produce vital well-rotted compost for the garden. We walked back into the main garden and past the old Yucca beds. Renovation of this area has just started, with plants that they want to retain being removed. All the stone infrastructure and walls will be improved first (a big and most costly part of the project) and only then will a new planting scheme be introduced.
The group stopped to look at the Pin Mill and water lilies terrace. Fiona handed round some detailed hand-drawn plans for planting out in this area. She explained about how the head gardener had to plan out interesting and colour coordinated plants with interest throughout the seasons and which required minimal maintenance. A challenge all gardeners face. From here, we crossed the Old Park and paused to admire the hundreds of wild spotted orchids bobbing about in the morning sunshine. Beautiful! Then we entered our second
‘not open to the public’ area. This is the new Bodnant gardener’s retreat area (small extension on existing old building) and it will replace the need to use the buildings in the old stable yard. The extension is quite modest in size and is even more so when you consider
it is also used by the 90+ ‘meet and greet’ volunteers and 40 ‘gardening’ volunteers. Work has not yet started on renovating the adjacent old Head Gardeners cottage which is Grade 2 listed. The garden’s two propagating greenhouses and polytunnel are located here as well. Again, quite limited in size and not as extensive as the greenhouses you can see from the Garden Centre area (these are owned by the family and they are independent from the NT. They are used by the commercial Bodnant Garden Plants nursery). Fiona outlined that all plants coming into the garden are quarantined and checked for diseases and unwanted bugs (e.g. vine weevils in compost) before planting out in the garden. There is a large unfinished building foundation nearby. It is going to be the drying room for the gardeners and other workers, but financial pressures and COVID-19 has meant that this is a still a 'work in progress’ project. Lastly, we admired the brand-new equipment and vehicles store (you can see this from the road south of the entrance to the NT car park). Here all the large vehicles and other equipment will be cleaned stored safely. This will result in all the buildings in the old stables yard returning to the owners use).
Finally, most of the group climbed up to the top of Heather Hill – our last ‘not open to the public’ area. This is a lovely viewpoint to look over the Old Park and back to the main garden. There is a small folly at the top (the roof needs to be reattached) and the hill is very overgrown. Fiona said that many of the larger plants and small self-seeded trees will be removed and then the ‘heather’ themed planting will be reintroduced. This is the last main area of the garden to be opened to the public. Originally, it was on schedule for 2020 but it is unlikely to happen before 2023 now.
CBHS Group at the top of Heather Hill, Bodnant Gardens June 2022
We all walked back to the East Garden and Lawrence thanked Fiona, on behalf of the group, for an extremely interesting couple of hours.
Wendy & David Kitson
Recipe - Potato Chocolate Cake:
This looks interesting to say the least!
Cake
125g butter
165g castor sugar
2 eggs
Cold mashed potato (raw 185g)
190g self-rising flour
33g cocoa
85ml milk
Frosting
90g unsalted butter
180g icing sugar
2 tblsp cocoa
2 tblsp milk
20cm ring type (doughnut) cake tin greased and base lined
Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
Beat in the eggs one by one.
Gentle fold in the mashed potato with half the flour, half the cocoa and half the milk
Stir in the remaining flour, cocoa and milk
Spread mixture into the prepared tin
Bake at 180°C for 35 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean.
Stand for five minutes then turnout and leave to cool
Frosting
Beat the unsalted butter until light and creamy, then gradually add the icing sugar, cocoa
and milk.
Beat until well mixed and very soft then spread over the cooled cake.
Any feedback gratefully received! Jaqui Jones
The Continuing Tales from an Allotment Newbie
There is much to learn as a new allotment keeper, and I am under no illusion that the learning curve is not going to flatten out any time soon.
To date, there have been some satisfying successes, notably an impressive harvest of broad beans, rhubarb and sweet peas. The main challenges have and a rather erratic watering system. The recent downpours have at least provided a break from wrestling with a Heath Robinson arrangement of hoses. The ‘Lottie’ (as our allotment has been named) is where we can offload, recharge and share a good laugh.
The broad beans are pretty good too!
Christine Rodgers
A Grand Day Out – RHS Spring Show, Malvern, 6th May 2022
A trip to see family in the Midlands, presented the perfect opportunity for our Chair and spouse to visit the RHS Spring Show in Malvern on 6 May. Easy parking, no queues, wonderful weather and the superb backdrop of the Malvern Hills provided the ingredients for an excellent day out. Whilst busy, the show was very well spread out and it was easy to find your way to exhibits of interest. It was difficult to prioritise but highlights included the show gardens, specialist growers, the Gloucester Guild of Master Craftsmen and, of course, the Floral Marquee, then there was the Country Living Tent and retail opportunities galore. D'Arcy & Everest, specialists in growing alpines, bulbs and border perennials remains a firm favourite with a beautiful selection of plants and an excellent display - everything you would expect from an RHS
Master Grower! And a vintage afternoon tea rounded the day off nicely!
Hopefully your gardens are coming into full bloom or maybe in full bloom already and you have managed to relax there during the recent bout of hot weather? This year, we have managed to fill a lot of gaps in our herbaceous border and put a small paved area down at the bottom of the garden so we can take advantage of the early morning sunshine when we have our coffee. Since the last newsletter and the easing of Covid restrictions, we have had a couple of notable events namely our early May Plant sale and a “Behind the Scenes at Bodnant” tour which are reported on below. I am hoping to announce more events later in the year. The Autumn Show is scheduled for the 3rd September so please keep a look out for the show schedule.
This was my first involvement “behind the trestle tables” at our annual plant sale and believe me it was an eye opener! The amount of organisation involved was incredible and hats off to those who came along on the Friday evening and early Saturday morning to set everything up. Our new “home” at the United Reform church, proved to be a winner as it gave us the extra space to spread out and provide room to manoeuvre for those who were still Covid cautious. We manged to fill most of the tables with a wide variety of plants and vegetables on the Friday evening and then as many again on the Saturday! Thanks need to be extended to all those growers who kindly donated their surplus. By the end of the sale, there were one or two exhausted helpers and to sum up, the sale was described as “manic but well organised”. And a last thank you to Jaqui and her team for the excellent cake and refreshment service which broke the £100 barrier for the first time!
Lawrence Rodgers
June 2022 t - ‘Behind the Scenes’ Visit to Bodnant Gardens,
CBHS members gathered in eager anticipation one fine June morning just inside the garden. The weather was kind to us and the gardener (Fiona Braithwaite, a mature student who graduated from the National Trust’s flagship Career ship training programme and a winner of a rare City & Guilds Medal for Excellence award) arrived on time with plenty of information and old photographs in hand. Our group was the very first ‘Behind the Scenes’ tour and if successful then it could be a more regular event. Fiona started with a brief history of the owners (the McLarens), house and gardens (more can be found before moving down to the Front Lawn (main grassy area next to the house looking towards the ha-ha).
Henry McLaren was president of the Royal Horticultural Society from 1931 until his death. In 1948, he persuaded the National Trust to accept gardens on their own merit into the fold of the charity - Bodnant was supposed to be the first, but was the second admitted, in 1949, 3 months after Hidcote. She showed us old photographs of the main glasshouse attached to the house and what she called ‘The Range’. This was an area of low glass houses attached to the wall between the main house and the new NT entrance building – it is now flower beds with hot colours just before you go out of the turnstile to the Garden Centre. The owners hope to get a grant to renovate the main glasshouse and if successful, the glasshouse will be open to the public on certain days of the year (condition of the grant).
Fiona directed the group across the upper rose terrace and to our first ‘not open to the public’ area. We gathered in the old stables yard on the back side of the house. Currently, the old stable buildings are used by Bodnant gardeners (and volunteers) to rest between work and to store various equipment and machinery. It was fascinating to see Bodnant House from this side (gold painted decorations). From here, we walked north to one of the main composting areas. This is only one of many such areas located around the garden. The 3 bins are stirred by digger and loaded with soft and hard garden waste (after shredding) which is used to produce vital well-rotted compost for the garden. We walked back into the main garden and past the old Yucca beds. Renovation of this area has just started, with plants that they want to retain being removed. All the stone infrastructure and walls will be improved first (a big and most costly part of the project) and only then will a new planting scheme be introduced.
The group stopped to look at the Pin Mill and water lilies terrace. Fiona handed round some detailed hand-drawn plans for planting out in this area. She explained about how the head gardener had to plan out interesting and colour coordinated plants with interest throughout the seasons and which required minimal maintenance. A challenge all gardeners face. From here, we crossed the Old Park and paused to admire the hundreds of wild spotted orchids bobbing about in the morning sunshine. Beautiful! Then we entered our second
‘not open to the public’ area. This is the new Bodnant gardener’s retreat area (small extension on existing old building) and it will replace the need to use the buildings in the old stable yard. The extension is quite modest in size and is even more so when you consider
it is also used by the 90+ ‘meet and greet’ volunteers and 40 ‘gardening’ volunteers. Work has not yet started on renovating the adjacent old Head Gardeners cottage which is Grade 2 listed. The garden’s two propagating greenhouses and polytunnel are located here as well. Again, quite limited in size and not as extensive as the greenhouses you can see from the Garden Centre area (these are owned by the family and they are independent from the NT. They are used by the commercial Bodnant Garden Plants nursery). Fiona outlined that all plants coming into the garden are quarantined and checked for diseases and unwanted bugs (e.g. vine weevils in compost) before planting out in the garden. There is a large unfinished building foundation nearby. It is going to be the drying room for the gardeners and other workers, but financial pressures and COVID-19 has meant that this is a still a 'work in progress’ project. Lastly, we admired the brand-new equipment and vehicles store (you can see this from the road south of the entrance to the NT car park). Here all the large vehicles and other equipment will be cleaned stored safely. This will result in all the buildings in the old stables yard returning to the owners use).
Finally, most of the group climbed up to the top of Heather Hill – our last ‘not open to the public’ area. This is a lovely viewpoint to look over the Old Park and back to the main garden. There is a small folly at the top (the roof needs to be reattached) and the hill is very overgrown. Fiona said that many of the larger plants and small self-seeded trees will be removed and then the ‘heather’ themed planting will be reintroduced. This is the last main area of the garden to be opened to the public. Originally, it was on schedule for 2020 but it is unlikely to happen before 2023 now.
CBHS Group at the top of Heather Hill, Bodnant Gardens June 2022
We all walked back to the East Garden and Lawrence thanked Fiona, on behalf of the group, for an extremely interesting couple of hours.
Wendy & David Kitson
Recipe - Potato Chocolate Cake:
This looks interesting to say the least!
Cake
125g butter
165g castor sugar
2 eggs
Cold mashed potato (raw 185g)
190g self-rising flour
33g cocoa
85ml milk
Frosting
90g unsalted butter
180g icing sugar
2 tblsp cocoa
2 tblsp milk
20cm ring type (doughnut) cake tin greased and base lined
Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
Beat in the eggs one by one.
Gentle fold in the mashed potato with half the flour, half the cocoa and half the milk
Stir in the remaining flour, cocoa and milk
Spread mixture into the prepared tin
Bake at 180°C for 35 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean.
Stand for five minutes then turnout and leave to cool
Frosting
Beat the unsalted butter until light and creamy, then gradually add the icing sugar, cocoa
and milk.
Beat until well mixed and very soft then spread over the cooled cake.
Any feedback gratefully received! Jaqui Jones
The Continuing Tales from an Allotment Newbie
There is much to learn as a new allotment keeper, and I am under no illusion that the learning curve is not going to flatten out any time soon.
To date, there have been some satisfying successes, notably an impressive harvest of broad beans, rhubarb and sweet peas. The main challenges have and a rather erratic watering system. The recent downpours have at least provided a break from wrestling with a Heath Robinson arrangement of hoses. The ‘Lottie’ (as our allotment has been named) is where we can offload, recharge and share a good laugh.
The broad beans are pretty good too!
Christine Rodgers
A Grand Day Out – RHS Spring Show, Malvern, 6th May 2022
A trip to see family in the Midlands, presented the perfect opportunity for our Chair and spouse to visit the RHS Spring Show in Malvern on 6 May. Easy parking, no queues, wonderful weather and the superb backdrop of the Malvern Hills provided the ingredients for an excellent day out. Whilst busy, the show was very well spread out and it was easy to find your way to exhibits of interest. It was difficult to prioritise but highlights included the show gardens, specialist growers, the Gloucester Guild of Master Craftsmen and, of course, the Floral Marquee, then there was the Country Living Tent and retail opportunities galore. D'Arcy & Everest, specialists in growing alpines, bulbs and border perennials remains a firm favourite with a beautiful selection of plants and an excellent display - everything you would expect from an RHS
Master Grower! And a vintage afternoon tea rounded the day off nicely!
Newsletter – March 2022
From the Events Co-Ordinator
Well, a new year and a new set of tasks for the garden. Disintegrating raised beds (am I the only one who can successfully rot tanalised wood) to be repaired, a new puppy who has taken an instant like to digging in the garden, and a wife who has decided to take on an allotment with a friend and an instruction that I need not be involved! The only benefit from having our roof replaced is that we have 3 humungous chimney pots for siting in the garden and a flower catalogue to work out what we shall be growing in them. Any help in that respect gratefully received.
This year thankfully, some sort of normality has returned so we have our usual timetable of shows and hopefully some extra items as well. One of the extras is a trip to Bodnant Gardens on Saturday June 18th and a look behind the scenes as well as a tour to understand better the workings of the estate. There are a few places still available so do please get in touch if you would like to participate. Lifts/car shares could be found for those requiring transport.
Thanks to all those who were involved in our “Virtual Shows” during the lockdowns which were ran as a bit of fun so this years “live” Spring and Autumn Shows sees us return to the actual events although some restrictions will be in place and a new venue (the United Reform Church in Rhos-on-Sea) to become familiar with. The Spring Show schedule and detail can be found at the back of this newsletter and a reminder for those entering the Spring Show to have their entry forms in by 5.00pm on Monday 28th March
Lawrence Email: [email protected]
Woodland Trust/Coed Cadw Presentation by Brian Palmer 5th March 2022
Prior to our AGM, Brian travelled up from Bala, to give members an overview of the work of the Woodland Trust in Wales and also to give an indication of ancient woodlands to be found in North Wales. The trust plant trees and campaign for better protection for woodlands and trees across the country. They also look after more than 100 woods which are yours to explore whenever you like. Brian’s talk also included how to look for clues for ancient woodlands and also the origin of some family names such as Pollard, Barker and Parker! Brian informed members that the trust had an initiative to give away free trees, details of which could be found on their website. The trust will be undertaking the following walks this spring/summer:
Ingredients:
It is time for PEAT FREE COMPOST
As gardeners, we are being encouraged to decrease our reliance on peat-based products. Peat-free composts are now widely available locally in specialist garden centres, supermarkets, and general DIY stores (NB. RHS approved all purpose, peat free compost “Melcourt” is available at Richard Williams Builders Merchants, Llandudno Junction).
Why use peat free-growing media?
Peat is primarily sourced from lowland raised bogs – an increasingly rare habitat in the UK and across Europe. In recent years, the need to conserve this diminishing natural resource has been recognised, as well as the flora and fauna that depend on it. Peat bogs are also an important carbon sink: destroying them to make garden compost contributes to climate change.
☹ The effects of extraction are irreplaceable as peatlands take thousands of years to form. Defra estimates that 2.96 million cubic metres of peat is used in the UK annually, of which 99% is used as growing media and 69% of which is used by gardeners
The RHS is calling on gardeners to go peat-free by:
https://www.rhs.org.uk/soil-composts-mulches/peat-free
However, the challenge is that the performance of peat-free products is not as good as peat-based products and the cost is considerably higher. For general potting on, I highly recommend getting some of Conwy Council’s free ‘composted domestic waste’ and mixing it 50:50 with peat-free compost. It is excellent, well-rotted compost and adds body and structure to the rather free draining peat-free products. It also makes the more expensive peat-free compost go further.
Compost is available free of charge from the council’s Recycling Centres in Mochdre and Abergele. You must book an appointment (just the same as you do for taking recycling/rubbish) and remember to select ‘free compost’ as your option.
We would like to hear from members about their experience with peat free compost. Do you have any tips? Let us know. Wendy Kitson
Tales from an Allotment Newbie
Having applied for an allotment a couple of years ago and being told we were 159th on the reserve list, it was a pleasant surprise to get an email from the Council stating plots were available in Old Colwyn on a first come first served basis. An immediate response gained us plot 15 and so the hard work began! Judith and I have adopted the “no dig” method of horticulture so cardboard was laid with a compost cover, pre-Christmas. Our first 2022 visit to the allotment mid-March enabled us to plant some raspberry canes, a few spring brassicas and a rhubarb crown so fingers crossed. Plans have been drawn up to plant the rest of the allotment in the next few months and the intention here is to report back occasionally on progress. Early days yet, so fingers crossed! Christine Rodgers
Events (dates for your diary and Covid regulations permitting)
Spring Show – Saturday 2nd April 2022 (Detail can be found at the end of this Newsletter)
Plant Sale – Saturday 14th May 2022
Autumn Show – Saturday 10th September 2022
.
NEW VENUE: United Reformed Church, Colwyn Avenue, Rhos-on-Sea, LL28 4RA
Membership Fees
Please note that membership fees were re-introduced as of 1st January 2022 with the fees remaining at £7 for individuals and £12 for couples. Please see our website.
From the Events Co-Ordinator
Well, a new year and a new set of tasks for the garden. Disintegrating raised beds (am I the only one who can successfully rot tanalised wood) to be repaired, a new puppy who has taken an instant like to digging in the garden, and a wife who has decided to take on an allotment with a friend and an instruction that I need not be involved! The only benefit from having our roof replaced is that we have 3 humungous chimney pots for siting in the garden and a flower catalogue to work out what we shall be growing in them. Any help in that respect gratefully received.
This year thankfully, some sort of normality has returned so we have our usual timetable of shows and hopefully some extra items as well. One of the extras is a trip to Bodnant Gardens on Saturday June 18th and a look behind the scenes as well as a tour to understand better the workings of the estate. There are a few places still available so do please get in touch if you would like to participate. Lifts/car shares could be found for those requiring transport.
Thanks to all those who were involved in our “Virtual Shows” during the lockdowns which were ran as a bit of fun so this years “live” Spring and Autumn Shows sees us return to the actual events although some restrictions will be in place and a new venue (the United Reform Church in Rhos-on-Sea) to become familiar with. The Spring Show schedule and detail can be found at the back of this newsletter and a reminder for those entering the Spring Show to have their entry forms in by 5.00pm on Monday 28th March
Lawrence Email: [email protected]
Woodland Trust/Coed Cadw Presentation by Brian Palmer 5th March 2022
Prior to our AGM, Brian travelled up from Bala, to give members an overview of the work of the Woodland Trust in Wales and also to give an indication of ancient woodlands to be found in North Wales. The trust plant trees and campaign for better protection for woodlands and trees across the country. They also look after more than 100 woods which are yours to explore whenever you like. Brian’s talk also included how to look for clues for ancient woodlands and also the origin of some family names such as Pollard, Barker and Parker! Brian informed members that the trust had an initiative to give away free trees, details of which could be found on their website. The trust will be undertaking the following walks this spring/summer:
- April 24th Parc Mawr Guided Walk: Signs of Spring 10-1pm – a good opportunity to enjoy the best of the blooms and to talk about all our various citizen science projects.
- May 15th Plas Power Guided Walk: Clywedog Trail Loop
- July 9th Treescape - Coed Felenrhyd Guided Walk: Ancient Tree Recording
-
Ingredients:
- 140g unsalted butter, softened, plus extra for greasing
- 200g caster sugar
- 250g carrots, grated
- 140g sultanas
- 2 eggs, lightly beaten
- 200g gluten-free self-raising flour
- 1 tsp cinnamon (leave out if you don’t fancy it)
- 1 tsp gluten-free baking powder
- 50g mixed nuts, chopped (if you don’t want nuts add the weight to the sultanas)
- 75g butter softened or equal amounts of mascarpone and double cream
- 175g icing sugar
- 3 tsp cinnamon, plus extra for dusting (leave out if you don’t fancy it)
- Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4.
- Grease and line a 900g/2lb loaf tin with baking parchment.
- Beat the butter and sugar until soft and creamy, then stir in the grated carrot and sultanas.
- Pour the eggs into the mix a little at a time.
- Add the flour, cinnamon, baking powder and most of the chopped nuts and mix well.
- Tip the mix into the loaf tin, then bake for 50-55 mins or until a skewer poked in the middle comes out clean.
- Allow to cool in the tin for 15 mins, then remove from the tin and cool completely on a wire rack.
- Meanwhile, make the icing. Beat the butter in a large bowl until it is really soft, add the icing sugar and cinnamon, then beat until thick and creamy.
- When the cake is cool, spread the icing on top, then sprinkle with a little more cinnamon and the remaining chopped nuts.
It is time for PEAT FREE COMPOST
As gardeners, we are being encouraged to decrease our reliance on peat-based products. Peat-free composts are now widely available locally in specialist garden centres, supermarkets, and general DIY stores (NB. RHS approved all purpose, peat free compost “Melcourt” is available at Richard Williams Builders Merchants, Llandudno Junction).
Why use peat free-growing media?
Peat is primarily sourced from lowland raised bogs – an increasingly rare habitat in the UK and across Europe. In recent years, the need to conserve this diminishing natural resource has been recognised, as well as the flora and fauna that depend on it. Peat bogs are also an important carbon sink: destroying them to make garden compost contributes to climate change.
☹ The effects of extraction are irreplaceable as peatlands take thousands of years to form. Defra estimates that 2.96 million cubic metres of peat is used in the UK annually, of which 99% is used as growing media and 69% of which is used by gardeners
The RHS is calling on gardeners to go peat-free by:
- buying peat-free compost
- composting to create home-grown soil improver or putting garden waste in council bins for wider use
- Sharing peat-free successes, tips and advice with friends and family
https://www.rhs.org.uk/soil-composts-mulches/peat-free
However, the challenge is that the performance of peat-free products is not as good as peat-based products and the cost is considerably higher. For general potting on, I highly recommend getting some of Conwy Council’s free ‘composted domestic waste’ and mixing it 50:50 with peat-free compost. It is excellent, well-rotted compost and adds body and structure to the rather free draining peat-free products. It also makes the more expensive peat-free compost go further.
Compost is available free of charge from the council’s Recycling Centres in Mochdre and Abergele. You must book an appointment (just the same as you do for taking recycling/rubbish) and remember to select ‘free compost’ as your option.
We would like to hear from members about their experience with peat free compost. Do you have any tips? Let us know. Wendy Kitson
Tales from an Allotment Newbie
Having applied for an allotment a couple of years ago and being told we were 159th on the reserve list, it was a pleasant surprise to get an email from the Council stating plots were available in Old Colwyn on a first come first served basis. An immediate response gained us plot 15 and so the hard work began! Judith and I have adopted the “no dig” method of horticulture so cardboard was laid with a compost cover, pre-Christmas. Our first 2022 visit to the allotment mid-March enabled us to plant some raspberry canes, a few spring brassicas and a rhubarb crown so fingers crossed. Plans have been drawn up to plant the rest of the allotment in the next few months and the intention here is to report back occasionally on progress. Early days yet, so fingers crossed! Christine Rodgers
Events (dates for your diary and Covid regulations permitting)
Spring Show – Saturday 2nd April 2022 (Detail can be found at the end of this Newsletter)
Plant Sale – Saturday 14th May 2022
Autumn Show – Saturday 10th September 2022
.
NEW VENUE: United Reformed Church, Colwyn Avenue, Rhos-on-Sea, LL28 4RA
Membership Fees
Please note that membership fees were re-introduced as of 1st January 2022 with the fees remaining at £7 for individuals and £12 for couples. Please see our website.
The Woodland Trust presentation from our AGM. Thank you to Brian Palmer for a very interesting talk.
Newsletter – February 2021
Hello All!
As I write this, I am looking out of my window onto the back garden and I am thinking, “I should plant rice this year!” I say back garden, it’s more like a lake! I am already really missing my greenhouse. I ventured outside to tidy up my little plastic greenhouse but my fingers were so cold! The chance of getting outside and not feeling the cold is low although I do have the thermal gardening gloves I got for Christmas! I’ve sorted out my seeds from last year and have decided not to overdo it in the vegetable garden this year and passed on those that are still within their “sow by” date. There are still a fair number of old television programmes available from last year and there is also a “virtual” garden re-design programme that started in January to keep us enthused for the warmer months to come. I am very much an armchair gardener at the moment.
Given the probable months of continued lockdown, we are once again organising a “virtual show” this spring. I would encourage all of you to enter as it is so much fun and all it takes is a quick photograph and an email. It is not just about gardening but includes the hobbies that have kept us sane these past months. Further details are given below.
Keep safe!
Lawrence (Events Co-ordinator)
Annual General Meeting (AGM) Saturday 6th March 2021 (cancelled)
In view of the current difficulties of getting everyone together for the AGM of the Society, it has been decided to defer the meeting until further notice. In the meantime, the Treasurer has prepared the accounts for year ending December 2020 (see addendum to this newsletter for information). Thank you for your understanding and we hope to hold our meeting as soon as we are allowed.
Spring Show Saturday 10th April 2021 (cancelled)
Unfortunately, we are not able to host a Spring Show this year. Therefore, after the success of the virtual Autumn Show last year, we have decided to run a virtual Spring Show. This is strictly for fun and given that you will not have to nurture your plants in the hope they will look their best on 10th April, we hope you will all participate and photograph your best specimens. There will be no prizes, this is just for fun!
Virtual show rules:
Email photographs to: [email protected] (preferred option)
Submissions are accepted from 1st February to midnight April 1st 2021
If you do not have access to email – post your entries to: J. Jones, 2 Farrington Court, Penrhyn Bay, LL30 3FG
Include your name (which will not be published) and/or membership number
The class number of your entry (see list at the end of newsletter)
Add the flower/plant variety (if known)
A maximum of 3 entries per class per member. Please keep the file sizes as low as possible.
Winning photographs will be identified by mid-April. Captions will be added to the photographs on the website as appropriate and with permissions. We will upload all photographs to the CBHS website and members will be notified when they are live.
Plant Sale Saturday 8th May 2021 (to be decided)
The COVID-19 situation means that the committee is unable to plan that far ahead but members are growing on plants and seedlings. Therefore, a decision will be made nearer the time whether to go ahead with a Plant Sale.
Gardening jobs you should have done in January:
Mulch borders
Check dahlia tubers
Aerate greenhouses
Cut back old stems
Chit potatoes
Take root cuttings
Wash/disinfect pots etc
Force rhubarb
Clean spades etc
Sow: onion seeds, celery, celeriac, broad beans
Pick off grey mould on leaves
Warm up soil with clear plastic
Winter prune wisteria
Order onion sets
Look after indoor azaleas
Order herbaceous perennials
Lift and divide herbaceous perennials
Sow seeds in electric propagator
Plant fruit trees and bushes
Prune apple trees
Keep tender cuttings under cover
Protect garden from winter weather
Trim off old hellebore leaves
Move small shrubs/young trees
Gardening jobs for February:
Move snowdrops after flowering, trim winter heathers, cut back perennials
Sow under cover, broad beans, sweet peas, greenhouse tomatoes, lettuce, Brussels sprouts, spinach, summer cabbage
Plant flowering shrubs, shallots
Prune fuchsias, winter flowering jasmine
Pot up primulas, dahlia tubers
Protect your beds with cloches
Look after seedlings
Keep weeding
Recipe
Here is another delicious teatime treat kindly donated by our Chairperson, Caroline Cornwell. Enjoy.
Crumpets – Ingredients:
200g sieved bread flour
50g plain flour
1 x 7g sachet dried active yeast
½ teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon caster sugar
½ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
50ml water
325ml milk
Method:
Heat the water and milk together until lukewarm.
Sieve the flour into a large mixing bowl; add the yeast, caster sugar, bicarbonate of soda and salt.
With a large wooden spoon, mix the warm milk and water into the flour mixture, then whisk for a few minutes, until a batter is formed.
Place a damp tea towel on top of the bowl. Place in a warm place for approx 1 hour. The mixture should have risen and be covered in bubbles.
Generously grease the insides of four crumpet rings (available from Lakeland) and add a knob of butter into a pre-heated non stick frying pan.
Place the crumpet rings into the frying pan and add approx 2 tablespoons (just under half full) of the crumpet mixture into each ring.
Cook on a medium to low heat for approx 10 mins, until the surface has bubbled, formed holes and has dried out.
It should be easy to remove each ring as the crumpet should shrink away from the sides, but be careful, as the rings will be extremely hot!
Once the rings have been removed, flip the crumpets for a few seconds, so the tops can brown.
Serve immediately with butter and jam. Or save them and toast later.
Future Events (dates for your diary)
It is looking increasingly uncertain as to whether we will be able to meet in person in 2021. The committee will continue to review the situation and if possible, arrange some form of event later in the year.
1st April 2021 (midnight) online only Deadline for Virtual Spring Show entries
8th May 2021 to be decided Plant Sale only
4th Sept 2021 to be decided Autumn Show – fingers crossed!
All live events are normally held at Rhos Methodist Church Hall, St George’s Road, Rhos on Sea, LL28 4HF.
Membership Fees
Due to the high probability of being unable to hold any events and meetings in 2021, the committee decided last year, there will be no charge for membership fees in 2021. As before, hopefully by informing you late last year, those of you who pay by standing order would have had time to cancel the payment. A review for fees for 2022 will take place later this year.
In the meantime, see what we do on our website which is full of photographs, notes and meeting reports plus on our Facebook pages. You can become more active by volunteering at events or joining the committee.
Lawrence Rodgers
Email: [email protected]
2021 “Virtual” Spring Show Classes
POTTED PLANTS
(all plants must be photographed in a pot/bowl/container not growing in the garden)
Class 1 One Camellia, Rhododendron or Azalea plant
Class 2 One Orchid plant
Class 3 One pot or bowl of any Cyclamen
Class 4 One pot or bowl of any Primula
Class 5 Flowering plant, other than Classes 1 – 4 indoor or outdoor plant
Class 6 One Foliage plant other than Classes 1 – 4 indoor or outdoor plant
Class 7 One Cactus or Succulent plant
BULBS
(all bulbs must be photographed in a pot/bowl/container not growing in the garden)
Class 8 One Container of Hyacinths, any number/variety in pot or glass
Class 9 One Container of Tulips, any number/variety
Class 10 One Container of Narcissi any number/variety
Class 11 A Container featuring mixed plants and bulbs (bulbs can be those
already mentioned in Classes 8-10)
CUT FLOWERS
(all cut flowers must be grown by the exhibitor. They must be photographed in a vase and not growing in the garden)
Class 12 Vase of Narcissi with own foliage, one or mixed variety, max 6 stems
Class 13 Vase of Tulips with own foliage, one or mixed variety, max 6 stems
Class 14 Vase of mixed Spring Flowers
PHOTOGRAPHY SECTION
Class 15 Mist and Fog
Class 16 Spring Feeling
Class 17 Escape
Class 18 Nature’s Solace
HOME PRODUCE SECTION
Class 19 A decorated cake (any variety) with an Easter theme
Class 20 3 individual decorated chocolate Easter Nests (please enter age if 14 or under)
CRAFT & LEISURE SECTION
(All exhibits in this section must be the unaided work of the Exhibitor)
Class 21 Needlework Item worked by hand and/or machine
Class 22 A piece of pottery
Class 23 Item for Garden Wildlife
Class 24 Piece of Artwork, any medium
Class 25 Any other craft item (e.g. knitting, woodwork etc).
* * * * Remember email your photographs to: [email protected] * * * *
Hello All!
As I write this, I am looking out of my window onto the back garden and I am thinking, “I should plant rice this year!” I say back garden, it’s more like a lake! I am already really missing my greenhouse. I ventured outside to tidy up my little plastic greenhouse but my fingers were so cold! The chance of getting outside and not feeling the cold is low although I do have the thermal gardening gloves I got for Christmas! I’ve sorted out my seeds from last year and have decided not to overdo it in the vegetable garden this year and passed on those that are still within their “sow by” date. There are still a fair number of old television programmes available from last year and there is also a “virtual” garden re-design programme that started in January to keep us enthused for the warmer months to come. I am very much an armchair gardener at the moment.
Given the probable months of continued lockdown, we are once again organising a “virtual show” this spring. I would encourage all of you to enter as it is so much fun and all it takes is a quick photograph and an email. It is not just about gardening but includes the hobbies that have kept us sane these past months. Further details are given below.
Keep safe!
Lawrence (Events Co-ordinator)
Annual General Meeting (AGM) Saturday 6th March 2021 (cancelled)
In view of the current difficulties of getting everyone together for the AGM of the Society, it has been decided to defer the meeting until further notice. In the meantime, the Treasurer has prepared the accounts for year ending December 2020 (see addendum to this newsletter for information). Thank you for your understanding and we hope to hold our meeting as soon as we are allowed.
Spring Show Saturday 10th April 2021 (cancelled)
Unfortunately, we are not able to host a Spring Show this year. Therefore, after the success of the virtual Autumn Show last year, we have decided to run a virtual Spring Show. This is strictly for fun and given that you will not have to nurture your plants in the hope they will look their best on 10th April, we hope you will all participate and photograph your best specimens. There will be no prizes, this is just for fun!
Virtual show rules:
Email photographs to: [email protected] (preferred option)
Submissions are accepted from 1st February to midnight April 1st 2021
If you do not have access to email – post your entries to: J. Jones, 2 Farrington Court, Penrhyn Bay, LL30 3FG
Include your name (which will not be published) and/or membership number
The class number of your entry (see list at the end of newsletter)
Add the flower/plant variety (if known)
A maximum of 3 entries per class per member. Please keep the file sizes as low as possible.
Winning photographs will be identified by mid-April. Captions will be added to the photographs on the website as appropriate and with permissions. We will upload all photographs to the CBHS website and members will be notified when they are live.
Plant Sale Saturday 8th May 2021 (to be decided)
The COVID-19 situation means that the committee is unable to plan that far ahead but members are growing on plants and seedlings. Therefore, a decision will be made nearer the time whether to go ahead with a Plant Sale.
Gardening jobs you should have done in January:
Mulch borders
Check dahlia tubers
Aerate greenhouses
Cut back old stems
Chit potatoes
Take root cuttings
Wash/disinfect pots etc
Force rhubarb
Clean spades etc
Sow: onion seeds, celery, celeriac, broad beans
Pick off grey mould on leaves
Warm up soil with clear plastic
Winter prune wisteria
Order onion sets
Look after indoor azaleas
Order herbaceous perennials
Lift and divide herbaceous perennials
Sow seeds in electric propagator
Plant fruit trees and bushes
Prune apple trees
Keep tender cuttings under cover
Protect garden from winter weather
Trim off old hellebore leaves
Move small shrubs/young trees
Gardening jobs for February:
Move snowdrops after flowering, trim winter heathers, cut back perennials
Sow under cover, broad beans, sweet peas, greenhouse tomatoes, lettuce, Brussels sprouts, spinach, summer cabbage
Plant flowering shrubs, shallots
Prune fuchsias, winter flowering jasmine
Pot up primulas, dahlia tubers
Protect your beds with cloches
Look after seedlings
Keep weeding
Recipe
Here is another delicious teatime treat kindly donated by our Chairperson, Caroline Cornwell. Enjoy.
Crumpets – Ingredients:
200g sieved bread flour
50g plain flour
1 x 7g sachet dried active yeast
½ teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon caster sugar
½ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
50ml water
325ml milk
Method:
Heat the water and milk together until lukewarm.
Sieve the flour into a large mixing bowl; add the yeast, caster sugar, bicarbonate of soda and salt.
With a large wooden spoon, mix the warm milk and water into the flour mixture, then whisk for a few minutes, until a batter is formed.
Place a damp tea towel on top of the bowl. Place in a warm place for approx 1 hour. The mixture should have risen and be covered in bubbles.
Generously grease the insides of four crumpet rings (available from Lakeland) and add a knob of butter into a pre-heated non stick frying pan.
Place the crumpet rings into the frying pan and add approx 2 tablespoons (just under half full) of the crumpet mixture into each ring.
Cook on a medium to low heat for approx 10 mins, until the surface has bubbled, formed holes and has dried out.
It should be easy to remove each ring as the crumpet should shrink away from the sides, but be careful, as the rings will be extremely hot!
Once the rings have been removed, flip the crumpets for a few seconds, so the tops can brown.
Serve immediately with butter and jam. Or save them and toast later.
Future Events (dates for your diary)
It is looking increasingly uncertain as to whether we will be able to meet in person in 2021. The committee will continue to review the situation and if possible, arrange some form of event later in the year.
1st April 2021 (midnight) online only Deadline for Virtual Spring Show entries
8th May 2021 to be decided Plant Sale only
4th Sept 2021 to be decided Autumn Show – fingers crossed!
All live events are normally held at Rhos Methodist Church Hall, St George’s Road, Rhos on Sea, LL28 4HF.
Membership Fees
Due to the high probability of being unable to hold any events and meetings in 2021, the committee decided last year, there will be no charge for membership fees in 2021. As before, hopefully by informing you late last year, those of you who pay by standing order would have had time to cancel the payment. A review for fees for 2022 will take place later this year.
In the meantime, see what we do on our website which is full of photographs, notes and meeting reports plus on our Facebook pages. You can become more active by volunteering at events or joining the committee.
Lawrence Rodgers
Email: [email protected]
2021 “Virtual” Spring Show Classes
POTTED PLANTS
(all plants must be photographed in a pot/bowl/container not growing in the garden)
Class 1 One Camellia, Rhododendron or Azalea plant
Class 2 One Orchid plant
Class 3 One pot or bowl of any Cyclamen
Class 4 One pot or bowl of any Primula
Class 5 Flowering plant, other than Classes 1 – 4 indoor or outdoor plant
Class 6 One Foliage plant other than Classes 1 – 4 indoor or outdoor plant
Class 7 One Cactus or Succulent plant
BULBS
(all bulbs must be photographed in a pot/bowl/container not growing in the garden)
Class 8 One Container of Hyacinths, any number/variety in pot or glass
Class 9 One Container of Tulips, any number/variety
Class 10 One Container of Narcissi any number/variety
Class 11 A Container featuring mixed plants and bulbs (bulbs can be those
already mentioned in Classes 8-10)
CUT FLOWERS
(all cut flowers must be grown by the exhibitor. They must be photographed in a vase and not growing in the garden)
Class 12 Vase of Narcissi with own foliage, one or mixed variety, max 6 stems
Class 13 Vase of Tulips with own foliage, one or mixed variety, max 6 stems
Class 14 Vase of mixed Spring Flowers
PHOTOGRAPHY SECTION
Class 15 Mist and Fog
Class 16 Spring Feeling
Class 17 Escape
Class 18 Nature’s Solace
HOME PRODUCE SECTION
Class 19 A decorated cake (any variety) with an Easter theme
Class 20 3 individual decorated chocolate Easter Nests (please enter age if 14 or under)
CRAFT & LEISURE SECTION
(All exhibits in this section must be the unaided work of the Exhibitor)
Class 21 Needlework Item worked by hand and/or machine
Class 22 A piece of pottery
Class 23 Item for Garden Wildlife
Class 24 Piece of Artwork, any medium
Class 25 Any other craft item (e.g. knitting, woodwork etc).
* * * * Remember email your photographs to: [email protected] * * * *
Newsletter – Christmas 2020
Hello All!
Are you keeping on top of your late autumn gardening? On the mild days I am out pruning and repositioning plants and giving the garden a good tidy. My tools need sharpening and my lawn mower needs an MOT so still things to do.
As with any other year there have been successes and failures and I can almost guarantee that next year will be different again given the vagaries of our climate. I picked the last of my raspberries the other day and I have one rose still flowering!
I have now come to realise that for some unknown reason, our house does not like houseplants and I’ve even managed to murder 6 indoor cyclamen! I tried them in a variety of environments but no, none survived. Succulents never stand a chance either although spider plants seem to survive. I definitely do not have green fingers. Hence, I am in regular contact with those members who can pass on their worldly wisdom!
Enjoy Christmas as best you can and keep safe!
Lawrence (Events Co-ordinator)
Gardening Tips for December
Care for your moth orchid – snip flowers as they fad, cut back flowering stem to 2 buds once flowers have gone, use room temperature rainwater on the compost and add liquid feed. Allow water to drain. Keep leaves dry.
Sort seeds – harder the seed coat, the longer they last. Organise by sowing times.
Check hellebores for leaf spot – remove and destroy any infected leaves.
Pinch out sweet peas – encourages more shoots and delays growth
Take root cuttings of mint, Verbascum and Primulas. Cut sections of root 5cm long and place in tray of moist compost and cover with thin layer of compost. Store in frost free spot.
Bring on forced hyacinth bulbs – give them light without huge leaps in temperature e.g. porches before moving into a warmer room.
Sow alpines and hardy plants – cold weather breaks their dormancy
Move houseplants to a bright windowsill and turn every few days.
Plant dogwood
Make leaf mould
Prune red currants, white currants and gooseberries.
Rejuvenate rhubarb – dig up large clumps and divide.
Keep bamboo canes dry
Hellebores
Hellebores are popular plants because they are easy to grow and great for providing winter interest in any garden. These perennial plants have a long flowering period, lasting well into spring. Mainly evergreen with handsome leaves, they thrive in shadier parts of the garden.
Though their common name is the Lenten or Christmas rose, Hellebores are not related to roses. They belong to the buttercup family (Rannunculaceae).
Hellebores are available all year round from garden centres, but it is likely Helleborus niger will soon be appearing in festive plant pots in our local supermarkets and tempting us to stock up with this seasonal favourite. They are often sold as winter flowering indoor plants but come January/February after a few weeks inside, they can start to look shabby and tired.
It is then time to plant them outside where they will give you a lovely display year after year.
Here are a few tips to remember:
Hellebores prefer fertile, evenly moist soils in light shade, though they will do well in most soils. Some can be planted in a sunnier spot provided the soil is not prone to drying out.
Hellebores dislike extremes. Very wet or very dry soil is unsuitable as well as is a position in full sun where the leaves are likely to get scorched in summer. Make sure that you plant it out in an area of your garden with good winter drainage or add plenty of grit when planting.
Wear gloves when handling Hellebores to prevent potential skin irritation.
In summary, Hellebores are: Remember to:
Great for winter interest
A source of food for pollinating insects in early spring
Nodding flowers from late winter to spring
Many are evergreen and some have attractive silver or marbled leaves
Plant in moist, but free-draining soil
Most are hardy and happy in light shade
Remove damaged or disease leaves in autumn/winter
Mulch in spring to reduce drying out of the soil
For further information: www.rhs.org.uk/plants/popular/hellebore
Christmas Recipe
Orange Pastry for Mince Pies - Makes 24
This light, crumbly, rich pastry really complements mincemeat. To try and alleviate any last-minute panic, I always make a large batch of mince pies beforehand and put them in the freezer. I take them out and heat them up as I need them and they taste perfect.
Ingredients:
500g (1lb) plain flour
176g (6oz) icing or caster sugar
375g (12 oz) butter
Finely grated rind and juice of 1 large orange
Sift the flour and sugar into a mixing bowl. Cut the butter into small pieces, stir these into the flour and then rub gently with your fingertips until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Stir in the grated orange rind. Then, using a knife, stir in the orange juice until the dough just begins to stick together. Gather up the dough and pat into a ball, wrap it in cling film and refrigerate for 30 minutes or more before using.
Mince Pies De Luxe - Makes 24
Mince pies can be rather dry, but by mixing the spicy mincemeat with smooth cream cheese, you can give them a really luxurious texture.
Ingredients:
250g (8oz) full fat cream cheese
50g (2oz) caster sugar
500g (1lb) Orange pastry (from above)
Oil for greasing
500-625g (1 – 1 1/4lb) mincemeat
Milk to glaze
Caster or icing sugar to glaze
First put the cream cheese and the caster sugar in a bowl and beat them until smooth. Knead the pastry lightly and roll it out rather more thickly than usual. Using a 7.5cm (3 inch) fluted pastry cutter, cut out 24 rounds, rerolling the pastry as necessary. Line greased patty/bun tins with the rounds. Fill to about half their depth with mincemeat. Then put a teaspoonful of the beaten cream cheese mixture on top of the mincemeat and smooth the top. Roll out the remaining pastry and with a smaller 5cm (2 inch) fluted cutter, cut out another 24 rounds. Moisten the underside of the rounds and place them on top of the filled pies. Press the edges lightly together and make a small slit in the top of each pie.
Brush the tops with cold milk and bake in the centre of the oven, preheated to Gas Mark 7/220°C/425°F, for 15-20 minutes until light golden-brown. The pastry is so deliciously crumbly that it is best to let these mince pies cool down before gently easing them from the tins with a round bladed knife.
Before serving, sprinkle them generously with caster or icing sugar. Serve either warm - which of course is best – or cold.
Thanks to Caroline for this recipe from Jocelyn Dimbleby’s Christmas book.
Membership Fees
As per the last newsletter, due to being unable to hold any events and meetings in 2020, the committee has decided there will be no charge for membership fees in 2021 if you have already paid 2020 fees. As mentioned previously, hopefully by informing you now, those of you who pay by standing order will have time to cancel the payment for 2021.
Obviously, we have been unable to hold any live events this year, so fingers crossed for a return to normality next year. Roll on the vaccine .
Dates for your diary (to be confirmed nearer the time)
6th March 2021 10 - 12 noon AGM
10th April 2021 2 - 4.30 pm Spring Show
8th May 2021 10 - 12 noon Plant sale and coffee morning
4th September 2021 2 - 4.30pm Autumn Show
All events are held at Rhos Methodist Church Hall, St George’s Road, Rhos on Sea, LL28 4HF.
See what we do on our website which is full of photographs (e.g. check out the online Autumn Show entries), notes and meeting reports plus on our Facebook pages. You can become more active by volunteering at events or joining the committee.
Lawrence Rodgers
Email: [email protected]
www.colwynbayhorticulturalsociety.co.uk
Hello All!
Are you keeping on top of your late autumn gardening? On the mild days I am out pruning and repositioning plants and giving the garden a good tidy. My tools need sharpening and my lawn mower needs an MOT so still things to do.
As with any other year there have been successes and failures and I can almost guarantee that next year will be different again given the vagaries of our climate. I picked the last of my raspberries the other day and I have one rose still flowering!
I have now come to realise that for some unknown reason, our house does not like houseplants and I’ve even managed to murder 6 indoor cyclamen! I tried them in a variety of environments but no, none survived. Succulents never stand a chance either although spider plants seem to survive. I definitely do not have green fingers. Hence, I am in regular contact with those members who can pass on their worldly wisdom!
Enjoy Christmas as best you can and keep safe!
Lawrence (Events Co-ordinator)
Gardening Tips for December
Care for your moth orchid – snip flowers as they fad, cut back flowering stem to 2 buds once flowers have gone, use room temperature rainwater on the compost and add liquid feed. Allow water to drain. Keep leaves dry.
Sort seeds – harder the seed coat, the longer they last. Organise by sowing times.
Check hellebores for leaf spot – remove and destroy any infected leaves.
Pinch out sweet peas – encourages more shoots and delays growth
Take root cuttings of mint, Verbascum and Primulas. Cut sections of root 5cm long and place in tray of moist compost and cover with thin layer of compost. Store in frost free spot.
Bring on forced hyacinth bulbs – give them light without huge leaps in temperature e.g. porches before moving into a warmer room.
Sow alpines and hardy plants – cold weather breaks their dormancy
Move houseplants to a bright windowsill and turn every few days.
Plant dogwood
Make leaf mould
Prune red currants, white currants and gooseberries.
Rejuvenate rhubarb – dig up large clumps and divide.
Keep bamboo canes dry
Hellebores
Hellebores are popular plants because they are easy to grow and great for providing winter interest in any garden. These perennial plants have a long flowering period, lasting well into spring. Mainly evergreen with handsome leaves, they thrive in shadier parts of the garden.
Though their common name is the Lenten or Christmas rose, Hellebores are not related to roses. They belong to the buttercup family (Rannunculaceae).
Hellebores are available all year round from garden centres, but it is likely Helleborus niger will soon be appearing in festive plant pots in our local supermarkets and tempting us to stock up with this seasonal favourite. They are often sold as winter flowering indoor plants but come January/February after a few weeks inside, they can start to look shabby and tired.
It is then time to plant them outside where they will give you a lovely display year after year.
Here are a few tips to remember:
Hellebores prefer fertile, evenly moist soils in light shade, though they will do well in most soils. Some can be planted in a sunnier spot provided the soil is not prone to drying out.
Hellebores dislike extremes. Very wet or very dry soil is unsuitable as well as is a position in full sun where the leaves are likely to get scorched in summer. Make sure that you plant it out in an area of your garden with good winter drainage or add plenty of grit when planting.
Wear gloves when handling Hellebores to prevent potential skin irritation.
In summary, Hellebores are: Remember to:
Great for winter interest
A source of food for pollinating insects in early spring
Nodding flowers from late winter to spring
Many are evergreen and some have attractive silver or marbled leaves
Plant in moist, but free-draining soil
Most are hardy and happy in light shade
Remove damaged or disease leaves in autumn/winter
Mulch in spring to reduce drying out of the soil
For further information: www.rhs.org.uk/plants/popular/hellebore
Christmas Recipe
Orange Pastry for Mince Pies - Makes 24
This light, crumbly, rich pastry really complements mincemeat. To try and alleviate any last-minute panic, I always make a large batch of mince pies beforehand and put them in the freezer. I take them out and heat them up as I need them and they taste perfect.
Ingredients:
500g (1lb) plain flour
176g (6oz) icing or caster sugar
375g (12 oz) butter
Finely grated rind and juice of 1 large orange
Sift the flour and sugar into a mixing bowl. Cut the butter into small pieces, stir these into the flour and then rub gently with your fingertips until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Stir in the grated orange rind. Then, using a knife, stir in the orange juice until the dough just begins to stick together. Gather up the dough and pat into a ball, wrap it in cling film and refrigerate for 30 minutes or more before using.
Mince Pies De Luxe - Makes 24
Mince pies can be rather dry, but by mixing the spicy mincemeat with smooth cream cheese, you can give them a really luxurious texture.
Ingredients:
250g (8oz) full fat cream cheese
50g (2oz) caster sugar
500g (1lb) Orange pastry (from above)
Oil for greasing
500-625g (1 – 1 1/4lb) mincemeat
Milk to glaze
Caster or icing sugar to glaze
First put the cream cheese and the caster sugar in a bowl and beat them until smooth. Knead the pastry lightly and roll it out rather more thickly than usual. Using a 7.5cm (3 inch) fluted pastry cutter, cut out 24 rounds, rerolling the pastry as necessary. Line greased patty/bun tins with the rounds. Fill to about half their depth with mincemeat. Then put a teaspoonful of the beaten cream cheese mixture on top of the mincemeat and smooth the top. Roll out the remaining pastry and with a smaller 5cm (2 inch) fluted cutter, cut out another 24 rounds. Moisten the underside of the rounds and place them on top of the filled pies. Press the edges lightly together and make a small slit in the top of each pie.
Brush the tops with cold milk and bake in the centre of the oven, preheated to Gas Mark 7/220°C/425°F, for 15-20 minutes until light golden-brown. The pastry is so deliciously crumbly that it is best to let these mince pies cool down before gently easing them from the tins with a round bladed knife.
Before serving, sprinkle them generously with caster or icing sugar. Serve either warm - which of course is best – or cold.
Thanks to Caroline for this recipe from Jocelyn Dimbleby’s Christmas book.
Membership Fees
As per the last newsletter, due to being unable to hold any events and meetings in 2020, the committee has decided there will be no charge for membership fees in 2021 if you have already paid 2020 fees. As mentioned previously, hopefully by informing you now, those of you who pay by standing order will have time to cancel the payment for 2021.
Obviously, we have been unable to hold any live events this year, so fingers crossed for a return to normality next year. Roll on the vaccine .
Dates for your diary (to be confirmed nearer the time)
6th March 2021 10 - 12 noon AGM
10th April 2021 2 - 4.30 pm Spring Show
8th May 2021 10 - 12 noon Plant sale and coffee morning
4th September 2021 2 - 4.30pm Autumn Show
All events are held at Rhos Methodist Church Hall, St George’s Road, Rhos on Sea, LL28 4HF.
See what we do on our website which is full of photographs (e.g. check out the online Autumn Show entries), notes and meeting reports plus on our Facebook pages. You can become more active by volunteering at events or joining the committee.
Lawrence Rodgers
Email: [email protected]
www.colwynbayhorticulturalsociety.co.uk
Newsletter – Early Autumn 2020
Hello once again!
How has your summer progressed? Judging by the photographs submitted for our “Virtual” Autumn Show, a lot of you have spent many hours cultivating, harvesting and hopefully enjoying time in your gardens. My summer was very hit and miss with some successes and a host of failures particularly in the vegetable section which has led me to believe that there was too much shade in that section of the garden. Therefore, I have embarked on some serious pruning of our under productive greengage tree whilst the apple tree, which has been super abundant this year, will receive a light manicure in comparison! I usually have to rely on windfalls from our neighbour’s apple tree but the roles have been switched this year and I have passed on some of our harvest to them. I have also come across what I call “Pisa” gardening which is when strong winds take all your border flowers and blow them all in one direction and you have to spend a day or two staking them back upright!
Please visit the CBHS website (link below) and view the 2020 Autumn Show photographs where there is a host of fine horticultural specimens on show.
Keep safe!
Lawrence (Events Co-ordinator)
‘Virtual’ Autumn Show September 2020
We received 114 entries from 14 members and all photos are available on the CBHS website at: https://www.colwynbayhorticulturalsociety.com/autumn-show-virtual-version.html
Thanks to everyone who participated and well done to the winners. Thanks also to those on the committee in staging the event particularly Wendy and Jaqui for all their hard work.
Future Events
We had hoped to stage a “free event” later this year but with new restrictions on public gathering changing seemingly weekly, this is looking more and more unlikely. Hopefully, this might change but our usual venue at Rhos Methodist Hall remains closed for the foreseeable future.
Membership Fees
Due to being unable to hold any events and meetings this year, the committee has decided there will be no charge for membership fees in 2021 if you have already paid 2020 fees. Hopefully by informing you now, those of you who pay by standing order will have time to cancel the payment.
Gardening Tips for Early Autumn
Collect and sow seeds from perennials and hardy annuals Plant spring flowering bulbs such as camassia and alliums Order trees and shrubs and plant this autumn Divide congested herbaceous perennials Start to tidy up cold frames, greenhouses, pots and containers Help pumpkins to ripen by removing any leaves shading the fruits Keep deadheading and feeding annuals. Deadhead dahlias, penstemons and roses Keep harvesting produce in the veg patch Cut back fruited canes of summer raspberries Net ponds before autumn leaf fall gets under way Carry out essential lawn maintenance - aerate, remove thatch and repair dead patches Top dress and apply lawn fertiliser When peas and beans have finished, cut plants back to ground level leaving roots in situ (roots will release nitrogen back into the soil). Prune any late flowering shrubs such as the rock rose Keep camellias and rhododendrons well watered at this time of year to ensure next year's buds develop
Recipe
Pear and Almond Pudding cake as submitted by one of our members.
Ingredients
Caramelised Pears:
3 firm pears
25g butter
1 tbsp sugar
Cake:
150g butter
150g castor sugar
75g self raising flour
75g ground almonds
1 tsp cinnamon
2 eggs
Method:
Peel, core and quarter the pears
Melt butter in frying pan then add sugar and stir until dissolved
Add the pears and cook gently for 5-10 minutes until the pears start to colour then leave to cool Make the cake batter (cream the butter and sugar, then add the eggs and finally the dried ingredients ) and pour into lined, 7 inch cake tin
Arrange the pears on top and pour sauce from the fruit from the pan over the top of the mixture
Cook at 170°C for 45-50 minutes
(Any copyright involved is recognised)
Dates for your diary
6th March 2021 10 - 12 noon AGM
10th April 2021 2 - 4.30 pm Spring Show
8th May 2021 10 - 12 noon Plant sale and coffee morning
4th September 2021 2 - 4.30pm Autumn Show
All events are held at Rhos Methodist Church Hall, St George’s Road, Rhos on Sea, LL28 4HF.
See what we do on our website which is full of photographs, notes and meeting reports plus on our Facebook pages. You can become more active by volunteering at events or joining the committee.
Lawrence Rodgers
Email: [email protected]
Hello once again!
How has your summer progressed? Judging by the photographs submitted for our “Virtual” Autumn Show, a lot of you have spent many hours cultivating, harvesting and hopefully enjoying time in your gardens. My summer was very hit and miss with some successes and a host of failures particularly in the vegetable section which has led me to believe that there was too much shade in that section of the garden. Therefore, I have embarked on some serious pruning of our under productive greengage tree whilst the apple tree, which has been super abundant this year, will receive a light manicure in comparison! I usually have to rely on windfalls from our neighbour’s apple tree but the roles have been switched this year and I have passed on some of our harvest to them. I have also come across what I call “Pisa” gardening which is when strong winds take all your border flowers and blow them all in one direction and you have to spend a day or two staking them back upright!
Please visit the CBHS website (link below) and view the 2020 Autumn Show photographs where there is a host of fine horticultural specimens on show.
Keep safe!
Lawrence (Events Co-ordinator)
‘Virtual’ Autumn Show September 2020
We received 114 entries from 14 members and all photos are available on the CBHS website at: https://www.colwynbayhorticulturalsociety.com/autumn-show-virtual-version.html
Thanks to everyone who participated and well done to the winners. Thanks also to those on the committee in staging the event particularly Wendy and Jaqui for all their hard work.
Future Events
We had hoped to stage a “free event” later this year but with new restrictions on public gathering changing seemingly weekly, this is looking more and more unlikely. Hopefully, this might change but our usual venue at Rhos Methodist Hall remains closed for the foreseeable future.
Membership Fees
Due to being unable to hold any events and meetings this year, the committee has decided there will be no charge for membership fees in 2021 if you have already paid 2020 fees. Hopefully by informing you now, those of you who pay by standing order will have time to cancel the payment.
Gardening Tips for Early Autumn
Collect and sow seeds from perennials and hardy annuals Plant spring flowering bulbs such as camassia and alliums Order trees and shrubs and plant this autumn Divide congested herbaceous perennials Start to tidy up cold frames, greenhouses, pots and containers Help pumpkins to ripen by removing any leaves shading the fruits Keep deadheading and feeding annuals. Deadhead dahlias, penstemons and roses Keep harvesting produce in the veg patch Cut back fruited canes of summer raspberries Net ponds before autumn leaf fall gets under way Carry out essential lawn maintenance - aerate, remove thatch and repair dead patches Top dress and apply lawn fertiliser When peas and beans have finished, cut plants back to ground level leaving roots in situ (roots will release nitrogen back into the soil). Prune any late flowering shrubs such as the rock rose Keep camellias and rhododendrons well watered at this time of year to ensure next year's buds develop
Recipe
Pear and Almond Pudding cake as submitted by one of our members.
Ingredients
Caramelised Pears:
3 firm pears
25g butter
1 tbsp sugar
Cake:
150g butter
150g castor sugar
75g self raising flour
75g ground almonds
1 tsp cinnamon
2 eggs
Method:
Peel, core and quarter the pears
Melt butter in frying pan then add sugar and stir until dissolved
Add the pears and cook gently for 5-10 minutes until the pears start to colour then leave to cool Make the cake batter (cream the butter and sugar, then add the eggs and finally the dried ingredients ) and pour into lined, 7 inch cake tin
Arrange the pears on top and pour sauce from the fruit from the pan over the top of the mixture
Cook at 170°C for 45-50 minutes
(Any copyright involved is recognised)
Dates for your diary
6th March 2021 10 - 12 noon AGM
10th April 2021 2 - 4.30 pm Spring Show
8th May 2021 10 - 12 noon Plant sale and coffee morning
4th September 2021 2 - 4.30pm Autumn Show
All events are held at Rhos Methodist Church Hall, St George’s Road, Rhos on Sea, LL28 4HF.
See what we do on our website which is full of photographs, notes and meeting reports plus on our Facebook pages. You can become more active by volunteering at events or joining the committee.
Lawrence Rodgers
Email: [email protected]
Newsletter – Summer 2020
Hello again!
How are you all? Well, I hope. Now full lockdown has been eased, we can at least, get out to the local garden centres. Personally, I needed some bamboo canes for my runner beans and once I had sourced them, I was a lot happier. Interestingly, we staggered our runner bean sowings by a month and guess what? Yes, they are at the same heights going up the canes! I have also noticed something else. If you hang onto seeds too long, it gets very hit and miss! For instance, my “returns” have ranged from 1 “egg plant” to 1000 lobelia! I have also noticed I am not particularly good at growing hot water plants (sorry Peter)! I have definitely missed my greenhouse this year which was sacrificed along with 3 sheds to site my wife’s pottery “bothy”/studio. Covid-19 prevented me from “borrowing” my neighbour’s greenhouse, so I think I’m a month behind this year. The garden will hopefully look better in July.
I hope you are checking the CBHS website and having a look at the ‘Member Gardens’ section. There are some really interesting photographs and videos that have been sent in. There’s news below of our 2020 “Virtual” Autumn Show which I encourage you to read and maybe take part in.
Keep staying safe!
Lawrence (Events Co-ordinator)
Autumn Show Update Saturday 5th September 2020 (cancelled)
Unfortunately, we are not going to host an Autumn Show this year. The committee does not know whether the hall will be available, and we are concerned that members may be reluctant to gather together in a confined space so soon after ‘lockdown’.
Therefore, we have decided that we will run a “virtual” Autumn Show. This is strictly for fun and given that you will not have to nurture your plants in the hope they will look their best on 5th September, we hope you will all participate and photograph your best specimens. There will be no prizes, this is just for fun!
Show rules:
Gardening Quiz
The winner of our Gardening Quiz was Wally Howard who responded all the way from New Zealand as he got “stuck” there at “lockdown”. Given their record on handling the virus, I would say Wally struck lucky. Well done Wally J!
Videos
We have had a slight issue regarding videos. In order to upload to our website, we require the videos to be uploaded to “YouTube” and the corresponding link forwarded to our website chief Hannah. If you are prepared to take that extra step, we would certainly appreciate your help.
Photographs
We have been uploading your photographs to our website – keep them coming!
Future Events
As per our last newsletter, “… in the hope 2021 will be a better year for our getting together, if anyone would like to give a talk on any aspect of gardening or who knows someone that would, could you send details to the email address below so that I can start arranging a 2021 programme.”
Free Event
To re-iterate again from the last Newsletter, we sincerely hope that sometime later this year, we will be allowed to arrange an event so that members can at least meet and chat about how their gardening year has progressed. Keep a look out for an announcement and hopefully you will all come along.
Recipe
This is not one of our usual cake recipes, but a pudding kindly donated by one of our members, Betty Frudd. The title will no doubt gain your attention if nothing else!
Chocolate Nut Pudding:
The sauce should sink to the bottom beneath the sponge. Enjoy!
Dates for your Diary
March 6th 2021 10 – 12 noon AGM
April 10th 2021 2 - 4.30 pm Spring Show
May 8th 2021 10 – 12 noon Plant sale and coffee morning
September 4th 2021 2 - 4.30 pm Autumn Show
All events are held at Rhos Methodist Church Hall, St George’s Rd, Rhos on Sea, LL28 4HF
See what we do on our website, full of photographs, notes and meeting reports plus on our Facebook pages.
You can become more active by volunteering at events or by joining the committee.
Lawrence Rodgers
Email: [email protected]
Hello again!
How are you all? Well, I hope. Now full lockdown has been eased, we can at least, get out to the local garden centres. Personally, I needed some bamboo canes for my runner beans and once I had sourced them, I was a lot happier. Interestingly, we staggered our runner bean sowings by a month and guess what? Yes, they are at the same heights going up the canes! I have also noticed something else. If you hang onto seeds too long, it gets very hit and miss! For instance, my “returns” have ranged from 1 “egg plant” to 1000 lobelia! I have also noticed I am not particularly good at growing hot water plants (sorry Peter)! I have definitely missed my greenhouse this year which was sacrificed along with 3 sheds to site my wife’s pottery “bothy”/studio. Covid-19 prevented me from “borrowing” my neighbour’s greenhouse, so I think I’m a month behind this year. The garden will hopefully look better in July.
I hope you are checking the CBHS website and having a look at the ‘Member Gardens’ section. There are some really interesting photographs and videos that have been sent in. There’s news below of our 2020 “Virtual” Autumn Show which I encourage you to read and maybe take part in.
Keep staying safe!
Lawrence (Events Co-ordinator)
Autumn Show Update Saturday 5th September 2020 (cancelled)
Unfortunately, we are not going to host an Autumn Show this year. The committee does not know whether the hall will be available, and we are concerned that members may be reluctant to gather together in a confined space so soon after ‘lockdown’.
Therefore, we have decided that we will run a “virtual” Autumn Show. This is strictly for fun and given that you will not have to nurture your plants in the hope they will look their best on 5th September, we hope you will all participate and photograph your best specimens. There will be no prizes, this is just for fun!
Show rules:
- Email photographs to: [email protected] (preferred option)
- Submissions are from 1st July to midnight August 31st 2020
- If you do not have access to email – post your entries to: J.Jones, 2 Farrington Court, Penrhyn Bay, LL30 3FG
- Include your name (which will not be published) and/or membership number
- The class number of your entry (see list at the end of newsletter)
- Add the flower/plant/vegetable variety (if known)
- A scale indicator (ruler etc) to be included as indicated in programme
- A maximum of 3 entries per class per member. Please keep the file sizes as low as possible. We will upload the photographs to the CBHS website on a regular basis throughout the summer. Winning photographs will be identified in the week following the original show date (mid-September). Captions will be added to the photographs on the website as appropriate and with permissions.
Gardening Quiz
The winner of our Gardening Quiz was Wally Howard who responded all the way from New Zealand as he got “stuck” there at “lockdown”. Given their record on handling the virus, I would say Wally struck lucky. Well done Wally J!
Videos
We have had a slight issue regarding videos. In order to upload to our website, we require the videos to be uploaded to “YouTube” and the corresponding link forwarded to our website chief Hannah. If you are prepared to take that extra step, we would certainly appreciate your help.
Photographs
We have been uploading your photographs to our website – keep them coming!
Future Events
As per our last newsletter, “… in the hope 2021 will be a better year for our getting together, if anyone would like to give a talk on any aspect of gardening or who knows someone that would, could you send details to the email address below so that I can start arranging a 2021 programme.”
Free Event
To re-iterate again from the last Newsletter, we sincerely hope that sometime later this year, we will be allowed to arrange an event so that members can at least meet and chat about how their gardening year has progressed. Keep a look out for an announcement and hopefully you will all come along.
Recipe
This is not one of our usual cake recipes, but a pudding kindly donated by one of our members, Betty Frudd. The title will no doubt gain your attention if nothing else!
Chocolate Nut Pudding:
- 3oz/25g self raising flour
- Pinch of salt
- 2 tbsp cocoa
- 1 ½ tsp instant coffee
- 100g butter or margarine
- 100g castor sugar
- 2 eggs (slightly beaten)
- 1-2 tbsp milk
- ½ tsp vanilla essence
- 1 tbsp chopped walnuts
- Sauce:
- 1 tbsp cocoa
- 100g brown sugar
- ½ pint hot water
- Sift flour, cocoa, coffee and salt in a bowl
- Cream the butter and castor sugar
- Beat in eggs and essence
- Fold in flour and milk and mix to soft consistency
- Spoon into well greased oven proof dish
- Sprinkle with chopped walnuts
- Bake for 40 minutes
- To make the sauce: mix together 1 tbsp cocoa, brown sugar and hot water
- Pour sauce over pudding mix and bake for 40 mins in a moderate oven (Gas 5/375F/190C)
The sauce should sink to the bottom beneath the sponge. Enjoy!
Dates for your Diary
March 6th 2021 10 – 12 noon AGM
April 10th 2021 2 - 4.30 pm Spring Show
May 8th 2021 10 – 12 noon Plant sale and coffee morning
September 4th 2021 2 - 4.30 pm Autumn Show
All events are held at Rhos Methodist Church Hall, St George’s Rd, Rhos on Sea, LL28 4HF
See what we do on our website, full of photographs, notes and meeting reports plus on our Facebook pages.
You can become more active by volunteering at events or by joining the committee.
Lawrence Rodgers
Email: [email protected]
Newsletter – Late Spring 2020
Hello everyone!
In the absence of our Spring Show and Plant Sale events, we thought we would keep in touch via this Newsletter and as my role is somewhat redundant this year, I have taken up the baton to produce this which I hope you find of some interest!
“What strange times we live in” is a bit of an understatement really. I personally have been glad that the recent good weather has enabled garden lovers to get out there and lose ourselves in our seed packets, plant labels and potting compost. We are lucky in having such a great pastime to keep ourselves occupied and as I walk my dog past neglected front gardens I feel sorry for those who see gardening as a chore. Have they at least never heard of kerb appeal!
Late last year I offered to help several neighbours with their gardens as I knew from past experience that by mid April I would be on top of my own garden (having recently retired) and would be twiddling my thumbs and daring any weeds to show themselves on the surface! However, my plan has been scuppered of course but I’m hoping that with some slight relaxation in the social distancing rules soon, I can offer my services once again in order to keep my sanity if nothing else. This year, I have even cut my large privet hedge with hand shears so as to while away a few extra hours!
Now I am not a gardener per se, more of a garden tidier really. I have to keep asking people to identify my plants and how best to grow them (thanks particularly to Rachel and Wendy on this) and it is that type of community spirit which really tells us that there are some nice people out there. So that we can continue to propagate that community spirit, several of our members are making available their excess plants in some cases for free whilst others are asking for a small donation towards NHS and other charities (see below). Also below are details of our gardening quiz which I hope you find fun to do when the rain prevents you from getting outside.
Stay safe!
Lawrence (Events Co-ordinator)
Autumn Show Saturday 5th September 2020
It is unlikely that the Autumn Show will be able to go ahead given the current outlook on social gatherings as well as the hall being closed for the foreseeable future. We will however, leave our options open for now and get back to the membership as appropriate. We will however, see if we can come up with a “virtual” show instead. We will keep you posted as to progress on that.
Gardening Quiz
Attached to your email or your hardcopy Newsletter is our gardening quiz. If you could email or post me your answers by midnight May 16th and I will mark those received and check to see if we have an outright winner or in the case of a tie, draw a name out of a hat. Good luck!
Videos
Bring out your inner Monty Don! Obligatory participation of a dog waived on this occasion!
Yes videos! We would like to receive from members, a two minute video of their gardens with you perhaps homing in on a particular aspect of your garden so that these can be published on our website for members to enjoy. If you could let me know that you are interested in participating I will co-ordinate as appropriate.
Photographs
We did at first think we would hold a virtual Spring Show, but the logistics were quite daunting in such a short time so in the absence of any photographs from our events, we are asking members to submit any photograph of any aspect of their garden and gardening. We will publish the best received to our website.
Future Events
In the hope 2021 will be a better year for our getting together, if anyone would like to give a talk on any aspect of gardening or who knows someone that would, could you send details to the email address below so that I can start arranging a 2021 programme.
Plant Availability
Some of our members are making their excess plants available for sale. Please keep a check on our website for availability and details. These are imminent so access our website asap! There could also be periodic future sales as plants become available later so don’t miss out.
Free Event
We sincerely hope that sometime later this year, we will be allowed to arrange an event so that members can at least meet and chat how their gardening year has progressed. Keep a look out for an announcement and hopefully you can all come along.
Recipe
In this time of uncertainty I think returning to an old favourite the Victoria Sandwich is a good idea and it is so versatile. Here are some variations. Try anything!
1. You can make a half mixture if you are short on ingredients so you have just one layer.
2. You can make a full mix and freeze one layer.
3. You can freeze it with butter cream fillings. Fresh cream and jam doesn’t freeze well.
4. Change the flavour in cake and icing with lemon juice or essence, orange juice or essence, cocoa or melted chocolate, coffee melted into a little hot water.
5. Fresh fruit and whipped cream makes a luxury filling.
6. For children make small cakes with the same mix and let them decorate
7. Or let them cut out shapes from the layers. Freeze any left over bits for a trifle.
8. This amount needs two 8 inch tins.
Grease and line your tins if you have greaseproof paper. Turn oven on to 180 or Mark 5
Ingredients: 8oz butter, 8oz caster sugar, 4 eggs, 8 oz self raising flour, few drops vanilla essence (optional), half level teaspoon baking powder (optional), tablespoon milk (optional)
Method; In one bowl cream the butter until soft and fluffy, add sugar and cream again, break eggs into the same bowl and mix in with essence if used, add flour and baking powder if used. Mix well adding milk if a slacker mix is wanted. Turn mix into two tins try to make a dent in the middle to keep the finished layers flatter. Bake for 25 Leave to cool for ten minutes then turn out on a rack to cool (rack can be from the grill tray).
Basic butter cream: The standard recipe uses twice sugar to butter but I prefer equal quantities so it is not so sweet. Start with 4 oz butter creamed and add 4 oz icing sugar. If you don’t have icing sugar you can use a coffee grinder to grind down ordinary sugar. Increase the amount of sugar and flavourings if used to suit your taste.
Put the layers together and enjoy! Remember many a mistake can be hidden under a dusting of icing sugar or topping. (Jacqui)
Dates for your diary
March 6th 2021 10-12 AGM
April 10th 2021 2-4.30 Spring Show
May 8th 2021 10-12 Plant sale and coffee morning
September 4th 2021 2-4.30 Autumn Show
All events are held at Rhos Methodist Church Hall, St George’s Rd, Rhos on Sea, LL28 4HF
See what we do on our website full of photographs, notes and meeting reports plus on our facebook pages. You can become more active by volunteering at events or joining the committee.
Lawrence Rodgers
Email: [email protected]
Hello everyone!
In the absence of our Spring Show and Plant Sale events, we thought we would keep in touch via this Newsletter and as my role is somewhat redundant this year, I have taken up the baton to produce this which I hope you find of some interest!
“What strange times we live in” is a bit of an understatement really. I personally have been glad that the recent good weather has enabled garden lovers to get out there and lose ourselves in our seed packets, plant labels and potting compost. We are lucky in having such a great pastime to keep ourselves occupied and as I walk my dog past neglected front gardens I feel sorry for those who see gardening as a chore. Have they at least never heard of kerb appeal!
Late last year I offered to help several neighbours with their gardens as I knew from past experience that by mid April I would be on top of my own garden (having recently retired) and would be twiddling my thumbs and daring any weeds to show themselves on the surface! However, my plan has been scuppered of course but I’m hoping that with some slight relaxation in the social distancing rules soon, I can offer my services once again in order to keep my sanity if nothing else. This year, I have even cut my large privet hedge with hand shears so as to while away a few extra hours!
Now I am not a gardener per se, more of a garden tidier really. I have to keep asking people to identify my plants and how best to grow them (thanks particularly to Rachel and Wendy on this) and it is that type of community spirit which really tells us that there are some nice people out there. So that we can continue to propagate that community spirit, several of our members are making available their excess plants in some cases for free whilst others are asking for a small donation towards NHS and other charities (see below). Also below are details of our gardening quiz which I hope you find fun to do when the rain prevents you from getting outside.
Stay safe!
Lawrence (Events Co-ordinator)
Autumn Show Saturday 5th September 2020
It is unlikely that the Autumn Show will be able to go ahead given the current outlook on social gatherings as well as the hall being closed for the foreseeable future. We will however, leave our options open for now and get back to the membership as appropriate. We will however, see if we can come up with a “virtual” show instead. We will keep you posted as to progress on that.
Gardening Quiz
Attached to your email or your hardcopy Newsletter is our gardening quiz. If you could email or post me your answers by midnight May 16th and I will mark those received and check to see if we have an outright winner or in the case of a tie, draw a name out of a hat. Good luck!
Videos
Bring out your inner Monty Don! Obligatory participation of a dog waived on this occasion!
Yes videos! We would like to receive from members, a two minute video of their gardens with you perhaps homing in on a particular aspect of your garden so that these can be published on our website for members to enjoy. If you could let me know that you are interested in participating I will co-ordinate as appropriate.
Photographs
We did at first think we would hold a virtual Spring Show, but the logistics were quite daunting in such a short time so in the absence of any photographs from our events, we are asking members to submit any photograph of any aspect of their garden and gardening. We will publish the best received to our website.
Future Events
In the hope 2021 will be a better year for our getting together, if anyone would like to give a talk on any aspect of gardening or who knows someone that would, could you send details to the email address below so that I can start arranging a 2021 programme.
Plant Availability
Some of our members are making their excess plants available for sale. Please keep a check on our website for availability and details. These are imminent so access our website asap! There could also be periodic future sales as plants become available later so don’t miss out.
Free Event
We sincerely hope that sometime later this year, we will be allowed to arrange an event so that members can at least meet and chat how their gardening year has progressed. Keep a look out for an announcement and hopefully you can all come along.
Recipe
In this time of uncertainty I think returning to an old favourite the Victoria Sandwich is a good idea and it is so versatile. Here are some variations. Try anything!
1. You can make a half mixture if you are short on ingredients so you have just one layer.
2. You can make a full mix and freeze one layer.
3. You can freeze it with butter cream fillings. Fresh cream and jam doesn’t freeze well.
4. Change the flavour in cake and icing with lemon juice or essence, orange juice or essence, cocoa or melted chocolate, coffee melted into a little hot water.
5. Fresh fruit and whipped cream makes a luxury filling.
6. For children make small cakes with the same mix and let them decorate
7. Or let them cut out shapes from the layers. Freeze any left over bits for a trifle.
8. This amount needs two 8 inch tins.
Grease and line your tins if you have greaseproof paper. Turn oven on to 180 or Mark 5
Ingredients: 8oz butter, 8oz caster sugar, 4 eggs, 8 oz self raising flour, few drops vanilla essence (optional), half level teaspoon baking powder (optional), tablespoon milk (optional)
Method; In one bowl cream the butter until soft and fluffy, add sugar and cream again, break eggs into the same bowl and mix in with essence if used, add flour and baking powder if used. Mix well adding milk if a slacker mix is wanted. Turn mix into two tins try to make a dent in the middle to keep the finished layers flatter. Bake for 25 Leave to cool for ten minutes then turn out on a rack to cool (rack can be from the grill tray).
Basic butter cream: The standard recipe uses twice sugar to butter but I prefer equal quantities so it is not so sweet. Start with 4 oz butter creamed and add 4 oz icing sugar. If you don’t have icing sugar you can use a coffee grinder to grind down ordinary sugar. Increase the amount of sugar and flavourings if used to suit your taste.
Put the layers together and enjoy! Remember many a mistake can be hidden under a dusting of icing sugar or topping. (Jacqui)
Dates for your diary
March 6th 2021 10-12 AGM
April 10th 2021 2-4.30 Spring Show
May 8th 2021 10-12 Plant sale and coffee morning
September 4th 2021 2-4.30 Autumn Show
All events are held at Rhos Methodist Church Hall, St George’s Rd, Rhos on Sea, LL28 4HF
See what we do on our website full of photographs, notes and meeting reports plus on our facebook pages. You can become more active by volunteering at events or joining the committee.
Lawrence Rodgers
Email: [email protected]
Newsletter Spring 2020
Hello!
Welcome to our newsletter.
We welcome Lawrence Rodgers who has joined our committee as a co-opted member and is already proving to be very useful. Look out for his survey seeking to find out more about what our members want from the society.
Autumn Show Saturday 7th September
The Autumn show attracted increased numbers to see the high-quality exhibits or maybe it was to eat cake. Over 120 people took part. Maybe we can put this success down to the discussion of our “Fifty shades of …..” category on the Radio Wales. With 280 entries there was plenty to admire. There are pictures on our website showing the happy faces of the winners and the marvellous exhibits.
Next Events
AGM and Speaker Saturday 7th March 2020
A change of venue as this will be held in the Methodist Church Hall, 10-12. Jane Allison is our speaker. Jane runs Mayfield Plants and Garden Design from her large garden in Stanthorne, Cheshire. After a long career in teaching, Jane exchanged teenagers for plants. She attended Reaseheath college and gained qualifications in horticulture and garden design, thus turning a lifelong interest in plants into a second career. She specialises in cottage garden perennials.
The talk will be “Making the most of your garden space” and will look at ways of maximising the potential of your garden, whatever its shape, dimensions and personal requirements. The development of three gardens from design to completion will hopefully inspire us all. Together with planting ideas, the use of containers, wildlife inclusion, water features, siting fruit and vegetables and choosing the right plant for the right place.
After the talk there will be refreshments, including homemade cake and then our short AGM to keep you up to date with committee news and a chance to share ideas.
Spring show Saturday 28th March 2020
Do have a look at our schedule enclosed and see what you fancy entering this year. Perhaps there is a crafty item that you have been working on through the cold dark evenings and this will be the deadline you need to get it finished. We have had entries which still had wet paint in the past. Why not give it a try, we keep our categories so that a wide range of items can be entered so let your imagination run riot.
Bursary and Funds for Schools
Local schools have been asked to nominate individuals hoping to pursue a career in this area who would benefit from a bursary or gardening projects that students are involved in. This money is available as the May plant sales have been such a success thanks to the number and quality of the plants that our members donate.
The following schools have been awarded £100 each.
We wish them every success with their projects and look forward to sharing pictures in the future.
St Joseph’s School – a sensory garden
Ysgol Llandrillo yn Rhos – wildflower seeds for butterflies and wildlife
Ysgol Pen y Bryn – development of an area by the nursery and eco council
If you know of any individuals or school groups that could benefit, please contact a member of the committee.
Friends of Rhos on Sea, FOR
This group have a variety of projects of interest to members. Greening Rhos is looking at finding areas that could be enhanced by tree or shrub planting in order to support wildlife and our mental health. You may have seen the litter pickers on the second Tuesday of the month, 10am at the harbour. They are particularly gifted at choosing the morning with the worst weather. If you want to get involved contact the group via [email protected] or find FOR on Facebook.
Prize Winning Plum and Apple Tart
Caroline is our very smiley chairperson and makes an excellent tart using fruit from her garden.
You will need to be more organised than me if you can find this next Autumn but we will stick the newsletter on the website too.
45g unsalted butter at room temp. Preheat oven to 1600C, gas mark 3
90kg golden castor sugar
1 egg 23cm 9inch loose based fluted tart pan, greased
11/2 tsp baking powder
90g plain flour
375g ready rolled sweet shortcrust pastry
10 Victoria plums, pitted and halved
2 Bramley apples, cored and sliced
3 tbsp apricot jam to glaze (optional)
Dates for your diary
March 7th 2020 10-12 AGM
March 28th 2020 2-4.30 Spring Show
May 9th 2020 10-12 Plant sale and coffee morning
Could you grow something for us to sell?
September 5th 2020 2-4.30 Autumn Show
All events are held at Rhos Methodist Church Hall, St George’s Rd, Rhos on Sea, LL28 4HF
See what we do on our website full of photographs from events and on our facebook pages. Become more active by volunteering at events or joining the committee.
Hope to see you at an event soon! Hannah
Hello!
Welcome to our newsletter.
We welcome Lawrence Rodgers who has joined our committee as a co-opted member and is already proving to be very useful. Look out for his survey seeking to find out more about what our members want from the society.
Autumn Show Saturday 7th September
The Autumn show attracted increased numbers to see the high-quality exhibits or maybe it was to eat cake. Over 120 people took part. Maybe we can put this success down to the discussion of our “Fifty shades of …..” category on the Radio Wales. With 280 entries there was plenty to admire. There are pictures on our website showing the happy faces of the winners and the marvellous exhibits.
Next Events
AGM and Speaker Saturday 7th March 2020
A change of venue as this will be held in the Methodist Church Hall, 10-12. Jane Allison is our speaker. Jane runs Mayfield Plants and Garden Design from her large garden in Stanthorne, Cheshire. After a long career in teaching, Jane exchanged teenagers for plants. She attended Reaseheath college and gained qualifications in horticulture and garden design, thus turning a lifelong interest in plants into a second career. She specialises in cottage garden perennials.
The talk will be “Making the most of your garden space” and will look at ways of maximising the potential of your garden, whatever its shape, dimensions and personal requirements. The development of three gardens from design to completion will hopefully inspire us all. Together with planting ideas, the use of containers, wildlife inclusion, water features, siting fruit and vegetables and choosing the right plant for the right place.
After the talk there will be refreshments, including homemade cake and then our short AGM to keep you up to date with committee news and a chance to share ideas.
Spring show Saturday 28th March 2020
Do have a look at our schedule enclosed and see what you fancy entering this year. Perhaps there is a crafty item that you have been working on through the cold dark evenings and this will be the deadline you need to get it finished. We have had entries which still had wet paint in the past. Why not give it a try, we keep our categories so that a wide range of items can be entered so let your imagination run riot.
Bursary and Funds for Schools
Local schools have been asked to nominate individuals hoping to pursue a career in this area who would benefit from a bursary or gardening projects that students are involved in. This money is available as the May plant sales have been such a success thanks to the number and quality of the plants that our members donate.
The following schools have been awarded £100 each.
We wish them every success with their projects and look forward to sharing pictures in the future.
St Joseph’s School – a sensory garden
Ysgol Llandrillo yn Rhos – wildflower seeds for butterflies and wildlife
Ysgol Pen y Bryn – development of an area by the nursery and eco council
If you know of any individuals or school groups that could benefit, please contact a member of the committee.
Friends of Rhos on Sea, FOR
This group have a variety of projects of interest to members. Greening Rhos is looking at finding areas that could be enhanced by tree or shrub planting in order to support wildlife and our mental health. You may have seen the litter pickers on the second Tuesday of the month, 10am at the harbour. They are particularly gifted at choosing the morning with the worst weather. If you want to get involved contact the group via [email protected] or find FOR on Facebook.
Prize Winning Plum and Apple Tart
Caroline is our very smiley chairperson and makes an excellent tart using fruit from her garden.
You will need to be more organised than me if you can find this next Autumn but we will stick the newsletter on the website too.
45g unsalted butter at room temp. Preheat oven to 1600C, gas mark 3
90kg golden castor sugar
1 egg 23cm 9inch loose based fluted tart pan, greased
11/2 tsp baking powder
90g plain flour
375g ready rolled sweet shortcrust pastry
10 Victoria plums, pitted and halved
2 Bramley apples, cored and sliced
3 tbsp apricot jam to glaze (optional)
- Cake mixture, Mix butter and sugar, mix in egg and baking powder, fold in flour.
- Line tart pan with pastry and trim off excess. Spoon in cake mix evenly and scatter in fruit.
- Bake for 40 min. Fruit should sink a bit and cake will rise and be golden. Leave to cool a few minutes.
- Warm the jam in a pan gently until runny, brush all over the tart. Serve warm or chilled.
Dates for your diary
March 7th 2020 10-12 AGM
March 28th 2020 2-4.30 Spring Show
May 9th 2020 10-12 Plant sale and coffee morning
Could you grow something for us to sell?
September 5th 2020 2-4.30 Autumn Show
All events are held at Rhos Methodist Church Hall, St George’s Rd, Rhos on Sea, LL28 4HF
See what we do on our website full of photographs from events and on our facebook pages. Become more active by volunteering at events or joining the committee.
Hope to see you at an event soon! Hannah
Newsletter – Summer 2019
Hello!
I have been ignoring the weeds and admiring the plants I have bought from our last few May Plant Sales. The dahlias from the zoo and grown on by Wendy are just about to flower. The pink astrantia from Caroline looks like fairy pin cushions. A geranium from Marion has the deepest red dainty flowers and by September the white anemones from Louise will be catching the evening light.
I love that some of my plants have such a personal connection.
Welcome to our newsletter.
Next Events
Autumn Show Saturday 7th September
Have a peek at the show schedule and see what you can enter. Last year we had over 300 entries and plenty of visitors to admire the home produce, flowers and photographs on display.
There will be refreshments and home-made cake too.
AGM Saturday 7th March 2020
This will be held in the Methodist Church Hall and further details will be announced.
Jaqui's Raspberry Cake/Bakewell
Jaqui Jones is a stalwart of CBHS and is responsible for many of the wonderful home-made cakes we sell at our events. Her Raspberry Cake was much commented on at the Plant Sale. As many of you may have some raspberries to spare from your garden or allotment at the moment, here is the recipe for those who wish to give it a try. It's good served just as a cake or makes an excellent dessert with a blob of crème fraiche or cream.
150 grams butter
150 grams caster sugar
2 eggs
A few drops of almond essence or extract
50 millilitres milk
150 grams self-raising flour sifted
150 grams ground almonds
150 grams fresh raspberries
25 grams flaked almonds
Icing sugar for dusting
Cream to serve
Heat the oven to 180 degrees C. Butter an 8 inch cake tin and line the bottom. Cream the butter, add the sugar and beat until light and fluffy (using a whisk). Whisk the eggs and essence together and add to the mixture. Beat in the milk. Fold in the flour and ground almonds. Do not over mix. Fold in the raspberries very gently. Pour into the tin. Scatter the flaked almonds over the top. Bake for 55 minutes. Leave to cool thoroughly before turning out of the tin.
Recommended Garden to Visit - Aberclwyd Manor, Derwen, Corwen, LL21 9SF
There are many wonderful gardens to visit for inspiration and enjoyment at this this time of the year. Not too far away, near Corwen, is Aberclwyd Manor open for the NGS on several days during the summer. Built in 1850 for a wealthy Southport family, the Victorian stone-built house sits within four acres nestled amongst woodland near the tiny hilltop village of Derwen. Irene Brown and partner Giuliano Sparvoli have spent the last 22 years creating a garden which beautifully blends natural planting with architectural formality. Many of the garden features have come from reclaimed materials which are skilfully blended with an unashamedly romantic planting style. From the Italianate garden of box hedging there are uninterrupted views across the valley – a perfect spot to enjoy a cup of tea and some of Irene's excellent scones. Open Wed 3, Wed 17, Wed 31 July, Wed 14, Wed 28 Aug, Wed 11 Sept (11- 4). Adm £3.50, children free – ngs.org.uk
Funds for students
The Society has contacted local High Schools in the area to offer bursaries to students with confirmed places to study horticulture at college. Due to the ongoing success of the Plant Sale, a small surplus of funds has become available and the Committee has agreed to use these funds for educational purposes to help support young people who have a desire to pursue a career in horticulture. There are also small amounts available for primary schools who have any gardening/wildlife projects that could do with some financial support. If you know of any person or school that could benefit from these opportunities, please contact a member of the Committee.
Pests
So far, this summer seems to have been worse than ever for slugs and snails eating seedlings, young plants and dahlias. In desperation, our Chairman, Caroline Cornwell, is trying an organic garlic spray that she has made from garlic, mint, cayenne pepper and a dash of washing up liquid. There are lots of recipes online for various concoctions which may or may not work. It remains to be seen whether her 'stew' keeps the critters off. Watch this space!
Hello!
I have been ignoring the weeds and admiring the plants I have bought from our last few May Plant Sales. The dahlias from the zoo and grown on by Wendy are just about to flower. The pink astrantia from Caroline looks like fairy pin cushions. A geranium from Marion has the deepest red dainty flowers and by September the white anemones from Louise will be catching the evening light.
I love that some of my plants have such a personal connection.
Welcome to our newsletter.
Next Events
Autumn Show Saturday 7th September
Have a peek at the show schedule and see what you can enter. Last year we had over 300 entries and plenty of visitors to admire the home produce, flowers and photographs on display.
There will be refreshments and home-made cake too.
AGM Saturday 7th March 2020
This will be held in the Methodist Church Hall and further details will be announced.
Jaqui's Raspberry Cake/Bakewell
Jaqui Jones is a stalwart of CBHS and is responsible for many of the wonderful home-made cakes we sell at our events. Her Raspberry Cake was much commented on at the Plant Sale. As many of you may have some raspberries to spare from your garden or allotment at the moment, here is the recipe for those who wish to give it a try. It's good served just as a cake or makes an excellent dessert with a blob of crème fraiche or cream.
150 grams butter
150 grams caster sugar
2 eggs
A few drops of almond essence or extract
50 millilitres milk
150 grams self-raising flour sifted
150 grams ground almonds
150 grams fresh raspberries
25 grams flaked almonds
Icing sugar for dusting
Cream to serve
Heat the oven to 180 degrees C. Butter an 8 inch cake tin and line the bottom. Cream the butter, add the sugar and beat until light and fluffy (using a whisk). Whisk the eggs and essence together and add to the mixture. Beat in the milk. Fold in the flour and ground almonds. Do not over mix. Fold in the raspberries very gently. Pour into the tin. Scatter the flaked almonds over the top. Bake for 55 minutes. Leave to cool thoroughly before turning out of the tin.
Recommended Garden to Visit - Aberclwyd Manor, Derwen, Corwen, LL21 9SF
There are many wonderful gardens to visit for inspiration and enjoyment at this this time of the year. Not too far away, near Corwen, is Aberclwyd Manor open for the NGS on several days during the summer. Built in 1850 for a wealthy Southport family, the Victorian stone-built house sits within four acres nestled amongst woodland near the tiny hilltop village of Derwen. Irene Brown and partner Giuliano Sparvoli have spent the last 22 years creating a garden which beautifully blends natural planting with architectural formality. Many of the garden features have come from reclaimed materials which are skilfully blended with an unashamedly romantic planting style. From the Italianate garden of box hedging there are uninterrupted views across the valley – a perfect spot to enjoy a cup of tea and some of Irene's excellent scones. Open Wed 3, Wed 17, Wed 31 July, Wed 14, Wed 28 Aug, Wed 11 Sept (11- 4). Adm £3.50, children free – ngs.org.uk
Funds for students
The Society has contacted local High Schools in the area to offer bursaries to students with confirmed places to study horticulture at college. Due to the ongoing success of the Plant Sale, a small surplus of funds has become available and the Committee has agreed to use these funds for educational purposes to help support young people who have a desire to pursue a career in horticulture. There are also small amounts available for primary schools who have any gardening/wildlife projects that could do with some financial support. If you know of any person or school that could benefit from these opportunities, please contact a member of the Committee.
Pests
So far, this summer seems to have been worse than ever for slugs and snails eating seedlings, young plants and dahlias. In desperation, our Chairman, Caroline Cornwell, is trying an organic garlic spray that she has made from garlic, mint, cayenne pepper and a dash of washing up liquid. There are lots of recipes online for various concoctions which may or may not work. It remains to be seen whether her 'stew' keeps the critters off. Watch this space!
Newsletter – Spring 2019
Hello! I hope this finds you planning a fruitful garden year.
The Society has had a very successful year with:
a well-attended AGM with a very prickly cacti talk;
a Spring show with an impressive number and quality of crafts among the 276 entries;
a Plant Sale that hit over 4 figures in sales of our home-grown plants, so providing financial stability for the society;
an Autumn Show with over 300 entries that the judges reported could certainly match the quality of the far bigger Welsh shows;
a successful Garden Event in November where many of us planted spring bulbs;
a history of the society leaflet produced;
working with Colwyn in Bloom to host the Wales in Bloom award ceremony. Silver Gilt was awarded;
joining the team at the Britain in Bloom ceremony in Belfast. We were awarded GOLD in the large town category.
Next Events
AGM Saturday 2nd March
This will be held at the Cricket Club Pavilion on Penrhyn Avenue,10am-12. We will have a talk from David Masding on the history of Bodnant Garden. After this we have a short AGM during which the committee will feed back on events through the year and a new committee will be elected. We are always looking for new members on the committee and are keen to hear everyone’s ideas for the society. As always there will be refreshments and excellent cake.
Spring Show Saturday 30th March
Enclosed is your show schedule. Have a flick through the categories, feel inspired and do have a go. We need to have your entry list the Monday before the show.
Colwyn in Bloom
The society has worked with Colwyn Bay Town Council for many, many years.
For the last 18 years we have had at least one of our committee serving on the Colwyn in Bloom Committee and on the newer Volunteer Awards Committee. At the moment this is Hannah. This year was a very special one. We hosted the Wales in Bloom award ceremony with prizewinners from throughout Wales joining us. The event was held in The Barn at Parc Eirias and our contribution included a history of the society leaflet given to all. Colwyn Bay Floral Art Society did a beautiful display with a Welsh dragon for the trophy table. Roualeyn Fuchsias from Trefriw had fabulous fuchsias on all the tables and a display about the nursery which exhibits at all the major RHS events. Our guests were treated to a trip along our developing waterfront and up to the Zoo to see the gardens there. We were proud to be awarded a Silver Gilt for Colwyn Bay.
We were then invited to the Britain in Bloom awards ceremony held in Belfast, an honour that only happens every few years. We were absolutely thrilled to be awarded Gold. There is a video of the ceremony on our facebook page.
The work our horticultural society does with our shows, the plant sale and other events forms part of the presentation to judges and is praised for the number of people and mix of ages that we encourage to garden. The photographs from our website are part of the judges’ pack. Every year the judges hope to see a little more on their Colwyn Bay tour so do let us know if you have any ideas or know of any extra special private gardens to include.
As part of the judging there is a tour of Colwyn Bay, visits to local schools and groups that garden. They see the work at Bryn Euryn nursery, meet our recycling team (Conwy Council leads the way in Wales and the UK) and then meet groups and volunteers at the Town Hall.
The Volunteer Awards Committee was set up recently to recognise the work done by the many individuals and groups who work hard in our community. Each year nominations close on January 31st. All those nominated are invited to an awards ceremony at the Town Hall.
Pen y Bryn School
The school are running a DIY SOS type day improving their gardening area for the younger children. This is on Saturday 16th February. If you are able to help or donate plants, wood or large tyres please contact Mrs Elizabeth Roberts at the school.
Hello! I hope this finds you planning a fruitful garden year.
The Society has had a very successful year with:
a well-attended AGM with a very prickly cacti talk;
a Spring show with an impressive number and quality of crafts among the 276 entries;
a Plant Sale that hit over 4 figures in sales of our home-grown plants, so providing financial stability for the society;
an Autumn Show with over 300 entries that the judges reported could certainly match the quality of the far bigger Welsh shows;
a successful Garden Event in November where many of us planted spring bulbs;
a history of the society leaflet produced;
working with Colwyn in Bloom to host the Wales in Bloom award ceremony. Silver Gilt was awarded;
joining the team at the Britain in Bloom ceremony in Belfast. We were awarded GOLD in the large town category.
Next Events
AGM Saturday 2nd March
This will be held at the Cricket Club Pavilion on Penrhyn Avenue,10am-12. We will have a talk from David Masding on the history of Bodnant Garden. After this we have a short AGM during which the committee will feed back on events through the year and a new committee will be elected. We are always looking for new members on the committee and are keen to hear everyone’s ideas for the society. As always there will be refreshments and excellent cake.
Spring Show Saturday 30th March
Enclosed is your show schedule. Have a flick through the categories, feel inspired and do have a go. We need to have your entry list the Monday before the show.
Colwyn in Bloom
The society has worked with Colwyn Bay Town Council for many, many years.
For the last 18 years we have had at least one of our committee serving on the Colwyn in Bloom Committee and on the newer Volunteer Awards Committee. At the moment this is Hannah. This year was a very special one. We hosted the Wales in Bloom award ceremony with prizewinners from throughout Wales joining us. The event was held in The Barn at Parc Eirias and our contribution included a history of the society leaflet given to all. Colwyn Bay Floral Art Society did a beautiful display with a Welsh dragon for the trophy table. Roualeyn Fuchsias from Trefriw had fabulous fuchsias on all the tables and a display about the nursery which exhibits at all the major RHS events. Our guests were treated to a trip along our developing waterfront and up to the Zoo to see the gardens there. We were proud to be awarded a Silver Gilt for Colwyn Bay.
We were then invited to the Britain in Bloom awards ceremony held in Belfast, an honour that only happens every few years. We were absolutely thrilled to be awarded Gold. There is a video of the ceremony on our facebook page.
The work our horticultural society does with our shows, the plant sale and other events forms part of the presentation to judges and is praised for the number of people and mix of ages that we encourage to garden. The photographs from our website are part of the judges’ pack. Every year the judges hope to see a little more on their Colwyn Bay tour so do let us know if you have any ideas or know of any extra special private gardens to include.
As part of the judging there is a tour of Colwyn Bay, visits to local schools and groups that garden. They see the work at Bryn Euryn nursery, meet our recycling team (Conwy Council leads the way in Wales and the UK) and then meet groups and volunteers at the Town Hall.
The Volunteer Awards Committee was set up recently to recognise the work done by the many individuals and groups who work hard in our community. Each year nominations close on January 31st. All those nominated are invited to an awards ceremony at the Town Hall.
Pen y Bryn School
The school are running a DIY SOS type day improving their gardening area for the younger children. This is on Saturday 16th February. If you are able to help or donate plants, wood or large tyres please contact Mrs Elizabeth Roberts at the school.
Newsletter – Spring 2018
Hello! It is a bit nippy at the moment so after checking out the Show Schedule why not curl up and take a peek at the pictures on our website for a bit of gardening inspiration?
The Autumn Show was officially too big. Well at least that is what I thought as the plant stall had to be in the foyer. We had over 400 entries with 100 more than the previous year. Plenty of the entrants were showing for the first time and deserve much praise for that and their standards were very high. The age range of entrants ranged from 6 to 89 making us a truly intergenerational society.
Vegetable entries included several pairs of lemon cukes, grown from the cucumber seeds given out at the AGM in March. A fine pair of carrots took Best in Show. The household objects held imaginative floral displays and the Autumn wreaths were exquisite. The roses made the whole hall smell wonderful. In Home Produce the puddings made with Autumn fruits were incredible and Anna Coleman proved that youth is no barrier by winning first prize for her Victoria Sponge which is always a highly contested category. The standard and number of photographs increased again, challenging the judge.
Our Autumn Garden, Craft and Wildlife event was well attended and there was plenty to do, make and see. Greetings cards with leaf prints were very popular to make. Wreaths were made from coloured willow stems. Bulbs were planted and succulents propagated. Our guests included Joy from the RSPB, Aubyn Designs making beautiful paper flowers, Sarah Gorst with her creative and colourful knits and Andrew Jenkins painting.
Next Events
AGM Saturday 3rd March
This will be held at the Cricket pavilion on Penrhyn Avenue, 10-12. We have a speaker, Kevin Bailey, who will be sharing his enthusiasm for cacti and succulents. After this prickly entertainment we have a short AGM during which the committee will feed back on events through the year and a new committee will be elected. We are always looking for new members on the committee and are keen to hear everyone’s ideas for the society. As always there will be refreshments and excellent cake.
Spring Show Saturday 24th March
Enclosed is your show schedule. We do hope that even more of our members will be able to enter. Have a flick through the categories, feel inspired and do have a go. We need to have your entry list the Monday before the show.
We have had some interest from members about opening more gardens. Do let us know if you fancy doing this. We will help out beforehand and on the day. Our insurance covers us if we open to our members and do not charge.
‘Meet a Member’
Mrs Joan M Bennington, born 1921
Mrs Bennington must be one of our oldest members and is often seen at our events in a lovely green coat and hat. She has a wealth of horticultural knowledge and we thought it would be interesting to find out where her interest and enthusiasm came from.
At 5 years old she was growing carnation cuttings with her mother and was soon in charge of Mum’s Coltness Dahlias. By 10 she was growing large velvet pansies with the help of an uncle who supplied old manure. Visits to the family farm at Mickle Trafford involved caring for the orchard, hanging crows on gates and making parsnip and potato wine. When her father worked at Ford Dagenham the Essex climate and soil allowed for very long runner beans and a rather too scary view of The Battle of Britain from a nearby golf course. After being blitzed out and an offer of work at Ford Manchester, the family moved back to Sale near Altringham with its cool and acid soil. Gardening continued with a Didsbury allotment.
As a volunteer at Tatton Park, Joan was involved with the Plant Heritage Society and is credited with finding the first pure white foxglove. She was a founder member of the Manchester Flower Club. Joan taught classes on horticulture for the older people of Stretford. She was very involved in the Henry Doubleday Society, now called Garden Organic, using the ideas to tackle club root and develop composting in Manchester. The Alpine Society was another active interest.
In the 1980s they moved to Rhos on Sea and she is still in the same house. Her son shared her zest for life and was very active. Sadly, he died when climbing Ben Nevis. He was only 23 years old.
Her garden continued to be very important to her. She introduced the Plant Heritage society to the area. The garden was opened to the public under the NGS scheme and in 1991 was visited by Channel 4 and Roy Lancaster. The garden slopes up from the house and is close to The Bryn. It features the dahlia ‘Princess Marie Joesy’ that is part of the national collection. The roses ‘Phyllis Bide’ and ‘Teasing Georgia’ are well established along with a rose that is also found on Rudyard Kipling’s Grave. In planting the garden she recalls one expensive mistake, planting an oak tree like one of those on The Bryn. It was far too happy in the garden. It cost £500 to remove and it caused a wall to fall down.
It was a pleasure to explore the garden and to hear the history behind it. Thank you very much.
Hello! It is a bit nippy at the moment so after checking out the Show Schedule why not curl up and take a peek at the pictures on our website for a bit of gardening inspiration?
The Autumn Show was officially too big. Well at least that is what I thought as the plant stall had to be in the foyer. We had over 400 entries with 100 more than the previous year. Plenty of the entrants were showing for the first time and deserve much praise for that and their standards were very high. The age range of entrants ranged from 6 to 89 making us a truly intergenerational society.
Vegetable entries included several pairs of lemon cukes, grown from the cucumber seeds given out at the AGM in March. A fine pair of carrots took Best in Show. The household objects held imaginative floral displays and the Autumn wreaths were exquisite. The roses made the whole hall smell wonderful. In Home Produce the puddings made with Autumn fruits were incredible and Anna Coleman proved that youth is no barrier by winning first prize for her Victoria Sponge which is always a highly contested category. The standard and number of photographs increased again, challenging the judge.
Our Autumn Garden, Craft and Wildlife event was well attended and there was plenty to do, make and see. Greetings cards with leaf prints were very popular to make. Wreaths were made from coloured willow stems. Bulbs were planted and succulents propagated. Our guests included Joy from the RSPB, Aubyn Designs making beautiful paper flowers, Sarah Gorst with her creative and colourful knits and Andrew Jenkins painting.
Next Events
AGM Saturday 3rd March
This will be held at the Cricket pavilion on Penrhyn Avenue, 10-12. We have a speaker, Kevin Bailey, who will be sharing his enthusiasm for cacti and succulents. After this prickly entertainment we have a short AGM during which the committee will feed back on events through the year and a new committee will be elected. We are always looking for new members on the committee and are keen to hear everyone’s ideas for the society. As always there will be refreshments and excellent cake.
Spring Show Saturday 24th March
Enclosed is your show schedule. We do hope that even more of our members will be able to enter. Have a flick through the categories, feel inspired and do have a go. We need to have your entry list the Monday before the show.
We have had some interest from members about opening more gardens. Do let us know if you fancy doing this. We will help out beforehand and on the day. Our insurance covers us if we open to our members and do not charge.
‘Meet a Member’
Mrs Joan M Bennington, born 1921
Mrs Bennington must be one of our oldest members and is often seen at our events in a lovely green coat and hat. She has a wealth of horticultural knowledge and we thought it would be interesting to find out where her interest and enthusiasm came from.
At 5 years old she was growing carnation cuttings with her mother and was soon in charge of Mum’s Coltness Dahlias. By 10 she was growing large velvet pansies with the help of an uncle who supplied old manure. Visits to the family farm at Mickle Trafford involved caring for the orchard, hanging crows on gates and making parsnip and potato wine. When her father worked at Ford Dagenham the Essex climate and soil allowed for very long runner beans and a rather too scary view of The Battle of Britain from a nearby golf course. After being blitzed out and an offer of work at Ford Manchester, the family moved back to Sale near Altringham with its cool and acid soil. Gardening continued with a Didsbury allotment.
As a volunteer at Tatton Park, Joan was involved with the Plant Heritage Society and is credited with finding the first pure white foxglove. She was a founder member of the Manchester Flower Club. Joan taught classes on horticulture for the older people of Stretford. She was very involved in the Henry Doubleday Society, now called Garden Organic, using the ideas to tackle club root and develop composting in Manchester. The Alpine Society was another active interest.
In the 1980s they moved to Rhos on Sea and she is still in the same house. Her son shared her zest for life and was very active. Sadly, he died when climbing Ben Nevis. He was only 23 years old.
Her garden continued to be very important to her. She introduced the Plant Heritage society to the area. The garden was opened to the public under the NGS scheme and in 1991 was visited by Channel 4 and Roy Lancaster. The garden slopes up from the house and is close to The Bryn. It features the dahlia ‘Princess Marie Joesy’ that is part of the national collection. The roses ‘Phyllis Bide’ and ‘Teasing Georgia’ are well established along with a rose that is also found on Rudyard Kipling’s Grave. In planting the garden she recalls one expensive mistake, planting an oak tree like one of those on The Bryn. It was far too happy in the garden. It cost £500 to remove and it caused a wall to fall down.
It was a pleasure to explore the garden and to hear the history behind it. Thank you very much.
Newsletter - Summer 2017
Hello, Spring was very busy for the society.
The AGM had reports of a successful year and the committee was duly elected and all seemed enthusiastic. The highlight of the morning was the talk on bees from Barry Griffiths, the chairman of Conwy Beekeepers. He had plenty to tell us and he showed us pieces of comb and some fabulous pictures of his own bees being busy.
On April 23rd members went for a Spring visit to Mostyn Hall Gardens. Always interesting and informative with the kitchen garden and produce made from their own crops.
Our Spring Show featured moments of revolution with the Forder boys finally taking the children’s cup from the Fleet sisters. Young Gethin Coleman took on the adults and won firsts for eggs and bread making. He was very pleased to beat his Dad. New member, Judith Neale, stunned us with exquisite crafts and Jaqui Jones who has run the show for years has finally had chance to enter and won best in show for her Genoese cake, most of which the committee ate at lunchtime. On top of all this excitement there was a dandelion entered as part of one of the floral arrangements and, before you ask, it had been cultivated by the exhibitor for the requisite 2 months.
Just as we were recovering from all that excitement we were asked to join in with Creative Rhos. This gave us the opportunity to promote the society among the knitted bunting, ukulele bands, morris dancing, local artists and much more that entertained the people of Rhos on Sea as they visited their village. Local traders had a very busy day as so many came to sample all the area has to offer.
The May Plant Sale broke all records with sales of our homegrown plants taking well over £1000. Numbers through the door, new members and tonnes of cake eaten all increased. A very successful event ensuring funding is available to run future shows.
On June 11th members visiting Pensychnant for the afternoon were shown the beautiful wildlife corner. Despite the windy conditions, it was very peaceful in the garden and the tea and cake afterwards was much enjoyed. Pensychnant is a unique and charming place and credit should go to Anne and the supporters for the hard work done in maintaining such an important wildlife habitat.
Next Events
Autumn Show Saturday 9th September
Enclosed is your show schedule. We do hope all our members will be able to enter this time. Have a flick through the categories, feel inspired and do have a go. We need to have your entry list the Monday before the show.
Autumn Gardening Event Saturday 4th November
We are already looking for interesting exhibitors for this. Every year we have a range of garden, home produce, craft and nature exhibitors and experts, usually including some that are not human. If you have any suggestions for any people or groups who might be interested in joining in please let us know.
‘Meet the Judge’
The Home Produce Judge is Mrs Margaret Griffith-Williams of Llanfairfechan, one of our longest serving judges. Margaret trained as a Home Economics teacher specialising in food and nutrition. Her first teaching post was as Food and Textiles teacher at Eirias High School. In 1976, she moved to Ysgol Bryn Elian and was soon promoted to Head of Home Economics, then Head of Design and Technology and finally Assistant Headteacher. After 34 happy years at Bryn Elian she retired from teaching but continued to work as an Examinations Inspector for JCQ.
Margaret was approached to be a judge when the show was held in the Four Oaks, Eirias Park. As a young, newly appointed teacher, she was asked by an elderly member of the committee if she was “the domestic science mistress from the local grammar school!” Fortunately for us, she said, “Yes..” and she has judged the home produce section every year apart from 2016, when she and her husband were celebrating their ruby wedding anniversary.
Margaret has judged home produce at the Flint and Denbigh Show, the Eglwysbach Show, the Caernarfon Show and various Merched y Wawr cookery competitions.
Margaret enjoys music and the theatre. She is a volunteer steward at Venue Cymru and is vice chair of the Venue Cymru Stewards’ Committee.
Dates for your diary
September 9th 2017 2-4.30 Autumn Show
November 4th 2017 10-12 Autumn Gardening Event
See what we do on our website full of photographs from events and on our facebook pages.
Become more active by volunteering at events or joining the committee.
Hope to see you at an event soon! Hannah
Hello, Spring was very busy for the society.
The AGM had reports of a successful year and the committee was duly elected and all seemed enthusiastic. The highlight of the morning was the talk on bees from Barry Griffiths, the chairman of Conwy Beekeepers. He had plenty to tell us and he showed us pieces of comb and some fabulous pictures of his own bees being busy.
On April 23rd members went for a Spring visit to Mostyn Hall Gardens. Always interesting and informative with the kitchen garden and produce made from their own crops.
Our Spring Show featured moments of revolution with the Forder boys finally taking the children’s cup from the Fleet sisters. Young Gethin Coleman took on the adults and won firsts for eggs and bread making. He was very pleased to beat his Dad. New member, Judith Neale, stunned us with exquisite crafts and Jaqui Jones who has run the show for years has finally had chance to enter and won best in show for her Genoese cake, most of which the committee ate at lunchtime. On top of all this excitement there was a dandelion entered as part of one of the floral arrangements and, before you ask, it had been cultivated by the exhibitor for the requisite 2 months.
Just as we were recovering from all that excitement we were asked to join in with Creative Rhos. This gave us the opportunity to promote the society among the knitted bunting, ukulele bands, morris dancing, local artists and much more that entertained the people of Rhos on Sea as they visited their village. Local traders had a very busy day as so many came to sample all the area has to offer.
The May Plant Sale broke all records with sales of our homegrown plants taking well over £1000. Numbers through the door, new members and tonnes of cake eaten all increased. A very successful event ensuring funding is available to run future shows.
On June 11th members visiting Pensychnant for the afternoon were shown the beautiful wildlife corner. Despite the windy conditions, it was very peaceful in the garden and the tea and cake afterwards was much enjoyed. Pensychnant is a unique and charming place and credit should go to Anne and the supporters for the hard work done in maintaining such an important wildlife habitat.
Next Events
Autumn Show Saturday 9th September
Enclosed is your show schedule. We do hope all our members will be able to enter this time. Have a flick through the categories, feel inspired and do have a go. We need to have your entry list the Monday before the show.
Autumn Gardening Event Saturday 4th November
We are already looking for interesting exhibitors for this. Every year we have a range of garden, home produce, craft and nature exhibitors and experts, usually including some that are not human. If you have any suggestions for any people or groups who might be interested in joining in please let us know.
‘Meet the Judge’
The Home Produce Judge is Mrs Margaret Griffith-Williams of Llanfairfechan, one of our longest serving judges. Margaret trained as a Home Economics teacher specialising in food and nutrition. Her first teaching post was as Food and Textiles teacher at Eirias High School. In 1976, she moved to Ysgol Bryn Elian and was soon promoted to Head of Home Economics, then Head of Design and Technology and finally Assistant Headteacher. After 34 happy years at Bryn Elian she retired from teaching but continued to work as an Examinations Inspector for JCQ.
Margaret was approached to be a judge when the show was held in the Four Oaks, Eirias Park. As a young, newly appointed teacher, she was asked by an elderly member of the committee if she was “the domestic science mistress from the local grammar school!” Fortunately for us, she said, “Yes..” and she has judged the home produce section every year apart from 2016, when she and her husband were celebrating their ruby wedding anniversary.
Margaret has judged home produce at the Flint and Denbigh Show, the Eglwysbach Show, the Caernarfon Show and various Merched y Wawr cookery competitions.
Margaret enjoys music and the theatre. She is a volunteer steward at Venue Cymru and is vice chair of the Venue Cymru Stewards’ Committee.
Dates for your diary
September 9th 2017 2-4.30 Autumn Show
November 4th 2017 10-12 Autumn Gardening Event
See what we do on our website full of photographs from events and on our facebook pages.
Become more active by volunteering at events or joining the committee.
Hope to see you at an event soon! Hannah
Newsletter – Autumn 2016
Hello!
What a lovely summer we have had. Plenty of sunshine, yet enough rain to keep the lawn green.
We have had a very successful year so far for the society.
The Spring and Autumn Shows gave a wonderful display of colour and talent with a combined 540 entries. One of the judges described the Autumn Show as ‘tidy’, high praise indeed.
A productive AGM included a talk on propagation from David Cooper who generously shared his experience and included plenty of audience participation.
The Ruth Cavill Cup was awarded to the society by Colwyn Bay Town Council for their contribution to Colwyn in Bloom in the Britain in Bloom competition. Ruth Cavill was Mayor of Colwyn Bay and was instrumental in galvanising the local community into improving the local horticultural landscape.
The Plant Sale raised money to support our shows and provided plenty of goodies for us to nurture.
Members had a very enjoyable visit to Mostyn Hall Gardens on 12th June. Rich in history and horticulture, there was plenty to see and Phil Handley enthusiastically explained the work going on there. Members were also treated to a delicious cream tea at the end of the visit with jam made from fruits from the walled garden.
Next events
Autumn Garden Event Saturday 5th November 10 - 12
Yet again we have something different to share at this event. This year our visitors include Mostyn Hall Kitchen Garden, the Gwynedd Bat Group and moth expert, Julian Thompson, from Pensychnant. Bulb planting for children is back and lavender features fragrantly in our craft activities for all. Artist Sarah Kearsley will be showing her fused glass designs, these beautiful pieces would make lovely presents. The plant stall will be there too.
Of course there will be plenty of homemade cake and refreshments for sale and the usual good company and chance to chat so bring a friend or two to join in.
Trip to the Eaton Estate, Eccleston, Chester Thursday 3rd August 2 - 4:30
A trip only available to gardening societies, we have managed to secure an opportunity to tour the lovely Eaton Estate. These beautiful gardens are rarely open to the public so this will be a special treat. A guided tour has been arranged with refreshments to finish with. Arrangements will be made available nearer the date.
Other events coming soon include the AGM and Spring Show in March and our Plant Sale in May.
Meet the Judge
We thought that members would like to know a little more about the people who use their expert knowledge to judge entries at the Spring and Autumn Shows.
First up is the newest member of the judging team – Mr Edward Hughes (Ted) from Llanfairpwll. Ted judges at a number of horticultural shows in both Gwynedd and Anglesey. In September, he judged the vegetable section at our Autumn Flower and Produce Show for the first time.
Ted comes highly recommended to us by Medwyn Williams. Ted’s favourite vegetables to grow and exhibit are leeks.
Dates for your diary
November 5th 2016 10-12 Gardening Event
March 4th 2017 10-12 AGM
April 1st 2017 2-4.30 Spring Show
May 13th 2017 10-12 Plant Sale
September 9th 2016 2-4.30 Autumn Show
See what we do on our website full of photographs from events and on our facebook pages.
Become more active by volunteering at events or joining the committee.
Hope to see you at an event soon, Hannah
www.colwynbayhorticulturalsociety.co.uk [email protected] 540471
Hello!
What a lovely summer we have had. Plenty of sunshine, yet enough rain to keep the lawn green.
We have had a very successful year so far for the society.
The Spring and Autumn Shows gave a wonderful display of colour and talent with a combined 540 entries. One of the judges described the Autumn Show as ‘tidy’, high praise indeed.
A productive AGM included a talk on propagation from David Cooper who generously shared his experience and included plenty of audience participation.
The Ruth Cavill Cup was awarded to the society by Colwyn Bay Town Council for their contribution to Colwyn in Bloom in the Britain in Bloom competition. Ruth Cavill was Mayor of Colwyn Bay and was instrumental in galvanising the local community into improving the local horticultural landscape.
The Plant Sale raised money to support our shows and provided plenty of goodies for us to nurture.
Members had a very enjoyable visit to Mostyn Hall Gardens on 12th June. Rich in history and horticulture, there was plenty to see and Phil Handley enthusiastically explained the work going on there. Members were also treated to a delicious cream tea at the end of the visit with jam made from fruits from the walled garden.
Next events
Autumn Garden Event Saturday 5th November 10 - 12
Yet again we have something different to share at this event. This year our visitors include Mostyn Hall Kitchen Garden, the Gwynedd Bat Group and moth expert, Julian Thompson, from Pensychnant. Bulb planting for children is back and lavender features fragrantly in our craft activities for all. Artist Sarah Kearsley will be showing her fused glass designs, these beautiful pieces would make lovely presents. The plant stall will be there too.
Of course there will be plenty of homemade cake and refreshments for sale and the usual good company and chance to chat so bring a friend or two to join in.
Trip to the Eaton Estate, Eccleston, Chester Thursday 3rd August 2 - 4:30
A trip only available to gardening societies, we have managed to secure an opportunity to tour the lovely Eaton Estate. These beautiful gardens are rarely open to the public so this will be a special treat. A guided tour has been arranged with refreshments to finish with. Arrangements will be made available nearer the date.
Other events coming soon include the AGM and Spring Show in March and our Plant Sale in May.
Meet the Judge
We thought that members would like to know a little more about the people who use their expert knowledge to judge entries at the Spring and Autumn Shows.
First up is the newest member of the judging team – Mr Edward Hughes (Ted) from Llanfairpwll. Ted judges at a number of horticultural shows in both Gwynedd and Anglesey. In September, he judged the vegetable section at our Autumn Flower and Produce Show for the first time.
Ted comes highly recommended to us by Medwyn Williams. Ted’s favourite vegetables to grow and exhibit are leeks.
Dates for your diary
November 5th 2016 10-12 Gardening Event
March 4th 2017 10-12 AGM
April 1st 2017 2-4.30 Spring Show
May 13th 2017 10-12 Plant Sale
September 9th 2016 2-4.30 Autumn Show
See what we do on our website full of photographs from events and on our facebook pages.
Become more active by volunteering at events or joining the committee.
Hope to see you at an event soon, Hannah
www.colwynbayhorticulturalsociety.co.uk [email protected] 540471
Newsletter – Spring 2016
Hello!
Well, be careful what you wish for! Our summer newsletter started with the wish “may your water butts never run dry”. Well there hasn’t been much chance of that. I have been quite taken by my own new water feature, an impressive waterfall that forms on my steps with water gracefully spouting from between the slabs. I hope the rain has not dampened your gardening spirit as we have some treats for you this year.
Next events
AGM and Speaker Saturday 5th March
Our usual report back from members of the committee with elections to posts and hopefully some ideas from you, our members, of things you wish to do. This year we have a local expert giving a talk on propagation. Mr David Cooper the former boss of Battys Nursery in Penrhyn Bay will be giving us some hints and tips on propagating plants. Hopefully resulting in us all managing to propagate some of our own favourites in time to sell at our May plant fair.
Spring Show Saturday 2nd April
We are hoping for an array of tulips and daffodils, creative crafts and tasty bakes. Take a look through the schedule and see if we can tempt you to enter something new. What about a photograph for any of these categories; ‘Feet’, ‘Where in Conwy Town?’, ‘Shhh....’ and ‘Garden Shapes’. Perhaps a floral arrangement based on a ‘Famous Painting’ or a table arrangement with the title ‘Colour Connections’. Maybe you can bake a perfect Bakewell Tart.
Potential trip
Phil the gardener at Mostyn Hall is happy to give us an exclusive visit to the gardens to include the walled garden. This part of the garden is a social enterprise and gives access to all sorts of groups that could benefit from some outdoor activity. They grow fruit and veg and will be experimenting with cut flowers this year. The formal gardens also include good azalea and rhododendron displays. A visit will take about 2 hours plus. We will be looking for a suitable date over the next few weeks. If you fancy joining us let one of the committee know and look out for emails, info on facebook or the website and at our AGM.
Dates for your diary
March 5th 2016 10-12 AGM
April 2nd 2016 2-4.30 Spring Show
May 14th 2016 10-12 Plant Sale
September 10th 2016 2-4.30 Autumn Show
November 5th 2016 10-12 Gardening Event
Hope to see you at an event soon, Hannah
Hello!
Well, be careful what you wish for! Our summer newsletter started with the wish “may your water butts never run dry”. Well there hasn’t been much chance of that. I have been quite taken by my own new water feature, an impressive waterfall that forms on my steps with water gracefully spouting from between the slabs. I hope the rain has not dampened your gardening spirit as we have some treats for you this year.
Next events
AGM and Speaker Saturday 5th March
Our usual report back from members of the committee with elections to posts and hopefully some ideas from you, our members, of things you wish to do. This year we have a local expert giving a talk on propagation. Mr David Cooper the former boss of Battys Nursery in Penrhyn Bay will be giving us some hints and tips on propagating plants. Hopefully resulting in us all managing to propagate some of our own favourites in time to sell at our May plant fair.
Spring Show Saturday 2nd April
We are hoping for an array of tulips and daffodils, creative crafts and tasty bakes. Take a look through the schedule and see if we can tempt you to enter something new. What about a photograph for any of these categories; ‘Feet’, ‘Where in Conwy Town?’, ‘Shhh....’ and ‘Garden Shapes’. Perhaps a floral arrangement based on a ‘Famous Painting’ or a table arrangement with the title ‘Colour Connections’. Maybe you can bake a perfect Bakewell Tart.
Potential trip
Phil the gardener at Mostyn Hall is happy to give us an exclusive visit to the gardens to include the walled garden. This part of the garden is a social enterprise and gives access to all sorts of groups that could benefit from some outdoor activity. They grow fruit and veg and will be experimenting with cut flowers this year. The formal gardens also include good azalea and rhododendron displays. A visit will take about 2 hours plus. We will be looking for a suitable date over the next few weeks. If you fancy joining us let one of the committee know and look out for emails, info on facebook or the website and at our AGM.
Dates for your diary
March 5th 2016 10-12 AGM
April 2nd 2016 2-4.30 Spring Show
May 14th 2016 10-12 Plant Sale
September 10th 2016 2-4.30 Autumn Show
November 5th 2016 10-12 Gardening Event
Hope to see you at an event soon, Hannah
Newsletter – Summer 2015
Hello!
Hope you are enjoying the lovely weather and that your water butts never run dry!
Welcome to our Summer Newsletter and the latest Autumn Show Schedule.
This time we are asking that you encourage some of our younger members to enter the children’s section. Our regular contributors could do with some competition and a few are getting a bit old!
The tasks are a Bunch of Flowers, a Picture of Cake and, my favourite, an Animal made from Vegetables. There have been some outstanding past entries; grasshoppers, marrow and celery legs, caterpillars, tiny apples on wire and, the best ever, the penguin carved from aubergine to give a white stomach.
The photographic titles are Vegetables, Over the Hill, Summer Visitors and Rocks. This year the photography judge is to award one of his own prints as a prize.
The florists have to conjure up a Gothic Revival and a Carpet of Colour for a table arrangement.
Be inspired and enter your vegetables and home produce too.
Next events:
Autumn Show Saturday 12th September 2015, 2 - 4.30, Rhos Methodist Church Hall
With the spectacular display of vegetables that greets you this show always inspires. We will be looking out for the Old Ivory Egg Tomatoes that were provided at the AGM. As usual the scent of roses will combine with those of fresh bread and cake. All very tempting. Refreshments will be available and donations of cakes always welcome, particularly prize winning ones.
Autumn Gardening Event Saturday 7th November, 10-12, Rhos Methodist Church Hall
With something to do, make, talk about and explore for everyone, this event grows and grows. We are looking for more contributors to this varied event. Do you know a craftsperson, wildlife or garden expert or group that would like to join us and share their experience? Do let us know. The owls are hoping to be back again.
Previous events:
AGM Saturday 7th March 2015
A happy committee was elected and reports shared. All was well, but no one cared as we were too excited about seeing (and touching, Wendy) Medwyn’s gold medals! Yes, Medwyn Williams from Anglesey brought his Chelsea Gold medals to show us. He gave a lovely talk and it was so wondrous that I completely forgot to take a picture for the website, so no one will believe us!
Spring Show Saturday 28th March 2015
Despite an early show date and a cold start, people still managed to produce lovely blooms and daffodils. The floral challenge, Puzzlement, was tackled very creatively with Rubic’s cubes, Mastermind, crosswords, cryptic questions and question marks. Crafts and food looked great and the photographs keep getting even better. Did you enter?
Plant Sale and Coffee Morning Saturday 16th May 2015
It was massive, so many plants for sale. Thanks to our show winners for even more contributions from prize winning growers. Many a smile seen over a box of goodies.
Facebook
More and more of our members are liking us on facebook. There is an official information page, Colwyn Bay Horticultural Society, that anyone can see even if they are not on facebook and a group, Colwyn Bay Horticultural Society Chat, that you ask to join then you can put up your photos and questions. This is only seen by the members.
If you are on facebook and you haven’t shared a picture or comment then please do.
Contacting the committee
The telephone numbers for the committee are in the show schedule.
You can also contact us through the website by completing the form. This will email us and then we can email back.
We are happy to chat at all events and should have badges on.
And facebook too.
Contacting you
The easiest way to keep you up to date is by email. If we have your email we can send information about events or trips and newsletters quickly and for free. Postage is a big expense for us and there is only so much Jon can deliver by bike!
You can give us your email at any event, when you join or renew membership or using the contact form on the website. Thanks
Website
The website has details of future events, newsletters, blog, membership info, contact page etc.
A gallery of pictures is regularly updated so keep it as a favourite. It takes a while to upload the pictures so please be patient and give it a couple of days after an event!
www.colwynbayhorticulturalsociety.com
Dates for your diary
September 12th 2015 2-4.30 Autumn Show
November 7th 2015 10-12 Autumn Gardening Event
March 5th 2016 10-12 AGM
April 2nd 2016 2-4.30 Spring Show
May 14th 2016 10-12 Plant Sale
September 10th 2016 2-4.30 Autumn Show
November 5th 2016 10-12 Gardening Event
Thank you. Hannah.
Hello!
Hope you are enjoying the lovely weather and that your water butts never run dry!
Welcome to our Summer Newsletter and the latest Autumn Show Schedule.
This time we are asking that you encourage some of our younger members to enter the children’s section. Our regular contributors could do with some competition and a few are getting a bit old!
The tasks are a Bunch of Flowers, a Picture of Cake and, my favourite, an Animal made from Vegetables. There have been some outstanding past entries; grasshoppers, marrow and celery legs, caterpillars, tiny apples on wire and, the best ever, the penguin carved from aubergine to give a white stomach.
The photographic titles are Vegetables, Over the Hill, Summer Visitors and Rocks. This year the photography judge is to award one of his own prints as a prize.
The florists have to conjure up a Gothic Revival and a Carpet of Colour for a table arrangement.
Be inspired and enter your vegetables and home produce too.
Next events:
Autumn Show Saturday 12th September 2015, 2 - 4.30, Rhos Methodist Church Hall
With the spectacular display of vegetables that greets you this show always inspires. We will be looking out for the Old Ivory Egg Tomatoes that were provided at the AGM. As usual the scent of roses will combine with those of fresh bread and cake. All very tempting. Refreshments will be available and donations of cakes always welcome, particularly prize winning ones.
Autumn Gardening Event Saturday 7th November, 10-12, Rhos Methodist Church Hall
With something to do, make, talk about and explore for everyone, this event grows and grows. We are looking for more contributors to this varied event. Do you know a craftsperson, wildlife or garden expert or group that would like to join us and share their experience? Do let us know. The owls are hoping to be back again.
Previous events:
AGM Saturday 7th March 2015
A happy committee was elected and reports shared. All was well, but no one cared as we were too excited about seeing (and touching, Wendy) Medwyn’s gold medals! Yes, Medwyn Williams from Anglesey brought his Chelsea Gold medals to show us. He gave a lovely talk and it was so wondrous that I completely forgot to take a picture for the website, so no one will believe us!
Spring Show Saturday 28th March 2015
Despite an early show date and a cold start, people still managed to produce lovely blooms and daffodils. The floral challenge, Puzzlement, was tackled very creatively with Rubic’s cubes, Mastermind, crosswords, cryptic questions and question marks. Crafts and food looked great and the photographs keep getting even better. Did you enter?
Plant Sale and Coffee Morning Saturday 16th May 2015
It was massive, so many plants for sale. Thanks to our show winners for even more contributions from prize winning growers. Many a smile seen over a box of goodies.
More and more of our members are liking us on facebook. There is an official information page, Colwyn Bay Horticultural Society, that anyone can see even if they are not on facebook and a group, Colwyn Bay Horticultural Society Chat, that you ask to join then you can put up your photos and questions. This is only seen by the members.
If you are on facebook and you haven’t shared a picture or comment then please do.
Contacting the committee
The telephone numbers for the committee are in the show schedule.
You can also contact us through the website by completing the form. This will email us and then we can email back.
We are happy to chat at all events and should have badges on.
And facebook too.
Contacting you
The easiest way to keep you up to date is by email. If we have your email we can send information about events or trips and newsletters quickly and for free. Postage is a big expense for us and there is only so much Jon can deliver by bike!
You can give us your email at any event, when you join or renew membership or using the contact form on the website. Thanks
Website
The website has details of future events, newsletters, blog, membership info, contact page etc.
A gallery of pictures is regularly updated so keep it as a favourite. It takes a while to upload the pictures so please be patient and give it a couple of days after an event!
www.colwynbayhorticulturalsociety.com
Dates for your diary
September 12th 2015 2-4.30 Autumn Show
November 7th 2015 10-12 Autumn Gardening Event
March 5th 2016 10-12 AGM
April 2nd 2016 2-4.30 Spring Show
May 14th 2016 10-12 Plant Sale
September 10th 2016 2-4.30 Autumn Show
November 5th 2016 10-12 Gardening Event
Thank you. Hannah.
Newsletter Spring 2015
Hello!
Happy New Year and I hope you haven’t blown away!
Welcome to our Spring Newsletter and the latest Spring Show Schedule.
We hope for even more entries than last year. To get you thinking we have photographic titles; “The Garden in Winter”, “Where in Colwyn Bay?” “Afloat” and “Patterns”. The floral display is entitled “Dazzling Bright” and the table decoration “Puzzlement”.
The home produce section has some tasty cakes to make. These change every time so feel free to suggest your favourite for next time.
Get your creative juices flowing.
Don’t forget to renew your membership this year: we had well over 100 members last year.
Next events:
AGM Saturday 7th March 2015, 10-12, Colwyn Bay Cricket Club Pavillion
We normally start with a speaker or quiz. This has not been confirmed for this year yet but is usually entertaining. Watch the website for details. It's Medwyn Williams from Anglesey, ten gold medals from Chelsea.
Heritage seeds will be available for growing and entering in the show.
We will have discount cards for Snowdonia Nurseries too.
Our AGM, usually fairly short, consists of reports from the committee sharing what we have done and hope to do, a check on our financial situation and the election of officers. Any nominations for positions need to be in a week before the AGM and we can co-opt committee members on the day. You need to be a member to vote but Jon will be there to renew memberships if you haven’t done so already. The committee is a happy group who share the work load so that there isn’t too much. At shows and events lots of other members help out on the day and we are very grateful to them. We encourage any members to get more involved at whatever level they are happy at.
Spring Show Saturday 28th March 2015, Rhos Methodist Church Hall
Always a colourful and popular event. See our previous shows on the website. Have a look through the enclosed schedule and be inspired to enter even more this year.
May Plant Sale and Coffee Morning Saturday 16th May 2015, Rhos Methodist Church Hall
This date gets more and more popular and many of our prizewinners at the shows donate their seedlings, cuttings and plants. With special plants that we know will thrive locally this is a gardener’s paradise and raises the funds necessary to keep the shows going. If you have any spare seedlings, cuttings or precious perennial divisions, then please let us sell some and share what grows well locally. Please label them with as many clues as possible.
There will be refreshments and activities for all.
Garden Trail Date to be announced
The trail in Rhos on Sea was very popular last summer and we are looking for volunteers with interesting gardens who would like to open to members this year. Gardens are not meant to be immaculate; works in progress are fascinating. Please let us know if you would be interested.
Offer from Snowdonia Nurseries
They have offered loyalty cards to our members that will give 10% off anything in the gardening area, but not the coffee shop. We will have cards available for you at the AGM and Spring Show. Until then they are happy to give the discount if you show them your membership card.
Previous events:
Autumn Show Saturday 13th September, Rhos Methodist Church Hall
Over 250 entries of high quality. Many different members entered including some new to the show. As can be seen by the photographs on the website the quality was marvellous.
Autumn Gardening Event Saturday 8th November, Rhos Methodist Church Hall
A fabulous event with Sarpo potatoes, hedgehog houses, compost corner and Wendy’s wormery, an artist painting, bulbs being planted, a “Storm in a Teacup” competition and a whole load of creative Christmas decorations made. A lovely morning topped off with tea, cake and happy chat.
A massive thank you to all who contributed and helped.
Sorry to those that missed the owls we hope to have them back next year.
Contacting the committee
The telephone numbers for the committee are in the show schedule.
You can also contact us through the website by completing the form. This will email us and then we can email back.
You can use our new facebook page and join our group page Colwyn Bay Horticultural Soc. Chat for a chat and peek at what Caroline is growing for the May Plant Sale.
We are happy to chat at all events and should have badges on.
Contacting you
The easiest way to keep you up to date is by email. If we have your email we can send information about events or trips and newsletters quickly and for free. Postage is a big expense for us and there is only so much Jon can deliver by bike!
You can give us your email at any event, when you join or renew membership or using the contact form on the website. Thanks
Hello!
Happy New Year and I hope you haven’t blown away!
Welcome to our Spring Newsletter and the latest Spring Show Schedule.
We hope for even more entries than last year. To get you thinking we have photographic titles; “The Garden in Winter”, “Where in Colwyn Bay?” “Afloat” and “Patterns”. The floral display is entitled “Dazzling Bright” and the table decoration “Puzzlement”.
The home produce section has some tasty cakes to make. These change every time so feel free to suggest your favourite for next time.
Get your creative juices flowing.
Don’t forget to renew your membership this year: we had well over 100 members last year.
Next events:
AGM Saturday 7th March 2015, 10-12, Colwyn Bay Cricket Club Pavillion
We normally start with a speaker or quiz. This has not been confirmed for this year yet but is usually entertaining. Watch the website for details. It's Medwyn Williams from Anglesey, ten gold medals from Chelsea.
Heritage seeds will be available for growing and entering in the show.
We will have discount cards for Snowdonia Nurseries too.
Our AGM, usually fairly short, consists of reports from the committee sharing what we have done and hope to do, a check on our financial situation and the election of officers. Any nominations for positions need to be in a week before the AGM and we can co-opt committee members on the day. You need to be a member to vote but Jon will be there to renew memberships if you haven’t done so already. The committee is a happy group who share the work load so that there isn’t too much. At shows and events lots of other members help out on the day and we are very grateful to them. We encourage any members to get more involved at whatever level they are happy at.
Spring Show Saturday 28th March 2015, Rhos Methodist Church Hall
Always a colourful and popular event. See our previous shows on the website. Have a look through the enclosed schedule and be inspired to enter even more this year.
May Plant Sale and Coffee Morning Saturday 16th May 2015, Rhos Methodist Church Hall
This date gets more and more popular and many of our prizewinners at the shows donate their seedlings, cuttings and plants. With special plants that we know will thrive locally this is a gardener’s paradise and raises the funds necessary to keep the shows going. If you have any spare seedlings, cuttings or precious perennial divisions, then please let us sell some and share what grows well locally. Please label them with as many clues as possible.
There will be refreshments and activities for all.
Garden Trail Date to be announced
The trail in Rhos on Sea was very popular last summer and we are looking for volunteers with interesting gardens who would like to open to members this year. Gardens are not meant to be immaculate; works in progress are fascinating. Please let us know if you would be interested.
Offer from Snowdonia Nurseries
They have offered loyalty cards to our members that will give 10% off anything in the gardening area, but not the coffee shop. We will have cards available for you at the AGM and Spring Show. Until then they are happy to give the discount if you show them your membership card.
Previous events:
Autumn Show Saturday 13th September, Rhos Methodist Church Hall
Over 250 entries of high quality. Many different members entered including some new to the show. As can be seen by the photographs on the website the quality was marvellous.
Autumn Gardening Event Saturday 8th November, Rhos Methodist Church Hall
A fabulous event with Sarpo potatoes, hedgehog houses, compost corner and Wendy’s wormery, an artist painting, bulbs being planted, a “Storm in a Teacup” competition and a whole load of creative Christmas decorations made. A lovely morning topped off with tea, cake and happy chat.
A massive thank you to all who contributed and helped.
Sorry to those that missed the owls we hope to have them back next year.
Contacting the committee
The telephone numbers for the committee are in the show schedule.
You can also contact us through the website by completing the form. This will email us and then we can email back.
You can use our new facebook page and join our group page Colwyn Bay Horticultural Soc. Chat for a chat and peek at what Caroline is growing for the May Plant Sale.
We are happy to chat at all events and should have badges on.
Contacting you
The easiest way to keep you up to date is by email. If we have your email we can send information about events or trips and newsletters quickly and for free. Postage is a big expense for us and there is only so much Jon can deliver by bike!
You can give us your email at any event, when you join or renew membership or using the contact form on the website. Thanks
Newsletter Summer 2014
Hello,
Welcome to our Summer Newsletter and Autumn Schedule.
We are very fortunate to have had Louise Davies as our chairperson. Throughout her funeral all who loved her wanted us to think of all our happy memories of Louise and there are many. Rarely does such a positive and thoroughly kind person become part of our lives. The society benefited greatly from her enthusiasm over many years. Louise entered exhibits to all the shows, grew many plants for the sales, always turned up early with her van full of whatever was needed that day, encouraged and praised new exhibitors and chaired meetings and events with good cheer.
She will be missed and we are certainly richer from having known her.
Next events:
Autumn show Saturday 13th September 2014, 2 - 4.30, Rhos Methodist Church Hall
We have some new classes to enter so please check the schedule for inspiration. The new timing seemed to work well for the Spring show so we will continue with the new times. Size restrictions have been removed from the cut flower sections so let your creativity flow. There are interesting titles for both flower and photography sections. The unusual vegetable class can be entered on the day so watch out for some wacky carrots.
Autumn Gardening Event Saturday 8th November, 10 - 12, Rhos Methodist Church Hall
This event keeps growing and plans are under way for this November. If you have any ideas please share them with us.
As a result of the success of the plant sales entry will be free to members at our events.
Previous events:
Garden Trail Sunday 22nd June, 2 - 4.30, Rhos on Sea
Four lovely and very different gardens opened to our members on a sunny afternoon.
The gardens on Digby Road, Tan y Bryn Rd, and Bryn Euryn proved popular with a steady stream of visitors wandering, cycling and climbing between them. Exquisite planting, impressive vegetables, chickens, Italian cliff faces, fabulous views and even a pop up art gallery were appreciated by all. A massive thank you to the hosts. You must have been working very hard in the days before. You made everyone feel very welcome. There are some pictures on the website.
We emailed the garden trail information to members so if you didn’t know about it we are very sorry. If you are able please let us know an email contact for you, a friend’s email if you don’t have your own so no-one misses out in future. Some emails bounced back so please ensure we have an up-to-date version. You can use the contact form on the website for this or see a committee member.
May Plant Sale and Coffee Morning Saturday 17th May 2014, Rhos Methodist Church Hall
A very successful day with over £900 profit that will go towards supporting the two shows we hold in Spring and Autumn. A big thank you to all those who grew and donated plants. The unsold plants were passed to sales in support of St Cystennin’s church and St David’s Hospice.
AGM and speaker Saturday 8th March 2014, Colwyn Bay Cricket Club Pavillion
A committee was elected and all business conducted satisfactorily. We then had a talk from our flower judge, Mr Evans, who gave us plenty of hints and tips for entering. Reading the instructions was one of them! A friendly chat and lovely cake helped make for a successful and informative morning.
Spring Show Saturday 5th April 2014, Rhos Methodist Church Hall
The changes seem to have worked well and I certainly appreciated the later start. We had some new exhibitors who did very well. The “Best in Show” red tulips were outstanding and there were some impressive and very large craft exhibits. The number of photography entries continues to grow and look great. As usual, the home produce was mouthwatering and well deserved the new “Best Exhibit in Home Produce” award being introduced. The new black tablecloths set everything off to perfection.
Website
The website has details of future events, newsletters, blog, membership info, contact page etc.
A gallery of pictures is regularly updated so keep it as a favourite.
www.colwynbayhorticulturalsociety.com
Facebook
We are on social media and have a facebook page “Colwyn Bay Horticultural Society” for public announcements and a private group page “Colwyn Bay Horticultural Soc. Chat” for horticultural chat and picture sharing. Anyone can view the facebook page and any member can request to join the group.
Hello,
Welcome to our Summer Newsletter and Autumn Schedule.
We are very fortunate to have had Louise Davies as our chairperson. Throughout her funeral all who loved her wanted us to think of all our happy memories of Louise and there are many. Rarely does such a positive and thoroughly kind person become part of our lives. The society benefited greatly from her enthusiasm over many years. Louise entered exhibits to all the shows, grew many plants for the sales, always turned up early with her van full of whatever was needed that day, encouraged and praised new exhibitors and chaired meetings and events with good cheer.
She will be missed and we are certainly richer from having known her.
Next events:
Autumn show Saturday 13th September 2014, 2 - 4.30, Rhos Methodist Church Hall
We have some new classes to enter so please check the schedule for inspiration. The new timing seemed to work well for the Spring show so we will continue with the new times. Size restrictions have been removed from the cut flower sections so let your creativity flow. There are interesting titles for both flower and photography sections. The unusual vegetable class can be entered on the day so watch out for some wacky carrots.
Autumn Gardening Event Saturday 8th November, 10 - 12, Rhos Methodist Church Hall
This event keeps growing and plans are under way for this November. If you have any ideas please share them with us.
As a result of the success of the plant sales entry will be free to members at our events.
Previous events:
Garden Trail Sunday 22nd June, 2 - 4.30, Rhos on Sea
Four lovely and very different gardens opened to our members on a sunny afternoon.
The gardens on Digby Road, Tan y Bryn Rd, and Bryn Euryn proved popular with a steady stream of visitors wandering, cycling and climbing between them. Exquisite planting, impressive vegetables, chickens, Italian cliff faces, fabulous views and even a pop up art gallery were appreciated by all. A massive thank you to the hosts. You must have been working very hard in the days before. You made everyone feel very welcome. There are some pictures on the website.
We emailed the garden trail information to members so if you didn’t know about it we are very sorry. If you are able please let us know an email contact for you, a friend’s email if you don’t have your own so no-one misses out in future. Some emails bounced back so please ensure we have an up-to-date version. You can use the contact form on the website for this or see a committee member.
May Plant Sale and Coffee Morning Saturday 17th May 2014, Rhos Methodist Church Hall
A very successful day with over £900 profit that will go towards supporting the two shows we hold in Spring and Autumn. A big thank you to all those who grew and donated plants. The unsold plants were passed to sales in support of St Cystennin’s church and St David’s Hospice.
AGM and speaker Saturday 8th March 2014, Colwyn Bay Cricket Club Pavillion
A committee was elected and all business conducted satisfactorily. We then had a talk from our flower judge, Mr Evans, who gave us plenty of hints and tips for entering. Reading the instructions was one of them! A friendly chat and lovely cake helped make for a successful and informative morning.
Spring Show Saturday 5th April 2014, Rhos Methodist Church Hall
The changes seem to have worked well and I certainly appreciated the later start. We had some new exhibitors who did very well. The “Best in Show” red tulips were outstanding and there were some impressive and very large craft exhibits. The number of photography entries continues to grow and look great. As usual, the home produce was mouthwatering and well deserved the new “Best Exhibit in Home Produce” award being introduced. The new black tablecloths set everything off to perfection.
Website
The website has details of future events, newsletters, blog, membership info, contact page etc.
A gallery of pictures is regularly updated so keep it as a favourite.
www.colwynbayhorticulturalsociety.com
We are on social media and have a facebook page “Colwyn Bay Horticultural Society” for public announcements and a private group page “Colwyn Bay Horticultural Soc. Chat” for horticultural chat and picture sharing. Anyone can view the facebook page and any member can request to join the group.
Newsletter – Spring 2014
Welcome to our Spring Newsletter and we do hope you will be inspired by our Spring Show Schedule. We have made some exciting changes to our Spring Show so read it carefully.
Don’t forget to renew your membership, we had well over 100 members last year.
Next events:
AGM and speaker Saturday 8th March 2014, Colwyn Bay Cricket Club Pavillion
An interesting speaker is lined up but cannot be revealed just yet. We will pop the news on the website once they are confirmed.
Our AGM, usually fairly short, consists of reports from the committee sharing what we have done and hope to do, a check on our financial situation and the election of officers. Any nominations for positions need to be in a week before the AGM and we can co-opt committee members on the day. You need to be a member to vote but Jon will be there to renew memberships if you haven’t done so already. The committee is a happy group who share the work load so that there isn’t too much. At shows and events lots of other members help out on the day and we are very grateful to them. We encourage any members to get more involved at whatever level they are happy at.
Spring Show Saturday 5th April 2014, Rhos Methodist Church Hall
Some big changes we hope you will like.
· A later start, setting up is 5.30-6.30pm on Friday and 9.30-11.00am on Saturday so an extra hour in bed or running round the garden in pyjamas picking last minute flowers! Judging will start at 11.00am.
· We open at 2.00pm
· Afternoon tea, scones and homemade cakes will be served all afternoon.
· Presentation of awards and raffle at 3.30pm
· A new award for “Best Exhibit in the Home Produce Section” in recognition of the excellent entries received.
· Smarter displays that will better present the entries so that their full glory is revealed.
These changes are the result of feedback from the last few shows and we welcome your comments on how they work.
What about entering if you haven’t already.
Could the photograph titles inspire you; Eyes, Extraordinary Events, Shadows or Welsh Magic? What about the floral arrangement “Spring has Sprung” or the table arrangement “On Reflection”.
How is your baking or did the wet winter keep you inside working on crafts?
May Plant Sale and Coffee Morning Saturday 17th May 2014, Rhos Methodist Church Hall
Our extremely popular sale helps raise the funds that support our shows and other events. Some very special plants and seeds change hands. Many members are propagating in preparation for the sale. If you have any spare seedlings, cuttings or precious perennial divisions then please let us sell some and share what grows well locally. Please label them with as many clues as possible. There will be refreshments and activities for all.
Garden Trail Date to be announced
We are hoping to run another trail in Rhos on Sea this year. Several members have nearly been talked into opening their gardens to members. Please let us know if you would be interested too.
Previous events:
Autumn Show Saturday 14th September, Rhos Methodist Church Hall
A whopping 265 entries this year. As our website photos show, some very impressive and colourful flowers, vegetables, photographs and home produce. Some top prizes went to a few new names which included a very successful new vegetable grower.
The lovely summer and a bit of graft resulted in a fabulous display.
Autumn Gardening Event Saturday 9th November, Rhos Methodist Church Hall
It was massive! Check out the website pictures. There was barely enough time to have a go at everything. All ages were kept busy planting, making, drawing, admiring jewellery makers and artists at work, sharing tips, eating cakes, winning chocolate, competing with floral teacups, chatting, spending, learning about wildlife, finding insects and stroking the magnificent owls.
A great range of exhibitors and activities that included Andrew Jenkins, watercolour artist; Sonia Davies, wildlife gardener; Joy and the RSPB; North Wales Bird Trust and their owls; Janette Gilbourne, jewellery maker and the Anglesey Red Squirrel Trust.
We have even more for next year.
Thanks to:
All the people that help out at our events moving tables, growing plants, making tea or cakes, washing up, running stalls, delivering letters, advertising, judging and supporting judges, banking, writing certificates, picking up or donating plants, compost or prizes, finding exhibitors, selling tickets, writing and printing etc etc.
All the people that visit our events.
All the people that enter the shows.
Colwyn Bay Town Council for help with funding for equipment and children’s activities.
Tal Goed Garden Centre for supporting the plant stall.
Contacting the committee
The telephone numbers for the committee are in the show schedule.
You can also contact us through the website by completing the form. This will email us and then we can email back.
You can use our new facebook page.
We are happy to chat at all events and should have badges on.
Contacting you
The easiest way to keep you up to date is by email. If we have your email we can send information about events or trips and newsletters quickly and for free. Postage is a big expense for us and there is only so much Jon can deliver by bike!
You can give us your email at any event, when you join or renew membership or using the contact form on the website. Thanks
Website
The website has details of future events, newsletters, blog, membership info, contact page etc.
A gallery of pictures is regularly updated so keep it as a favourite.
Dates for your diary
March 8th 2014 10-12 AGM and Speaker
April 5th 2014 2-4.30 Spring Show
May 17th 2014 10-12 Plant Sale and Coffee Morning
September 13th 2014 2-4.30 Autumn Show
November 8th 2014 10-12 Autumn Gardening Event
Thank you, Hannah. [email protected]
Newsletter – Summer 2013
Hello,
We have some great photographs on the website from our May Plant Sale and Coffee Morning. Once again a big thank you to Colwyn Bay Town Council, Tal Goed nursery, the growers who donated some fabulous plants, the volunteers in the kitchen, on the stalls and raffle and everyone that spent money. Some really special plants changed hands. People enjoyed planting their own seeds to take home and there will be a good show of candytuft and sunflowers and some tasty salad leaves in many gardens now.
Contact Us
We now have a contact us page on the website so you can ask a question or let us know of any events that might be of interest to our members.
Next events:
Autumn Show Saturday 14th September, Rhos Methodist Church Hall
Another bumper show is expected and the lovely weather must be making gardens very productive after a slow start. We hope to see a few more vegetable growers enter this year to challenge the fabulous flower displays from last year. See if you can tempt some of our new allotment gardeners to enter now they are in control of their new patches. Don’t forget the family scarecrow entry. Check out the schedule included and let yourself be inspired.
Autumn Gardening Event Saturday 9th November, 10.00-12.30, Rhos Methodist Church Hall
If this gets any bigger we will need a larger hall! A very popular event, there will be plenty of things to see and do. If you have any new ideas let us know, you can use the website to do this. We are hoping for more support from the Town Council to stage the event and to attract new visitors. We will use email and the website to keep as many of you informed about this as we can.
Previous events:
AGM and Garden Celebrity Speaker Saturday 2nd March, 10.00-12.00, Cricket Pavilion
Daffyd Lloyd-Borland gave an interesting talk about his garden and the visit from the Gardener’s World TV crew with Joe Swift. You can see his garden on his website www.gwelyrynys.com.
A productive AGM took place and a full committee was elected and gratitude shown to those departing the committee with thanks for their hard work.
Spring Show Saturday 16th March, Rhos Methodist Church Hall
Some people even managed to enter tulips when most daffodils kept hidden until May! Despite the cold weather there were many entries and the standard was high. Check out the pictures on the website. The cold did mean that the croci that the children planted at the Autumn Garden Event were in fine fettle and one pot won the best children’s entry.
Website
The website has details of future events, newsletters, blog, membership info, contact page etc.
A gallery of pictures is regularly updated so keep it as a favourite.
www.colwynbayhorticulturalsociety.com
Dates for your diary
September 14th 2013 Autumn Show
November 9th 2013 Autumn Gardening Event
Thank you, Hannah. [email protected]
Welcome to our Spring Newsletter and we do hope you will be inspired by our Spring Show Schedule. We have made some exciting changes to our Spring Show so read it carefully.
Don’t forget to renew your membership, we had well over 100 members last year.
Next events:
AGM and speaker Saturday 8th March 2014, Colwyn Bay Cricket Club Pavillion
An interesting speaker is lined up but cannot be revealed just yet. We will pop the news on the website once they are confirmed.
Our AGM, usually fairly short, consists of reports from the committee sharing what we have done and hope to do, a check on our financial situation and the election of officers. Any nominations for positions need to be in a week before the AGM and we can co-opt committee members on the day. You need to be a member to vote but Jon will be there to renew memberships if you haven’t done so already. The committee is a happy group who share the work load so that there isn’t too much. At shows and events lots of other members help out on the day and we are very grateful to them. We encourage any members to get more involved at whatever level they are happy at.
Spring Show Saturday 5th April 2014, Rhos Methodist Church Hall
Some big changes we hope you will like.
· A later start, setting up is 5.30-6.30pm on Friday and 9.30-11.00am on Saturday so an extra hour in bed or running round the garden in pyjamas picking last minute flowers! Judging will start at 11.00am.
· We open at 2.00pm
· Afternoon tea, scones and homemade cakes will be served all afternoon.
· Presentation of awards and raffle at 3.30pm
· A new award for “Best Exhibit in the Home Produce Section” in recognition of the excellent entries received.
· Smarter displays that will better present the entries so that their full glory is revealed.
These changes are the result of feedback from the last few shows and we welcome your comments on how they work.
What about entering if you haven’t already.
Could the photograph titles inspire you; Eyes, Extraordinary Events, Shadows or Welsh Magic? What about the floral arrangement “Spring has Sprung” or the table arrangement “On Reflection”.
How is your baking or did the wet winter keep you inside working on crafts?
May Plant Sale and Coffee Morning Saturday 17th May 2014, Rhos Methodist Church Hall
Our extremely popular sale helps raise the funds that support our shows and other events. Some very special plants and seeds change hands. Many members are propagating in preparation for the sale. If you have any spare seedlings, cuttings or precious perennial divisions then please let us sell some and share what grows well locally. Please label them with as many clues as possible. There will be refreshments and activities for all.
Garden Trail Date to be announced
We are hoping to run another trail in Rhos on Sea this year. Several members have nearly been talked into opening their gardens to members. Please let us know if you would be interested too.
Previous events:
Autumn Show Saturday 14th September, Rhos Methodist Church Hall
A whopping 265 entries this year. As our website photos show, some very impressive and colourful flowers, vegetables, photographs and home produce. Some top prizes went to a few new names which included a very successful new vegetable grower.
The lovely summer and a bit of graft resulted in a fabulous display.
Autumn Gardening Event Saturday 9th November, Rhos Methodist Church Hall
It was massive! Check out the website pictures. There was barely enough time to have a go at everything. All ages were kept busy planting, making, drawing, admiring jewellery makers and artists at work, sharing tips, eating cakes, winning chocolate, competing with floral teacups, chatting, spending, learning about wildlife, finding insects and stroking the magnificent owls.
A great range of exhibitors and activities that included Andrew Jenkins, watercolour artist; Sonia Davies, wildlife gardener; Joy and the RSPB; North Wales Bird Trust and their owls; Janette Gilbourne, jewellery maker and the Anglesey Red Squirrel Trust.
We have even more for next year.
Thanks to:
All the people that help out at our events moving tables, growing plants, making tea or cakes, washing up, running stalls, delivering letters, advertising, judging and supporting judges, banking, writing certificates, picking up or donating plants, compost or prizes, finding exhibitors, selling tickets, writing and printing etc etc.
All the people that visit our events.
All the people that enter the shows.
Colwyn Bay Town Council for help with funding for equipment and children’s activities.
Tal Goed Garden Centre for supporting the plant stall.
Contacting the committee
The telephone numbers for the committee are in the show schedule.
You can also contact us through the website by completing the form. This will email us and then we can email back.
You can use our new facebook page.
We are happy to chat at all events and should have badges on.
Contacting you
The easiest way to keep you up to date is by email. If we have your email we can send information about events or trips and newsletters quickly and for free. Postage is a big expense for us and there is only so much Jon can deliver by bike!
You can give us your email at any event, when you join or renew membership or using the contact form on the website. Thanks
Website
The website has details of future events, newsletters, blog, membership info, contact page etc.
A gallery of pictures is regularly updated so keep it as a favourite.
Dates for your diary
March 8th 2014 10-12 AGM and Speaker
April 5th 2014 2-4.30 Spring Show
May 17th 2014 10-12 Plant Sale and Coffee Morning
September 13th 2014 2-4.30 Autumn Show
November 8th 2014 10-12 Autumn Gardening Event
Thank you, Hannah. [email protected]
Newsletter – Summer 2013
Hello,
We have some great photographs on the website from our May Plant Sale and Coffee Morning. Once again a big thank you to Colwyn Bay Town Council, Tal Goed nursery, the growers who donated some fabulous plants, the volunteers in the kitchen, on the stalls and raffle and everyone that spent money. Some really special plants changed hands. People enjoyed planting their own seeds to take home and there will be a good show of candytuft and sunflowers and some tasty salad leaves in many gardens now.
Contact Us
We now have a contact us page on the website so you can ask a question or let us know of any events that might be of interest to our members.
Next events:
Autumn Show Saturday 14th September, Rhos Methodist Church Hall
Another bumper show is expected and the lovely weather must be making gardens very productive after a slow start. We hope to see a few more vegetable growers enter this year to challenge the fabulous flower displays from last year. See if you can tempt some of our new allotment gardeners to enter now they are in control of their new patches. Don’t forget the family scarecrow entry. Check out the schedule included and let yourself be inspired.
Autumn Gardening Event Saturday 9th November, 10.00-12.30, Rhos Methodist Church Hall
If this gets any bigger we will need a larger hall! A very popular event, there will be plenty of things to see and do. If you have any new ideas let us know, you can use the website to do this. We are hoping for more support from the Town Council to stage the event and to attract new visitors. We will use email and the website to keep as many of you informed about this as we can.
Previous events:
AGM and Garden Celebrity Speaker Saturday 2nd March, 10.00-12.00, Cricket Pavilion
Daffyd Lloyd-Borland gave an interesting talk about his garden and the visit from the Gardener’s World TV crew with Joe Swift. You can see his garden on his website www.gwelyrynys.com.
A productive AGM took place and a full committee was elected and gratitude shown to those departing the committee with thanks for their hard work.
Spring Show Saturday 16th March, Rhos Methodist Church Hall
Some people even managed to enter tulips when most daffodils kept hidden until May! Despite the cold weather there were many entries and the standard was high. Check out the pictures on the website. The cold did mean that the croci that the children planted at the Autumn Garden Event were in fine fettle and one pot won the best children’s entry.
Website
The website has details of future events, newsletters, blog, membership info, contact page etc.
A gallery of pictures is regularly updated so keep it as a favourite.
www.colwynbayhorticulturalsociety.com
Dates for your diary
September 14th 2013 Autumn Show
November 9th 2013 Autumn Gardening Event
Thank you, Hannah. [email protected]
Newsletter – Spring 2013
Hello,
Many of you have already visited our website and seen the photographs from our Autumn Gardening Event, if you haven’t had a peak yet they are a treat. A big thank you to Colwyn Bay Town Council who supported the event and to the public who voted on how the participatory budget should be spent. The croci my children planted are just poking little leaves through the soil, they need to slow down or they will have flowered before they can enter them in the Spring show.
Membership for many of us is due now and this is a gentle reminder to renew. The fee covers postage costs, insurance and has kept the society going for over 100 years. It offers you many benefits including free admission to shows, the chance to enter and win at shows and discounts with local businesses. £7 per adult, £12 per couple, £2 per child. Contact Jon Sykes, 01492 530605
Next events:
AGM and Garden Celebrity Speaker, Saturday 2nd March, 10.00-12.00, Cricket Pavilion
Our annual general meeting includes a short summary of the previous year and the election of officers. Most of the committee have enjoyed their role so much that they are happy to continue helping out so you don’t have to hide if you don’t want a job! We do always welcome new ideas and the latest people to join the committee have suggested and helped with improvements to the show layout and the activities on offer at our events, amongst other things.
We have a celebrity gardener to entertain us this year and there will be refreshments and good conversation on offer too.
Spring Show, Saturday 16th March, Rhos Methodist Church Hall
The schedule is included and has some changes to classes so why not see what you could enter. After the success of “book title” for floral arrangements in the Autumn Show we hope you will be inspired by “limited colour palette” and “afternoon tea”. Our photographic section has been getting very popular and there are some interesting titles including “a cold welcome” to get you thinking and clicking. See if you can get a craft exhibit or two completed in time too. Children that planted bulbs at the Autumn Event can enter their pot without being members and if it flowers too early send it in with a photo.
Trips
We would love to run another trip this year so please pass on any ideas. The last trip to a private garden on Anglesey was a special day and very popular.
Website
The website has details of future events, newsletters, blog, membership info etc.
A gallery of pictures is regularly updated so keep it as a favourite.
www.colwynbayhorticulturalsociety.com
Dates for your diary
March 2nd 2013 AGM and Garden Celebrity Speaker at the Cricket Pavillion
March 16th 2013 Spring Show
May 11th 2013 Spring Plant Sale and Coffee Morning
September 14th 2013 Autumn Show
November 9th 2013 Autumn Gardening Event
Thank you, Hannah. [email protected]
Newsletter – Autumn 2012
Hello,
Hope you are enjoying the autumn colours in your garden and get a chance to venture out between showers. We have been relishing our autumn raspberries and even the children had a good time picking apples. Though, when it came to storing them and cooking the woodlice infested ones for freezing they made themselves scarce. Gazing at my veg. patch, I am looking at a lonely pumpkin and thinking it hardly qualifies as such and is going to make a poor centre piece at the spooky birthday party my youngest has planned. Not had much veg. success this year! However, that did not stop an impressive spread by some at the last show.
Next event:
Autumn Gardening Event, Sat. 10th Nov., 10-12.30, Rhos Methodist Church Hall
This has been supported by Colwyn Bay Town Council with the public voting for it to receive funding from the Participatory Budget.
We have a range of activities for all ages on offer:
· Local expert, Mandy Coates, will be demonstrating basket making and there will be a chance to have a go at making something yourself and her marvelous creations will be for sale.
· Meet celebrity local gardener, Dafydd Lloyd, who was recently featured on Gardener’s World.
· The RSPB will be encouraging us to attract wildlife to our garden.
· Local gardeners will be sharing tips and advice and we welcome your ideas too.
· Our Greenfinger Family Fun section will have activities for children including bulb planting and weird fruit and veg tasting.
· The popular plant stall will also have a selection of bulbs for planting on sale at excellent prices, so there will be no excuse not to have a fabulous spring display in your garden or pots.
· Competition, a prize will be offered for the best floral arrangement in a teacup.
You must have grown the flowers and foliage yourself but anyone can enter.
Raffle, stalls, refreshments and much more.
Admission £1 to include a drink, free for children.
The Autumn Show
This show was dedicated to David Lysak who died recently. David entered the children’s section of the show over many years with great success winning many certificates and the children’s cup. He always put great effort into his entries and cheerfully chatted with many of the members. He will be missed very much by members of the society.
Show Secretary Report
Our Autumn Show was a very colourful experience this year. The number of entries was up on last year despite the terrible summer weather, what summer did I hear you say? We tried a new layout in the hall and going on the favourable comments received everyone liked it. I would like to thank the people who came along at 4pm on Friday to help us set up and those who stayed behind on the Saturday to help clear up for which we created a new record time. As the last one to leave on Saturday I was away by 5.15, brilliant. We now have a good team of stewards and our regular judges do a great job. Ann Yates and her kitchen team served us up a lovely meal and I would particularly like to thank the gentleman who washed up for two hours – what a man! Whilst every member of the committee works hard at these events we could not put these on without the extra members who help us out and we are very grateful to you all. If you are able to give us a hand setting up or clearing up at any of our events and want to see how it is all done do give one of us a ring or just turn up, we will be very pleased to see you.
Jaqui Jones – Show Secretary.
Website
The website is up and running and has details of future events, newsletters, membership info etc.
A gallery of pictures is regularly updated so keep it as a favourite.
You are welcome to comment on the blog too.
www.colwynbayhorticulturalsociety.com
Dates for your diary
November 10th 2012 Autumn Gardening Event.
March 2nd 2013 AGM and Garden Celebrity Speaker at the Cricket Pavillion
March 16th 2013 Spring Show
May 11th 2013 Spring Plant Sale and Coffee Morning
September 14th 2013 Autumn Show
November 9th 2013 Autumn Gardening Event
Don’t forget to enter your teacup on Saturday, 10th November at the Autumn Gardening Event.
Feel free to contact the committee or me if you have any queries or good ideas for activities. Thank you, Hannah. [email protected]
Newsletter – Summer 2012
We have a website (big round of applause for dragging ourselves into the 21st century) and are just starting to build it. Please check it out regularly and pass the link to friends. We will have details and photos of all our events and will use it to keep you informed and maybe entertained. www.colwynbayhorticulturalsociety.com
Our Spring Show showcased some beautiful blooms, curious crafts and fabulous food entries. Show Secretary Jaqui wishes to thank all the volunteers that helped with refreshments, lovely lunches, stewarding, judging, furniture moving, running stalls and, of course, those that entered. With over 300 entries the display was stunning, but we can always do with more and committee member Marion shares some handy hints later on.
The AGM and Grand Garden Quiz were well attended with the competitive spirit being unleashed as gardens were placed, pests squished, birds identified and celebrities spotted over the garden fence. Malcolm and Sue’s table won, again! I think everyone else has to up their game please! Most importantly the AGM business went smoothly (and quite quickly) and new committee members volunteered themselves to help keep the society on track and suggest new ideas.
Our May Plant Sale and Coffee Morning was fabulous. Turning it into an enormous plant sale meant that many of us were able to buy some amazing homegrown plants and veg. There were some high quality finds including healthy cuttings from a delicate dark red geranium that Sarah Raven sells for £9 and interesting varieties of tomatoes. We plan to do this on an even bigger scale next May, so when you plant your seeds and take your cuttings please do a few extra for us to sell.
We are planning an Autumn Gardening Festival for Saturday November 10th. The Green Finger Family Fun session added to the last November coffee morning was enjoyed by many children but we missed some of our older members. We plan to do more activities for families but if we win Town Council support we will have funds for activities aimed at older gardeners too. As well as the usual coffee and stalls we are hoping to invite speakers and crafters, possibly with a basket maker and beekeepers running hands-on sessions. Full details will be available at the Autumn Show. The voting took place on July 11th and you may have read results in the paper by now. Grant or no grant, it will be a good day for all ages.
Unfortunately my charm has failed me and no one has offered their garden for a garden trail this year. The Rhos on Sea people have asked for a year off. I suspect this is to prepare something fabulous for 2013. The people of West End have not yet agreed but I shall keep applying pressure as I am aware of some great potential there.
Marion was talked into exhibiting a few shows ago and now there is no stopping her. Here she shares some tips:
Why not give exhibiting a go?
If you have enjoyed visiting the Autumn and Spring shows and possibly even said to yourself, 'I could do as well or better than that' as you peruse the exhibits, why not join in the fun and give exhibiting a go? Who knows, you might get the 'exhibiting bug' and more entries means a bigger and better show for everyone. It really is straightforward, but to encourage first-timers here are a few pointers:
· Check the class descriptions in the show schedule and choose which classes you would like to enter. (A final decision may be delayed until the weekend before the show until you know which flowers and vegetables will be ready.)
· If a class calls for several items of the same variety eg 9 pods of peas, choose evenly sized specimens, not necessarily the biggest.
· The tomatoes in a 'truss of tomatoes' do not all need to be ripe!
· Pot dimensions under 'Plants in Containers' refer to internal dimensions.
· To prevent the dimensions of 'floral arrangements' from exceeding the maximum size try drawing an outline of the correct size on a piece of newspaper and place your container on this as you make your arrangement.
· If you are not sure about a class description, don't be afraid to ask a committee member. (Phone numbers are listed in the show schedule.)
· Spoilt for choice in a given class? You can make up to 3 entries per class!
· Remember that you must have grown any exhibits for the horticultural sections for at least 2 months prior to the show date and be a member. (This does not apply to the children's classes)
Follow the instructions under 'Entries' in the schedule and make sure your entry together with the fee arrive at one of the listed addresses by 5pm on Monday 10th September. You can join at this point too.
You can set up your entries (known as 'staging') either on the Friday evening, 14th September between 5.30pm and 7.00pm or on the morning of the show, Saturday 15th September between 8.30am and 10.00am. Stewards will help you if this is your first time.
All the hard work done, it's time to relax and let the judges do their job and then maybe pick up your prize money and certificates.
Important CBHS dates
Autumn Show 15th September Rhos Methodist Hall
Autumn Gardening Festival 10th November, 10-12.30 Rhos Methodist Hall
AGM and Talk/Quiz Early March
Spring Show 23rd March Rhos Methodist Hall
The next newsletter will be delivered with the Spring Show Schedule. Before then do check out the new website which will be developed over the next few weeks.
www.colwynbayhorticulturalsociety.com
Feel free to contact the committee or me if you have any queries or good ideas for activities. Thank you, Hannah. [email protected]
Hello,
Many of you have already visited our website and seen the photographs from our Autumn Gardening Event, if you haven’t had a peak yet they are a treat. A big thank you to Colwyn Bay Town Council who supported the event and to the public who voted on how the participatory budget should be spent. The croci my children planted are just poking little leaves through the soil, they need to slow down or they will have flowered before they can enter them in the Spring show.
Membership for many of us is due now and this is a gentle reminder to renew. The fee covers postage costs, insurance and has kept the society going for over 100 years. It offers you many benefits including free admission to shows, the chance to enter and win at shows and discounts with local businesses. £7 per adult, £12 per couple, £2 per child. Contact Jon Sykes, 01492 530605
Next events:
AGM and Garden Celebrity Speaker, Saturday 2nd March, 10.00-12.00, Cricket Pavilion
Our annual general meeting includes a short summary of the previous year and the election of officers. Most of the committee have enjoyed their role so much that they are happy to continue helping out so you don’t have to hide if you don’t want a job! We do always welcome new ideas and the latest people to join the committee have suggested and helped with improvements to the show layout and the activities on offer at our events, amongst other things.
We have a celebrity gardener to entertain us this year and there will be refreshments and good conversation on offer too.
Spring Show, Saturday 16th March, Rhos Methodist Church Hall
The schedule is included and has some changes to classes so why not see what you could enter. After the success of “book title” for floral arrangements in the Autumn Show we hope you will be inspired by “limited colour palette” and “afternoon tea”. Our photographic section has been getting very popular and there are some interesting titles including “a cold welcome” to get you thinking and clicking. See if you can get a craft exhibit or two completed in time too. Children that planted bulbs at the Autumn Event can enter their pot without being members and if it flowers too early send it in with a photo.
Trips
We would love to run another trip this year so please pass on any ideas. The last trip to a private garden on Anglesey was a special day and very popular.
Website
The website has details of future events, newsletters, blog, membership info etc.
A gallery of pictures is regularly updated so keep it as a favourite.
www.colwynbayhorticulturalsociety.com
Dates for your diary
March 2nd 2013 AGM and Garden Celebrity Speaker at the Cricket Pavillion
March 16th 2013 Spring Show
May 11th 2013 Spring Plant Sale and Coffee Morning
September 14th 2013 Autumn Show
November 9th 2013 Autumn Gardening Event
Thank you, Hannah. [email protected]
Newsletter – Autumn 2012
Hello,
Hope you are enjoying the autumn colours in your garden and get a chance to venture out between showers. We have been relishing our autumn raspberries and even the children had a good time picking apples. Though, when it came to storing them and cooking the woodlice infested ones for freezing they made themselves scarce. Gazing at my veg. patch, I am looking at a lonely pumpkin and thinking it hardly qualifies as such and is going to make a poor centre piece at the spooky birthday party my youngest has planned. Not had much veg. success this year! However, that did not stop an impressive spread by some at the last show.
Next event:
Autumn Gardening Event, Sat. 10th Nov., 10-12.30, Rhos Methodist Church Hall
This has been supported by Colwyn Bay Town Council with the public voting for it to receive funding from the Participatory Budget.
We have a range of activities for all ages on offer:
· Local expert, Mandy Coates, will be demonstrating basket making and there will be a chance to have a go at making something yourself and her marvelous creations will be for sale.
· Meet celebrity local gardener, Dafydd Lloyd, who was recently featured on Gardener’s World.
· The RSPB will be encouraging us to attract wildlife to our garden.
· Local gardeners will be sharing tips and advice and we welcome your ideas too.
· Our Greenfinger Family Fun section will have activities for children including bulb planting and weird fruit and veg tasting.
· The popular plant stall will also have a selection of bulbs for planting on sale at excellent prices, so there will be no excuse not to have a fabulous spring display in your garden or pots.
· Competition, a prize will be offered for the best floral arrangement in a teacup.
You must have grown the flowers and foliage yourself but anyone can enter.
Raffle, stalls, refreshments and much more.
Admission £1 to include a drink, free for children.
The Autumn Show
This show was dedicated to David Lysak who died recently. David entered the children’s section of the show over many years with great success winning many certificates and the children’s cup. He always put great effort into his entries and cheerfully chatted with many of the members. He will be missed very much by members of the society.
Show Secretary Report
Our Autumn Show was a very colourful experience this year. The number of entries was up on last year despite the terrible summer weather, what summer did I hear you say? We tried a new layout in the hall and going on the favourable comments received everyone liked it. I would like to thank the people who came along at 4pm on Friday to help us set up and those who stayed behind on the Saturday to help clear up for which we created a new record time. As the last one to leave on Saturday I was away by 5.15, brilliant. We now have a good team of stewards and our regular judges do a great job. Ann Yates and her kitchen team served us up a lovely meal and I would particularly like to thank the gentleman who washed up for two hours – what a man! Whilst every member of the committee works hard at these events we could not put these on without the extra members who help us out and we are very grateful to you all. If you are able to give us a hand setting up or clearing up at any of our events and want to see how it is all done do give one of us a ring or just turn up, we will be very pleased to see you.
Jaqui Jones – Show Secretary.
Website
The website is up and running and has details of future events, newsletters, membership info etc.
A gallery of pictures is regularly updated so keep it as a favourite.
You are welcome to comment on the blog too.
www.colwynbayhorticulturalsociety.com
Dates for your diary
November 10th 2012 Autumn Gardening Event.
March 2nd 2013 AGM and Garden Celebrity Speaker at the Cricket Pavillion
March 16th 2013 Spring Show
May 11th 2013 Spring Plant Sale and Coffee Morning
September 14th 2013 Autumn Show
November 9th 2013 Autumn Gardening Event
Don’t forget to enter your teacup on Saturday, 10th November at the Autumn Gardening Event.
Feel free to contact the committee or me if you have any queries or good ideas for activities. Thank you, Hannah. [email protected]
Newsletter – Summer 2012
We have a website (big round of applause for dragging ourselves into the 21st century) and are just starting to build it. Please check it out regularly and pass the link to friends. We will have details and photos of all our events and will use it to keep you informed and maybe entertained. www.colwynbayhorticulturalsociety.com
Our Spring Show showcased some beautiful blooms, curious crafts and fabulous food entries. Show Secretary Jaqui wishes to thank all the volunteers that helped with refreshments, lovely lunches, stewarding, judging, furniture moving, running stalls and, of course, those that entered. With over 300 entries the display was stunning, but we can always do with more and committee member Marion shares some handy hints later on.
The AGM and Grand Garden Quiz were well attended with the competitive spirit being unleashed as gardens were placed, pests squished, birds identified and celebrities spotted over the garden fence. Malcolm and Sue’s table won, again! I think everyone else has to up their game please! Most importantly the AGM business went smoothly (and quite quickly) and new committee members volunteered themselves to help keep the society on track and suggest new ideas.
Our May Plant Sale and Coffee Morning was fabulous. Turning it into an enormous plant sale meant that many of us were able to buy some amazing homegrown plants and veg. There were some high quality finds including healthy cuttings from a delicate dark red geranium that Sarah Raven sells for £9 and interesting varieties of tomatoes. We plan to do this on an even bigger scale next May, so when you plant your seeds and take your cuttings please do a few extra for us to sell.
We are planning an Autumn Gardening Festival for Saturday November 10th. The Green Finger Family Fun session added to the last November coffee morning was enjoyed by many children but we missed some of our older members. We plan to do more activities for families but if we win Town Council support we will have funds for activities aimed at older gardeners too. As well as the usual coffee and stalls we are hoping to invite speakers and crafters, possibly with a basket maker and beekeepers running hands-on sessions. Full details will be available at the Autumn Show. The voting took place on July 11th and you may have read results in the paper by now. Grant or no grant, it will be a good day for all ages.
Unfortunately my charm has failed me and no one has offered their garden for a garden trail this year. The Rhos on Sea people have asked for a year off. I suspect this is to prepare something fabulous for 2013. The people of West End have not yet agreed but I shall keep applying pressure as I am aware of some great potential there.
Marion was talked into exhibiting a few shows ago and now there is no stopping her. Here she shares some tips:
Why not give exhibiting a go?
If you have enjoyed visiting the Autumn and Spring shows and possibly even said to yourself, 'I could do as well or better than that' as you peruse the exhibits, why not join in the fun and give exhibiting a go? Who knows, you might get the 'exhibiting bug' and more entries means a bigger and better show for everyone. It really is straightforward, but to encourage first-timers here are a few pointers:
· Check the class descriptions in the show schedule and choose which classes you would like to enter. (A final decision may be delayed until the weekend before the show until you know which flowers and vegetables will be ready.)
· If a class calls for several items of the same variety eg 9 pods of peas, choose evenly sized specimens, not necessarily the biggest.
· The tomatoes in a 'truss of tomatoes' do not all need to be ripe!
· Pot dimensions under 'Plants in Containers' refer to internal dimensions.
· To prevent the dimensions of 'floral arrangements' from exceeding the maximum size try drawing an outline of the correct size on a piece of newspaper and place your container on this as you make your arrangement.
· If you are not sure about a class description, don't be afraid to ask a committee member. (Phone numbers are listed in the show schedule.)
· Spoilt for choice in a given class? You can make up to 3 entries per class!
· Remember that you must have grown any exhibits for the horticultural sections for at least 2 months prior to the show date and be a member. (This does not apply to the children's classes)
Follow the instructions under 'Entries' in the schedule and make sure your entry together with the fee arrive at one of the listed addresses by 5pm on Monday 10th September. You can join at this point too.
You can set up your entries (known as 'staging') either on the Friday evening, 14th September between 5.30pm and 7.00pm or on the morning of the show, Saturday 15th September between 8.30am and 10.00am. Stewards will help you if this is your first time.
All the hard work done, it's time to relax and let the judges do their job and then maybe pick up your prize money and certificates.
Important CBHS dates
Autumn Show 15th September Rhos Methodist Hall
Autumn Gardening Festival 10th November, 10-12.30 Rhos Methodist Hall
AGM and Talk/Quiz Early March
Spring Show 23rd March Rhos Methodist Hall
The next newsletter will be delivered with the Spring Show Schedule. Before then do check out the new website which will be developed over the next few weeks.
www.colwynbayhorticulturalsociety.com
Feel free to contact the committee or me if you have any queries or good ideas for activities. Thank you, Hannah. [email protected]
