We have received this card from the Mayor of Weymouth.

Our Christmas Supper took place on the 7th December and was a really enjoyable evening despite the late change of venue. We were informed in the morning that we were unable to use the school due to a high number of Covid cases there. Fortunately, the Memorial Hall was free so everyone was notified and up to the hall we went.

The evening began with a quiz followed by a turkey and ham supper with mincemeat slices and clotted cream. Answers were given by quizmaster, Shaun and the winners were Sarah Studley’s team. Well done to all who took part.

Our next meeting will be on Thursday February 3rd, 2022 when Sara Harpley will give us a talk entitled ‘How to get the best from your camera.’  Sara judged our photography exhibits at the Summer Show.

Our 2022 Spring Schedule is available to download by clicking the ‘Shows’ link

We wish all our members a very Happy Christmas and look forward to seeing you all in February.  We are always happy to welcome new faces.

We are pleased to announce that we have arranged our first talk since Covid. Steve Jeffries of Dobbies Garden Centre will be giving an ‘Inspirational and Interactive’ garden talk on Tuesday, 5th October at Upwey and Broadwey Memorial Hall, Victoria Avenue, DT3 5NG at 7.30pm.

Membership fees (£6) will be due at this meeting where there will be a membership form to complete.

PLEASE NOTE THE NEW VENUE AND DAY for all meetings.

November 2nd  Gardening for Climate Change – A speaker from the Gold Club

December 7th  Fun Quiz and Christmas Supper

Our Society entered the Dorset Federation Inter-Society Show on 12th September at Tarrant Keyneston Village Hall near Blandford.

It took a very early start to stage our 43 exhibits. We were very pleased to win eight first prizes, including three Best Exhibit trophies; Best Wine exhibit (sloe gin),  Best Cactus Exhibit ( Cactus/Succulent Collection) and Best Exhibit in Pot Plants (Collection of Three). A very enjoyable day indeed. Many thanks to all who contributed items, also to those who transported them to the show and helped with staging.

Some of our exhibits

Our prize winning cactus collection

Sloe gin with trophy and certificate

Pot Plant Collection with trophy and certificate

Mixed Collection

Our Homecraft  Collection with a Halloween theme

Part of the hall ready for judging

We are sorry to have to report that we will not be resuming meetings in February after all. With the virus not yet beaten, we will now hope to start again in April. The vaccinations will have rolled out by then and we may be able to go back to normal (hopefully).

This of course means that there will, sadly,  be no Spring Show..

The Gold Club list of composts, etc. and vouchers are available to members. Please contact Ros, 814887 or email join@budhs.org.uk

The Gardens Group now have an online shop. Deliveries are free within a 25 mile radius.

It would have been our Christmas meal this month, here are some pictures of previous years. We wish you all a Happy, but different, Christmas.

2016

In-house catering 2018 ready for collection.

We have decided today to cancel the Spring Show due to the virus.  We think it is the sensible course of action to take in order to safeguard any vulnerable members, exhibitors and visitors.

Hopefully things will have settled down by August when we can look forward to our Summer Show.

There are signs of Spring already with snowdrops, crocuses and early daffodils appearing all around us.

Our February meeting was very well attended when Clive Groves came to talk about violets. It was very interesting to hear about his family’s involvement with violets, going back to his grandfather. Clive holds the national collection and it was surprising to hear that there are many different colours. He has bred several new varieties and named them after his family members. A fascinating talk.

Our March meeting, on the 5th, will take the form of a Gardener’s Question Time. 

We have three local horticulturalists on the panel. If you have a question, please write it on the form provided on the night and pop it in the pot. Questions will be picked from the pot and answered by each panelist in turn.

The Spring Show takes place on 21st March at the Memorial Hall. Full details on the ‘Shows’ link.

The A.G.M. is on 2nd April. We would be very pleased to welcome new committee members. We especially need a minute secretary and someone willing to organise the tombolas at the shows. It would help for us to know if you are interested by 21st March. Contact any committee member or see us at the show, if you need more information.

Members met on 5th December for our final meeting of 2019. The evening began with a Quiz compiled by Shaun Vallard, while the meal was being prepared. Everyone then tucked in to a turkey supper followed by a mincemeat slice with clotted cream.

A festive raffle completed a very enjoyable evening.

There will  be no members’ meeting in January but the committee will meet to decide on speakers for next year (September onwards). If there is a subject that you are especially interested in, please let us know before 14th January.

Happy Christmas and New Year to all and we look forward to seeing you on February 6th, when Clive Groves will be speaking about The Secret World of Violets. 

Violets

July has come around so it is time to start thinking about our Summer Show on August 17th. We are always pleased to welcome new exhibitors as well as our ‘regulars’. See the ‘Shows’ link for full details.

We are enjoying glorious weather and our gardens are looking beautiful. Her are a few examples.

View of the summerhouse, Buckland Ripers.

Deutzia in full bloom

This orchid has flowered again after 4 years!

Special Awards

Daffodil Championship Salver and Medal for Best Daffodil Exhibit,  Ray Hayward.  Best Bloom in Daffodils (Cape Cornwall), Darlene Hayward.  Diploma for Best Vase, Daffodils, Mark Read.  Diploma (Judge’s discretion), Eric Pickard.

Silver Cup, Best Exhibit, Other Cut Flowers, Silver Trophy, Class 23 and the Benson Cup, Highest Points, Sections 1 – 6,  Bill Howarth. Spring Show Cup, Runner-up, Sections 1 – 6 and the Ladies’ Spring Cup, Darlene Hayward.                                                                                                                            Silver Salver, Best Exhibit Pot Plants, Mark Read.   Grandshaw Cup, Highest Points, Pot Plants and Golds Shield, Best Exhibit, Bulbs in Pots, Bill Howarth.      Society Rose Bowl, Best Exhibit Floral Art, Brenda Woodsford.                                Novice Shield, Highest Points, Novice Section, Dot Emblen.  Ridgeway Cup, Highest Points, Propogation, Bill Howarth.  Prospect Cup, Highest Points Cookery and Preserves, Christine Warner. Nottington Cup, Best Handicraft, John Restorick.

                                                              Downer Cup, Best Photographic Print, Meg Rolfe.  Junior Cup, Highest Points in Children’s Classes, shared by Lizzy and George Gant and Evie May Warner.