We opened our Autumn programme on 5th September with a talk on ponds. The speaker, from the Gardens Group Gold Club, gave a very comprehensive account, covering the construction and management of all types of ponds, from small wildlife ones through to larger formal ones.

We were advised on the best plants to grow and how deep to place them, as well as which fish were suitable.  A very interesting evening and very well attended.

The fuchsia and geranium plants, supplied by the Gardens Group in the Spring, were judged with Shaun Vallance winning both.

The Flower of the Month competition was won by Sheila Snuggs with her rose, second was Steve Pamment’s dahlia and third Kay Graham’s begonia. Sheila also won the Plant of the Month. Congratulations to all.

On Saturday 14th some of our members will be joining the Plant Heritage Group on their coach trip to Wisley. Let’s hope for a fine day.

On 22nd September, our Society are entering the D.F.H.S. Inter Society Show at Tarrant Keyneston, near Blandford, several members will be providing exhibits to boost our chances of success. The show opens to the public at 12.45 pm.

Our next meeting will be on October 3rd when Steve Jefferies will be talking about Autumn Colour. This will be followed by our Harvest Supper. If you have not already signed up, please ring 814887 to book your place.

From our Members’ Gardens;

Still plenty of late Summer colour in this border. The hanging baskets have been made from empty fertilizer tubs !

Our  Autumn programme begins on September 5th with a talk on Ponds for ornamental plants and fish. The speaker will be from the Gardens Group Gold Club and will also judge the plants provided in the Spring as plugs, a Fuchsia and a white geranium. Please remember to bring yours along.

The school will be open from 7pm with tea or coffee available before the meeting which starts at 7.30 pm.

On September 22nd, the Society will be taking part in the Dorset Federation inter-society show at Tarrant Keynston, near Blandford. We were very successful last year and hope to do the same this year. Exhibits will be gathered from members on Saturday 21st and staged early on Sunday morning. The show, which opens to the public at 12.45 pm, is always well worth a visit.

From our members’ gardens;

Another successful show was held on 17th August. Forty exhibitors staged 280 exhibits and the judges were pleased with the standard of entries.

Plenty of visitors came to admire the displays, have a go on the Tombola, buy Fruit Raffle tickets and enjoy tea and cake. The winner of the raffle was Mrs. Wood of Radipole.

Awards were presented at 4 pm by Mrs. Joy Everington, President of the Dorset Federation of Horticultural Societies. In her speech, she said that the first time that she had attended our show was more than thirty years ago.

Special awards

National Vegetable Society Medal  Best Exhibit. ( three round onions)         John Morris

NVS Runner-up to Best Exhibit                           ( six large shallots)             Bill Howarth

Silver Challenge Cup  Best Vegetable Collection                                            Mark Read

Charles Read Memorial Cup Highest Points (Veg.)                                        Bill Howarth

Tomato Trophy                                                                                                  Mark Read

Produce Challenge Cup  Best Mixed Collection                                               Mark Read

Garden News Shield  Lady with Highest Points in Vegetable Classes          Jean Wyman

Springfield Cup  Best Exhibit, Fruit Classes                                                  Chris Warner

National Dahlia Society Silver Medal                                                         Frank Newbery

National Dahlia Society Bronze Medal                                                       Frank Newbery

Beaton Challenge Cup  Highest points, Flower Classes                                 John Morris

Bincombe Cup Best Exhibit, Cut Flower Classes                                            John Morris

Gladioli Award  Best Exhibit                                                                            Bill Howarth

Coronation Silver Challenge Cup   Best Pot Plant                                           Mark Read

Pelargonium Shield      Best Exhibit                                                             Shaun Vallard

Begonia Award             Best Exhibit                                                                  Mark Read

Amateur Produce Challenge Cup  Highest Points  Novice Classes              Sara Warren

Pridham Rose Bowl  Highest Points, Floral Dec.                                Brenda Woodsford

Sackville Hamilton Cup Best Exhibit, Floral Dec.                                          Sara Warren

The Howard Cup Highest Points, Preserves and Cookery                                Neil Coad

The Richards Trophy Best Exhibit, Preserves and Cookery                         Jean Wyman

Westbrook Cup          Best Handicraft Exhibit                                            John Restorick

Redlands Cup Highest Points, Photograph (Spring and Summer Shows) =      Ros Gant and Brenda Woodsford

Cup for Highest Points Group 1 Children’s Classes                        Lucy and Amy Kinsey

Virgin Challenge Cup, Highest Points Group 2                                         Harry Restorick

Banksian Medal Highest Points, Horticulture                                                 Bill Howarth

Efco Trophy Highest Points gained in Show                                                  Bill Howarth

Children’s exhibits

Our Summer Show is almost upon us (17th August), so it is time to think about what you can exhibit. With such a wide range of categories there should be something you can enter.  We have a Novice section for new exhibitors or people who have not won a first prize in the relevant class. We are always pleased to welcome new exhibitors in any section of the show as well as our regulars, of course. Schedules  available from P.&M. Read’s, the show secretary or download from the ‘Shows’ link.

some lovely orchids in last year’s show

If you won a trophy last year please return it to the show secretary in good time or if it is easier for you, Read’s shop.

Our programme of talks begins on September 5th with a speaker from The Gold Club. The subject is Ponds for Ornamental Plants and Fish.

If you took a plant supplied by the Gold Club in the spring, please remember to bring it along for judging. Winners receive a voucher to be spent with the Gardens Group (Pounbury, Sherborne or Brimsmore).

More from our members’ gardens;

A lovely colourful display making the most of a small space.

The Plant Sale, held on May 11th at the Memorial Hall, was a huge success, raising valuable funds for the Society.

The Society stall being prepared for customers (left). In all there were ten stalls as members were invited to sell their own plants and donate twenty per-cent of takings to the Society. A good crowd quickly cleared the stalls of plants and garden essentials.

Our Gardens Visit to Elwell Street on June 6th was very well attended and members were clearly delighted with what they saw. We were blessed with a lovely sunny evening again. The garden at Batch Cottage was a delightful walled garden with beautiful roses and perennials as well as a greenhouse and small vegetable plot.

Across the road at No. 7, we found a large well established garden with expansive lawns and borders, also a greenhouse and vegetable plot. The terrace was set up with tables and chairs ready for drinks and food, a very pleasant evening indeed.

Our next event will be the Summer Show on August 17th at the Memorial Hall. Click on the ‘Shows’ link for full details.

Our May meeting was very enjoyable. Mike Burke, form Castle Gardens gave us an excellent talk on houseplants. He covered all aspects of growing indoor plants in his own amusing yet informative way.

This was our last meeting at the school until September. On June 6th we will be visiting members’ gardens in Elwell Street, Upwey. The first garden will be Batch Cottage, behind no.18. We then cross the road to no.7 where there will be drinks and nibbles. Parking is scarce in Elwell Street so car sharing or walking would be a good idea, if possible.

One of our members recently visited the Old Rectory at Litton Cheney under the NGS open gardens scheme. She was very impressed and thoroughly recommends a visit. The garden will be open on Sunday 19th May from 2pm till 5pm in aid of Weldmar Hospice . Homemade teas will be available.

Reminder; Summer Show, August 17th. Full details on the Shows link.

From our Members’ Gardens

Please send your images to shows@budhs.org.uk  for inclusion

  A member’s garden in Weymouth Bay Avenue

Our A.G.M. was very well attended and the business went smoothly. All Officers remain in their positions and we were very pleased to welcome Sara Warren on to the committee. It is good to have an injection of fresh ideas from time to time.

Hazel Street was presented with the Mary Middlemass Plate for gaining the highest number of points throughout the year in the Flower/Plant of the Month competitions. The Plate is beautifully hand-painted and was presented by the late Mary several years ago.

The Members’ Mini-Show added lovely Spring colour to proceedings and was judged by Mark Read. Winner of the best exhibit was a tub of tulips grown by Terry Gant. All out and of the same height! Quite an achievement.

On 25th April we are visiting Poundbury Garden Centre for a talk and shopping evening. All purchases will attract a 25% discount. Meet in the Engine Room for coffee/tea at 6.45pm prior to the talk. There will be free delivery for any bulky purchases.

Our meeting on May 2nd will be a talk on House Plants given by The Gardens Group Gold Club.

May 11th sees our annual Plant Sale at the Upwey Memorial Hall, Victoria Avenue. The sale starts at 2pm and we are setting up from 1.15pm. If you would like a table or have plants that need collecting, please ring Shaun on 812473 or Ros on 814887. Full details on the Plant Sale link on the home page.

If you enjoy outings, we have been invited to join the Plant Heritage Group on their trip to Wisley on September 14th. Details below.

Wisley-Flyer

From Our Members’ Gardens

Violets

The AGM and Mini-show will take place on April 4th at St. Nicholas and St. Lawrence School. (Change of venue due to the Hall being double booked.)  The meeting starts at 7.30 pm but the school will be open from 7pm to stage exhibits. No need to enter in advance. If you need a schedule, please ring 813942.

We would welcome new committee members, so if you are interested please ring 814887 or just come along.

Members’ Gardens

This will be a new monthly feature, so if you have photos of something special or interesting in your garden, please email the image to shows@budhs.org.uk.

Blossom in Broadwey

New shoots in Nottington