Bexrose Bulletin
JUNE 2007
Published by the Bexleyheath & District Rose Society.
Patron:- Dr. David G. Hessayon MBE.
President:- Mr. W. Skinner
Vice President:- Mr. J. Elliott
Chairman:- Mr. A. Nunn
Vice Chairman:- Mr. M. Andrews
Hon. Secretary:- Mrs. J.Newton
Hon Treasurer:- Mrs. Z.Neale
Show Secretary:- Mr. A. Neale
Membership Secretary:- Mrs. M. Cornell
Miss V. Rochester
Other Committee members:- Mr. R. Jones, Mr. R. Pulling, Mrs. D. Carr, Mrs. D. Lemon, Mrs. J. Dyer.
Mrs. E. Cleall.
Web Site:- www.bexrose.org.uk
Webmaster Chris Newton Email:- postmaster@bexrose.org.uk
Next Meeting Tuesday 26th June 2007
We meet once again at St. John Fisher Hall, Thanet Rd, Bexley where the hall will be open from 7-15pm for setting up. The meeting will start at 8pm until 10pm with a break at 9pm for refreshments and the raffle and of course a chance to chat to other members. Our speaker this month is Mrs. J. Talboys who will give us a slide lecture on "Perennial plants for continuous colour". Our Floral Art subject this month will be "The Tour de France comes to my town". Exhibits to be no larger than 12" x 12". Artificial aids may be used. If you have any roses left after the show we would like to see them in the Rose Table Show. Don't forget there is a class for novices so please have a go if you have not shown before. The classes are for 1 stem of an HT Rose, 1 stem of a cluster Rose and 1 vase of 3 miniature roses.
We were sorry to hear from Val Double that her father Wally Skinner has been in hospital with a broken arm. He is progressing well be will not be able to live on his own again. Val has been able to find a place in a home near her, in the Epsom and Ewell area. As soon as he is fit enough Wally will be moving there. I am sure all our members wish him a speedy recovery and hope that he will settle into his new home.
Dates for your Diary
June 13th to 17th BBC Gardeners World Live NEC Birmingham.
June 16th Bexrose Summer Rose Show.
July 3rd to 8th Hampton Court Palace Flower Show.
July 18th to 22nd Tatton Park Show.
July 25th Royal Sandringham Flower Show. Sandringham Estate, Norfolk.
August 21st to 23rd Wisley Flower Show.
September 11th & 12th London Flower Show. RHS Halls Westminster.
September 29th & 30th Malvern Autumn Show.
October 9th & 10th Great Autumn Show Harrogate.
November 9th & 10th RHS London Flower Show.
RNRS Show Dates for 2007
June 23rd & 24th RNRS Early Summer Show Shepperton
July 7th & 8th RNRS Mid Summer Show incorporated in the West Midlands Rose Society Show. Western Park.
July 28th & 29th RNRS Miniature Roses Show St. Albans.
September 14th to 16th RNRS Autumn Show Harrogate
WmH Leisure Garden shows
The South East Garden Show Saturday, Sunday & Monday 25th 26th & 27th August. The Hop Farm Country Park Paddock Wood Kent. Ticket ring as above or pay on the gate. Children & Parking Free.
Price also includes all Hop Farm attractions.
The Autumn Kent Garden Show, Saturday & Sunday 8th & 9th September. Detling show ground Maidstone Kent. Tickets ring as above or pay on the gate. Children & Parking free.
All shows open at 9-30am and close at 5pm. Refreshments available.
Ellenor Hospice Open Garden Scheme 2007
Sunday 10th June 219, 221, 223 Dartford Road, Dartford. Admission £2 covers all 3 gardens.
Sunday 17th June Swanswood Farm, Harvel Road, Meopham DA13 0UA admission £2
Sunday July 1st The Bungalow & The Whitehouse, on Frog Island, Devon Road, South Darenth.
Admission £2
Sunday July 8th Ashdown , Poplars Close, New Barn, DA3 7LP
All gardens are open from 2pm until 5pm.
Greenwich & Bexley Hospice Open Gardens
Sunday 10th June 2pm to 5pm. 12 The Dell, Abbey Wood. Bus routes 96 or 422. If you come by car please do not park in the Dell as it is a small cul-de-sac.
Sunday 24th June 2pm to 5pm. 11 Pickford Close Bexleyheath. A short walk from Bexleyheath Railway Station, buses B11, B12, 422.
The Rose Growers Calendar by kind permission of Don Charlton
June
1. Continue with weeding, disbudding, watch for insect and disease attacks and take appropriate action.
2. If the weather is dry water the ground thoroughly. A light liquid feed can be included with the watering if you wish, you will notice the difference.
3. If you are growing rootstocks then budding of these can commence this month. Check that the sap is flowing in the stocks first , if not then water well and check a day or two later before budding.
4. Cut rose stems for the house ( 1/4 ) open and rose shows ( 1/2 to 3/4 open ) and don't forget to condition the stems by allowing them a long drink in a deep bucket of cold water for 3 hours or more. When cutting stems remember to avoid leaving snags on the bush by using a conventional pruning cut just above a leaf node.
Summer Show
If there are any fit men out there we would be very glad of your services on Friday evening 15th June to help set up the tables for the show. We will need you from about 8pm onwards at the Boys Brigade Hall Bexleyheath. The sooner we get started and the more who help the sooner we will get away. Please call Alec if you are able to help. Also help will be needed to clear away on Saturday evening , even if you just empty a few vases and push a broom round it all helps. We also need plants for our Plant Stall. If you have any spare seedlings, grown on cuttings or plants that you have divided let us have them, preferably on Friday evening but if you call Janet during the week we could probably collect from you if you don't live at the back of beyond. Many thanks. Secretary.
Open Garden Sunday 29th July 2007 200 Upton Road South, Bexley Kent.
Once again Mick and Brenda Andrews are opening up their garden in aid of our chosen charity "Woodlands Farm Trust". The time is earlier this year so you should see different plants in their full glory. The garden is very unusual being semi tropical with tree ferns, bananas and many more rare plants. Admission is £1 and includes light refreshments or a glass of wine. opening time from 1-30pm to 5pm. Do come along and support a worthy cause and see a wonderful garden.
Results of the Floral Art Table Show for May.
1st Rosemary Yuell 30 coins 2nd Dora Lemon 18 coins 3rd Edie Purnell 14 coins 4th Mr. Miller 10
Well done to every one, modern is not an easy category. The amount collected was £3-22p
Rose Table show for May
Experienced
HT 1st M. Andrews 2nd E. Purnell 3rd A, Nunn
Floribunda 1st M. Andrews 2nd E. Purnell 3rd Not awarded
Miniatures 1st D. Lemon 2nd E Purnell 3rd M. Andrews
Points M. Andrews 9 E. Purnell 6 D. Lemon 4 A. Nunn 1
Novice
HT 1st J. Miller 2nd R. Harris 3rd V. Pulling
Floribunda 1st Not awarded 2nd V. Pulling 3rd D. Lesley
Miniatures 1st Not awarded 2nd D. Lesley 3rd Not awarded
Points J. Miller 4 V. Pulling 3 D. Lesley 3 R. Harris 2
Well done to everyone, it was a lovely show of roses particularly for so early in the season.
Hardly a Rose in Sight by Brian Christie The Last Lap to Ascension Island.
Ascension is a truly Volcanic Island, consisting of about 45 volcanic cones. The largest and most prominent is Green Mountain in the centre of the Island, it is 859 metres high. As it's name suggests, it really is the only place of natural vegetation due to the high peak attracting the moisture from mists and low clouds. The Island's only golf course is unique, not a blade of grass to be seen. "Greens" are made of pulverised black volcanic ash bound with oil. Football and cricket pitches are of similar materials. Woe betide the sports-person who performs a sliding tackle or takes a diving catch, as medical facilities are only available at the US Air Force base or RAF Station.
The Island was not inhabited by humans until 1815 when military garrisons were established to aid the defence of St. Helena in case of attack by the French in an attempt to rescue Napoleon. Today all personnel seem to be on the Island because of the USAF, RAF Cable & Wireless, the BBC or other US or British Government bodies.
Although Ascension is a British Territory, it appears to now be leased to the US Government. The airfield known as "Wideawake" is under control of the USA. The runway has been lengthened so that it can accommodate the landing of the US space shuttle in case it could not land in the USA. English Bay is the site of the BBC's South Atlantic relay station. The Ariane Tracking Station for the European Space Agency is situated at Hannoys Beach. Around the Island every volcanic peak has ariel masts, satellite dishes, or other communication devices on them.
On Green Mountain in 1815 the British Marines built large stone catchment sheets for the collecting of water, which was fed into conduits to take this precious commodity down the mountain.
Green Mountain Farm is situated near the top of the mountain. Its original purpose was for the supply of fresh vegetables and fruits. Today it supports an abundance of tropical plants, including bananas. bamboo's and flowers, one of the most interesting of which comes from Asia. It is a climber known locally as "Gold Cup". The flowers resemble a cup and saucer, measuring more than 8 inches in diameter. Splashes of bright colour seen from a distance are of bougainvilleas in shades of pink, lavender, red and orange, which stand out against the deep reddish-brown or black volcanic landscape. Being a truly tropical island alas no roses to be found here either. The temperature, humidity and lack of water taking its toll on plants and humans alike.
Land crabs, some more than 12 inches in size could be seen scurrying for shade amongst the stone walls on Green Mountain and feral donkeys wandering freely along the roads sought shade whenever they could.
We returned home courtesy of the RAF on a return flight from the Falkland Isles, which lay some 8 hours flying time to the south. David Weir, the Shipping Agents, advertised the trip as "a holiday with a difference" we had indeed had a holiday to remember despite the Cape Town winter being the worst for 30 years.
Secretary's Report on the May meeting.
Our speaker was Mr. Dusty Miller from Strood who came to speak to us on vegetables. He had some very impressive equipment and showed us slides and captions on the screen via a lap top. He told us that he kept 4 allotments which he enjoyed very much the only problem being getting rid of all the excess produce. Home grown produce comes along in abundance when it is cheap and available in the shops but the big advantage is the taste and knowing what chemicals if any your produce has been in contact with. He told us that vegetables like lots of sunlight, (although leeks and gooseberries do well in the shade), lots of water and some shelter. You can still grow vegetables in your flower beds as red kale, beetroot and chard have wonderful coloured leaves and lettuce comes in many different shapes and colours these days. Surprisingly many vegetables are quite happy being grown in all sorts of containers from large buckets to piles of old tyres.
Mr. Miller told us that he worked a 3 year rotation system with Brassicas first, other crops next and root crops 3rd. He dug out his potatoes in September and then limed the soil which would take a year to be effective ( potatoes don't like lime ) and by the time the potatoes came back to that area again the lime would have been used up by the other crops. Mulch in March with well rotted compost. Tools were very important too and he showed us several hoes which were very old and well used and the hoe that was pushed along in front of you looked rather gruesome but apparently was very effective. He recommended hoeing once a week especially if your allotment has convolvulus. He advised keeping a graph of a planting record so that you know which week each crop was planted and when to put the next sowing in. Apparently runner beans are perennials and can be left in the soil over winter protected from the frost and they will come up again the next year.
Moving on to nutrients he reminded us that Nitrogen will give green leaves. Phosphates for good root systems and Potash for good crops. Nitrogen can be given in the form of Sulphate of Ammonia or the organic form of Hoof and Horn. Phosphates can be given in the form of Superphosphate of Lime or the organic form Bone Meal. Potash comes as Sulphate of Potash or the organic form Comfrey which you can grow yourself or wood ash. If you want a good organic balance of all three use Blood, Fish and Bone. Mr. Miller favoured using systemic insecticides but only sprayed in the evening so that the plant
would
absorb it over night and would not harm bees or hover flies.He had tried an
organic preventative for mildew being 1 part milk 9 parts water which he had
found to work quite well. We have also been told in the past that this will
prevent black spot and was very successful in Denmark when tested.
We had a very enjoyable and informative evening and didn't realise we had so
many allotment owners in the society. Lets hope Mr. Miller's talk will spur
them on to grow bigger and better vegetables.
The Spring Trip to Wiltshire
We made our usual early start to beat the traffic and as we drew up to each stop were greeted with admiring looks at the new coach. And of course being a new company we had a new driver, Kevin, a young man who turned out to be very pleasant and helpful and by the end of the holiday he told us he was definitely going to take us to Northern Ireland he had enjoyed his time with us so much. The coach was very comfortable with plenty of leg room even for the tall guys like Alec and Roy. We also had a side door which made getting off the coach a much quicker process. We reached Stone Henge very quickly and then made our way over to Bath where we had lunch and a quick browse round before spending the afternoon at the American Museum. This was a most interesting place with a large collection of quilts on the top floor. There was a very dark and gloomy old tavern, a frontiersmans home with very basic furniture and tiny rooms, several rooms showing how people gradually became better off and finally a very grand dining room from Boston and a Southern states bedroom. There were quite a few native indian artefacts and costumes, head-dresses and bead work which is most beautiful and also an exhibition of how American ladies dress had changed over the years. There were quite extensive grounds with wonderful views over the valley and in a small area hidden by trees was a wig wam. Alas it was soon time to make our way to our Hotel which was most swish, Jean being very lucky having a four poster bed to sleep in. The evening meal was buffet style with a very wide choice and nicely cooked, Kevin was very impressed.
Saturday and we were off to Swindon and the railway museum where a nice gentleman who was so enthusiastic about the railways and steam gave us a tour round. He had lots of tales to tell of the steam age, many of his family members either working in the coach building works or on the footplate. Across the way was the Macarther Glen shopping outlet which we all made a beeline for and came away with some nice bargains. We spent the afternoon at the Abbey House Gardens which were superb. Sadly the hundreds of roses that had been planted by the naked gardeners ( Ouch! ) were only in bud, it promised to be a magnificent sight when they are all out. The Koi Carp were fascinating, there were dozens of them and they where huge. Making our way down to the woodland area and the river we found a little hill that was planted entirely with dozens of different varieties of Iris. It was very pleasant to sit there and rest awhile before making the climb back up to the garden level again and a welcome cup of tea. The gardens are situated just off the High Street at Malmsbury so we had time to wander around the town and also visit the little catholic church. Soon we were back at the hotel and ready for our evening meal. Kevin tucked in with relish and then joined Alec and his crowd for an evening of Nunn family entertainment.
Sunday and we were off to Lacock after Kevin drove us past Avebury circle which was quite impressive. The village is rather quaint and is where lots of period productions are filmed. The abbey was closed until after lunch so we had a look round the Fox Talbot photographic museum and then tried to find the botanical gardens which turned out to be almost non existent. The rose garden was not much better. A pretty poor show considering this was a National Trust property. We looked around the ruins of the Abbey and met a lady who had been evacuated there as a little girl during the war. She said she had a reasonably good time there although she hated the dentist which it also mentioned on the write up about the evacuee's. We went to Bowood House in the afternoon which was very interesting although people kept setting off the alarms because they leaned too far over the ropes. Well at least we tested them for them free of charge. The formal gardens were very nice and it was pleasant to sit there and enjoy the sunshine. We had been threatened with rain but it held off. Walking back to the restaurant we passed a large and seemingly very popular children's adventure playground complete with pirate ship. How I wished I was 50 years younger !
Sadly we had to pack our bags and make our way homeward and the weather had at last given in and it was very wet. We decided it would not be very nice wandering round Wilton House Gardens in the rain so we wandered around Devises instead where the Lions Club were trying to hold a May Fair. The poor children who were trying to dance looked very cold but they did very well. There were lots of narrow boats on the canal here and I remembered when myself and three friends had a long weekend in the area and a horse drawn trip on the canal was included. A very pleasant way to travel unless your the horse!! We stopped at Salisbury for lunch and Debenhams had a run on the soup which left some of our party un-souped up!! Kevin then put his foot down and got us back to Bexleyheath just as the sun came out. We all agreed that it had been a very enjoyable weekend, we couldn't stop talking about the comfortable coach for weeks afterwards. Kevin was a very nice young man and thanked us for letting him join our group. He was most impressed with the organised way we run things at Bexrose especially the way we organise the cases at the end of the holiday. It made his job a lot easier. We look forward to seeing him again on the trip to Northern Ireland.
Dave and Ann's impression of Wiltshire. Wiltshire Wonders
1. Much more comfy coach made a great trip, 2. Quick stop at Bath to view the City,
And new driver Kevin was really slick. Then Claverton Manor with setting so pretty,
Dodging heavy traffic to stop at fleet, We go down and up and round and round
Where poor old Cyril fell off his seat. Such lovely exhibits , so glad to have found.
3. And so to Hotel with carvery meal. 4. Next day to "steam" to reminiss
It looks like we have another great deal! How trains did run with lots of hiss
But 1st floor on the ground did seem absurd Large shopping mall suited ladies fine
When Frank pressed floor 1 no movement occurred! And Abbey House Gardens were divine.
5. Lacock Village so old and quaint. 6. Grotto, Cascade and temple view,
But botanical gardens caused some complaint. And round the house we make a queue.
And the Abbey's closed till one, and so- Last meal at hotel- what a shame!
It's off to Bowood House we go! But Vanessa says we'll come again!
7. Last day and weather makes us vote 8. To get a tot from Alec's hip flask
To change the plan that Vanessa wrote. Here is a way, you don't have to ask
Devises we go to Lions May Fayre, Feeling faint? Bumped your crown?
Alec revives a fallen lady there. In front of Alec you just fall down!
9. To Salisbury we go in the pouring rain 10. Thanks Vanessa, Janet and Kevin too.
Before setting off for home again. Without them no trips could we do.
The Debenhams Restaurant we did overwhelm But one big worry-- how could it be?
And they ran out of soup with Reg at the helm! Alec never ate even one cream tea!
Many thanks to David and Ann Reynolds
Did anyone on the day trip to Detling Garden Show pick up a white plastic bag with three plants in it, when leaving the coach, that did not belong to them. If so would you please let Janet know.
Summer Show
Please don't forget, even if you do not put any entries into our Summer Show, ( and we hope you will) we would still like to see you and your friends support us at the hall in the afternoon. Come and have a browse, buy some raffle and tombola tickets, buy a few plants and then round off the afternoon with a cup of tea and a slice of home made cake. Your committee have worked very hard this year particularly on the advertising side with mentions in local and national press and a local radio station. Let’s make this the best supported show yet.
Happy Birthday
The Society wish a happy birthday to member Mr. Fred Turner who was 90 on June 3rd. We hope you enjoyed your day and the celebratory meal.
RHS Forum 2006 What future for urban gardens: Eden or extinction ?
Those lucky enough to have a garden attractive to developers may be surprised to learn that without you knowing, developers can apply for planning permission to demolish your home to make way for high-density housing.
This was the startling admission by Councillor Paul Bettison, leader, Bracknell Forest Council, at the RHS Forum: "Eden or Extinction - What future for urban gardens ?" held at the Royal Festival Hall, London on 8th November 2006. When pressed by moderator and Newsnight presenter Kirsty Walk, Councillor Bettison admitted that he, and other local authorities, did believe gardens were important to people and their well-being, but added that with high housing targets and diminishing space, " the government doesn't make it easy for us ". He also admitted that some residents in Bracknell had been given grants to pave over front gardens for parking, as the streets cannot accommodate all the vehicles.
Other guest speakers at the event arguing the case for the demands of social housing versus the importance of private gardens, included urban designer, landscape architect and environmental planner Jason Prior, who emphasised the need for foresight in planning to incorporate changing trends in lifestyle. During his presentation he also outlined the need to educate the property buying public saying that the majority of planned housing today was " Dreadful stuff".
Ken Thompson, a senior researcher at the University of Sheffield, achieved a round of applause from the audience for stating that gardens were much richer habitats for wildlife than the " arid desert" of the green belt.
DIY SOS TV presenter Lowrie Turner, speaking at the event, said, "Ive lived in 10 houses over 15 years and only now have I realised how essential my own personal outdoor space is, particularly when you have children.
Greg Clark MP was present to reiterate the thinking behind his Bill to remove gardens from brownfield classification, which has failed at three previous parliamentary hearings, and urged audience members to support his campaign via an on-line petition in advance of the Bill's fourth hearing when parliament reconvenes in 2007.
Garden designer, Andrew Fisher Tomlin, detailed the plethora of needs of today's private gardens as outdoor rooms just as much as places to grow plants. He added that it should not " be a sin to want a patio " and urged for a solution to urban gardens not to be based on guilt, leaving out the needs of many urban dwellers".
The audience voted overwhelmingly that the law citing gardens as "brownfield " should be revoked. The audience was split at the allocation of gardens be legally enforceable and the majority felt that if only one option were available, future city dwellers should be allocated private garden space instead of communal green space.
Taken from RHS Affiliated Societies Newsletter January 2007