Bexrose Bulletin
June 2005
Published by the Bexleyheath & District Rose Society.
Patron:- Dr. David G. Hessayon
President:- Mr. F.H. Boardman
Vice President:- Mr. W. Skinner
Chairman:- Mr. S. Burch
Vice Chairman:- Mr. B. Rainsbury
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.
Web Site:- http://home.btconnect.com/cadoss/bexrose
Email:- cadoss@btconnect.com
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Next Meeting Tuesday 28th June 2005
As usual we meet at St. John Fisher Hall, Thanet Road, Bexley. The hall will be open from 7-15pm for setting up and the meeting starts at 8pm until 10pm with a break at 9pm for refreshments, the raffle and a chance to chat. Our speaker this month will be Mrs Elizabeth Farrar who will speak to us on Pansies and Violas. Mrs. Farrar was a researcher for BBC TV including the Geoffrey Smith series "World of Flowers". She has 20 years gardening experience reclaiming 2 acres of derelict land around her 17th Century home, has written books and is a member of the Hardy Plant and Garden History Society.
This month sees the first of our Rose Table Shows. Do try and enter, it is lovely to see a table full of your blooms on club nights. The sections are for Experienced and Novice and the classes are for 1 HT Rose in a vase, 1 stem of a Cluster Rose in a vase, 3 miniature roses in a vase. You may enter 1, 2 or all three classes in your section and the roses must be from your garden. Vases will be provided, bring your own wet oasis if you wish.
The Floral Art Table Show this month carries on the victory celebrations with an arrangement depicting the song, "Bluebirds over the white cliffs of Dover." Arrangement to measure not more than 12" X 12"
All proceeds from Floral Art go to Prickles Hedgehog Haven. There may still be a few plants for sale left from the Summer Show and also Trading Items going at rock bottom prices.
Saturday 18th June Summer Show
The Boys Brigade hall will be open until 11-30am for those members who wish to enter their exhibits.. The show will be open to the public and members from 1-30pm Entry fee is 50p for adults and 20p for children if you have not already bought your advanced entry tickets. There will be a Plant Stall, Tombola, Raffle and of course home made cakes, tea, coffee and squashes and also cream teas all at very reasonable prices. Do please come and spend a pleasant afternoon with us where you will be able to meet and chat with other members and of course wander round the tables full of wonderful roses. The prize giving and raffle draw will start at 5-30pm.
Obituaries
We were very sorry to hear of the death of Bill Eastop a member for many years. He and wife Tilly always sat in the front row at Roberts Hall and came on many of our holidays. Bill was in his 90s and they were our first members to take the bulletin via the website as they had moved to Yorkshire to be near family. Our condolences to Tilly and the Family.
Summer Show
We still need helpers to man stalls or relieve someone else for a short time also help set up on Friday evening. Anyone who would like to bake a cake and hasn't yet contacted Vanessa please ring Janet and let her know what you are prepared to make. We are still in need of Tombola prizes so get rooting in your cupboards , there is still time for us to include them but please don't bring them along as late as the Friday or Saturday Most important of all, if every member who comes to the meetings puts just one entry into the show we will have a hall full of Roses. Please don't look at your blooms and think they are not good enough, I have seen better roses in our show than I have often seen at National shows that have won prizes, blemishes on outer petals are acceptable, so please have a go, you may well surprise yourself.
The Rose Growers Calendar By kind permission of Don Charlton
June
1. Continue the weeding, disbudding, watch for insect and disease attacks and take appropriate action.
2. 2. If the weather is dry water the ground thoroughly. A light 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 to drink in a deep bucket of 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.
Dates for your Diary
15th - 19th June BBC Gardeners World Live Birmingham NEC.
18th June Bexleyheath and District Rose Society Summer Show BB Centre Bexleyheath ( rear of Asda)
25th & 26th June RNRS National Summer Show Squires Garden Centre Shepperton.
2nd & 3rd July RNRS National Northern Show, Daisy Nook Garden Centre, Failsworth, Manchester.
5th -10th July Hampton Court Palace Flower Show.
9th & 10th July RNRS National Miniature Rose Show Shugborough, Staffs.
20th -24th July Tatton Park Flower Show, Tatton Park, Cheshire.
30th & 31st July Summer Gardening & Enfield & District Fuchsia Show, Capel Manor, Enfield Mddx.
Brian Christie advised that the City of London Show at Guildhall will not be held this year due to funding problems and renovation work being carried out at Guildhall.
Gardening Jobs for June
Rockery plants can be given a gentle haircut this month to encourage new growth. Plant out the rest of your bedding plants and water in well. You can lift and divide your Iris rhizomes now cutting the leaves back to about 6 inches and replanting them near the surface, they will not flower if planted too deep. Sow any spring flowering biennials and plant out your vegetables. Mulch strawberries and start training the cucumbers. The houseplants can go outside now in a sheltered spot. Cut back the spring flowering shrubs once they have finished. Of course there is always plenty of weeding to do and the lawns need their hair cut once a week, you could give them another feeding this month to keep them green and water well in the evenings if we have a dry spell.
Secretary's Report on the May Meeting
Our speaker this month was Paul Busbridge from Hawley Garden Centre which is a family run business.
He began by telling us that when ever we buy chemicals for the garden we should check the MPK content on the packet. An even distribution of numbers means a good even balance for all plants. A high left hand number means the contents will give you good root and foliage. High middle and right hand numbers will give you good flower. He gave us lots of tips such as putting 1oz of Epsom Salts in 2 gallons of water and feeding this to our hanging baskets once a month. We should look forward to glorious baskets all summer. Put 1oz of Sulphate of Iron in 2 Gallons of water and feed the lawn to get rid of worm casts. This can be done once a week and will also be good for your grass. Many of us use Vitax Q4 to feed our roses but it is very good for the lawn too and can be sprinkled on once a month, unfortunately you will have to mow more often.
Did you have apples with brown spots last year. This means a lack of calcium so feed your tree with bone meal and put tents up in the branches in January and February to catch the Coddling Moths. Tomatoes with brown marks underneath also have a lack of calcium, give them Phostrogen Tomato food. Citrus peel around the garden frightens off cats and garlic around plants scares off slugs and snails.
A garlic spray is also good for getting rid of whitefly, Greenfly, blackfly and caterpillars. To get rid of Lilly Beetle drench the soil around the plants with clear water and then drench with a solution of Bug Clear then spray the stems and leaves with it. Do this every 7 to 10 days.
Did your plants suffer from Tomato blight or Peach leaf curl last year? Apply Bordeaux Mixture in April before the blossom appears and then again in September. If the birds keep eating the flowers on your runner beans wet them and then dust with pepper. If you have a problem with woodlice dust the area with talc.
On the subject of chemical changes in products Paul said many are now better than in the past. Many products were taken off sale because it was not profitable for the companies to go through the testing processes required by the EU not because there were chemicals that were banned.
I think we learnt quite a lot but whether we will remember all the little tips is another matter.
Ellenor Hospice Open Garden Scheme
Sunday 26th June 9B Parrock Road, Gravesend.
58A Parrock Road, Gravesend.
68, South Hill Road, Gravesend.
Sunday 17th July 14, 15 & 17 Lydd Road, Bexleyheath
( 2 Bexrose members, Thelma Finch and Betty Amass)
Sunday 14th August St Margaret, Manor Drive, Hartley. Parking advised in Berrylands.
Gardens open at 2pm to 5pm. Standard addmission charge of £2 is irrespective of the number of gardens open.
Greenwich & Bexley Hospice Open Garden Scheme
Sunday 26th June 19 warren Road, Bexleyheath
2 Warren Road, Bexleyheath
Sunday 3rd July The Bungalow, Frog Island, South Darenth (adjacent to 87 Devon Road)
Sunday 24th July 15, Ridgecroft Close, Bexley.
Sunday 7th August 9 Oakley Park, Bexley,
43, Oakley Park, Bexley
Sunday 14th August 6 Knoll Road, Sidcup.
Gardens open from 2pm to 5pm entry £1
Westminster Cathedral Flower Festival
Some members visited the Cathedral during the 4 day flower festival and had the most glorious experience. On entering the building your breath was taken away with the sheer joy of seeing so many flowers in wonderfully vibrant colours filling the chapels and every niche and corner. Massive Delphiniums of every hue, deep red carnations wound round the pillars, a chapel dressed entirely in white with green foliage and cowparsly giving a delicate feel, a pathway lined with pots of mind your own business and white freesias. The Bishops copes were on display each with a display of flowers to match the colour. The central aisle was lined each side with yellow, gold and green displays on tall pedestals so that you felt like you were walking down an avenue of flowering trees. Walking down the side aisles it was a joy to pass under arches filled with Roses and a riot of other flowers. I think the pulpit was my favourite, it was filled with Hydrangea of pink, blue and white and there were masses of large flowering clematis and passion flower tumbling over the rail to the floor. Throughout the afternoon music was played on the piano, violin and clarinet and it all blended in so well with the flowers. It's a pity that we will have to wait another 10 years to take part in this wonderful experience but it must have been a huge and costly undertaking, it couldn't possibly be done more often.
Jersey Jaunt by Dave Reynolds
1. Before I start this merry rhyme 2. And Doreen on the Condor boat
Two sad things to report this time. Was taken ill whilst still afloat.
Poor Vanessa who these plans did do We wish both could have seen Jersey,
Too ill to see them all come true. Lets pray for speedy recovery.
3. The trip to Poole without event, 4. The Hotel fine, the food supreme,
And lunch at Condor's restaurant. The beds comfy, rooms very clean.
The crossing could have been less rough, First morning free to wander down
Some said they had had just enough! To shops, sights and cows in town.
5. The Glass Church was a sight to see, 6. Next days driver Steve looked at the plans
Coronation Park also pretty. And took the sequence off our hands.
But Jersey War Tunnels made us aware 'twas Jersey Goldsmiths we should see
How difficult things were over there. But two stayed too long over their coffee.
7. Gory, Castle, town and pottery, 8. The Orchid house had blooms so fine,
Very picturesque and lots to see. The Zoo with babies so divine.
But the gem today for us to do, The evening entertainment throng
See Manor house and garden view. heard keyboard, singer and old song.
9. The last day trip around the isle, 10. And so we leave fair Jersey's shore
Skilled driver Steve's info, Jokes and smile. to make our way back home once more.
Too many sights to mention here, Our thanks to those who spared their time,
But we will remember them, no fear! to organise a trip so fine.
The Society's Trip to Jersey
Thank goodness this trip started off at a more reasonable time of 9am and we made good time to Poole where we had lunch in Condor Ferry's restaurant and then boarded the 4-10pm for Jersey. Unfortunately Vanessa was not with us, having been taken into hospital 2 days earlier. Janet was there to take care of us but her skills were soon tested as Doreen Jones was taken ill due to a very heavy swell and the two Doctors on board decided it would be better for her to go to hospital in Guernsey. There she stayed for 2 days with husband Ray and then they were flown home so they never got to see Jersey or enjoy the holiday they were so looking forward to.
The Hotel was very good and right in town. They had an excellent meal waiting for us which we were very glad of as it had been a long day. The next morning was free which many appreciated as it meant a leisurely breakfast and then a wander down to the main shopping areas. Some took a ride on the little train taking them around town and out to St. Aubins bay. Others did the museums which were excellent especially the town museum and the maritime museum which housed the Occupation Tapestry. This piece of needlework in twelve sections, one for each parish, was worked by about 50 ladies but they had open days when anyone in the parish could come and put some stitches in. About 20,000 people did so. It was a wonderful piece of work showing the hard times that the islanders and the slave labour suffered and the joy of liberation.
Jamie a Portuguese working for a local coach company drove us to the Glass church in St. Lawrence in the afternoon. The church was built in the grounds of Lord and Lady Trent founders of Boots the Chemist and Coronation Park was part of their garden. They were neighbours of Renee Lalique in the South of France and he agreed to decorate their church with glass. It was so beautiful, decorated with Jersey and Guernsey Lilies and the lady chapel had a magnificent glass reredos of angels. The alter had 1 large cross and 2 smaller side crosses and the lighting inside them enhanced the glass to perfection. Simple but awesome. I don't think anyone wanted to leave there but we had to visit the War Tunnels so it was back on the coach and we were soon there. Nothing is very far away on Jersey. There was so much to read and learn about the occupation and the terrible time that the Germans gave the slave labourers. Thousands of them were brought to Jersey to dig the tunnels but at the Liberation only about 220 were still alive. The Germans seemed to treat the locals inhabitants fairly well but they were always short of food and were severely dealt with if found with radios or carrying out any subversive activities. It was quite spooky walking through the tunnels and seeing the ones that were unfinished. Although in the past it has been called the German Underground Hospital it was never used as such.
Friday was a full day of sight seeing and we had Steve as our driver. He was from Lancashire married to a jersey girl and what he didn't know about the island wasn't worth knowing. He took us to the Lion Park first which is the home of Jersey Goldsmiths and needless to say some of us couldn't resist buying some bargain jewellery. There was also a nice garden and landscaped area with model houses and a stream and pond full of enormous koi carp. We then drove to the top of the island and Steve showed us some millionaires houses including Alan Whicker's. Well its nice to look even if we can't afford the prices. We drove down to Gory Harbour for lunch. This was a very picturesque village with Mount Orgueil Castle overlooking the bay. The next stop was Jersey Pottery with another attractive garden. The day was getting very hot. We wandered around the shop and museum and saw the girls working in the factory. The next stop was Samares Manor where we had a guided tour of the house and then were free to wander in the large garden and craft centre. Everyone was very good and resisted buying plants. We were very glad when Steve deposited us at the Hotel and we could crash out in the bath with a stiff drink, it had been a very long hot day. PART 2 NEXT MONTH