NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 2020 Next Meeting Wednesday 5th February at 7.45pm in Watlington Town Hall Speaker: Stephen Cotton The title of Stephen Cotton’s talk is Green Spain North and South- Flowers and habitats in thePicos de Europa. It is some time since we have had a speaker who spoke to us about habitats in other countries so it will make a good change. VISITS Those of you who came to our December meeting will remember we asked when you would prefer to visit Ashwood Nurseries and John Massey’s Garden (west of Birmingham near Brierley Hill. www.ashwoodnurseries.com) and by a large majority you opted to visit at Hellebore time. Therefore we have arranged a coach visit for Thursday 27th February. It will include:
Hellebore Tour starting about 11.15am and taking about 1 hour. It goes behind the scenes and tells the fascinating story behind the award winning hellebores and shows the stock plants used for collecting seed. There will be an opportunity to buy hellebores exclusive to the tour.
Escorted Tour round the 2 acre garden starting at 2pm and taking about 1hr 15 minutes. John Massey is a Chelsea gold medal winner and his garden is spectacular in winter with a magnificent collection of trees, shrubs and conifers giving strong structure as well providing the perfect canopy for drifts of hellebores, snowdrops, winter aconites and cyclamen.
There will be time to buy from the Nursery, have lunch at the café and visit the shop. The 31 seat coach will leave the Chequers Pub at 9am sharp, the trip takes about 2 hours, and there is a WC on the coach. We will return after the garden tour and get back to Watlington about 5.30pm. It’s a long day but everyone can sleep on the coach. The cost is £28.00 including the cost of the two tours, the coach and the driver’s tip. To keep the cost down we must try to fill the coach so please as many of you as possible sign up and bring any friends. The cut-off date to sign up (unless we fill the coach sooner) is Wednesday 12th February The form is below, please bring it with your cheque to the next meeting or post them to: Liz Gordon. Do contact me if you have any queries. BENSON GARDENING CLUB Frances Tophill will give a talk on 'Right Plant Right Place' on Thursday 5th March 2020 at 7.45pm at Benson Parish Hall, Sunnyside, Benson OX10 6LZ. There is plenty of parking on site and the venue is disabled friendly. Tickets are £10 and can be purchased from the following venues: Derrys Den and Maison White in Benson Posies Florist in Chalgrove Wallingford Information Centre or email bensongardeningclub@gmail.com (you can collect your tickets on the night) You can send a cheque payable to Benson Garden Club, to Jenny Jordan, 32 Mill Lane, Benson OX10 6SA. Or pay on line: Account: Benson Garden Club. Sort Code: 30-99-03. Account No: 01063534 Reference: Your name
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ VISIT TO ASHWOOD NURSERIES AND JOHN MASSEY GARDEN THURSDAY 27th FEBRUARY 2020. Name…………………………………………………………….. Email…………………………………………Tel………………………… Number of tickets……………………. Price £28.00 per person. (£30.00 for non-members) I enclose £………….. Cheques made payable to Watlington Gardening Club. (Please hand your payment and Form to Liz Gordon at the February meeting or post them to her at April Cottage, 6 Stonor Green, Watlington OX49 5PT)