Christmas Social & Prizegiving

The Occasional Singer with volunteer hand bell ringers

Best decorated parcel competition entries

2011 Flower Show prize winners

The Christmas Social and Prize-giving evening at The New Hall was a success yet again.  Members enjoyed a delicious buffet supper and followed with entertainment by The Occasional Singers

Christmas Luncheon

This year's Christmas Luncheon was a Oake Manor Golf Club near Taunton when members enjoyed a Christmas feast and a fun raffle.

Christmas Coffee Morning tomorrow

From 10am at The Memorial Hall, members are invited to join fellow members and friends for a coffee and browse the festive goodies on offer on the bring and buy stall, the cakes and produce stall, and the Christmas flower arranging stall.

The Club Calendar will be on show and Ros will be taking orders for the calendar she says it is "the best yet"!  With her own images and some from Denis Shand and Val Payne the calendar showcases images taken at Garden Visits during 2011.

Also on sale will be the competition bulbs to grow on next year's Spring Flower Show.

Please come along and support if you are able.

Christmas Craft Fair at Cove Garden Nursery

Our friends at Cove Garden Nursery are holding a Christmas Craft Fair on Sunday 11th December between and 10am and 4pm.

More info at Cove Garden Nursery

Please support them!

Festive Flowers Bloom

 Maggie Roberts and Tim Nichols showed their floral arranging expertise to a packed Memorial Hall audience at the November meeting.  Between the talented pair they demonstrated six Festive Flower arrangements, sharing tips and techniques. 

Maggie used hesian and wire with gold chrysanthemums for her first arrangement.  A snow scene was created for her second arrangement using artificial snow crystals, white roses and silver leaves.  For her third arrangement, she used red roses and pink gerbera and made an all-round line arrangement around red ting ting.

Tim's first arrangement used a oblong charger as a base and had a candle with red spray carnations for a simple table arrangement.  For his next arrangement he used a posy pad of oasis foam and carved out a round hole and placed a bottle of wine in it.  He then did a tapestry style arrangement using lots of different types of foliage and then added flowers: white roses, lilac freesias, an orimental cabbage to compliment the colour scheme.  For his final arrangement he used a large basket to be put on a fire place and used white lillies and red roses.

Vice Chairman, John Bennett thanked Maggie & Tim for an inspiring evening which showed everyone how to do simple flower arrangements at Christmastime.

Proceeds of the raffle and refreshments were donated to the club's nominated charity: The Mardon Rehalbilitation Centre, in the sum of £300.

Charity evening next week

Don't forget that November's meeting on Tuesday the 8th is all in aid of charity.  The Mardon Centre in Exter who specialise in rehabilitation for brain injuries is our nominated charity for 2011 and all proceeds of the raffle and refreshments will be donated to it. 

Tim Nichols and Maggie Roberts will be demonstrating "Festive Flowers", so please join us for what will be a fun filled evening at The Memorial Hall.  If you are not a member, there is a £1 entry fee.  What a bargain!

Hedgehog talk changed

It is with much sadness I have to report that Elizabeth Dyas has cancelled her talk on hedgehogs due to ill health.

We have managed to get replacement speakers for Tuesday 11th October. Local couple Prissie & Denis Holwell will give an illustrated talk on The Dutch gardens Keukenhof.

Forthcoming Trip to Tyntesfield House & Gardens

Tiverton & Heathcoat Photographic Club are running a coach trip and Chairman, Bette Delling, says that there are still seats available to National Trust property Tyntesfield House & Gardens which Garden Club members can go on.  On Sunday 9th October, leaving Kingdoms Coach garage at 8am, with various pickups along the way. Please contact Ros Nichols, who will pass on details to Bette, as soon as possible if you would like to join us.

The coach fare is £7.50 and entrance to the House & Gardens is free to National Trust members and £11.50 to non members.  The aim is to get to the property by 10.30am so we have plenty of time to view and explore. This is what the National Trust say:

Spectacular Victorian Gothic Revival house with gardens and parkland

A fine Victorian country house created by one of England’s richest commoners, William Gibbs, who built his fortune on fertiliser.
Spiralling turrets and pinnacles adorn the roof, ornate stone carvings and church-like windows complete the Gothic look, giving the feel of a mysterious, fairytale mansion. Terraced lawns give way to spacious parkland scattered with hundreds of trees collected by the family, and a glorious walled kitchen garden beyond.
Four generations of the Gibbs family called Tyntesfield home, filling it with both the splendid and the ordinary – from fine porcelain and fabulous textiles, to picnic sets and ice skates.
Unusually for a stately home this one displays its wears and tears and that’s what makes Tyntesfield truly unique. Come and see the progress that has been made on this groundbreaking restoration project. The house now has a new roof, is free of scaffolding and our new Home Farm Visitor Centre is open – try out our new shop, Cow Barn restaurant, interactive wildlife hub and garden shop.

An invitation from the Mid Devon Natural History Group

On Friday 21st October 2011 the Mid Devon Natural History Society are having a talk entitled "The Worms in your Garden".

This talk is being given by Dr Roger Avery, one time head of the Zoology
department at Bristol University.

The meeting is at 7.30pm at St Georges Hall, Tiverton, and no charge
is made for first time visitors.

As this is a subject that may be of mutual interest, the Club would like to
cordially invite any of your members who would care to come along.

Autumn Flower Show report

Despite difficult weather conditions during the summer there were some beautiful blooms on show at The New Hall for the Club's Autumn Flower Show.

Entries were down in the decorative section but there was still an high standard of exhibits to see.  Principal winners were Tim Nichols; Ros Nichols; Emma Nichols; Jean Webb and Pat Cyprus.  The Award of Merit went to Jean Webb for her Pretty in Pink arrangement, which also won the new special class trophy The Bethany Hope Memorial Cup.

In the Childrens' section the winners were Paige Nichols & Jessica Ridgeway.

In the Cut Flowers section the principal winners were: Alby Berry, Chad Stone, Mary Sedgbeer, Peter Billing, Margaret Grose, Pat Cyprus, Ann Crawford with Peter Billing winning the Award of Merit for a vase of Annual flowers.

In the Shrubs and Trees section the principal winners were: Peter Billing, Rachael Hart, Ann Crawford, Jean Webb and Jean Bennett with Peter Billing winning the Award of Merit of a vase of flowering shrubs.

In the Pot Plants section the principal winners were: Mary Coles, Peter Billing, Margaret Grose, Chad Stone, John Mears, Jean Bennett, Ann Crawford with Jean Bennett winning the Award of Merit.

In the Members Plant Growing Competition we had a record number of entries which made it hard work for the judge. The winner was Pat Cyprus; second Jean Webb & third Rachael Hart.

In the Photography section the principal winners were Angela Parrott; Cathy Mosscrop and Ros Nichols and

The Award of Merit went to Angela Parrott for her Garden Tools.

The Jubilee collection class proved a tightly contested competition with the winning points going to Ann Crawford with Pat Cyprus a close second.

Committee Members and Judge Paul Fonnereau

Chairman Tim Nichols with Angela Parrott

Tim with Jean Webb

Pat Cyprus with her winning Chocolate Cosmos

Jean Bennett with her Award of Merit

Peter Billing with his Award of Merit

Many thanks to the judges: Ginny Addison-Smith; Paul Fonnerau from Cove Garden Nursery and Peter Sluman.

August Coach Trip

Members were meant to visit Killerton House & Gardens this month but it was changed at the last moment and instead the coach went to Otter Nurseries & Sidmouth for the day.

Photos by Val Payne:

The new season starts soon

On Tuesday 30th August our guest speaker will be Roger Stuckey from Exmouth who will be giving us an illustrated talk on "A Miscellany of Bulbs".  The meeting starts at 7.30pm at The Memorial Hall, Angel Hill.  Non members fee £1.

Monica will be collecting Flower Show entry forms as the closing date for entries is the next day!

The Aututmn Flower Show is on Saturday 3rd September at The New Hall, Barrington Street.  Exhibitors can start staging from 9am to 10.45am.  The show is open to the public at 2 o'clock.

There will refreshments and a produce stall so why not come along and look at the exhibits and enjoy a cuppa, a piece of homemade cake and a chat.  It is free to enter if you are member and only 50p for non members.

Still places left on the trip to Otter Nurseries & Killerton

Monica tells me that there a few places left on the trip to Killerton with a stop at Otter Nurseries next Thursday - the 18th - if anyone is interested. 

Please contact Monica on the telephone number on your card if you are interested.

Gardening Questions at Rackenford Manor on Tuesday 9th August 2011

The Event is in aid of Mid Devon Day Hospice – Post Hill, Tiverton

Gardening Questions at Rackenford Manor on Tuesday 9^th August 2011.

Gardens open from 4.30pm. Gardening questions answered by panel of experts hosted by Sarah Chester of BBC Radio Devon and Anne Swithinbank, gardening writer and broadcaster, also featuring Michael Hickson, former Head Gardener at Knightshayes and the winner o f the RHS Victoria Medal of Honor.

Gardens open from 4.40pm

Your questions answered from 6.30 – 8.00pm in marquee.

Bring a picnic to enjoy in the garden or marquee.

Pay Bar 6.00pm – 9.30pm

Light live music by the Revellers ( a trio) 8.00pm – 9.30pm

 Tickets £10 to include complimentary drink. Available either from Hospiscare, telephone 01392 688020 or from any of the Hospice Charity shops or from

Elizabeth d'Erlanger

Hensleigh Cottage, Tiverton, Devon EX16 5NH | Tel: 01884 254653

Champions!

Ros & Tim Nichols - Mary Tucker:the marquee organiser - Phil & Rachael Hart


The Garden Design Team


Joan the land girl with the winning trophy for specialist feature marquee and champion certificate for best marquee in show


We are the champions!

Member's individual exhibits

Four members entered the individual flower arranging class at Mid Devon Show. Make Do and Mend was the title.



Emma Nichols


Tim Nichols was awarded second prize


Maggie Roberts




















Ros Nichols

Competitve Class result

THe Club's exhibit was awarded third prize in the competitive club class "Dig for Britain" at Mid Devon Show

Mid Devon Show Club competition exhibit

Maggie Roberts and Tim Nichols with the Garden Club's flower arrangement for the Club competitive class "Dig for Britain". What a fabulous job they did. Also helping was Ann Steer and Emma Nichols.

(Results will be known tomorrow)
 
 
 

Mid Devon Show garden exhibit

Set up day at Mid Devon Show - Dig for Britain with a Union Jack planted with bedding plants and some cut flowers to fill in and Joan the land girl with her wheel barrow of veg from the veggie patch.

Well done to the Design Team - Janet & Peter Billing; Rachael Hart; John & Jean Bennett and Tim & Ros Nichols.