The dark months; not just snowdrops!

Diane after her talk

We had a good turnout of members and guests on a miserable February night to hear Diane Clement’s excellent talk on bringing colour and perfume into our gardens in winter. It was beautifully illustrated with a wide selection of plant choices, from bulbs through perennials to shrubs, including well known varieties and the more unusual, all able to withstand tough conditions. She will kindly provide us with a plant list to share with members, and brought some small pots from her own garden for sale.

Joan receiving the beautiful Trudi Brearley Challenge Trophy

We also presented the Trudi Brearley Challenge Trophy for the most points earned in the monthly competitions to our 2023 winner Joan Brookes, who was surprised to have won in a close-fought year, and then took first place with her Sarcococca in the February round of 2024! Rosalie’s Hellebore was 2nd and Anita’s Iris 3rd, with some lovely entries being received in the new format of the competition, where members can bring a single seasonal home-grown stem, rather than being restricted to a certain type of plant which they might not grow or has been affected by the vagaries of the weather.

Joan’s sarcococca

Diane had judged the competition after her talk and drawing our raffle, and was able to chat to everybody over refreshments. The usual free books and magazines were available for members to take home. Luckily by then the rain had stopped and it was an unseasonally mild 10deg C.  

Some of the other lovely competition entries
Some of Diane’s plants for sale by honesty box