Here is a summary of events and talks which took place in the 2024/5 season.
April 23rd 2025
Paul Green
Subject: Something Old, Something New – Plants of the Season
For this talk, we welcomed Paul Green, a small nursery owner who grows choice, rare and unusual plants in Gloucestershire . Paul intoduced himself as a propagator of plants, involved in research and development, producing varieties to best thrive in the UK’s demanding climate. He showed plants with familiar names but with their own particular character in terms of hardiness, shape, size and colour.
His enthusiam was infectious and he presented each specimen with a light and entertaining touch. His knowledge of the care and cultivation of each plant was delivered with obvious expertise, and his talk was interspersed with such technical terms as “Zingy”, “Stonking'” and “you’ve got to love your zig-zag plants!”
This was a fun evening where members learned a great deal. The brisk trade in the fine display of plants which Paul had brought for us to enjoy was witness to a successful evening, well received.
Paul’s business is called Greens Leaves and his website is here
March 26th 2025
Mary Fenton
Subject: A Taste of Chile
Landscape, flora and fauna from Atacama to Patagonia.
Mary’s talk was well-illustrated by pictures taken during a group visit to Chile, covering four contrasting areas of the country. She highlighted the capital Santiago, where greenery is evident amongst the Spanish-influenced architecture, and with wildflower areas in many public spaces. Then a flight North to the Atacama Desert, with its many oases with thriving tree and plant life, contrasting with large areas of apparently barren ground and salt flats. Here plant life still manages to find a foothold, as well as a profusion of cacti in places.
After this, Mary showed us Pacific wine country west of the capital, with an abundance of roses among the vines. These, we learned, are more sensitive to disease than the vines, and so can be an early indicator of problems, enabling the growers to take action. Onwards then to Chile’s lake district, with landscapes, woodland walks – and front gardens – not unfamiliar in the UK. Here we find Chile pines and fuchsias in abundance. In contrast, the area also includes Llanquihue Lake the second-largest lake in Chile, with spectacular views of snow-capped volcanoes.
Mary ended with the Torres del Paine National Park in the far south, were we find an abundance of plant life, including escallonia, orchids, fuchsias, lupins and Chile firebush, all in spectacular landscape. A definite tour-de-force on which to end a memorable journey of extraordinary contrasts.
February 26th 2025
Roger Umpelby
Growing Vegetables – Getting the most from your garden/plot.
Roger is a professional entomologist and horticulturalist with many years experience including research with government and industry .
His talk led us through some key elements to successful vegetable growing, including the need to think about available space, soil types and the advantages or otherwise of the use, for example, of raised beds. The challenges of garden pests and how to guard against them was an important topic, as well as the use of coarse compost for longevity in the soil, and useful ideas around multi-cropping and extending the growing season.
Inclusive of a discussion on the pros and cons of growing from seed as opposed to plants, Roger’s talk ended with a very useful set of tips on an A to Z of popular vegetable types.
January 22nd 2025
Cheese, Wine and Pate Evening Social
To start the New Year we had our annual social evening for members and friends with a cheese and wine supper with raffle and quiz.
November 27th 2024
Nathalie Mignotte
Subject: “Le Jardin Majorelle – Marrakesh”
Natalie described with some sumptuous photo images, the garden named after its founder, the French painter Jacques Majorelle ( 1886-1962 ). Majorelle created it in 1931 , inspired by Islamic gardens and Spanish-Hispano-Moorish themes. The gardens were bought by Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé in 1980. The area includes the Yves Saint Laurent Museum as well as the off-limits private residence.
Natalie described each area of the garden structured around a long central basin , with several varied aspects and themes. This garden is a living work of art in motion, composed of exotic plants and rare species: cacti , yuccas , water lilies , lotuses , water lilies , jasmines , bougainvilleas , palm trees , coconut trees, banana trees, bamboos, carob trees, agaves, cypresses … and decorated with fountains, ponds, water jets, ceramic jars , paths , pergolas.
In particular Majorelle created “Majorelle Blue” , an ultramarine / cobalt blue, an intense and clear motif , which decorates the walls throughout the gardens.
A well-attended evening, offering a colourful reminder of sunshine and light at the winter ingress in the Wychwoods!
October 23rd 2024
Vanessa Berridge
Subject: “Garden Heaven”
Vanessa Berridge returns by popular request, and the topic was “Garden Heaven”, based on her book described as Inspiration and Escapism for every gardener.
“Garden Heaven” covers 42 gardens in England/Wales/Scotland and was commissioned by National Trust and Harper Collins.
Vanessa’s talk explored some of Britain’s finest gardens, organised into themes focused on romance, walled gardens, history, and features such as hills, woods and water blending with contemporary creations. She highlighted how European styles have inspired formal gardens and contrasted practical plantings of fruits, vegetables, and herbs with ornamental flower gardens.
Most gardens are part of stately homes or castles, and Vanessa illustrated these with some stunning full-colour photography.
A fine turnout of 50+ members and guests enjoyed an informative and entertaining evening.
September 25th 2024
Hugh Woodsend
Subject: “English Wine” – from our local expert!
The first speaker talk of the new season was in Milton Village Hall at 7.30pm .
Our speaker Hugh Woodsend offered fascinating insights to winemaking: its history and its growing and maufacture, with a focus on English winemaking in particular. His description of his own vines and their produce on the allotments in Milton under Wychwood was especially full of surprises.
He included a short film of his recent visit by rail and canal barge to the tulips at Keukenhof and the Aalsmer flower market.
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