Newsletter.

Chairs Notes and Notices

Dear Members

I hope you are enjoying this lovely gardening weather. I certainly am. The trip to Colesbourne garden in February was enjoyed by 36 of our gardening members and friends even though the weather could have been better. Although I was not able to be there I am told that “The Honey Bee and Bee Keeping” given by Brian Miller-Hall on the 15th of March 2025 was a success as was the question and answer session.

On the 26th April 2025 we have a talk on “The Scented Garden“ given by Gail Plant. Gail is a plants woman and metal artist. She lectures on scented plants with a touch of science and history thrown in. Please note that this date is one week after our normal meeting date due to Easter.

Our last talk before the round of summer garden visits is on “Christopher Lloyd, His Life at Great Dixter”. This is being given by Stephen Anderton on Saturday the 17th of May 2025. Shortly before his death in 2005, Christopher Lloyd asked Stephen to write his biography, which became the story of his house and garden, his often dysfunctional family and his life as a best-selling author, international lecturer, lovable eccentric, incurable writer of letters, and grand old man of English gardening.

We then move onto this years round of garden visits and the coach trip as follows:-

Saturday the 21st June 2025 at 2.30pm

June’s Garden Visit – Pear Tree Cottage at Wichenford,WR6 6YX – £11.00 including refreshments. Parking is limited to10 cars at the most so please car share where possible.These award winning gardens feel very much a part of the Bulmer’s apple orchards by which they are surrounded.

Website: https://www.peartreecottage.me

Saturday the 19th July at 2.30pm

July’s Garden Visit – Shuttifield Cottage in Storridge,WR13 5HA – £8.00 including refreshments. A mininum group size of 10 is required and there are more than 10 cars parking available. Shuttifield Cottage has been the family home of David and Angela Judge for over 50 years with the present garden dating from 1980. Situated at about 500 feet and facing south and west the three acre garden enjoys extensive views over Herefordshire.

Coach Visit to Waterperry Gardens, Oxfordshire on 16th August 2025

We have booked a 56 seat executive air conditioned coach with seat belts and toilet from Commandary Coaches at no charge to the members. The itinerary is as follows:-
The coach to depart Upton on Severn from the lay-by opposite the fire station at 8 am.

An additional pick up at Croft Road car park at 8:30am
A 20/30 minute stop on route to and from Waterperry. Arrival at Waterperry

Gardens at 10:30am.

Departure at 4:00pm
Arrival back at Croft Road at 6:00pm Arrival back at Upton on Severn at 6:30pm

The cost of admission will be £12.50 for members and £12.50 plus £7.50 for non-members.

To see details of what Waterperry Gardens has to offer go to their website :-https://www.waterperrygardens.co.uk/

Events for Your Diaries:-

All the local NGS open gardens in the area can be found at :- https://ngs.org.uk. Look out for the Yellow Book at future meetings.

All the local and national events run by the RHS can be found on their website:-

https://www.rhs.org.uk/

Promoting the Club on Social Media and the Website

For those of you on Facebook, the club has a Facebook page where we currently have 108 followers:-
https://www.facebook.com/BlackPearGardeningClub

This is automatically linked to receive postings from our website. We also have a Face Book Group page:- https://www.facebook.com/groups/632642921411258/

You can become a member of this group which will allow you to post pictures of your own garden or any garden related item of interest. Don’t forget to also visit our website:-
https://www.blackpeargc.org.uk

Martley Gardening Club Quiz Night

This now annual event has come round again and ths scheduled for Thursay 29th May 2025 kicking off at 7:30pm. Anyone interested please let a committee member know.

Last but not least a big thank you to all who are helping out at the plant creche at the RHS Malvern Spring Garden Show. See you all at the next club meeting on the 26th April 2025.

Best wishes Larry Gleaves