Highlights from Our Recent Meeting on Italian Villas

We had a wonderful turnout of 49 members to the Saturday meeting, where Robert Bryant gave us an informative, humorous and colourful presentation on Italian Villas, Lakes & Gardens on Lakes Maggiore, Garda and Como. He gave us an interesting insight into how later in life, he retrained in horticulture some of the gardens and …

Coach Trip February 21st. Ashwood Nurseries Information Sheet.

Introduction  Ashwood Nurseries is traditional working plant nursery and garden centre situated in a rural location, where many of the plants on offer are grown on the premises. Admission to the centre and car parking are free.We are open throughout the year with ample parking on site and easy access to facilities for the disabled. …

Next Meeting January 17th. Italian Villas, Lakes & Gardens.

A presentation by Robert Bryant A selection of gardens on Lakes Maggiore, Garda and Como Mr Bryant re-trained as a garden designer at Pershore College 1997-99 and worked in this field until 2014. During this time he developed and maintained the garden of Sheephouse in Painswick as well as designing gardens in the UK and …

Share Your Gardening Stories.

As the gardening season slows, gardeners prepare their gardens for winter, ready to relax and enjoy any Christmas and New Year celebrations. What have you been doing to prepare your garden for winter? Do you have any pictures or a story to share from your garden this year?Please email them to me, and I will …

Join the Black Pear Gardening Club Meeting

Saturday November 15th - 2.30pm at Powick Parish Hall AGM followed by Garden Visiting A Very British Tradition A presentation by Margie Hoffnung A light-hearted look at the many aspects of garden visiting, covering a wide range of topics from stately parklands to small backyards, flower shows, plant mania, giant veg, gnomes, lawn-mowing fanatics and …

Explore Hidden Gardens of the Cotswolds

Over forty members attended our October meeting to hear Mandy Bradshaw give us an illustrated look around some of the Cotswolds' less well-known but lovely gardens in Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Oxfordshire and Wiltshire. Mandy gave us an insight into how the gardens were created by visiting them and interviewing the owners. Mandy provided us with …

Explore Cotswold Gardens with Mandy Bradshaw

Black Pear Gardening Club Meeting Saturday October 18th - 2.30pm at Powick Parish Hall Beyond the Garden Gate A presentation by Mandy Bradshaw The Chatty Gardener My guide to Cotswold Gardens. A look at around a dozen gardens and the stories behind their creation Mandy is an award winning journalist, gardening writer for ‘Cotswold Life’, …

Smith’s Nursery St Johns 1873.

Provided with thanks by Ian Sadler. Smiths Nursery Fruit Tree ListDownload Smiths Nursery 1Download Smiths Nursery 2Download Smiths Nursery Nursery ViewDownload This weeping beech is still growing in St Johns, probably the only thing remaining from what I think Ian said was a nursery originaly covering 120acres. Smiths Weeping BeechDownload

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 …

Visit to Colesbourne Gardens.

Despite the rubbish weather, the majority of us braved the wet and cold. It was a good trip out, members enjoyed just getting out into the fresh air for the afternoon and the snowdrops were a delight, as was Lord Elwes who greeted us in person! Mary Gleaves. Our next meeting is The Honey Bee …

Join the 2025 Pershore Alpine Flower Show

Dear all, The Alpine Garden Society is holding its annual Pershore alpine flower show and plant sales on Saturday 22nd February 2025 at Pershore High School.  As well as exhibitors' wonderful plants we also have six specialist nurseries selling a wide variety of plants, many of which are not available elsewhere. In addition we will …

Black Pear Gardening Club Newsletter Winter 2025

Chairs Notes and Notices Dear Members With 2024 now behind us we now start the new year and with it comes a new set of monthly talks and visits which I hope you will all like to attend and enjoy. On the 18th of January 2025, this Saturday at 2:30 pm, we have a talk being …

Explore Self-Sowing Plants with Derry Watkins

Our next meeting is on January 18th at 2.30 pm Derry Watkins, owner of Special Plants Garden and Nursery, will talk about Self-sowing Plants. Allowing nature to help design your garden. Derry last visited us in 2019 her talk was enjoyable, informative and very popular. About Special Plants Special Plants is a garden, nursery and online seed …

Upcoming Meeting: AGM & Talk on Land Girls.

Dear members, Our next meeting is on Nov 16th at 2.30 pm.  AGM followed by “The Land Girls” - a talk given by Fiona Warin - Fiona will speak about the Women's Land Army and the part the Land Girls played in keeping the home fires burning during World War Two. Christmas Lunch. You can download a copy of the menu and …

Preserving Harvests: Kevin’s Guide to Year-Round Food

Kevin gave us a very entertaining and informative talk on preserving the harvest from our gardens using his experience to produce and provide food all year from his five acres for his family of five. Many of his slides showed his children enthusiastically getting involved in the different processes. Besides jam and chutney this also …

Newsletter Summer/Autumn 2024

Chairs Notes and Notices August 2024 Dear Members Summer, such as it is, is almost over and since the last newsletter club members have had a feast of activities to enjoy including the club garden market, a quiz night, the RHS Malvern Spring show and plant creche days, garden visits and coach trips. We are …

Join Us for a Harvest Preservation Workshop

Next meeting and latest News. Oct 19th 2.30 pm. Visitors welcome. Preserving the Harvest given by Kevin Alviti.  Far beyond jam and chutney, Kevin tells us how to waste less from your garden and deal with excess produce. Dehydrating, canning, fermenting! Literally his favourite subject, there aren't many weeks in the year when he doesn't preserve something for …

Celebrating Volunteers at the Malvern Autumn Show.

Nineteen members of the Black Pear Gardening Club volunteered to man the plant creche at the Malvern Autumn Show. Here are a few pictures from the day. Straw was laid on the paths due to the wet conditions. Volunteering can have an effect! A big thank you to all those who volunteered, especially Leonie who …

Bishop Palace Gardens Trip: August Highlights.

Forty Severn members joined a coach trip to the Bishop Palace Gardens at Wells in Somerset. Here are some of their pictures from that day. © Phillip Lee. Memorable view of the Cathedral from the bishop’s palace garden. © Phillip Lee. © Leonie Creighton. © Mary Gleaves. © Mary Gleaves. The next four pictures are …

Dillycot Garden Talk at Next Meeting | Sept 21st

Next meeting Sept 21st at 2.30 pm A talk on Dillycot Garden given by Sally Oates This is followed by tea and cake to welcome you all back after the summer. Programme 2025 Next year we have an excellent programme arranged by the committee, you can find the details on the website. Membership. Our membership year begins on October 1st. …

Next Meeting and Latest News.

July 20th 2.30 pm Garden Visits – Mantoft and Hilltop Farm, Eckington Gardens, Mantoft End, Eckington, Worcestershire WR10 3DQ - These are two different gardens set in and close to the village of Eckington. Hilltop: one acre garden with sunken garden/pond, rose garden with herbaceous borders, interesting topiary. Mantoft: Wonderful ancient thatched cottage with 11⁄2 …

Next Meeting and The Latest News.

Next meeting June 15th at 2.30 pm Garden Visit – Rest Harrow, California Lane, Welland, Malvern, Worcestershire WR13 6NQ  Evolving over the last 17 years this 1.5-acre garden with a 5-acre wild meadow and woodland which has stunning views of the Malvern Hills. There are a number of colourful and diverse flower beds, intermingled with a number of unusual …

Next Meeting and The Latest News.

Next meeting May 18th 1.45 pm Garden Market and talk. Potatoes, Peppers and Poisons and Petunias given by Paul Williams - Paul is a writer for consumer magazines, and national newspapers; author; sound broadcaster: local; lecturer. The afternoon includes a Garden Market and Plant sale. At the Garden Market, the doors of Powick Parish Hall will open at 1.45 pm, with …

Nicola’s talk and next meeting.

A record number of members turned out for our April talk by Nicola Hope. She explained how she worked following Organic principles in her client's gardens and within her garden. How to establish a border using 'No Dig' with its benefits in maintaining soil structure and fertility was shown with pictures over the season as it developed. …

Next Meeting & Latest News.

Next Meeting April 20th 2.30pm No Dig and Poly Culture in your garden by Nicola Hope. A welcome return by Nicola who entertained us last year with 'Tales From The Potting Shed' About Nikki Nikki runs a successful organic gardening consultancy and garden design service. She holds the prestigious title of Royal Horticultural Society Master …

The next meeting and the latest news.

March 16th 2.30 pm Lilies for Your Garden with Duncan Coombs A return visit from Duncan, on what type of Lilies are available for your garden. Many of you will know Duncan from his days as a lecturer in decorative horticulture for over 40 years at Pershore College. Duncan has recently released his second book …

John Brookes MBE and the Blue Border in Our Garden@19.

 Brian Skeys  Garden visiting, Our Garden@19, The Life of Brian.  February 12, 2024 3 Minutes John Brookes MBE has designed and built well over 1000 gardens, here and overseas, during a career spanning 50 years. Based at Denmans, his acclaimed world-famous garden in West Sussex, he is best known for his ability to create gardens that relate to their environment, …

THE NEXT MEETING AND THE LATEST NEWS. February 24th Meeting, 2.30pm . NOTE NOT THE THIRD SATURDAY.  

Bugs, the Good, the Bad and the Ugly – is a talk given by Roger Umpelby a professional entomologist and horticulturalists with many years of experience in consultancy and research with government and industry. He is a part-time advisor for RHS. A keen gardener and a passionate plant and nature lover who enjoys sharing his love …

Alpine Garden Society Show & Sale.

Dear garden group, I wanted to let you know that we are holding our Spring flower show early this year on Saturday 17th February at Pershore High School, Station Road, Pershore. As well as plants on the show benches that are grown by our members, there will be 7 nurseries offering their lovely plants for …

Next Meeting and The Latest News.

Next Meeting. Jan 20th 2024 2.30 pm Trug Making by a Miserable Old Trugger – A talk by Carl Sadler, in which he talks about his life as a trug maker, working on film sets and selling his wares at shows, all whilst making a trug! If possible he will bring items of wooden garden ware …

Next Meeting.

Jan 20th 2024 2.30pm Trug Making by a Miserable Old Trugger – A talk given by Carl Sadler, in which he talks about his life as a trug maker, working on films sets and selling his wares at shows, all whilst making a trug! If possible he will bring items of wooden garden ware that …

Pam and Rods new garden.

Club members Pam and Rod Pardoe have recently downsized to a new build, they have shared their pictures of the developing new garden with us. Pam wrote, "We moved in on 23rd February then the first raised bed was made about mid April so the soil which came out from the foundation for the summer …

Christmas Fairs & Markets.

Link Nurseries   · We’re holding our annual Christmas Craft Fair on Saturday 2nd December, from 10am - 4pm. There’ll be our usual range of plants, trees, gardening accessories etc available, with some at sale prices. Plus an interesting variety of crafters will be joining us - we still have some tables available, so contact us if …

Have you seen this insect?

ASIAN HORNET Vespa velutina An invasive non-native hornet originally from Asia. Asian hornet is a highly aggressive predator of native insects and poses a significant threat to honey bees and other pollinators. In 2004 it was accidentally introduced to France where it has spread rapidly and into neighbouring countries. Since 2016 a number of sightings …

Stockton Bury Autumn Joy.

From Tamsin Westhorpe. As we busily prepare the garden for winter, we are constantly reminded of the happy summer we have had at Stockton Bury. As the cider apples drop from the trees in the orchard around the tithe barn café are thoughts turn to the many visitors who have been to visit us this …

NGS garden for RHS Chelsea 2024

The National Garden Scheme is thrilled to announce that we will have a show garden at the 2024 RHS Chelsea Flower Show next May. Designed by eight times RHS gold medal winner, Tom Stuart-Smith, and sponsored by Project Giving Back, the garden will exemplify the joy and associated health and wellbeing benefits of garden visiting that have been at the heart of the National Garden Scheme …

Next Meeting November 18th 2.30pm

An Afternoon with Reg Moule following on From the Club AGM - The afternoon will include mince pies and a Christmas themed raffle.  Reg will hold a question and answer session so members might want to come prepared with some questions.

Previous programme

October 21st 2.30pm The History and Restoration of Painswick Rococo Garden with Dominic Hamilton - Dominic has been director of the Ricoco Garden since 2015 and with his expert team,has started a new chapter in the garden's history.September 16th 2.30pmWinter to Spring with Julie Richie – This is a presentation on what type of perennials and bulbs of …

Plant Creche at the Autumn Show.

Members from the club, led by Leonie volunteered to man the Plant Creche at the Autumn Show on Friday. The Three Counties donate money to the club for this so a big thank you to Leonie and her team. From Leonie, We had a really good day despite the weather.339 tickets were used with a …

Winter into Spring Plant List.

Julie Richie's presentation on what type of perennials and bulbs of interest are available over the quiet time in the garden created a lot of interest with club members who heard her talk. Julie provided us with a list of the plants she recommended, with many members taking notes, I have attached a a copy …

Someting for train enthusiasts.

Don't forget to come along to our Heritage Open Days at St Peters Church. It's been a huge community effort - as you can see - to prepare for the event and we are excited to share the model railway in its completion with you. Details regarding the open days can be found on the …

Bridgewater.

Our coach trip to RHS Bridgewater was the last of our garden visits this summer. Set the grounds of what was  Worsley New Hall, Worsley, Salford the RHS are in the still early stages of developing a beautiful, informative and diverse site for old (!) and new gardeners alike. The planting of the newly established …

Hanley Swan Village Show and Car Boot.

Saturday 26th August Doors Open 1.30pm. The Village Show has been running since  August 1862, when the first Hanley Castle Horticultural and Flower Show was organised by the gentry of Hanley.  The aim was  “to encourage horticulture among the cottagers, and to stimulate them to neatness and order not only in their gardens but their …

Worcester Show

 Worcester Show is held on Sunday 13th August 10am -5pm. The BPGC have sponsored two classes (303 and 320) If members would like to enter the fruits of their labours I have added the link to the schedule below. Entries have to be in by 7th August and staging is on the Saturday before the show. Promises …

Gardener’s Question Time.

From Mary Gleaves. Hi Brian Following advice from Gardeners Question Time, we have a beautiful cauliflower! It was grown in a raised bed in a mix of homemade compost, bought multi purpose compost and soil conditioner and fed with a mulch of chicken manure pellets and alfalfa. It will be eaten with a cheese sauce! …

July Garden Visit.

Our July garden visit saw an enthusiastic group dodge the showers to visit the C19th city walled garden of William and Julia Scott. They have managed the garden here organically since 1995 with an emphasis on herbs and their many uses. During our visit, the bees were enjoying the many flowering herbs and perennials. Within …

Ripple and Uckinghall Open Gardens

Ripple and Uckinghall, near Upton upon Severn, WorcestershireMonday 29th May 202311.00am – 5.30pmRipple and Uckinghall in Worcestershire will be hosting an Open Gardens day again this year after a three year break. Gardens on show will include historic Ripple Hall and the Old Rectory.In addition to some splendid and interesting gardens, both large and small, …

Garden Club Talk, 4th March 2023

We thought we had our March talk all arranged- but no, unfortunately our planned talk by Roger Umpleby had to be cancelled at the last minute due to ill health, by a very apologetic Roger.Fortunately, local speaker, lecturer and all round good horticulturist , Duncan Coombs stepped in with a few hours notice and saved …

Drought Tolerant Planting in Our Garden@19.

I have for two years been working towards a more drought-tolerant planting scheme for both the south-facing front border and the Blue Border the priority here was to remove the requirement to water during the summer. You can read more by clicking on the link below. https://brimfields.com/2023/02/24/drought-tolerant-planting-in-our-garden19/

Alpine Spring Flower Show.

Banish Winter blues and enjoy early Spring flowers at the Pershore alpine show, have refreshments, and buy special plants to take home. On Saturday 25th February 2023 the Alpine Garden Society (AGS) will run its early Spring flower show at Pershore High School, Station Road, Pershore WR10 2BX.  A wide range of fabulous small plants grown by …

National Garden Scheme Open Gardens.

Snowdrop Opening. Worcestershire NGS Open Gardens Link: https://ngs.org.uk/worcestershire-2023/ Gloucestershire and adjacent counties NGS Open Gardens Link: https://ngs.org.uk/gloucestershire/ NGS Website: https://findagarden.ngs.org.uk

Tales From The Potting Shed by Nicola Hope. January 21st.

On Saturday 35 members enjoyed one of the most inspiring talks we have received at the club. Nicola shared her experiences and knowledge with interesting and occasional insights, sometimes humorous during her time working in some very famous estate gardens.She told us of her early experience as an assistant gardener at Highgrove for the then, …

January 21st. 2.30pm. From the Potting Shed with Nicola Hope.

Nikki runs a successful organic gardening consultancy and garden design service. She holds the prestigious title of Royal Horticultural Society Master of Horticulture and has a diploma in professional garden design from the Cotswold Gardening School

Our next meeting on November 19th 2.30pm has a seasonal theme.

Please note the date in the autumn newsletter, November 16th is an error. The AGM followed by Mistletoe, Fact Myth and Legend - An illustrated seasonal talk given by Dr. M. Jones. He will be discussing the facts, myths and legends that surround this fascinating parasiticplant. The afternoon will include mince pies and a Christmas themed raffle.

17TH SEPT 2022 BY MARY GLEAVES

‘The Garden at Stockton Bury‘ On September 17th members made a very welcome return to our indoor meetings at Powick Parish Hall. Our speaker on this occasion was Tamsin Westhorpe, a ‘hands-on gardener’ at her family garden, Stockton Bury in Herefordshire. Tamsin started her horticultural career as a greenkeeper, and amongst many other roles, writes for …

Next Meeting. Sept 17th 2022

The Garden at Stockton Bury an illustrated talk given by Tamsin Westthorpe who is part of the gardening team at Stockton Bury and has previously been deputy editor of Amateur Gardening magazine and editor of The English Garden magazine will talk on the four-acre garden created by Raymond Treasure and Gordon Fenn situated at Stockton Bury near …

BLACK PEAR GARDENING CLUB ANNIVERSARY LUNCH.

August 20th 2022Apple Tree Kitchen, Pitlands Farm,Clifton Upon Teme, Worcestershire, WR6 6DX. During a committee meeting earlier this year it was mentioned that the BPGC will be 10 years old this September, something I hadn't realised and it was suggested that we should organise something to celebrate the occasion.As one of the founder members, I …

Dahlias.

Dahlia. Fact Sheet and how I grow dahlias in Our Garden. From the beginning, I have grown dahlias here in Our Garden, partly due to nostalgia, partly inspiration from visiting Great Dixter and reading Christopher Lloyd’s books. Propagation. Dahlias can be grown from own saved seed, although they don’t always come true to type. The …

Garden Visit.

Our July garden visit was to the Tynings Church Lane, Stoulton. The garden looked wonderful on a gorgeous sunny day with shady areas to sit in to enjoy the relaxing surroundings. An acclaimed plantsman’s 1⁄2 acre garden, generously planted with a large selection of rare trees and shrubs. Features inc a specialist collection of lilies, many unusual …