Roses, Pine Martens and Christmas Lunch

November 5, 2016 / cothigardeners / 2 Comments

Growing Roses in West Wales by Richard Bramley of Farmyard Nurseries was one of the best talks we have had for a while. Informative, practical and humorous, Richard took us through how to buy, planting, diseases/pests and types of rose before showing us specific varieties. West Wales is not the ideal climate for roses and his sound advice when choosing a rose to avoid disappointment was to consider ‘not what you want but what you can grow’.

Rose de Rescht

Roses worth a mention as being ‘good doers’ were the Rugosas generally, shrub roses such as Bonica and Rose de Rescht, and ramblers or tree roses such as Pauls Himalayan Musk and Seagull.

Paul’s Himalayan Musk grown up a Hawthorn Tree

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Photo courtesy of the Vincent Wildlife Trust

Our speaker in November is rather different. Usually we learn something horticulture-related but in a change to our original programme (sadly Keith Brown couldn’t join us due to ill health), we’ll be welcoming Dave Bavin from the Vincent Wildlife Trust.
Some of you may have heard about the plan to re-introduce Pine Martens to Wales and one of the sites selected by the VWT is near Pontrhydfendigaid. Please join us on November 16th at 7pm to hear the background to this ambitious project and to follow the progress of some of Wales’ new wild residents.

Photo courtesy of the Vincent Wildlife Trust

These websites offer an insight into these lovely creatures.

http://www.vwt.org.uk/projects/pine-marten-recovery-project/

http://www.pine-marten-recovery-project.org.uk/blog/miss-piggys-year

The Vincent Wildlife Trust is also leading the control of grey squirrels locally, in order to encourage the three populations of red squirrels in the forests to be able to get together and party. Many members in the local community are taking part in this project.

Please note: Now that the clocks have changed, our meetings begin a little earlier at 7pm. This is the last open meeting of Cothi Gardeners for 2016, our 2017 programme will be available shortly.

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Christmas Lunch

Our Christmas lunch this year is taking place on Wednesday, December14th at the Dolaucothi Arms at 12 noon. Please remember to bring your deposit (please note that this is £7, not £5 as previously thought) and menu choices (see menu below) to the November meeting.

Dolaucothi Christmas Menu 2016

£22 per person for three courses

Jerusalem artichoke soup with spiced hazelnut crumb and lemon oil (gf/df)
Potato pancake, smoked salmon, horseradish creme fraiche & salt baked beetroot (gf/ df on request)
Caramelised pear, chicory and mouldy mabel bruschetta
Chicken liver, apple and smoked bacon pate, sourdough bread

Free range Turkey, stuffing, pigs in blankets, bread sauce (df on request)
Mushroom, chestnut & Caerphilly wellington
Rump of Welsh beef with sherry & shallots (gf/df)
Hake with winter vegetable saffron chowder (gf)

All served with roast potatoes and seasonal vegetables

Figgy toffee pudding with butterscotch sauce
Mincemeat strudel & brandy butter (df on request)
Chocolate cardamom mousse cake, poached pear (df, gf)
St Clements Trifle (gf)
Two cheeses, oatcakes & homemade preserves (+£2)

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Roses in Wales; Charity Plant Sale; Surplus to requirements; Club Plant Shop

October 18, 2016 / cothigardeners / Leave a comment

Our next meeting is almost upon us – Wednesday, 19th October at 7.30pm. Growing Roses in West Wales with Richard Bramley of Farmyard Nurseries. As we all know roses are not the easiest of plants to grow in a wet climate, so we look forward to Richard’s talk with great anticipation.

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John and Helen’s annual charity plant sale takes place this Sunday (23rd) from 1pm at their garden Ty’r Maes, Ffarmers. “There will be plants for sale, the proceeds of which will go to the NGS, and plants to swap, where we would hope visitors will put a donation in one or more of the charity boxes.” So if you have any plants to spare, share or swap, do take them along.

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Do check out the surplus to requirements page on the website. A recent addition is a petrol strimmer for just £25.

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Club Plant Shop – A quick recap………..

Our plant shop has been very successful through the year. For those purchasing plants from the stall please remember that it is no longer run on a donation basis. Members bring good quality plants which are potted up, labelled and priced, so please check the label and put the relevant amount in the tin. Any plants not sold should be taken home by the member who brought them.

A big thank you to everyone for your support.

A Plant Historical ‘Romp’; Pie Night; Roses in Wales

October 11, 2016October 11, 2016 / cothigardeners / Leave a comment

Jess Jones from Llangadog Gardening Club gallantly stepped into the breach for our September meeting when Mike Thurlow had to cancel due to ill health.

Jess gave us an informative talk entitled ‘A Plant Based Romp through Medieval and Tudor Britain’ , describing how gardens and plants developed from being used for culinary and medicinal purposes to being appreciated as places and things of beauty; how many of the royal marriages of the times resulted in the introduction of new ideas and plants. For example when Henry III married Eleanor of Provence, she introduced the concept of courtly love and took Rosa alba as her token plant.

Jess is hoping to open her nursery specialising in the plants she mentions in her talks on Mother’s Day next year.

Seventeen of us enjoyed a social get together at the Dolaucothi Arms for a pie and pint before the meeting – many thanks to Esther and Dave for getting us sorted in good time – and for the delicious pies!

On October 19th we will be welcoming back Richard Bramley from Farmyard Nurseries and look forward to his talk on growing roses in Wales. Richard will also be bringing plants for sale. Click here to see the Farmyard Nurseries website

Do keep an eye on our ‘Surplus to Requirements page on the website – currently there is some free well rotted horse manure available.

Speaker Change for September Meeting

September 6, 2016 / cothigardeners / 1 Comment

A brief follow up to the last post…………………..

Due to health reasons Mike Thurlow has had to cancel the talk he was due to give on September 21st but we do have a replacement:

Jess Jones from Llangadog Garden Club has offered to step in and give us a talk on Historical Plants and comes highly recommended by those that have already heard her talk.
Jess has studied Photography, History of Art and Horticulture, and has worked professionally as a Photographer and Gardener for over 25 years. She moved back to Wales from London 10 years ago with her family.
Her more specific interest in Plant & Garden history has brought her three other interests together in her illustrated talks, and she is currently working on setting up a small perennial nursery in Bethlehem.

It should be another fascinating talk and Jess will also be bringing plants for sale

Summer Social and Pot Parade; Upcoming Meeting and Pie Night; NGS Helpers Invitation

September 2, 2016 / cothigardeners / Leave a comment

SUMMER MEETING AND GROWING CHALLENGE FINALE

The August meeting of Cothi gardeners took the form of a summer social event held at the lovely home and gardens of members Philip and Anne Large. Over 30 members arrived bringing plates of food to enjoy and share, but before that came the interesting and fun sharing of ideas from this year’s growing challenge – to grow anything in a moveable pot.

Examples ranged from unidentified exotic plants grown from seed, through tomatoes, quinoa, pelargoniums, roses and broom grown from seed collected from a local hillside.

A lot of interesting and useful discussion followed including a quick lesson on how to take pelargonium cutting by Yvonne, before breaking for supper and drinks. Many thanks to Philip and Anne for the hard work in getting ready for the event, which was greatly enjoyed by all present.

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SEPTEMBER MEETING

Join us for coffee or tea and listen to how another great garden has taken shape over the last century at our next meeting on September 21st at 7.30pm when Mike Thurlow will be talking to us about ‘Reginald Cory and Dyffryn Gardens’. This National Trust property has had a chequered past but is now much restored. The original garden design was largely developed by Reginald Cory, the son of wealthy coal merchant John Cory, who had inherited the estate in 1891. Reginald worked alongside Thomas Mawson who was well-known in the Edwardian era as a designer of civic parks and gardens. In 2000 the gardens were given Grade 1 listed status by Cadw and described as “the grandest and most outstanding Edwardian gardens in Wales. They are comparable to some of the most extravagant gardens of the period in Britain.”

We are also having our 2nd pre-meeting get together for Pie Night at the Dolaucothi Arms – the first one was a big success. It is a great opportunity to have a more relaxed natter with fellow members. Cost will be £10 per person for a pie (there is always a vegetarian option) and drink; optional dessert if you eat fast, and are hungry … Because of time constraints on the evening, we’ll need to meet by about 6.00pm, and eat around 6.15pm, to enable us to finish in time for setting up for the meeting. Names of anyone wishing to come need to be with Julian by Friday 9th September so that menu choices can be sorted out in advance.

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NGS HELPERS REMINDER

Jane and Ivor Stokes, have invited any members who have helped out at any NGS garden openings this year to join them, the team and NGS garden owners at their annual ‘Thank You’ tea party and plant sale. It is at Llyshendy, Llandeilo, SA19 6YA at 3.30pm on Sunday 11th September. Contact Jane on 01558 823233 or jane.h.stokes@btinternet.com

From Plant Origins to Club Growing Challenges

August 8, 2016 / cothigardeners / 2 Comments

Helen Warrington with her plants

We had a very successful July meeting when Helen Warrington gave us a fascinating talk on the origins of plants, taking us from post ice age Britain when there were very few, (but amazingly did include Rhododendron ponticum which subsequently died out but was then reintroduced in the 17th Century!) through to modern times with a virtually unlimited number. On our journey through the ages we heard how important invaders and travellers were in introducing or bringing back new species which are now considered ‘native’. For example, the Romans brought their own stinging nettle as the indigenous one was not ‘stingy’ enough – used for flagellation!, plus many other plants for culinary and medicinal purposes such as fennel, garlic, apples (we only had crab apples) and walnut. Plant seeds were known to have been brought back throughout history from the Crusades onwards, and seeds found in ballast from ships also found their way in eg Anemone coronaria. Another little known gem was that the Welsh discovered North America in 1170, well before Columbus.

Sarracenia-purpurea – Photo by Ty Cwm Nursery

All in all a thoroughly informative and enjoyable evening and rounded off with the opportunity to buy some of Helen’s lovely plants. Do visit Helen’s nursery, Ty Cwm, near Lampeter or take a look at her website (click here).

Ty Cwm Nursery

The August meeting is our summer social evening for members only on Wednesday 17th at 7.30pm. This year Anne and Philip Large have kindly invited us to Glan-yr-afon for the evening. Please bring a plate of ‘nibbles’, plants for the plant stall and, most importantly, your ‘Growing Challenge’ pot. Remember the challenge is not a competition so even if your pot was less successful than you had hoped bring it anyway as much can often be learnt from things that don’t work as from things that do! If your pot is too big or heavy to bring then do please try and print some photos of it and bring them along instead.

Pie Night; A Ranger’s Perspective; National Meadows Day; Garden Openings; Next Meeting

June 27, 2016June 27, 2016 / cothigardeners / 1 Comment

The first Pie Night which preceded our last meeting was a resounding success and proved a great time for us to get together for an informal bit of socialising! Dave and Esther at the Dolaucothi Arms excelled themselves producing their delicious pies for the 18 of us in good time for us to make it across the road for the meeting.

Sarah Jones then gave us an interesting, amusing and informative talk on her work as a ranger for the National Trust at Dinefwr. Her enthusiasm and love for her work and the area were evident as she gave a fascinating insight into the role of a ranger caring for the park’s landscape, flora and fauna with particular reference to the fallow deer and the White Park Cattle.

The park is well worth a visit, particularly at the moment when the hay and wildflower meadows will be in full bloom. For members who are interested, National Meadows Day is this Saturday with various locations being open for visitors – more info can be found on the Carmarthenshire Meadows Group website (click here).

As part of National Meadows Day………

Gelli Uchaf Meadows and Garden will be open on Saturday July 2nd 2016

Meadow Walks and a chance to look round the gardens at Gelli Uchaf small holding, which have been designed to incorporate many insect friendly flowers.

This event is in aid of the charities of the National Gardens Scheme.

Places are limited so must be booked.

There are two sessions, 10.30 am and 2.30 pm. Some places are still available for both.

£4 per person. Cakes/teas available as well if pre-booked (£3 pp).

The gardens were featured as 1 of 10 secret gardens in Wales to visit by Wales Online in 2014 and were also filmed in 2016 for BBC2’s Gardener’s World programme. The 11 acres of meadows are being gradually restored to increase floral and fungal diversity and include both hill, and valley bottom wet pastures. A photographic display of the progress so far, will be available, and weather permitting, some of our manual hay making techniques may also be on view.

Anyone who is interested please book by contacting Julian and Fiona Wormald

01558 685119

thegardenimpressionists@gmail.com

http://www.thegardenimpressionists.com

Gelli Uchaf

Rhydcymerau

Llandeilo

Carmsarthenshire

SA19 7PY

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The opening of member’s gardens at Bwlchau Duon and The Sculptor’s Garden in Ffarmers on Sunday went really well. Congratulations to Brenda and Martin and Angela, the gardens looked wonderful and well deserved the turnout of over 140 visitors who were clearly not put off by the uncooperative weather!

Anne and John bravely enduring the rain while manning the plant sales at Bwlchau Duon

The Tea Ladies at Bwlchau Duon

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Our next meeting is on Wednesday, July 20th when Helen Warrington from Ty Cwm Nursery will return to give us a talk on ‘The Origins of Plants’ .

Ty Cwm Nursery has a broad range of herbaceous perennials, bedding and veg in season, specialising in blueberries and carnivorous plants. Helen will be bringing a selection of plants from the nursery for sale after the talk.

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The Club Plant Shop

This is getting better and better and is making an excellent contribution to club funds. Very many thanks to all those who have supported it both in the supply and purchase of plants. We need to keep the momentum going so please do keep supporting it at each meeting.

To recap: good quality, potted up, labelled, and priced plants to be donated. A table will be set up for the ‘Plant Shop’ at the back of the hall, with a tin for the money to be left in. Please price your donation/s according to size of pot, type of plant and so that it reflects the true value while being less than a garden centre would charge. This way those purchasing will have a good quality product at an advantageous price.

Picton Visit; Diary reminders and additions

June 9, 2016 / cothigardeners / Leave a comment

Picton Castle Gardens Visit

Our visit to Picton Castle Gardens was a great success. We met for a civilised picnic in the courtyard, making use of the outdoor seating before being joined by Roddy Milne, the head gardener, for a tour of the garden.

The rhododendrons, although nearing the end of their season, were still magnificent.

Many were grown from seed from cultivars already in the garden and it was fascinating to see the variety of plants one seed capsule can produce in both flower, leaf and form. New areas of woodland have been planted to give continuity for the future especially as more and more of the original plantings are succumbing to old age.

The hard work of Roddy and his small band of helpers was evident in the tidy borders, new plantings and well mown lawns! The walled garden was immaculate and had plenty to see despite its peak season being later in the summer.

Overall a thoroughly enjoyable and informative evening out.

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Open Gardens

A reminder that this month sees the joint opening of 2 of our club members’ gardens in Ffarmers. Anyone able to help serve teas, supply cakes, etc please contact Angela and Martin or Brenda.

There are a number of other gardens opening this month including the Talley Open Gardens Day this Saturday, 11th June, click here to go to our events page to see more.

MEETING UPDATES; DATES FOR YOUR DIARIES and HELP NEEDED

May 20, 2016 / cothigardeners / Leave a comment

There was an excellent turnout at our meeting on Wednesday 19th May to hear Carrie Thomas give an illustrated and highly informative talk on the intricacies of latin plant nomenclature, explaining why latin names are needed, how they are arrived at and how they explain individual plant characteristics, habitat, etc.

She started the evening with a warning about Aquilegia downy mildew disease which has decimated her national collections of Aquilegias and is gradually spreading through the UK. See her website for more information at http://www.touchwoodplants.co.uk/aquilegia-downy-mildew.htm

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Requests for help at various events in the coming months were made. If anyone is able to offer their assistance at any of the following please contact the relevant parties.

1) Keith Brown will be having a plant stall at the NGS garden open at
Gelli Mydog, Myddfai, SA20 0JQ on Sunday, June 5th and Sunday, July 24th between 12 and 5pm. Due to his illness he has asked for help to man the stall, so if anyone can spare an hour or more to help out on either or both these days please contact Anne at glan-yr-afon@hotmail.co.uk .

2) John and Helen have a large group visiting their garden on Saturday, June 18th and have asked for help with both the serving and supply of cakes for the teas. Contact them at johnhelen@greystones140.freeserve.co.uk

3) Angela and Martin (Sculptors Garden, The Old Post Office) have their joint garden open day with Benda (Bwlchau Duon) and would also like help with the serving and supply of cakes for the teas. Contact through www.farquharsonduffysculpture.com

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PICTON GARDENS VISIT

Remember our visit to Picton Gardens is this Wednesday. Those who would like to can meet up at 5pm in the visitors carpark for a picnic tea within the grounds before we all meet Roddy at 6pm by the Restaurant (closed at that time). He will then take us on a guided tour of the garden. Plants will be on sale but please remember to take cash as there will be no credit card facility. Cost is £4.50 per person (no concessions or free entry as this is a special tour out of normal opening hours). Anyone who would like/can offer to car share please contact Margaret on 01558 650887

OUR NEXT MEETING………..

Speaking to the Cothi Gardeners’ Club on Wednesday, 15th June will be Sarah Jones from Dinefwr in Llandeilo.
Sarah is a National Trust ranger and will tell us about her work, which includes taking care of the famous herd of White Park cattle, fallow deer and of course the extensive grounds.
Some of us may have already walked around Dinefwr but Sarah will let us know all about the history of the park, including a visit in the 17th century by Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown who advised the then owners of Newton House on the possibilities of landscaping the grounds. Today a popular walk on the estate has been named the Capability Brown Trail.
A large part of Sarah’s work involves conservation, so we will learn about the unusual and endangered species which we may be lucky enough to encounter and how the grounds are maintained for visitors to enjoy at all times of the year.