East Wittering Garden and Wine Circle
At last, the club was able to reconvene. Cyril (chairman) sent a newsletter to all members inviting them to join him and other committee members at the Village Hall on September 14, in order to see if the club could be restarted after an 18 month lapse due to the pandemic.
The take very good, with over 50 members attending.
Cyril opened the meeting, welcoming all present, and handed over to Roland (speakers and raffle).
Roland had managed to arrange for Gloria, from Tawny Nurseries, to advise and give a demonstration of how to do hanging baskets, window boxes and planting out bulbs.
He had further arranged for Sandra Simmonds, who has previously visited us with her first talk about Iran, to tell us about ‘A Day as an Iranian Housewife’, on October 12.
On November 9, Roland has arranged for Jim Weston to ask ‘Do You Remember 1969?’ – of course, we are all too young!
The speaker for the December meeting is a deep dark secret. We will have to attend to find out. Father Christmas, perhaps?
The Kurling meetings are to recommence at the Village Hall on October 28.
Roland also mentioned going back to the early days of the club when coach outings were the thing – was anyone interested in days out, going to see daffodils and the Rose Fair? To be more ambitious, a trip to Guernsey or Jersey for a short holiday? If interested, please let Roland know.
A big welcome to Gloria, from Tawny Nurseries, who had visited us before to instruct us in the art of gardening and plant lore.
She spoke about autumn planting for flowering March and April or early May.
It would then be time to clear out the baskets and plant them up in mid May for the summer flowering.
For the hanging basket; a large bowl was filled with multi purpose compost, a bunch of heather for the centre, pieces of small ivy for the borders and filled in with many coloured violas.
Gloria told us to plant them unevenly, not in straight lines.
She then had a large pot, filled with compost with a dwarf confer for the centre; completed with dianthus and pansies.
Then came a pot for bulbs. Compost, then daffodils planted twice their length, covered with compost; tulips next two inches deep, cover with soil; with crocuses over the top with more compost.
Hyacinths can be planted now reedy for Christmas; left in a dark place until small shoots appear then brought into the daylight.
A very animated question and answer followed, with many gardening problems being solved.
Gloria was thanked with a resounding round of applause. There was then a break for tea and biscuits and general chat.
The excellent raffle provided by Jean and Roland was drawn, everyone wished goodnight and hope to meet in October.