Chair's Chat - March 2011

The sun has returned, it feels so good, so warm and fresh. Gardening is a pleasure on these days when nature fills you with wonder, and Monty is back on Gardeners World, the world is well again....

The anticipation of this time of year is almost palpable. All those packets with such promise of the colour smells and tastes to come. I have this urge every year to find even better tasting tomatoes, potatoes, beans than last year, even better blooms. With that excitement comes also the sense of urgency to get all the seeds sown, all the ground cleared. It's a strange mix.

I was at my allotment which I am clearing to pass on, I handed a comfey bocking 14 plant to a new member to plant, telling them a bit about how vital it is in any garden! Whilst he went off to plant it, his wife said 'I don't do organic, it seems a bit of a gimmick to me'. After digging for 5 hours I was too tired to rise to the occasion, my disbelief also silenced me other than 'It's just well grown clean food' which she looked blankly at. There are so many levels of ignorance and almost prejudice in her throwaway comment. I found it depressing and alarming.

On a more cheerful note....

In one of last weekends papers, Julie Myerson wrote an article about 'the secret of happiness', it was all about gardening! Julie states 'it's the only activity I can still do when I'm worried or angry or sad. Tending a garden is a meditative, humbling experience; you can't force anything, you just have to wait.

John Humperies states 'the idea that you can put this scrappy little seed into the ground and watch it grow and develop is immensely satisfying. It's primal, isn't it?'

Ken Livingstone says 'It's all the tedious things about gardening - sifting compost and pruning the hedges - that I enjoy the most. I do all my thinking when I'm gardening..'

If gardening was obligatory, I reckon we would be a much happier, healthier and calmer nation. Gardening is my therapy, I have long discussions with myself, and will not even notice the time. I can work until every bone and muscle aches, but I'm satisfied and content. If only we could show more people just how rewarding growing things can be.

Sarah and I are now determined to reach more people and the answer lies in our web site. We are planning to completely revamp and update it. We would love to reach more younger people, and would like to be on Facebook, Twitter and the rest. If anyone can help us in this idea, please do come forward, we only have so many hours and if you could just take one or two of them it would be much appreciated.

One of our visits this year is to a nursery called Wottens of Wenhasten. One of our members Sharon Allen has built an organic vegetable garden behind it. Unfortunately Sharon has just landed a lovely job in a kitchen garden in Wales. Sharon was meant to be talking to us on April 18 but has had to cancel. She wrote a blog about the creation of the garden and it is published in March's edition of the English Garden magazine. Wottens is very special, it has the most amazing flowers and specializes in Irises, auriculas and day lilies. It even had a plant that I am forever trying to grow called Dictamnus albus.' Handsome spires of white or pinkish-white flowers appear from early summer above leathery leaves that smell of lemons, especially when crushed. The flowers are followed by winged seed-pods. This lovely, clump forming perennial gets its common name, burning bush, from the fact that the unripened fruit and the flowers contain an aromatic, volatile oil which may be ignited in hot weather, emitting a delicious aroma. A great plant for the middle of a mixed or herbaceous border'. (Decsciprition on Crocus's website.)

I have found that Chilterns sell the seeds,( very hard to grow) but Wotten's were selling the plant! (I was so impressed)

When we go on June 5th, you will see a field of open irises, all sorts of colours and shapes of your favourite flowers. We are then gong to a pub nearby for a bit of lunch and then we will visit the nursery.

Another visit this year is English heritage and Garden Organic's Audley End, a National Heritage property with a Garden Organic kitchen garden. We are going on Wednesday 27th July, the head gardener doesn't do tour on weekends. The head gardener Mike Thurlow will take us for a guided tour around the garden. You will have the option of a tour of the house too. We are going on a time traveller day so it will be in the WWII. It will be suitable for children.

We have Bob Flowerdew's garden visit on the 3rd July, from noon until 4.00pm , he will be there, he's so good to talk to, I don't think I've ever met someone with so much knowledge.

I have been strongly recommended to go to the Small Holders Association show in the past, but never made it. Julie Champeney sang their praises about their show and she's not easy to impress. A lot of other people were impressed too, they had so many 57 joined at last years show. This year I am determined to be there. We have strong links with them and its good to see what they are up to. They always advertise our events in their newsletter.

Sarah Daphne and I went to buy a Darcy Spice Apple tree for Julie Champney as a thank you for all her hard work on the committee. We even went to her home borrowed a spade and planted the tree as part of the present. Julie sent us a very kind thank you letter. We wish Julie all the best for her future plans on her farm.

Finally if you have any photographs or stories, things that might interest other members, that could go into our newsletter or website, please send them in to brigid@agcl.com. Even little thoughts, ideas, hints, such as...

I use bicarbonate of soda on my sinks, a quick sprinkle and a good wipe with a wet cloth and a rinse brings taps up a treat.

A use for an old hot water bottle is as a kneeling pad in the garden.

Or garden quotes such as

'Not all seedlings are weeds. You may feel that life is too short to leave a seedling in till it's large enough to identify. My own feeling is that lifes too interesting not to leave it there until you can identify it. Christopher Lloyd 
(The Well Tempered Garden 1973)

Weeding is a delightful occupation, especially after the summer rain, when the roots come up clear and clean. One gets to know how many and various are the ways of weeds - as many almost as the moods of human creatures. 
(Gertrude Jekyll Wood and Garden 1899)

'I want death to find me planting my cabbages' Michel de Montaigne (1533 - 1592)

'A cauliflower is a cabbage with a college education' Mark Twain (1835 - 1910)

'To get the best results you must talk to your vegetables' Prince Charles (Sept. 1986)

'If you wish to be happy for a day, get drunk; 
If you wish to be happy for a week, kill a pig; 
If you wish to be happy for a month, get married; 
If you wish to be happy for ever and ever, make a garden.' 
Chinese proverb.

from Brigid Hayward.