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The buttons on the left will take you to the history of the association and recent press releases, Newsletters and AGM minutes' Members will receive the current newsletter in the normal way.
Penshurst Place (a trip in 2006) On what was one of the hottest days of the year, a coach-full of us arrived at Penshurst Place in its riverside setting near Tonbridge. Again we were delighted to welcome several 'new' faces in our group, including one grand-daughter, who, we hope, enjoyed visiting the Toy museum. The gardens included a silver and white garden, a Tudor garden with family crests on coloured poles, lily ponds and a flag garden laid out to resemble the Union Jack, with a viewing mound surrounded by roses. We were a little too early for most of the roses but one of the highlights of the gardens, a long paeony border, was at its peak, its various shades of pink beautifully set off by a backdrop of purple and green berberis. After lunch, we had a guided tour of the gardens but were a little disappointed that, while the guides had a good knowledge of the history of the garden, they were not able to tell us the names of many plant varieties. It was very pleasant to escape the heat and enjoy the cool of the state-rooms in the manor house, the most impressive of which was the Baron's Hall built in 1341, with a wonderful chestnut ceiling decorated with sculpted wooden caricatures of the servants and gardeners of the time. There was just time for a delicious cream tea before returning home. (Brenda Allen) How Caple Court (A trip in 2005) How Caple Court is a gloriously romantic, secluded house and garden which is gradually being restored by its owner Roger Lee. From school holidays spent with his grandfather, Mr Lee remembers the garden as a plantation of Christmas trees which to him, as a child, seemed like a forest. When he inherited the estate about 10 years ago he cleared the trees to reveal hidden gems such as an amphitheatre, a round pool with a circular pergola and a formal Florentine garden with narrow canals. There is also a terraced herbaceous garden, planted by Alan Bloom and a rose garden which is currently being replanted. Sadly some of the original artefacts, including huge Italian urns, have since been stolen.
We were extremely fortunate to be the first visitors to eat in the newly renovated dining hall (the floor had only been laid the day before) which was decorated with murals painted by Mr Lee’s grandfather. A delicious ploughman’s lunch was provided and, as one of our party observed, we were privileged to be served by the ‘lord of the manor’. It would be interesting to return in 5 years to see the progress made, but hopefully the restoration will be sympathetic enough to retain some of the garden’s peaceful faded beauty. 2005 Plant Sale
News Report from The Royal Horticultural AssociationGARDENERS' PEST CONTROL - Slugs and snails find coffee solution over stimulating Caffeine solution sprayed on plants can repel or kill slugs and snails Research discovered that a spray solution of 1-2 percent caffeine kills large slugs, and repels them when concentrations are as low as 0.1 percent (a cup of instant coffee contains about 0.05 percent caffeine) .When soil was soaked with a 2 percent caffeine solution, 92 percent of the snails left the soil after 48 hours or were dead. Preliminary trials suggest that a 2 percent solution of caffeine did not damage leaves of orchids and palms, but caused leaf-yellowing in ferns, bromeliads and lettuce. It is not known how caffeine kills the molluscs, but it seems to damage the nervous system. The researchers noticed that a 1-2 percent solution caused snails to writhe uncontrollably and the only ones to survive were those able to burrow into the soil soon after treatment. Concentrations of 0.01 percent caffeine caused an increase in the snail's heart rate, while levels of 0.1 percent and above reduced it. Last year, the most enquiries the entomology section of the Wisley Laboratory Advisory Service received were about slugs and snails. Metaldehyde pellets are the most widely used control method, but, in large quantities, are toxic to wildlife and a danger to pets and children. If caffeine is proved to be effective, it could offer a non-toxic form of control against one of the garden's most troublesome pests. Andrew Halstead, Senior Entomologist at RHS Garden Wisley said, 'Using coffee to control slugs is an attractive idea. However, regulations made under the Food and Environment Protection Act 1986 make it illegal to use any chemical as a pesticide in Britain unless it has been approved for that purpose. 'This requires lengthy and costly research to show that the product is effective and safe to humans and the environment. This applies to all would-be pesticides, even something as innocuous as coffee:
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Ewell Horticultural Association. Ewell Horticultural Association exists for the encouragement and enjoyment of Horticulture. © Ewell Horticultural Association 2002 - 2008 |
