After a day of unsettled weather, with showers, thunderstorms and heavy rain the evening was fine, treating us to some glorious evening sunlight with contrasting shadows. The wildflower farm staff were most pleasant and informative, showing us round the 40 acres, and explaining the extensive work needed to produce wildflower seed, plants, native trees and shrubs.  There was a plant sales area for those visitors wishing to purchase plants and we also enjoyed tea, coffee and delicious cakes after the tour. If you missed this visit, it is worthwhile considering a visit on a lovely fine day.

Please note, there is a further selection of images from this rewarding visit in the gallery on our website (under Wild Flower farm June 2013), which we hope you enjoy. Simply click on one of the photographs to see a larger version, and from that image select the other photographs which will remain in the larger version.

Despite the overcast and cold weather, a successful plant sale was held on Saturday 18th May 2013 (9.00am – 11.00am) at the Lowdham Village Hall car park. Society committee members were in attendance to help and advise customers during the event. As can be seen from the image above, sales of summer bedding, runner beans, tomato plants, cucumbers and marrow plants went well, the plant trays quickly being emptied. We raised just over £240 from the sale, all of which helps to support the Society and the village events, trips and talks which we continue to hold. It was most refreshing that a number of people attending the plant sale asked for advice with regard to plants and gardening. Furthermore, some visitors enquired about joining the Society, either now or in the future. Overall, a really worthwhile local event in the village. Well done to all.

A fine selection of vegetables

Plant sale in the village

• We have the horticultural society plant sale on Saturday 18th May 2013 in the Lowdham village hall car park from 9.00am to 11.00am. There will be vegetable plants,summer bedding plants, annuals and perennials available. – all at a most reasonable price. Donations of plants are always welcome.

We have two evening visits planned as follows;

• A tour around the Langar wildflower farm on Thursday 13th June 2013
• A visit to ‘Charnwood’, the garden of Kate Foale, (a recent speaker during our series of talks in the village) on Friday 05th July 2013.

Both visits include refreshments, are subsidised for members at £3.00 or for non-members £6.00. Please meet in Lowdham village hall car park at 7.00 p.m. to share transport. If you wish, you may meet us at each location for a 7.30 p.m. start.

Please let me know as soon as possible if you are interested in either visit for catering purposes.

I am planning a visit by coach to the National Trust property and gardens at Waddesdon Manor near Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire on Sunday 15th September – so keep this date free! More details to follow.

IMPORTANT; The date of our ‘summer social’ is now Thursday 11th July at 7.30 p.m. in Lowdham W.I. hall. Invitations are to be sent out soon.

Finally, someone left their entry of a ‘spiky succulent’ plant behind in the village hall after the spring show. It is flowering away happily at my house and I would love to return it to its rightful owner – please let me know if it is yours!

Nicola Macdonald

!!HYPERLINK ” mail to :na246@btinternet.com”  or tel no 0115 9665201

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After the seemingly endless winter of 2012/13 and resultant lateness of the much awaited spring, our concerns about a lack of exhibits for the spring show were almost totally unfounded. Together with the art exhibition of ‘floral art’ staged by the Lowdham Painting for Pleasure Group, and remarkably an overall increase in flower and shrub exhibits to a total of 183, a most enjoyable and colourful spring show was held. In excess of 150 adults plus children attended the event and many positive comments were received regarding the quality and number of exhibits. We thank all those who supported the show and would welcome feedback and of course any ideas and importantly assistance for future shows.

Despite the bitterly cold and dismal day, the visit was rewarding in that we saw the wonderful display of snowdrops, hellebore and cyclamen in the gardens. We had access to the walled kitchen garden and the extensive parkland forming the estate. We had a most enjoyable lunch in a lovely room, being well looked after by the staff. The facilities included a cafeteria, restaurant, farm shop and retail outlet. We hope all who went on the trip have now ‘thawed out’ and are looking forward to more visits.

Please note that a selection of photographs are now available on the website gallery under the heading ‘Doddington Hall visit’. If you ‘double click’ on an image, you will be able to view a larger version of the photograph. Hope you like the images.