Latest Society News & Events 2025
Take a look at what the society did in 2024
Trips by Private Car
We now have to charge non members an extra £2 per person to join us for the day of the trip. This is to ensure cover by our insurance.
Please pay on booking and forms will be distributed to complete name/ address on the day of the trip.
News Update January 2025
The final talk of the year was given by Jo Arnell on Autumn and Winter Shrubs / Structure in the Winter Garden. Jo encouraged us to think carefully about the attributes of a plant before purchase; she told us that she "interviews" prospective plants asking them if they fit at least three of her criteria, these might be shape, size, seasonal colour, fragrance etc. It was an entertaining evening and despite being a cold dark winter's night attendance was good.
The Annual General Meeting of the Society will be held on Wednesday 8 January 2025 at 7.00pm at Barham Village Hall. Light refreshments will be provided after the formal business concludes. The AGM is also an opportunity to renew your membership for 2025. If you are not a member you can apply using the Online membership form. Individual membership is £7 and family membership is £14. In addition to a full calendar of events membership provides a discount on seed purchases from Suttons and a discount on plant purchases at local garden centres. If you cannot attend the AGM subscriptions can be paid online to our bank account. Details are provided in this year's programme.
The first event of 2025 is a talk by Steve Edney on Drought Tolerant Plants. This is taking place at 7.00pm on Tuesday 12h February at Barham Village Hall.
Gardening notes for January 2025
Happy New year.
Hopefully you had gardening successes in 2024 and maybe have lessons learnt. I am definitely going to keep on top of weeding- little and often, oh and do more succession planting. Although I think I may have said that before.
January can be a deary month, making plans for spring can make it seem closer. On bright days a walk round your plot observing what is starting to bud. Enjoying winter colour and scent can remind us that a garden can be enjoyed year round- just add extra clothes!
Many gardens open to the public will have areas focused on winter colour, hardy cyclamen coum, winter flowering heather (more tolerant of alkalinity than their summer flowering cousins) are commonly planted. Snowdrops and aconites will be flowering soon. Many of the shrubs flowering now are scented to attract insects. Its not just flowers which can lift the spirits. Think of the dog wood midwinter fire or the trunks of silver birch lit up with a low winter sun. In a smaller garden ornamental grasses such as miscanthus are bleached a lovely oatmeal colour and look beautiful in winter sun or caressed by gentle breezes.
There's still work to be done, raking leaves off the lawn can keep you warm and save the lawn turning to mud. Remove perennial weeds such as brambles, but minimise walking on borders to avoid compacting wet soil. Check ties on trees and climbers making sure they are secure without constricting. Brush snow off conifers to prevent damage. Although the yew hedges at Walmer Castle famously have snow damage to thank for their interesting shape. Leave perennial stems standing, they provide winter structure for us, habitat for insects and potentially seed for birds.
Remember wet and cold kills more plants than cold alone so go easy on watering in green houses or cold frames. Keep some horticultural fleece handy to protect vulnerable plants during cold snaps.
If you have a propagator, you can get ahead with seed sowing for those plants benefiting from a long growing season such as tomatoes or just to get earlier flowers/crop. Don't forget tender plants will need continued protection, so curb the desire to plant too much.
Keep bird baths and feeders topped up- remember to clean both, the density of birds using them can cause a build up of harmful microbes.
Its not a busy month in the garden, so enjoy the time to observe and plan. It will get busy soon enough.
Wednesday