OUR July meeting was well attended and new members were welcomed. The Chairman, Neil Ferguson, said what a successful evening garden outing the society had to Meadow Farm, Feckenham with many members declaring that it is the best garden we had ever visited. The evening ended with a delicious meal at The Nevill Arms, Cookhill. There was a change to the speaker for the evening and Philip Aubury, retired director of the Birmingham Botanical Gardens came to talk to us on ‘No Plot No Problem’. He gave us an excellent presentation of growing home produced produce using a variety of containers. Containers that has been of great use are old recycling boxes, just remember to make holes in the bottom. Second soil, left over potting compost from used growbags or seed sowing can be used in the bottom half of containers and then topped with fresh compost. Water and fertilizer are also required for good results. Beans with red and white flowers make an attractive display as well as a crop to eat. Many vegetables have now been bred for pots, so choose these mini varieties to grow. Perpetual strawberries grown in pots in the greenhouse, balanced on another pot give a very attractive display of drooping fruit and the runners will also fruit and can then be used as new plants the following year. Members went home inspired to grow more crops to eat and enjoy. The next meeting on August 18 will be Jeff Soulsby ‘Phenomenal Plants’ and the competition will be ‘A vase of five different flowering stems’. New members and visitors are always welcome, we meet on the third Thursday in the month at the Crawford Hall at 7.30 for 8pm start. Details are available from Mrs Annette Hayes 01789 268974 or www.bidfordgardens.com

FRANCES FREEMAN