On Thursday, October 20 Ross Barber gave a most fascinating talk about bulbs and the names behind them – many having been developed in Victorian times. it was thanks to the enthusiasm of James Allen ,an amateur gardener,

that over 100 types of snowdrops were developed . This led to many people (galanthophiles) becoming obsessed with collecting the different types. One bulb went for £1000 this year.

Edward Bowles ,another Victorian ,enjoyed gardening and was a keen traveller. He brought home many new plants. He was particularly fond of crocus .

Ross spoke about many more plants and the people behind them, including the King Alfred daffodil which was a sensation at the time because it was so much bigger than other daffodils and had a large trumpet. The bulbs originally sold

for £50 each. That would have been a fortune all those years ago.

The competition for a branch of Autumn foliage was won by Francis Freeman, 2nd Tessa Webb, 3rd Annette Haines and 4th Pat Daeman.

Our meeting in November is the A.G.M but on Dec 15 Christopher Cunningham is coming to talk about New Place Gardens, Stratford. Visitors will be most welcome to this at a charge of £3 a head. Meetings are held at The Crawford Hall

at 7.45pm. for further details please phone 01789 268974 or go to our web site www.bidfordgardens.com

TESSA WEBB