On June 21 the Bidford-on-Avon and District Gardening Society held its monthly meeting. The Chairman Neil Ferguson welcomed members on a lovely evening. Our Speaker for the evening was David Morgan the Worcestershire County Organiser for the National Gardens Scheme (NGS). He gave members the leaflet of gardens open in Worcestershire for 2018. His talk was both amusing and well-illustrated with pictures and cartoons. His title was ‘I’m not much good at gardening’ and he explained his wife was the gardener. She is a member of Plantalcoholics Anonymous as she is unable to go to a Garden Centre without buying at least 3 plants. He talked about the three most important gardens, first The Garden of Eden, second The Hanging Gardens of Babylon and third, well it had to be his own garden! He was inspired by the TV gardener Charlie Dimmock. For a garden to succeed you need good Design, Personalisation, Pinching other people’s ideas and finally Interesting Objects which he and his wife present to each other for birthdays and anniversaries. At the end of his presentation he showed us some superb photographs of his own beautiful small garden (Oak Tree House, Bromsgrove) which is open to the public on certain days for NGS and he raises thousands of pounds for charity each year.

The monthly competition ‘One Stem of any Rose’ was very well supported, First Prize: Josie Sawtell, Second: Archie Hancox, third: June Hancox fourth: Malcolm Boscott. The next meeting on July 19 will be our Summer outing to Lamport Hall and Coton Manor Gardens. There are still some seats available so please phone our secretary contact details below. 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