Saturday 7th & 8th Aug 2010

David gave a talk titled ‘Back to Basics’ about growing vegetables for Showing and for the kitchen.

–He started by telling us that people are now more interested in growing their own vegetables in gardens and allotments.   Seed companies in 2008 & 2009 actually sold more vegetable seeds than flower seeds!!

His slide show opened with images of displays that NVS had done for the Harrogate Flower Show. A work of art involving magnificent displays of caulis, tomatoes, leeks, onions and many other fantastic vegetables.  So good that a Trophy and Best In Show was awarded.

We saw shots of the allotment garden at Geoff Hamiltons ‘Barnsdale’. And also fantastic images of Pat Leas Garden with its vast range of vegetables .

David explained growing techniques, soil types, water tables, height above sea level etc. Poly tunnels, cold frames & greenhouses. He showed us Peter Clarkes amazing prize winning long carrots grown in specially constructed raised beds with  7’ growing depth and even vegetables grown in dustbins. Similarly prize winning Parsnips grown in 45 gallon plastic drums! He told us how to grow the best Beetroots using a sandy soil to stop the skins from becoming coarse. Leggy tomatoes need nipping out at top and you can plant that up to start off another plant. Brassicas like a firm soil which has been limed the year before.

So many vegetables to talk about and so little time !

David managed to get through such a lot supported by a splendid slide show .

It was a very informative evening and the audience was very appreciative!

June’s  meeting is a Bring & Buy and Demonstration- an opportunity to bring along any Plants suplus to your needs. (Raffle tea & coffee as usual.)

A trip to seven capitals around the Baltic Sea, visiting their Botanical Gardens and Parks, is a tall order.

Uppsala University Botanical Gardens, in Stockholm, has origins in 1655, and was where Linnaeus laid the foundations of an entirely new classification of plants. In Helsinki there are huge collections of plants at the University and Gardenia Arboretum.  Both have tropical greenhouses, with palms and huge water lilies. Other highlights are ponds, flower beds, and a copy of a Japanese 8th Century stone garden.

St Petersburg has magnificent restored Palaces and parklands, and the Peterhof Water Gardens are mind boggling, with 173 fountains, and golden statues everywhere. Some very beautiful and interesting gardens are in Tallin.  Again, there are huge greenhouses, flower beds, rose gardens, and much environmental education.

A trip to Berlin brings us to the oldest, and largest Botanical Garden, containing a huge Palm House, plus rockeries, roses and a lot more. Mention must be made of the Tiergarten Park and Palace, set in a 630 acre Deer Park.  The gardens and trees were destroyed during the war, but are now restored.

On to Copenhagen, and a visit to the impressive Botanical Garden, with a huge greenhouse and wonderful gardens.  The University has trial gardens full of a range of plants, providing a colourful display.

Finally, to Oslo, where the University gardens have extensive rockeries and flower beds. Entering the 80 acre Vigeland Sculpture Park, there is the amazing sight of 214 sculptures, with 758 figures, surrounded by flower beds.  The single monolith, 46′ high, carved with 121 figures of human beings struggling through life, is an education.

A very worthwhile journey, seeing the beauties of Baltic horticulture is most rewarding.

Frank Robinson

Many thanks from LHS.

Following Mr Robinson’s very busy year as our Lord Mayor, he has very willingly agreed to come along with some more slides. We always enjoy his talks which gives us chance to see other Countries & how they decorate their towns and cities.

A meeting not to miss.

Raffle and refreshments AS USUAL.