Blog
My passion for hostas – exploding the myth
Linda Power Ashman By highlighting some of the problems of growing hostas, the reasons for them and offering solutions, I hope to explode some of the myths and bad press these plants receive. Focus of the talk: (A) DECISIONS AND DIMENSIONS – Location? Where’s...
Composting for beginners – getting the right mix and turning muck into magic!
Our speakers on Monday 17th February were Shropshire Master Composter Rachel Strivens and Bridgnorth-based Paul Pickerell, restating the message on COMPOSTING FOR BEGINNERS. Rachel first visited us in March 2022 when we had our first lesson in turning green garden...
Learning to grow food competition brief 2025 – Wyre Forest School
Sponsored by Midcounties Coop and Farlow Farm Nursery One potato, two potato, three potato, four! There are three main objectives for this year’s competition: to develop the concept of seed varieties for a fruit or vegetable to develop the skills of fair comparison –...
Learning to grow food competition brief 2025 – Pre School and Primary
Sponsored by Midcounties Coop and Farlow Farm Nursery One potato, two potato, three potato, four! There are three main objectives for this year’s competition: to develop vocabulary and mathematical skills. to develop the concept of seed varieties for a fruit or...
The story of Penny Jaeger and the Old Infant School
I awoke to ‘Narnia’ on the day of my visit to Penny and Graham at the imposing Victorian school which has been Penny’s home since 1989. I had hopes of taking some wonderful winter wonderland photographs to illustrate this article, with foliage draped in...
Climate-resilient gardening
This was Claire Tatler’s second visit to us. Previously she recounted her experiences ‘Gardening in Historic Places’ and a report of that presentation can be found on the website - Monday Night Musings. She continues to be in the employ...
John and Daphne Tuck
It was my pleasure to meet John and Daphne Tuck one September morning in their Cleobury garden at The Hurst. John first came to The Hurst in 1952 and lived here intermittently until 1980 when Daphne joined him. Together they tackled the derelict cottage and the...
History of Birmingham Botanical Gardens
Philip Aubury became the Director of the Birmingham Botanical Gardens in 1987, from a previous career in local government. He remained Director for 20 years, and his presentation to our Monday meeting covered the history of Birmingham Botanical Gardens from its...
Gardening and getting the best out of clay soils
At our Monday Meeting, Howard Drury DHE(Hons), offered us the endless depth and extent of his knowledge and experience of gardening and getting the best out of clay soils. Having learned his craft the hard way – making other people rich by his labour – Howard...
A reminder of the unpredictability of the seasons
As gardeners we sometimes forget that gardening can be unpredictable and we proceed on the basis of total control. We make our plans, buy our stocks and book our diaries to put our dreams into existence. And then Nature throws a googly, like this year, when the...