WEARDALE FLOWER AND GARDEN CLUB - APRIL 2019 NEWSLETTER

Tonight we welcome John Thexton from Carlisle, demonstrating Spring flowers.  As well as a flower arranger, John is an avid gardener and plant collector.   John opens his 5 acre garden at Hazel Cottage, Armathwaite, Cumbria for the NGS - this year the dates are 18 My 12-5pm, and 30 June, 12-5pm.  Entry is £3.50. Home made refreshments in aid of Armathwaite Village Hall.

RHS COURSES AT HARLOW CARR IN MAY  4th - An Introduction to Allotments; 5th - Garden Walk - Staking and Plant Supports; 12th A Beginner's Guide to Gardening; 26th Garden Walk - A Beginner's Guide to Propagation.  29 April to 5 May is National Gardening Week, and the RHS are running several events focussing on edibles.

COFFEE MORNING  Please support our annual fund raising coffee morning on 4th May, 10-12 in the Town Hall.  There will be cake and plant stalls, and raffles of hanging baskets, plants and tubs.  Income will go towards costs of transport for garden visits in June and July. Donations of plants and cakes will be most welcome, and can be brought on the morning or left with any Committee member. THANK YOU.

HARLOW CARR, MAY COURSES
7 May - Growing Herbs and Hand Ties
10 May - Greenwood Furniture - Make a stool or low bench
10 and 11 May - How to Paint Flowers in Watercolour for Beginners
24 May - Micro greens, sprouting seeds and unusual leaves
Further details from RHS Harlow Carr website

OPEN GARDENS IN MAY
3rd - Cragside, Northumberland
5th - Hillside Cottages, Low Etherley
19th - Blagdon, Seaton Burn
25th - Ushaw College
26th - Croft Hall, Croft
27th - Woodbine House, South View, Hunwick
Further details www.ngs.org.uk

JONATHAN MOSELEY EVENTS  Harrogate Spring Show is 25-28 April, where Jonathan Moseley will be doing demonstrations in the floral art marquee at 11 am and 3 pm on the 25th April.  He will also be selling his 2019 collection of floristry and garden/interior accessories and decorations. At the Malvern Spring Festival on 9-12 May, he will be creating a floral installation and presenting throughout the four days of the show.
24th May - Workshop - Creating a Cutting Garden and How to Grow and Arrange It - Ashover Parish Hall, Derbyshire, 10am to 3pm, £100.  Details from www.jonathan-moseley.com

JUNE AND JULY GARDEN VISITS  We need to finalise numbers for our garden visits.  The cost of the full day visit to Martin Fish's garden on 18th June (leaving at 10am) includes a garden tour, two course lunch and drink (for which he is charging us £16.50pp).  The total cost of the day to members is £20, which includes a contribution to the cost of transport.  The residual cost of the transport will be paid from Club funds.  The total cost for non members is £25.  Following the visit to the garden, there will be a stop in Thirsk for tea/shopping.

The visit to Satinder's at Killerby on 16 July is an evening visit, transport leaving at 6.15pm.  The cost will be £5 if you want transport.  Entry to the garden will be paid from Club funds for members (friends will have to pay £5 entry), as well as any residual cost of transport.  

Please see Janice tonight if you want to add your name to the lists.  If we have insufficient numbers, we will open the visits to friends after this evening.

RHS AFFILIATED SOCIETY  As an RHS affiliated group we are entitled to one free annual visit for up to 55 members to an RHS garden of our choice.  Harlow Carr, Harrogate, is our nearest.  This visit can be made from now until 31 January 2020, with a £5 discount retail voucher for all group members (subject to £30 minimum spend).  
We already have other garden outings organised for this year, but if a group of members would like to take advantage of this free entry to Harlow Carr we can apply for a group ticket (saving £11.80pp entry).  You would have to arrange own transport.  As well as the gardens there is Bettys cafe and shop, large gift shop, and garden centre.  The group can be any size, but we can only make one free visit per subscription year.  Please express an interest to Barbara or Janice.  It's a shame not to take advantage of the offer of free entry.

Reduced Price Entry Cards - we can also purchase up to three reduced price entry cards at £10 each.  They can be used an unlimited number of times throughout the year allowing up to two people a 30% reduction on the normal adult entry rate to any RHS garden.  Valid to Janury 2020.  

Finally, we can also apply for affiliated society  tickets for RHS shows (excluding Chelsea), which give a small reduction on the purchase price.  There is no limite on numbers. 

TULIP FESTIVAL  Constable Burton Hall, nr Leyburn.  Sponsored by Bloms Bulbs, a show of 6000 tulips. 4-6 May.

MONTY DON will be appearing at the Malvern Spring Festival on 10th May along with other Gardeners' World co-presenters.  He will also be at BBC Gardeners' World Live, NEC, Birmingham, 13, 14 and 16 June.
www.bbcgardenersworldlive.com
New book - Japanese Gardens,  A Journey.  Available from 16th May,  £35.

MIDDLETON LODGE, MIDDLETON TYAS   Walled Garden Tours - Designed by Tom Stuart-Smith, dates now released for summer garden tours.  April 22, June 9, Sept 15; £5 pp.  Cream Tea available in the Fig House, £8.50 pp.  Book in advance at www.events.middletonlodge.co.uk, 01325 477977

HARROGATE SPRING FLOWER SHOW 25-28 APRIL  Weardale Motor Services are running a coach to the show on Saturday 27th April, £14.50 (not including entry ticket).

RABY CASTLE ORCHID SHOW 5/6 May.