WEARDALE FLOWER AND GARDEN CLUB - MARCH 2020 NOTICES
www.weardaleflowerandgardenclub.org

Welcome to our first gardening talk of 2020, with Keith Mastaglio - Dianthus, Pinks and Carnations. Keith runs G and K Carnations and is based near Durham (gandkcarnations.com).  

EVENT AT EGGLESTON HALL - As you may have already seen on our website, Heidi Varley is organising an event for British Flowers Week at Eggleston Hall on 16th June, 3.30 to 7 pm.  There are three elements to the afternoon - a one hour tour of the garden with Malcolm Hockham; afternoon tea, and talk/dem by Heidi, followed by the opportunity for shopping with 10% discount - shop and gardens.  Everyone will also receive a Pinks Flowers posy.  Tickets are £30, and if you would like to go please see Janice or Barbara who are compiling a list of names.  As it is so near, we will take cars rather than hire a bus.

NGS OPEN GARDENS (Further details at www.ngs.org.uk)
Adderstone House, Belford, 19th April, 1-4pm. 
Wallington Hall, Cambo, 25th April, 10am - 4 pm.
Primrose Bank Garden and Nursery, York, 28th March, 11 am to 4 pm.
Clifton Castle, Ripon, 29th March, 2-5pm.

DORA'S FIELD
Dora's field lies below Rydal Mount, home of William and Mary Wordsworth, and was planted with thousands of daffodils as a memorial to their daughter Dora.  Dora's field was gifted to the National Trust in 1935 for the benefit of the public.   
Location: A591, adjacent to St Mary's Church near Rydal Mount, Rydal, Ambleside LA22 9LX
Admission by donation, 22nd March, 11 am to 4 pm. Tea Room cafe located at Rydal Hall.

HARLOW CARR, HARROGATE
Daffodil days - A celebration of the 250th birthday of William Wordsworth - 2nd March to 27th April - 70,000 daffodils flowering during March and April.
Free Entry - RHS Spring Day - 24th March
Cyclamen Society Spring Show - 5th April
Growing Herbs and Edible Flowers - 7th April
Spring Gardening Weekend - 2 - 3rd May
Plant Heritage Spring Fair - 3rd May
VE Day Celebration - 8th - 10th May

GARDENING WORKSHOPS AT MIDDLETON LODGE, NR MIDDLETON TYAS
Workshops led by Andrew Webb, Head Gardener. 9 am to 12 pm.  Two course seasonal lunch available in the Coach House for an additional £20. Workshops are £40 which includes 2 hot drinks and breakfast sandwich.  Max 12 per course. Book at events.middletonlodge.co.uk
18th April - Lawncare
23rd May - Vegetable growing
21st November - Rose pruning
28th November - Climbing rose pruning

BUYING BRITISH
The British horticulture sector is worth £750million to the UK economy, and provides jobs for 15,700 people.  £121 million of this comes from the UK's annual flower production industry.  British flowers only account for 14% of all flowers sold in the UK, but more and more supermarkets in particular are promoting these by labelling British grown flowers with a Union Jack sticker.  Florists occupy a much smaller proportion of the British flower market compared to supermarkets, but are beginning to stock more home grown flowers.  A chart showing monthly availability of British flowers is available free to download from newcoventgardenmarket.com.
Top tips on caring for your British flowers :
•	use a clean vase
•	trim the stems at a 45 degree angle to increase the surface area for water take up
•	remove all leaves that will sit below the water line
•	change the water around every other day
•	keep away from direct heat.

DAFFODILS AND ALZHEIMERS
Daffodils contain Galantamine - a compound known to slow the progression of Alzheimer's symptoms.  Once harvested, daffodils are processed and supplied to pharmaceutical companies to be crystallised into prescription tablets and capsules.  

GARDENERS WORLD
Friday 20th March is the Spring Equinox, and also sees the return of Gardeners World to BBC2, for 30 mins from 8.30pm.  Hour long programmes start Friday 1st May.

ALNWICK GARDEN
The Cherry Orchard at The Alnwick Garden has the largest collection of Taihaku trees in the world - 329.  The Taihaku cherry blossom is known as 'the great white' for its snow-like clusters of 7cm long blooms.The trees all bloom together for up to two weeks around the end of April/beginning of May.  Check for details on 01665 511350.  Sat Nav NE66 1HB

NEXT MONTH'S MEETING - 21ST APRIL
We have Helen,  a UK Florist of the Year, and Design Director of Fiori Flowers, showing us how to do party flowers for the home.  We welcome non members, so bring along a friend if you would like to (visitor's fee is £5).