The March meeting took place in Bazley. It was a treat to walk around the terraced gardens at Erica Jones’ residence where everything was so lush with an amazing view to complement it. Thanks go to Erica for making members feel so welcome – and luckily the rain didn’t spoil the morning.
Chairman Caroline van Hilten welcomed members and visitors and clarified points for members wishing to enter the monthly competitions. She said items being entered should have the name of the exhibit on it. If members were unsure of the exhibit they could ask one of the judges. Secondly, the item should be in a container with water to cover the stems with some pebbles placed in it to stop it falling over. Thirdly, the item must be clear of any insects, insect damage or torn leaves and it must be in generally good condition otherwise the entry could be downgraded.
Fruit must be clean, washed and shiny and vegetables were to clean from mud. Lastly, members who had entered items for the competition were to wait at the tables with their exhibit in order for their entries to be recorded. The chairman added that there are new forms with the competition rules available.
YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN: Green Fingers Garden Club: Getting down to business for 2019
Some tips: Plant bulbs in pots or in nylon mesh wrappings to prevent moles from eating them. Azaleas – try to hose down in dry windy weather and if the leaves are going yellow apply iron chelate at the recommended rate or Epsom salts at 5ml per five litres per bush. If you have roses, try to spread 3:1:5 over the root area to harden the new growth for winter. Spray fish emulsion for folio feed. arum lilies can still be divided this month, cut off some of the older leaves and then replant in soil with compost and a dressing of super-phosphate at 200g per square metre. Plant any new shrubs or trees to help them become established before summer. Mulch flower beds with compost or leaf mould but water first. Mulching helps to reduce weeds and retain moisture.
Vegetables can be sown this month – carrot, cabbage, lettuce, parsnips and spinach. Gather herb seeds when they ripen and dry.
Competition results: One-stem plectranthus: 1 Steph Howell, 2 Rona Jones, Chris Makepeace, Erika Jones, Liz Thompson and Annatjie Lottering, 3 Elmerie Brown.
Rose bowl: 1 Dion Pienaar, Chris Makepeace, Rina Mason, Des Cuffe, Elmerie Brown and Annetjie Lottering.
Creeper: 1 Erika Jones, Liz Thompson and Rona Jones.
Best fruit: 1 Elmerie Brown, 2 Erika Jones, 3 Liz Thompson,
Best veg: 1 Elmerie Brown and Des Cuffe, 2 Erika Jones, 3 Dion Pienaar.
Best fruit: 1 Elmerie Brown, 2 Erika Jones, 3 Liz Thompson.
Best herb: 1 Elmerie Brown and Annatjie Lottering, 2 Dion Pienaar and Wendy van den Heever.
The competitions for April: One-stem berries or one-stem striped foliage and one-stem indigenous berries or seed pods. The herbs are sage or comfrey.
The April meeting is being held at 35 Gumtree Road, Pennington on Thursday, April 18. Hope to see everyone there with chairs, hats and crockery.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Like our Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram
