The Essex Conservation Group met up for our May meeting at ‘Dragons’, the lovely garden developed by Margot Grice. We were lucky that it didn’t rain, but all managed to enjoy talking about the plants while sitting around a table on the patio. Last year’s successes and failures were discussed, along with plans for the coming year.

Slugs and snails seem to be the major pest this spring, not surprising considering all the rain we have had, and the mild winter. In spite of this, many members brought plants they had propagated either by division or cuttings to pass around to other growers.

The meeting finished with tea and coffee, along with some nice cakes. Beryl Davis deserves special mention for her delicious marmalade cake – yum yum!

The final treat of the day was Margot’s stunning plant of Rodgersia podophylla ‘Instow’, growing next to her pond. This plant has been in the scheme since 2008, but is not often offered in the annual exchange. This is the first year it had flowered for Margot, no doubt due to all the rain. It was particularly lovely surrounded by her red tulips ‘Sprengeri’.