Shona Lockheart, one of our committee members, has won a Gold Medal at the Gardeners World Live Show. The category was ‘Beautiful Borders’. Congratulations Shona this is a great achievement!
It’s not easy building a show garden and we couldn’t be more proud of her. Here are some pictures of the finished garden.
This month we took a coach trip to Cambridge visiting 3 beautiful gardens.
The day out visiting three gardens around Cambridge, started early with picking up the coach at Boreham Village. Always a lot of chatting when hardy planters get together and this was no exception. Each of the gardens visited was a reflection of its owner and thus very different. While having our tea and cakes (or a lovely cream tea at one garden) we discussed that particular garden, maybe even go back to check something that you missed but another member spotted as a “treasure”. Hug old woodland trees or sit on a seat swing gently rocking and contemplating a colourful flower bed. Walking through a gate, confronting a perfect traditional thatched cottage with a garden matching, full of colour and old favourites. A happy day, beautifully organised with a bunch of friendly, knowledgeable people, sharing their love of gardens and gardening.
Rusi Hodivala
Here are some more hardy geraniums for a sunny position. From left to right:
Wlassovianum, Elke, Syrak, Elworthy Eyecatcher, Jolly Jewell Purple, Pink Delight, Dragonheart, Fran’s Star.
I have many passions. At the moment it is geraniums. A very diverse genus. If shade is your problem you can not beat geranium nodosum. In fact, in can be a nuisance, seeding everywhere. There are many hues, Silverwood, Clos du Coudray and my favorite Fielding’s folly.
Geranium phaeum is another good performer with the added bonus of differently marked leaves. Springtime stands out but there are many varieties.
Geranium pyrenaicum is another prolific seeder but very easy to pull out, and a joy in two different forms, Bill Wallis and Isparta.
Geranium macrorrhizum and geranium sylvaticum are also shade tolerant
It is easy to become hooked. A good idea is to join the HPS geranium group. They are experts and hold a study day each year. They also publish a newsletter which whets your appetite to obtain more varieties. All the specialist groups are excellent – do have a look.
From left to right: Isparta, Sylvaticum album, Bill Wallis, Springtime, Fielding Folly, Macrorrhizum “Ingwersens’s” Macrorrhizum “Beverley”, Phaeum.
We were pleased to welcome new members to a meeting at Margot Grice’s beautiful garden ‘Dragons’. A lovely message was sent to us from one of the attendees:-
“As new members of the Essex Hardy Plants Society we were welcomed by Margot Grice to her amazing garden in Roxwell. We were overwhelmed with the variety of unusual plants that fill her garden. Margot was so helpful to me as I am creating a new garden as I only moved in a year ago and to my friend Jan a very experienced gardener we felt at ease immediately we arrived. We really enjoyed our day and look forward to further events we are hoping to attend
Many Thanks
Marion”
We are very pleased to announce that we have a new website which gives members and non-members information about the Essex HPS.
Essex HPS 