I’m writing this freshly back from special visit to a local garden with some of our members and their guests. Following a fantastic talk in June by Ed Fairey about the National Garden Scheme (https://ngs.org.uk/) with photos from his own garden, we were inspired to visit him at Mayfield Farm in Ardleigh for a tour followed by tea and cake. There was a fairly even division between those who went for a nose about the garden and those who went for the tea and cake, but all agreed it was a wonderful afternoon and great way to round off our events for the year.
Our 2024/25 programme kicks off on Saturday 7 September with our annual Autumn Show and the schedule to enter is available now to download from our website. Classes are free to enter and there’s usually a one or more that works for everyone.
Then in October, our programme of monthly speaker evenings starts again offering insight into a wide range of topics. We’re very excited about our first from Mark Richardson, who will take us ‘behind the scenes at the Chelsea Flower Show. Based in Fordham, Mark has worked with several designers to build Chelsea Gardens including the Gold-medal winning St James’s Piccadilly: Imagine the World to be Different with designer Robert Myles and the Bridgerton Garden with Holly Johnston and Netflix.
With landscaping being as important as plants in our gardens, he’ll give us a fascinating insight into the challenge of building some of the structures while also being conscious of planting going around him. We hope to be joined by one of his local design partners too, so this is one not to be missed.
One of our regular Show judges, Brenda Eyers, will give us a demonstration of flower arranging in November and we’ll raffle off her creations at the end of the evening. These will make wonderful centrepieces or talking points for any Christmas entertaining you’re planning. Then in December, we host our third Christmas curry and quiz. Spaces go fast for this one (and I get an early opportunity to go all out with the festive sparkle). Members and their guests get first dibs on tickets, so worth joining the Society if you don’t want to miss out.
In February, we host a virtual talk to save us venturing out until springtime returns and Ben Pope will take us ‘treading gently through the borders’ before it’s my turn to give a loosely garden-related talk on my beekeeping year. I’ve been keeping bees for several years now – not always successfully – and as the bees start waking up, will share some of the joys and utter failures of the hobby.
We’ll hear about the Eden Project and Lost Gardens of Heligan, get an introduction to Bonsai from the chairman of the Ipswich Bonsai Society and finish the programme in June with Roy and James from local Shadows Pit Nursery, who will bring along some plants and demonstrate how to propagate them. There will be an opportunity to have a go ourselves too, so if you want to learn how to make more of your plants for free, put 4 June in your diary now.
Speaker evenings take place at the Assembly Rooms, usually on the first Wednesday of the month, but do check our website for dates. Guests are always welcome – you don’t need to be a member, though there is a small charge if you’re not – so we hope to see you there.
As well as these events, our annual programme includes the spring show, a busy plant sale in front of Dedham’s church, coffee morning for members and our annual outing to a well-known garden attraction (we’re still finalising the details for 2025, so stay tuned to the website).
It’s quite a job to make all this work well and the committee is still looking for a couple of people who might have some time to help out. We’re a friendly bunch and regardless of how much time you think you can contribute – all help is welcomed.
Our Shows and Speaker Programme benefit from the generosity of two local sponsors, Horizon Landscapes and Bland Landscapes. Their sponsorship lets us offset some of the costs of these events, keeping them free for members and only £2 entry for other guests. So, as I sign off for another month and get back to planning the programme with my fellow committee members, I’d like to thank Marc Everett, Joe Bland and their respective teams, as well as all our members and casual visitors for their support.
Dedham Horticultural Society 