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NEWS ITEMS
Report on the HPS Cumbria Group Annual Plant Sale 21 June 2008
Many members were gathered at 9am on Saturday June 21st to prepare. The contents of the many cars full of plants were brought into the hall to be sorted by our plantsman - Ron Davies. It was not long before the hall was full of a wide variety of plants. We had everything from rare and unusual perennials, shrubs, vegetable plants, annuals, and even some bonsai. Stella supervised the cake stall which had a variety of delicious cakes and freshly baked bread. The first customers came through the doors at 10.15am. They obviously knew that the first through the door had the best choice of plants! The first hour was quite busy and people were leaving with many bags of plants, some even returning for another spending spree. The members manning the stalls were treated to a coffee and some of Gill's delicious baklava when there was a lull.
We then carried on until 12.30pm, with a constant trickle of people coming through the door, buying plants at bargain prices. The clearing up was quickly done, and the last remaining plants were given to members who could use them for Village Fetes etc.
On behalf of the Chairman and committee I would like to thank all those who helped during the morning, especially Ron Davies who organised everyone and the plants, to Angela for masterminding the publicity, to everyone who brought plants (including a donation of several trays of annuals from Chris Crowder at Levens Hall), and to everyone who supported the event. The profit from the morning was around £500, which will go towards funding our lecture programme.
Erica Clapp [Secretary]
HPS Cumbria Group Members' Photo Competition 2009
The categories for the Members' Photo Competition which will be held in March 2009 have been decided and are as follows:-
- Group A - Wildlife in the garden.
- Group B - My favourite tree.
- Group C - An abstract pattern or texture in the garden.
HPS Cumbria Group Members' Photo Competition - 17 March 2008
The Members' Photo Competition which was held on 17 March 2008 produced some very good and interesting entries. Group 'A' My Garden in Summertime was won by Marian Armstrong with her entry entitled "Cottage Garden". Group 'B' A Favourite Garden was won by Eddie Simpson with his entry entitled "The Quarry". Group 'C' A Landscape in the UK was won by Eddie Simpson with his entry entitled "Martindale Evening". Eddie Simpson's entry "The Quarry" was judged to be the overall winner. You can view the winning entries at Photo Competition 2008 Winning Entries.
HPS Cumbria Group Chairman's Open Garden - 15 July 2007
On Sunday 15th of July 2007, the official 50th Anniversary of the Hardy Plant Society, all Cumbria Group members were invited to view the Chairman's garden at Ivy Cottage, Casterton. This was one of a series of similar events around the country to bring members together to celebrate this significant milestone. Despite the recent heavy rains the event was blessed with fine weather. Fifty-eight members and friends took up the invitation and spent a pleasant hour or more looking around the quarter of an acre garden which Ray and Margaret Lakeland have been developing for six years. The landscaping of this triangular site and choice of plants, together with a superb view across open countryside was much admired. To celebrate the anniversary there was a toast to the Society followed by the cutting of the celebratory cake after which everyone adjourned to the nearby Village Hall to enjoy a cream tea.
Welcoming visitors
A short speech
A Celebration Toast
Cutting the cake to celebrate the HPS 50thAnniversary
HPS Cumbria Group Annual Coach Trip 2007
The annual trip for our members this year on Saturday June 23rd, was to Bluebell Cottage Gardens and Nursery, followed by a return visit to the Arley Hall Gardens and Festival. We left Kendal at 8.30am, and were soon approaching the Bluebell Cottage Gardens along a narrow country lane, and over the canal. Sue Beesley, the owner, met us at the bridge. She gave us an excellent introductory talk about the History of the garden, and then proudly showed us the beautiful cut glass award she received for winning the 'BBC Gardener of the Year Award 2006'. Coffee and cake were available for us in the Tea Room, and then we were free to wander round the lovely gardens, and of course visit the Nursery. Many people came away with some good quality and unusual plants. The storage in the coach was filling up nicely!
We then travelled on to Arley, which was only a few minutes away. Members were free to enjoy the lovely gardens, and also visit the Garden Festival. Arley Hall borders are notable for their excellence, and the roses were stunning despite the torrential rain, which they had had the evening before. The Garden Festival gave us many buying opportunities, as there were many stalls with excellent plants at very good prices. Everyone took advantage and we were soon weighed down with many bags.
At 2.30pm, all members of the main NorthWest Hardy Plant Societies gathered in a small marquee to toast the 50th birthday of the Society. There were speeches by the new Chairman, Sue Pinsent, 'bubbly' and some delicious cake made by the Shropshire Group.
Needless to say the storage capacity of the coach was stretched to overflowing by all our purchases. Yes another good trip by the HPS Cumbria Group. Some of the comments by our members made on the coach going home perhaps sum up the day better than I!
'Off we went to Arley Hall Cake and champagne was served to all. With plants galore and loads to buy got back to the coach and sat down with a sigh!'
'Gorgeous plants at Arley Hall - A 'reet' good time was had by all.'
'2 lovely gardens, good unusual plants, fun company AND champagne. Thanks.'
'Thoroughly lovely day - relaxed - time to see and take in everything. Really well organised. Would come again.'
'An enjoyable trip from two zany plantaholics!'
Erica Clapp, Secretary
Lodge Lane Nursery June 2007
Arley Hall borders - June 2007
Shopping is over
A welcome rest
HPS Chairman Sue Pinsent cutting the celebration cake
HPS Cumbria Group Annual Plant Sale on Saturday 16 June 2007
The sale was held in the Kendal Parish Hall, Kirkland, KENDAL. Stalls with an excellent selection of perennial and annual plants - together with many varieties of vegetable plants presented gardeners with lots of choice. For gardeners of varied interests, there were bargains to be found on all of the stalls. The Cake Stall, Garden Sundries Stall and the Second-hand Gardening Books Stall were well stocked and presented further buying opportunities.
Plant Sale June 2007
Plant Sale June 2007
Plant Sale June 2007
Cumbria Group says farewell to their Secretary, Anita
At our meeting on 19 March 2007, Chairman, Ray Lakeland, thanked our secretary Anita for all her efforts, over many years, in support of our Group and praised the work she had carried out as Honorary Secretary of the Hardy Plant Society. On behalf of the members Ray expressed their good wishes to Anita as she prepares for a permanent move to go and live in India.