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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.

Report on the HPS Cumbria Group Annual Coach Trip - 6th July 2008

The weather forecast was not good, but spirits were high as 43 members and guests gathered in Kendal for our annual coach trip. Our journey down to Staffordshire was uneventful except for a tremendous cloudburst as we approached Wollerton Old Hall , our first garden. Someone spotted a slither of blue in the sky and we all prayed that it was positioned over the garden.

We arrived at 11am, and were met by John Jenkins the owner who suggested that perhaps coffee would be welcome after our journey. After some delicious cakes, scones, tea and coffee, John gave us a talk on the origins of the garden.The sun came out and we were then free to explore the garden. It was gorgeous. The design was based on a series of inter-linked 'rooms'. Each room was quite individual and the planting was spectacular. Roses, clematis and stunning perennials greeted us at every turn. The delphiniums were breathtaking, with their stunning shades of blue and violet. The colour combinations were outstanding everywhere and an inspiration to us all. The rill garden offered an area of calm and greenness as a contrast. All too soon it was time to head for the Plant Sales area, and many very choice plants were purchased to remind us of the garden.

The Dorothy Clive Garden was our next garden. Lunch was the first consideration. Some ate in the cafe, and some had brought a picnic. Within 10 minutes the heavens opened again, and we were all glad we were undercover. The rain soon eased and we could soon explore the garden, sometimes with one's umbrella up, and sometimes down! The garden was quite informal with island beds and borders full of interesting plants. The pool at the bottom of the garden was very attractive and full of waterlilies.It was overlooked by a lovely scree garden full of low growing alpines and perennials, including Dierama pulcherrimum and Cynara cardunculus. Many of us discovered the gravel garden which was looking particularly good with grasses and several architectural plants (Melianthus major).

Our last garden was the garden of Diana Standeven at Mucklestone. She was due to be the speaker at our October meeting so we were looking forward to a garden full of 'curiosities'. Unfortunately she had been very ill recently and apologised for her garden which was not as she would have liked. The garden was small, and she had a good collection of plants she had grown from seed. The plantsmen and women among us were soon buying some very unusual 'curiosities' . The garden did not have the professionalism of the two other gardens we had visited earlier, but it was more like our own back gardens.

All too soon we were back on board the coach for the return journey to Kendal. We went through another tremendous cloudburst on the way up the motorway,but survived! We had all had a good day, the weather had been almost kind to us and had not preventing us from enjoying three very different gardens.

I think everyone's favourite garden was Wollerton Old Hall, and would recommend that anyone interested in gardens, plants and design should put it at the top of their garden visiting list. Marion Armstrong was inspired to write a poem about the trip and her poem follows on from this article.

Erica Clapp [Secretary]

Sunday July 6th - Ode to the Annual Coach Trip

Bags of wellies, umbrellas,
Early risers - HPS in many guises -
Gaily piling on the coach.
Storm cloud haunted, but undaunted
On our way to Wollerton.
Peter smiling, rain clouds beguiling -
As ever with his glass half-full -
Promised sun and clearing skies.
How right he was - he's very wise!
So Wollerton was glistening bright,
Freshly moist in glorious light.

Fortified by cakes and cream,
Off we went to view the scene -
Roses, delphs, achilliae, mint,
Scents (and hues of every tint)
Filled the air with perfumes heady.
Out we came with cameras ready -
Colours fiery, colours cool;
Shrubs and climbers short and tall,
Not only cats were held in thrall
To nepeta and the rest -
My friend declared it heaven's best.

All too soon it had to end
And on our way we were to wend.
So getting on the coach once more
Dorothy Clive we headed for.
The rain clouds gathered yet again
Peter's smile was on the wane.

Despite the wet, a happy bunch
Enjoyed a long and tasty lunch;
-by which time the rain did ease -
We took a stroll through dripping trees;
Gravel gardens, alpine screes,
Led at last to borders fine
Gaudy rich for summertime.

Marked contrast to our final call,
Smithy Cottage - neat and small-
Eclectic mix - a plantsman's place
Unusual things filled every space.
Brave Diana serene presided,
From garden seat advised and guided.

Our journey home was quite exciting -
Black skies, loud thunder, electric lightning!
So much so we sprung a leak
But Peter's skills were not to seek.
They came up trumps, and my last impression
Is of he and Ros both taking a session
At catching drips from above their heads
In a plant they'd bought for their flower beds!

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 - 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 50^thAnniversary

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 50^th 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

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.

www.hpscumbria.org.uk

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