Gardening Event Reports
MARCH 28th. Rain did not deter members from meeting, we enjoyed refreshments at The Happy Cheese first then continued to Dorothy Bond's delightful Spring garden in Woodlands, Ashurst, when the rain stopped.
FEBRUARY 2024: Wet and cold weather meant another Garden Centre meeting, Dobbies at Cadnam provided a large selection of plants and garden equipment to view plus a reserved table in the cafe for the meeting.
JANUARY 2024: A well attended visit to "In Excess" garden centre at Landford. Plenty of plants for members to buy
December: Fairweather's Garden Centre and a pleasant interlude at Steff's Kitchen.
November: Visit to Otters Garden Centre, Lymington
October: A trip to Otters Garden Centre, Lymington, was postponed until November
September: Rita Elson welcomed members to her delightful garden in Brockenhurst, followed by a convivial refreshment break at The Terrace cafe.
August: Summer break.
July: Hampton Court flower show on July 6th, then later in the month: Lyndhurst Allotments courtesy of Mary Naylor on July 28th.
June: Mottisfont: Very hot weather meant only a few members visited.
May: Furzey Gardens, Minstead, a beautiful local venue.
April: Gardener's World Live at Beaulieu. Enjoyable day out.
March 19th: Open Garden in Brockenhurst at Rita Elson's garden to help raise money for the New Forest for Ukraine charity. A very successful event and a good fund-raiser.
February: Fairweather's Garden Centre. Just a few members met at 10.30am to browse the plants and enjoy refreshments together
January 2023: Stewart's Garden Centre, Christchurch, members met at 10.30am for the morning's visit.
December: Pre-Christmas get-together for a light lunch at Setley Ridge Garden Centre, a bright, sunny and very cold day!
November: A plant and seed swap at a member's home followed by refreshments at a local cafe.
October: The group's first visit to Shallowmead Nurseries, Lymington, with some members travelling by Bus, followed by a short walk to the venue.
September 29th: A meeting with an urban focus. The Tudor House and Garden in Southampton gave members the opportunity to see a Tudor garden and find out about the history behind it.
August: Summer break.
July 2022: A visit to The Lavender Gardens at Landford.
June 2022: Two separate outings this month. Members enjoyed the roses at Mottisfont and also the NGS garden at Durmast House, Burley.
May 2022: Visits to the Lyndhurst gardens of two of our members.
April 2022: Perfect time to see the Azaleas, Rhododendrons and Camellias at Exbury Gardens.
March 2022: A visit to a lovely Spring garden in Ashurst, at the home of Dorothy Bond, followed by refreshments at a local pub.
February 2022: Otters Nursery and Garden Centre provided plenty of choice for stocking up on plants and other items. Afterwards, members called in to see the beautiful tete-a-tete daffodils in Rita Elson's front garden in Brockenhurst. We also had the opportunity to enjoy a guided tour around the rest of the garden in lovely February sunshine.
January 2022: A very enjoyable visit to Mottisfont, the snow drops were late this year but there were swathes of young plants coming through and showing the white buds of the flowers.
December 2021: An enjoyable lunchtime at Fairweather's Garden Centre, Looking at Patrick's Patch, the Garden Centre plants and the shop, before a delicious lunch in Steff's Kitchen.
October/November. For Autumn colour we visited Hillier's Arboretum on November 4th with a small group of members and enjoyed the huge variety of plants and tree species. The "Art in the Garden" provided an extra dimension. We also observed a small group of people "Forest Bathing" in the woodland with the focus on "Mindfulness" and immersion in nature through contact with the trees.
September 23rd: A brilliant visit to Gilbert's Dahlia Nursery, wonderful blooms with Dahlias at their peak.
August 26th: MacPenny's Nursery and Woodland walk. September 2nd: Meeting at Alexis' garden in Lyndhurst.
July 15th: The Lavender Farm at Plaitford (Wellow) was a feast for the senses and the perfect venue for the second of our meetings this summer. The walk around the gardens provided plenty of inspiration for our own gardens and the nursery area gave us the opportunity to buy some of the plants we had seen. The tearooms had plenty of covered outdoor space for refreshments and the coffee and cakes were delicious.
SUMMER: Just a few members enjoyed a visit to Mottisfont for the roses which were a little later to perform this year. A good day out and well organised by the National Trust.
SPRING 2021: The 6 group members were able to start meeting again outside. The first get-together was at midday on April 8th in Alexis' garden for a picnic lunch.
The 13th May meeting was in April's garden from 12 midday followed by a walk at Pondhead to see the bluebells. Members shared plants and discussed the season's development in our own gardens.
Autumn 2020: Plans are again on hold due to the second Lockdown. Members hope to get-together again in December.
October was wet so plans were on hold until later in the Autumn.
September has been a glorious month with beautiful weather and the opportunity to meet once again in garden settings. On September 16th we had a guided tour of Margaret and Paul Boyes' lovely new garden which had been designed and planted by Fairweathers Nursery,(plus a lot of hard work from Paul) We were treated to tasty refreshments on the terrace and the opportunity to relax in beautiful surroundings. The following evening we met in Alexis' garden to appreciate the lush planting in her artisan garden and the new solar lighting as we sat around the pond to enjoy home-made elderflower "champagne" and nibbles.
One more garden meeting had been arranged for the end of the month with a visit to Mottisfont Abbey gardens, near Romsey. The Autumn weather had arrived with sunshine, clouds and a strong wind but there were still some attractive plants to see and photograph.
SEPTEMBER 2020: Lockdown during the Covid-19 pandemic stopped all Gardening Group meetings until September 2020 when we made plans for future meetings.
A wet Autumn prevented visits to gardens and the group enjoyed a pre-Christmas get-together at Haskins Garden Centre, West End, Southampton on December 12th 2019.
We started the Autumn with a visit to Otter's Nursery on Thursday October 3rd to stock up on wallflowers and Spring bulbs, preparing to plant and to enhance our gardens. Members also took the opportunity to buy the wonderful giant Amarillis bulbs which were available.
The beautiful summer was in full swing when we visited the Lavender Farm near Plaitford on July 10th. A wonderful and abundant display of flowers and plants in different areas through the site were an inspiration for all the visiting garden lovers. We enjoyed refreshments before immersing ourselves in the ambience of a perfect setting.
Following our visit we were invited into a member's garden nearby in Landford to admire the work which had been done over the years to make it a tranquil haven.
Mottisfont rose gardens were as lovely as always when the group visited in June and despite a sudden shower which sent us into the cafe, it was an enjoyable morning out.
Our May meeting was a relaxed occasion with a shared picnic at Avon Beach and the opportunity to plan the next few outings.
A sunny April day was perfect for admiring Cindy's beautiful Camellias, Azaleas and Rhododendrons, plus a wide variety of Spring flowers, at her Lyndhurst home. Members also enjoyed a delightful themed lunch in the conservatory with time to share gardening tips.
In March, we had the opportunity to look at Margaret's Spring garden and admire the early flowers while discussing plants and the changing seasons, followed by a delicious afternoon tea.
A mild February ensured there was plenty to see in Vanessa's garden, particularly the winter flowering hellebores, snowdrops, heathers and tiny daffodils, with the added bonus of a tasty treat with coffee and cake.
2019: Members met in January on a lovely sunny day to plan the coming year at Alexis' home where we all enjoyed lunch and the opportunity to look at the new pond which she had been busy building in her garden.
It was a beautiful day in October when the group visited Hillier's Arboretum with the aim to enjoy the Autumn colours, it could be also be a great venue for a meeting in November this year as the full spectrum of colours are slightly later this year.
September 2018: The planning meeting at the house and garden of a Lyndhurst member resulted in dates for the next three months being successfully arranged. Please see the group page for details.
A small group of members enjoyed a wonderful visit to the beautiful Mottisfont Abbey rose gardens in June. We also found time to visit the manor house before strolling to the walled gardens. After admiring the roses there was a break for lunch in the restaurant and on our return to Lyndhurst we completed a perfect day by visiting the gardens of two of our members. A great day out!
The brilliant summery weather in May was perfect for a walk around Furzey Gardens, Minstead, to view the beautiful Azaleas and the wonderful Spring flowers, shrubs and trees. All were at their best around the whole of the grounds and the atmosphere of peace and calm remains year-on-year. The "Chelsea" gold-medal winning garden was still a delight and the planting in that special area had matured and grown since our last visit a few years ago.
A beautiful warm Spring day in April provided the opportunity to stroll leisurely around the attractive, interesting and plant-packed garden which Alexis has created at her home. We then moved on to see the Spring garden at April's home and enjoy coffee and cake. A delightful morning!
In March a successful visit to the Sculpture Garden at Roche Court near Salisbury provided an fascinating and stimulating morning admiring the Art works both outside in the grounds and inside in the Galleries. Hosts of yellow daffodils reminded us that it was Spring at last.
February 2018: Just a small group were able to visit Furzey Gardens and cafe and after such a cold wet spell few winter plants were available to enjoy. Perhaps another diary date for later in the year when the azaleas and spring flowers will be at their best.
January 2018: The new Year started with a walk and get-together in Lyndhurst when members made plans for the coming months.
To end 2017: Members enjoyed a delicious lunch to celebrate the festive season at Fairweather's Nursey in Beaulieu in December. The Christmas trees, lights, all kinds of decorations as well as the beautiful variety of seasonal plants all added to the Christmas spirit.
Stewart's Garden Centre, Christchurch, was a perfect meeting-place for the group on a wet November morning. Members were able to take advantage of the Christmas plants and decorations which were already available and all enjoyed the coffee/hot chocolate and cakes in their excellent restaurant.
A shady woodland walk at MacPenny's Nursery in Bransgore was followed by a successful shopping spree in the October sunshine around the nursery's fantastic choice of shrubs and plants. A visit to the small cafe is also highly recommended!
September's trip to Mottisfont was a great success with a small group enjoying the early Autumn at a well-loved venue.
The Saturday venue of Fairweather's Nursery for a guided tour and talk on Agapanthas as part of the NGS Open Gardens scheme provided an excellent meeting-place for the Gardening Group on July 29th. A perfect place to buy the beautiful plants and admire the many varieties raised there. After the tour of the Nursery we enjoyed delicious tea and cake in the attractive gardens of the main house until "rain stopped play".
The summer weather continues with high temperatures and plenty of sunshine which must make it difficult for nurseries and garden centres to keep the watering going continually. We visited the Wyevale garden centre at Landford on Tuesday July 4th to enjoy their wide range of plants plus a relaxing chat about gardening over coffee. We'll visit the Lavender Farm on a future date as it is closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
A day of warm temperatures and summer sunshine on June 17th was the perfect time to view the NGS Open Garden at 21 Chestnut Rd, Brockenhurst. Our group enjoyed the opportunity to admire the beautiful flowers and plants in the well-tended gardens, the wonderful vegetable plot and fruit trees were a delight, and the calm shaded areas of the wild garden gave us all the chance to taste a selection of delicious cakes and relax over mugs of tea.
A walk at Pondhead Enclosure on a Spring day in May was a feast for the eyes when the Gardening Group got-together for a walk through the woods to admire the swathes of beautiful bluebells plus other numerous wild flowers growing there in profusion. After our exertions we were able to enjoy the plants in Margaret's garden and conservatory where she provided us with a delicious home-made rhubarb pie with coffee(the rhubarb from her own garden).
Exbury Gardens proved to be a brilliant Springtime venue to see the wonderful display of Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Camellias and Magnolias (plus the extra bonus of bluebells and other spring flowers) when we met on Tuesday, April 25th. The sunshine brought out the colours beautifully as we strolled around the extensive grounds. This was followed by a convivial coffee in "Eddy's Tearooms" and the opportunity to chat about plants and future meetings.
Our visit to Vanessa's garden on Tuesday March 7th, a mild and sunny Spring day, gave us the opportunity to admire the beautiful spring flowers which have been planted there and nurtured over past years. The hellebores in particular looked stunning as they lined the driveway at a height where their blooms could be admired. The miniature daffodils which were planted among them added to the visual pleasure of the scene. We also admired the compost bins during a tour "behind the scenes", these are invaluable and provide important nutrition to the garden each year. Many thanks to Vanessa for hosting our visit and for the delicious coffee, homemade cheese scones and brownies, plus other tasty treats.
Valentine's Day on Tuesday February 14th was the perfect time to visit Kingston Lacey to enjoy the beautiful snowdrops and relax over lunch.
On Tuesday 10 January we visited Stewarts Garden Centre, Lyndhurst Road, Christchurch. It is on the A35 on the approach to Christchurch, next to Sainsburys Superstore.The plants were super, there was an excellent coffee shop and a very large leisure and home furnishing section. A great venue.
2016
On 13th December we enjoyed the festive session with a visit to the Setley Winery and Nursery. After a enjoyable wine tasting session we viewed the nursery briefy and adjourned for lunch in the restaurant.
In November our meeting was on the 8th at Hilliers Arboretum and Gardens. There was still plenty of magnificent autumn colour. (Photos on this page).
11 October saw us visiting Gilbert's Nursery north of Romsey. They re well known for their Dahlia collection, which we thoroughly enjoyed.
On 7 June we visited Mottisfont Gardens and their beautiful rose gardens.
On 10 May we went to Otters Nursery just outside Lymington.
On the 5th of April we were invited to visit Cindys garden. Cindy maintains that her garden is at its best in the spring and after viewing her garden I think we would all agree it is quite stunning. The garden is very well established having originally been created by Hilliers gardens. The Azalias were beautiful, vibrant and plentiful, with many more shrubs and trees of interest, it was a pleasure to walk around and inspirational. Thank you Cindy.
On 8th March we had a trip to Fairweathers Garden Centre in Beaulieu to enjoy the Spring flowwers and to buy plants.
For February we revisited Mottisfont gardens to see snowdrops and the winter garden. For our visit on 16th February we left Lyndhurst and met at Mottisfont for 10.30am.
On a cold grey morning in January 2016 a very small contingent of the gardening group visited Wellow church to view the snowdrops which although not abundant they were resplendent blowing about in the watery sunshine. St Margarets church is lovely and well worth a visit.
Happy New Year to you all
For our first meeting of 2016 we have decided to visit snowdrops, which are bound to bring on a smile on even the greyest of days. April has kindly arranged for us to visit St Margarets Church in Wellow, where I understand they have a lovely carpet of snowdrops. The date is 26th January 10.30am meeting at the church, afterwards we can warm up over a hot drink in a coffee shop close by. Please contact myself or a member of the group if you need transport. I look forward to seeing you then and let's all keep our fingers crossed for a sunny morning!
2015
For our last meeting of 2015 the gardening group will be visiting April in Lyndhurst at 2.00pm on Tuesday 15th. We will be enjoying mince pies and planning next years activities. Hope to see you all there. Please contact me if you need any further information.
The gardening group will be visiting Hilliers Gardens in Romsey on Thursday 5th November. We plan to admire the beautiful trees in their autumn foliage, let's hope that we haven't left it to late. We plan to leave Lyndhurst at 10.00am and meet at the ticket office at 10.30am hope to see you there. Please contact Alexis if you would like a lift.
Last month we visited Margarets well established garden. It was a wet morning but the sun kindly came out for our visit and we enjoyed walking around her vegetable plot, discussing her many established shrubs and collecting seeds from the more unusual specimens. This month we are going to visit Sally's garden in Lyndhurst (ring or txt me if you need the address 07849 603406). We are visiting Sally at 2.00pm on Tuesday 13th October, hope to see you all there.
The group has been invited to walk round Margaret's garden on 14th September starting at 10.30, followed by drinks. Meet at her house or the top (dead end) of Shaggs Meadow.
On a glorious sunny afternoon on 29th June we visited the garden of a fellow gardening group member Jean, we had a very pleasant afternoon, discussing gardens, drinking tea and touring around Jeans eclectic garden, including chickens, accompanied by her dogs. June's garden has a stunning view of the church spire.
We decided to look at more group members gardens and on the 13th July at 10.30am the gardening group will be visiting my own garden. Please contact me if you require further details. This will be the last gardening group meeting until September.
Alexis
Hi All the visit to Mottisfont was great, beautiful sunshine and a light breeze perfect for enjoying the the sight and fragrance of the roses.
Monday 29th June is our first visit to a local garden in Lyndhurst. Meet at 2.30pm outside the church in Empress road, look forward to seeing you then.
Post script for Mottisfont visit tomorrow, I have been informed that there are 3 cafes, we will meet in the one in the main house at 10.30am hope to see you there.
Alexis
On a blustery wet morning in May a few brave souls from the gardening group met at Exbury Gardens. The gardens were spectacular the Azalia collecliton is huge, we made a note to visit a couple of weeks earlier next year to see the Azalia's at their best and to try a pick a dryer day!
Our next garden visit will be to Mottisfont gardens on Tuesday 16th June meeting in the coffee shop at 10.30am for coffee and a chat, hope to see you there and also that it will be a dryer day.
We have also been invited to visit a garden in Lyndhurst and have provisionally booked 2.30pm on Monday 29th June. I will add more detail when this is confirmed.
Please contact me with any queries. Alexis
The gardening group had their first meeting on the 14th April. At that meeting we thought that to kick us off and give us some inspiration we would visit a garden as they are all so lovely at this time of year. We are going to start local by visiting Furzy Gardens on 28th April at 10.30am we will meet in the coffee shop for a 30 minute discussion and planning and then tour the garden at our leisure. I look forward to seeing you all there.
Alexis
On 28th April the gardening group met in the coffee shop at Furzey Gardens over coffee we discussed shrubs that were currently in flower in our gardens, as well as our differing soil types also how to get rid of wild garlic and what to do about rhubarb producing flower spikes. We then spent a very pleasant hour or so walking around the gardens admiring the the azalea's especially a beautiful azalea hedge in the prettiest shades of pink. We saw other shrubs in flower many that were familiar and some that were not. Furzey Gardens is beautifully tranquil with some very stunning views, well worth a visit if you haven't already done so.