Latest from the RHS

Spring is in sight Kick-start your gardening year with the RHS London Plant and Design Show (please note the dates have changed to 21 - 22 February). You can book all 2014 flower show tickets now, with early bird discounts for certain shows until 28 February. Put a spring in your step with our podcast, February jobs and grow your own jobs. Plus courses at RHS Gardens can be booked now. The RHS Photographer of the Year 2013 is Heather Buckley; see winning images here. That's just the highlights, for more visit the RHS page here

Welcome Snowdrops

Under the hedge in the flower garden, the snowdrops are in flower and the daffodils are pushing through, the birds seem noisier and definitely we are closing the curtains later in the evening, all good signs that we are well past the shortest day, though not of course yet ready to say goodbye to winter. 

I came across a useful article in the paper this morning dealing with just this time of year in the garden. You can find it here "Gardens, The February Checklist"

Don't forget to measure up and count how many potatoes to want buy on 

Potato Day

Saturday 8th February 2014

10:30 to 2:30

Drimpton Village Hall

Winter 2013/14 Grass Roots

Grass Roots – the magazine for all RHS community groups, including RHS Affiliated Societies, all RHS “in Bloom” and It’s Your Neighbourhood participants.

Here is the Winter copy of Grass roots.

Just follow the link for this and earlier editions.

The Link to RHS Grass Roots

RHS Grass Roots Magazine Cover

Dry Stuff, no not the weather - the Draft Constitution

Here are the three pages of the Constitution to be submitted for approval at the Society's AGM on Wednesday 19th February.

You may wish to zoom in on your browser to more easily read the text.

Constitution Page 1

Constitution Page 2

Constitution Page 3

Summer Show 2014

Best wishes for the New Year, in your garden and otherwise.

In August we shall, of course, be holding The Annual Show and, though that is yet months away, we thought some advance notice in a few of the classes may be helpful,  to get you snapping, stitching and painting. 

Photography titles:

* "This always makes me smile."  

* Holidays

* A Winter Scene

* Funny Signs

* A Pond

Handicraft will be the same in most cases, one class, where you may like some advance notice, will be for a Textile Bag (which may be from a kit). 

Art will include your usual classes, so something for pretty much every medium hopefully.

The Schedule will soon be ready for printing and, as last year, when it is complete a full copy will be available for you here. 

Society Christmas meal at the Royal Oak, Drimpton

This time of year is very much taken up with opportunities to enjoy Christmas meals with friends so, as a committee, we offered the suggestion to members that perhaps we change to a New Year meal after Christmas. Perhaps fearing an early-undoing of New Year resolutions to get fit, or shed a few pounds, members opted to stick with tradition. A jolly good decision that turned out to be - we enjoyed a wonderful evening last night at the Royal Oak, the food was very good, the company lively and fun and, except for those poor souls having to work the next day, we continued the evening chatting almost into the small hours.

The months ahead

The weather forecast today has been very much of conditions to wrap up for and also to batten down the hatches. Let us hope that, by the time the events listed below are under way that everyone will have come out the other side in one piece.

December 2013

That is our members traditional Christmas Lunch - but in the evening - work that one out. We are all looking forward to enjoying the hospitality of the Royal Oak.

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January 2014 - Wednesday 15th at 7:00 pm in Drimpton Village Hall

Our very popular Quiz and Puds (and more).

Teams of 4, with entry at £2.50 per person, to include the first pud.
There will also be savoury tastes and, of course, Bob's dastardly brain-teasers.

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February 2014 - A busy month

Potato Day

Saturday 8^th February 2014

10:30 to 2:30

Drimpton Village Hall

Great Food and Children's activities

Welcome to our 6th Annual Potato Day, with Pennard Plants offering a wide variety of Seed Potato varieties for sale, by the tuber or in bags, with information on type, cultivation and disease resistance for each one. Our Potato Day is organised for gardeners, by gardeners; you will find plenty of help, information and encouragement.

The Heritage Collection seeds, plus a selection of Garlic, Onion and Shallot sets, plus herbs, fruit bushes, rhubarb and more will be available. Potato Day is the only opportunity to enter our popular Potato Growing competition, (classes for young people and adults – weigh-in on Show Day, Saturday 9^th August)

Enjoy the renowned Drimpton food, with all day brunches, lunches and cakes, as well as warming drinks. As ever, the popular activities for young people will be here, so there's fun for everyone. Please join us, whether you are an experienced grower or just starting out on veggies, you will find this a friendly and useful event.

There is no need to book, but for further information please contact 01308 868843.

We are on Chard Road (B3162), Drimpton, between Chard and Beaminster. For SatNav: DT8 3RF

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Wednesday 19th February, 7:15 for 7:30 pm

The Society AGM and Social Evening - yes, more fun and food, once the serious business of agreeing a new constitution and electing a committee and officers has been concluded, hopefully successfully.

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