Friends and Neighbours

We are not the only society around here with lots going on and activities to suit all levels of gardening interest and experience. Our neighbours in Uplyme and Lyme Regis, with all the challenges and opportunities a coastal climate offers, always seem to have a stimulating program on offer.

Why not check out their website (they have a link to a discussion forum too).

Petunias, People and Pastries

A new venture for the horticultural society, buying well over 400 tiny plug plants, rearing and caring for them and then selling them at a village hall coffee morning, proved a great success and good fun: all helping to raise funds for Drimpton Village Hall improvements.

Plants on sale included Petunia, Begonia, Verbena, geranium, plus tomato and other plants sown and propagated by members and friends.

There was the added bonus of home made cakes and bakes, plus games and stories for children.

Garden Club Plant Sale, Drimpton Village Hall

Garden Club Plant Sale, Drimpton Village Hall

Colin Varndell “The Wildlife Garden”

Next Meeting – Wednesday 16th May
Colin Varndell “The Wildlife Garden”

Colin Varndell is a Dorset based photographer best known for his evocative images of animals, birds, insects, wild flowers and landscapes. His work is reproduced nationally and internationally in books, magazines, calendars, newspapers and is regularly used for advertising purposes.

In addition to natural history, Colin delights in photographing gardens, applying the same distinctive style which he uses in all his work. He was the winner of the "Wildlife in the Garden" category of the 2009 International Garden Photographer of the Year competition and he has won a 'Seasons' category in the International Garden Photographer of the Year competition 2010 and the 'Texture' category 2011.

You will find more about him on his website

Swap, Share and Schedules

Our next meeting is a chance to exchange your garden stuff, share tips and ideas and start getting ready for the Flower Show in August - seems unlikely with the current weather doesn't it!

Please see Diary (on the right) for more information.

Notes from a Neighbour

We have heard of two events that our friends in Uplyme have up-coming, here they are:


Pippa Greenwood is giving a talk entitled 'Something Nasty in the Garden'  at 7.30pm on April 25th in Uplyme Village Hall. Entry by ticket £8 each available from Serendip Bookshop or Gingerbeer Lyme Regis or Uplyme Post Office or phone Jenny 01297 444034 or Ann 01297 443793

We are also organising a trip to the Malvern Spring Show on May 11th.  Leave Uplyme Village Hall 7.45am Cost 32.50 for coach and admission. Ring Brian 07831 533580  to book seats as soon as possible. (That is Uplyme's Brian, not this one!)

Potato Day 2012

Potatoes and people filled Drimpton Village Hall for the 5th Annual Potato Day. Pennard Plants filled the centre of the hall, with clearly labelled buckets containing a wide range of potatoes to suit most soils and tastes. There were also fruit bushes, asparagus crowns, rhubarb, onions, shallots, garlic and a huge variety of Heritage & Heirloom Vegetable Seeds.

Plenty of good advice was on hand, plus an opportunity (which 30 people took) to enter the annual Potato Growing Competition - the weigh-in on Show Day, 11th August, should be interesting, if the techniques and tips on getting a good crop from just one seed potato, that I overheard, are anything to go by. The variety of the seed potato supplied by Pennards for the competition this year was Lady Christl (not a spelling mistake - have a look on the European Cultivated Potato Database).

It wasn't all spuds and snacks, on stage there was much shaping of potato prints and application of paint to produce Drimpton's own version of that picture of happiness: Van Gogh's Sunflowers. (Have a look at the National Gallery page - our effort is not on it - yet!)

Teas, breakfasts, lunches, cakes, coffees and friendly smiles crossed the counter from the kitchen from early-on till the last visitor left for home. There is quite a team who work hard to put this on, but the fun and interest makes that all worth while.

Ready for visitors

Gathering gardeners and growers

Potato Growing Competition

Potato Prints

Baskets, buckets and bushels?

Children of all ages

Drimpton Sunflowers

There are more things ...

... going on round here than just the garden club ....