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Author Archives: gillians
“It’s all in the preparation”
I don’t work on Mondays so I was able to join the Surrey group last week for another in their series of propagation workshops, this time on soft-wood cuttings. It was one of those warm days that keep reminding us that it is summer … Continue reading
Chelsea roundup
Thank you, thank you, thank you to all our fantastic volunteers who helped us run the Chelsea cloakroom last week. The pennies are still being counted and Joanna is being a bit coy about how much we raised, but she … Continue reading
Why?
This was the question I posed last week to some of the exhibitors at Chelsea; weeks if not months of preparation, long journeys, finding sitters for the nursery, securing accommodation in London, long days of build up, nail-biting during judging and … Continue reading
24 hours later
After freezing at Chelsea on Friday, I was taking no chances on Saturday, even though the sun was shining. But I needn’t have worried and the cloakroom was there to soak up my extra layers. I was early enough to … Continue reading
Posted in Events
Tagged Chelsea flower show, Don Billington, Every Picture, Fibrex, Plantagogo, Richard and Vicky Fox, Richard Goddard-Key, Sparsholt
The band played on
‘Singing in the rain’ was the number being played as I walked across the bandstand area on my way to get a cup of tea to warm me up. A month away from the longest day and it was bitterly … Continue reading
Putting faces to names
Although my shift working in the cloakroom didn’t start until 1.30 it really was worth getting up at 5 and getting the first fast train to London so that I could be into Chelsea before 7. I had a quick … Continue reading
The Colour Purple
(With apologies to Alice Walker) “I like the colour of the carpet” said Joanna as we arrived to set up the Chelsea cloakroom. Taking the shelves out of the stack to make up the Danish trolleys, Joanna checks with Helen … Continue reading
Posted in Events
Tagged baggage, Chelsea, Cloakroom, left luggage, Showa gloves
The dam bursts
With lots of pent up plant buying demand from the miserably cold Easter and April, the Surrey Plant Heritage Plant Fair stood a reasonable chance of doing well. But add a healthy dose of sunshine, a Bank Holiday weekend and … Continue reading
People
It’s the people who make the AGM so very special: some regulars, some first timers. This is a round up of some of the faces – not comprehensive by any means and in no particular order, but just a flavour … Continue reading
Posted in Events
Tagged agm, Exbury, Hampshire group, Longstock, NFU Mutual, Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Water Gardens
Baker’s Dozen?
The Sir Harold Hillier Gardens currently holds twelve National Plant Collections, providing interest throughout the year. For our visit to the garden the ‘Members’ Weekend’ crew were divided into four groups each one to be led by a garden expert. … Continue reading
Posted in Events
Tagged agm, Natiional Plant Collection, National Collection, The Sir Harold Hillier Gardens & Arboretum
gillians
mercym
Plant Heritage
TPP Kalani
TPP Sophie
