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Newsletter

No. 74 October 2011

What a strange season this has been! It makes growing plants well very
difficult. Perhaps we need a talk on growing plants despite the weather!

The talks so far this year have been ofexcellent standard, but with very small audiences. Jill Wright told us about historical vegetables and salads withseveral samples to try for ourselves. It really brought home to me the very small number of different plants we eat. Our ancestors enjoyed very many more, all of which are still around andcould be used.

At least 15 people visited Judy’s chrysanthemums on 24th September plus a few more who asked to go on different days. The flowers were not all out, but it still made a spectacular show with all the different colours.

Our AGM, plus reports from the Collections may be accompanied by a very special (and funny) entertainment, is to be on 17th November and we would like as many members to come to this as possible. The AGM is a very important way for us to keep in touch with you. If you are unable to come and would like to make any comments please let me know.

The last entertainment of the year is the Poetry Evening on 15th December. Professional actors are reading the pieces which are loosely related to gardens and plants and some of my friends have continued to badger me about doing it again ever since we first did it in 2006. Please tell all your friends and acquaintance as a very enjoyable evening is promised. The cost will be £5 payable on the door.

 Programme for 2012

Next year we have arranged to hear about the restoration of Myddleton House garden in Enfield and we may be able to arrange a visit to see it. We have a speaker on organic agriculture, on pests and diseases (which came very highly recommended by another PH group)., and Kate Bretherton (who has written a book on trees in St Albans) will tell us what keeps trees upright. ( I always thought it was just roots, but it’s intriguing to think that there’s more to it than that, so it’ll be interesting to find out).

We plan to include any gardens, which members are opening under the NGS or other schemes, in next year’s programme. If you will be opening yours please let me have details for inclusion.

National Collections

A new collection of snowdrops has just been approved. It is being held in Leighton Linslade, Beds and we hope to have more information, including any open days in the next Newsletter.

A Collection of miniature tall bearded iris is expecting to attain full status soon. Perhaps then I will be able to enlighten people on how they can be both miniature and tall.

Of Possible Interest

I have often heard of plants such as potatoes or raspberries having the virus cleaned out of them so that they are guaranteed free when sold. I was intrigued to read an article in the magazine of the National Chrysanthemum Society on how this is done. (The Society has just sent 76 cultivars to a firm, Genetech in Dundee) Apparently virus in infected stock is present in almost every cell, but the meristem, the group of rapidly dividing cells just behind the tip, is often free. The firm sterilises the surface of the plant and then cuts out the meristem and grows on single cells in an agar growing medium. When the cells form miniature plantlets they are tested and then further divided up until there are enough. These cells are then grown on in vitro before being planted outside to grow on. It is an expensive and high-tech business.

Helen Haran

Anuual membership

Key Contacts

Helen Haran (Group Secretary/Events)
01727 869437
 
 
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