Three interesting talks from the 2017-8 meetings:

    Alan Hamilton’s notes concerning: A Country Style Garden, by Joy Caskie; Sir Bob Salisbury’s restoration     of farmland acres to natural habitat in 16 years; and Elma McDowell’s enthusiastic how-to with Fuchsias.

 'A Country Style Garden'

Our November 2017 meeting was a great success. Joy Caskie entertained one of our largest meetings with a detailed description of her garden outside Limavady. The theme was 'A Country Style Garden' and she informed us how she uses a wide and varied range of plants. Her presentation was excellent and was accompanied by many slides.

Amongst the plants in her garden are - many varieties of tulips, trilliums, annuals and hardy annuals (including salvias, companulas, peonies, achillea, echiums, helenium, foxgloves), pineapple broom, dahlias, grasses, roses (at least 10 x varieties), shrubs and herbs. We are very grateful to Joy and hope she will return as a speaker in the future.

 'Forever Dreams

Sir Bob Salisbury, who was our guest on Feb 15th, 2018, is well known for his large garden outside Omagh. He planned to give us a presentation on his garden and wildlife, as well as the Woodland Trust developments at Brackfield Wood in the Faughan Valley. Members were treated to an excellent presentation. Sir Bob described how he and his wife, Rosemary, set about returning a few fields to nature, and over a period of 17 years have been able to create a habitat which has encouraged wildlife to return.

In September 2001 Sir Bob and his wife moved from their home near Sherwood Forest to a 5 acre site at Seskinore, near Omagh. The site had been part of a farm previously owned by Rosemary's father, but over the years it had become neglected. They realised that the natural habitat was being lost at an alarming rate with the result that wildlife was disappearing.  The first step was to improve the drainage by creating a large lake. Fast-growing trees (willow, poplar and alder) were planted. A few years later they bought 9 more acres and added more trees (dogwood, larch, oak, beech and holly). Then Woodland Trust came and planted 4,500 trees for free in 8 acres. Meanwhile Sir Bob was planting the garden around his new house. They concentrated on plants which would attract birds and insects (e.g. soft fruits, sunflowers, honeysuckle, and an Irish wildflower meadow).

Over the years the habitat has become even more welcoming for wildlife and there are now hundreds of frogs, newts, 35 mallards, herons, sparrow hawks, pheasants, house martins, hares and otters. His efforts have encouraged other local land owners to follow his lead and it was inspiring to see what could be achieved in a relatively small area and short period of time if someone has the vision and determination to succeed.

Sir Bob writes books: one describing the creation of his Wildlife Garden was published in June 2017 under the title  'Field of Dreams'.

‘Loving Fuchsias’

On Thursday, 15th March 2018, we were treated to another excellent speaker. Elma McDowell, Chairperson of the Irish Fuchsia and Pelargonium Gardening Society, talked about her love for Fuchsias. She provided a demonstration and gave very practical ideas on how to look after what can be delicate plants. Here are few notes from her talk: -

 

In the 17th Century plant hunters brought back the first Fuchsias from South America, where they grow in a variety of climates; however, they can be difficult to grow for us locally as it is too cold here for some of the species.

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Tender Fuchsias can be overwintered by cutting them down to 4 inches, placing them in a deep trench (very well drained) with straw in the bottom and covering them with cardboard / sand / bark chippings / hessian bags.

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Elma prefers to buy her plants: she gets them as plugs from a Garden Centre in the Spring: they are planted in 5 parts good potting compost with 1 part vermiculite and 1 part washed grit. Add some water when the roots appear out of the plug.

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Alternatively, (1) if placing in a hanging basket, use compost and vermiculite with gel at the bottom of the container (not mixed into the compost). Or (2), when using soil, mix in some crushed chicken-pellets.

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Feed using a high-nitrogen fertilizer. Then after 7 weeks feed once per week using a potash fertilizer (no 4). You can feed twice a week if fertilizer is half strength.

  

  Elma brought some small plants with her which she distributed along with a pack of leaflets giving useful hints.

The Fuchsia and Pelargonium Society have their annual show in Hillmount Garden Centre, Belfast, and they also take part in the Belfast City Council Show in September.