On Saturday May 17, the Worcestershire Group of the Hardy Plant Society hosted a talk by local horticulturist, Helen Picton, of Old Court Nurseries and the Picton Garden at Colwall called Michaelmas Daisies – The Rise and Fall.

Helen charted the history of the Asters(Michaelmas Daisies), Aster coming from a Greek word meaning “star”, and how they have fallen in and out of fashion through the decades. We heard about their development at Colwall by Ernest Ballard and consequentially the birth of the modern Asters. With Helen’s father Paul taking up the baton from Ernest, the family now hold the National Collection of Autumn Flowering Asters.

Helen with her knowledge and experience of these plants that brighten our borders in autumn, gave us hints on tips on habit and cultivation and picked out some of her favourites to share with us too.

Our Plant Sale is on June 14 2-4pm at Peopleton Village Hall, WR10 2EG

Our next meeting is held at Crowle Parish Hall, Church Road, Crowle, WR7 4AZ near Worcester; on Saturday July 12 from 2pm. Entry is £3 for visitors.

For more information go to www.worcs-hardy-plant.org.uk