The evening visit to Bob Brown’s nursery – Cotswold Garden Flowers at Badsey on Wednesday, April 30 was a resounding success, with 33 people turning up for garden tour followed by Bob’s own delicious home-made lemon and hazelnut cake and gingernut biscuits.
The visit followed a talk earlier this year at Church Lench Village Hall when Bob talked to us about brightening up the garden in August which literally packed the hall. Many of us hadn’t been to his nursery before and I’m not sure even satnav would find this little gem tucked away in a labyrinth of streets and then a mile down rough track in the heart of the countryside. However it obviously doesn’t damage his trade.
A retired headmaster, Bob explained that he hosted a visit from the BBC earlier in the day and that he grew many thousands of plants and had visitors from all over the world who came to buy.
He had bought the one acre plot in 1989 from the local Council who had received it as a donation from the Lord of the Manor for burials – as this was impractical due to its inaccessibility, it was put up for sale. The soil is heavy lime clay and he had imported 60 tons of mushroom compost to break it down before he could even contemplate growing anything. However, sixteen years on, he has a business to be proud of, with another site at Offenham and a thriving website. He continues to produce a pocket-sized printed catalogue for anyone wanting to browse his comprehensive list of plants.
Most of us are plant addicts of course so went away duly impressed with armfuls of something or other we’ll need to shoehorn into our gardens – and the intention of returning at some point to this fascinating place.
Next week’s meeting, on Wednesday, May 6, will be the Annual General Meeting of the Club starting at an earlier time of 7pm when current committee members will stand down. Eddie Morris is retiring after 12 years of faithful service, but other members are standing for re-election together with anyone else who wishes to put their names forward. We will hear a review of the past year’s events from our chairman Pete Chamberlain and a summary of the Society’s finances.
Following this Gill Hazel will give a presentation on gladioli, an often under-rated flower which ranges from small freesia type flowers to the big blousy blooms loved by flower show competitors.
Gladioli – (the word comes from gladius, a sword) are a genus of the iris family and are found as delicate wild flowers in the South African veldt and Mediterranean
Meetings are on the first Wednesday of the month, at the Villages Hall, Broad Lane, Bishampton WR10 2LY. More details about the Club are available on our website at www.bishamptongardeningclub.org.uk or by emailing info@bishamptongardeningclub.org.uk
LESLEY MILLER
Bishampton Gardening Club
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