AT our June meeting Brian Ellis from Avondale Nursery, which is situated near Coventry, spoke on Texture and Foliage in The Garden.

He gave us a brief synopsis of his career, starting with Art College (where he met his wife), to opening a craft shop in Brixton and then moving out of London with his family and taking up work in gardens. He was very interested in combinations and themes of planting and suggested a mixture of cottage and prairie type planting. He proposed as a change to put tall plants at the front of the border so that the flowers could be seen close up and that fences

be stained black so they disappeared. The odd Pink Cow focal point was also a good idea.

Competition results, for five types of greenery in a vase, 1 Joan Kerr, 2 Ann Price, 3 Annette Haines.

On Thursday, July 16 we are visiting Barnsdale Gardens in Rutland and then on Thursday August 20 Rob Cole (from Feckenham Nursery) will be speaking on Plants - The Real Thing. Visitors are most welcome;-admission £3 inc. refreshments. Meetings take place at The Crawford Hall Bidford on

Avon, 7.45pm for 8pm start.

For further details please telephone 01789 268974 or look at our website www.bidfordgardens.com