AGM followed by Timothy Walker – ‘Bordering on Insanity’

In by Bill Hodgson

Saturday 18th November AGM starts at 10.30am. Lecture starts at 11.15am Timothy Walker’s talks are always entertaining, combining deep horticultural knowledge with a droll style of delivery.  He was the Horti Praefectus (Director) of the University of Oxford Botanic Garden and Harcourt Arboretum, and has won four gold medals at the Chelsea Flower Show. This lecture focuses on all-year-round interest …

Razvan Chisu, The Transylvanian Gardener – ‘Confessions of a Plantaholic’

In by Bill Hodgson

Saturday 14th October Razvan’s addiction to plants began as a child in his native Transylvania, where he was inspired by fields covered in wildflowers. His passion remains plant-hunting, particularly in Greece and Spain. His wonderful photographs of these trips show vast areas of wildflowers – swathes of silene, crocus, species tulips, etc. – growing naturally and undisturbed. As well as …

50/50 Plant Sale followed by Katherine Crouch, Garden Designer – ‘New Tricks for Old Gardeners’

In by Bill Hodgson

Saturday 16th September  50/50 Plant Sale starts at 10.00am. Lecture at 11.00am Katherine Crouch is a garden designer and former BBC Gardener of the Year. She says that after 40 years of gardening, she is now becoming arthritic and lazy (ring any bells?).  In this talk she will introduce shortcuts which ensure gardeners don’t have to stop gardening just because …

Self-drive trip to Honeyhurst Farm, Rodney Stoke, BS27 3UJ and The Bishop’s Palace Garden, Wells, BA5 2PB

In by Bill Hodgson

Thursday 14th September £21 per person Honeyhurst Farm is a part-walled, rural garden with a babbling brook and 4-acre traditional cider orchard, with views over the Mendip Hills.  Trees include specimen hollies, copper beech, paulownia, yew and poplar.  There are plenty of places to sit to admire the mixed informal shrub and perennial beds, which contain many unusual plants.  Containers …

Plant Swap and Bring and Share Lunch

In by Bill Hodgson

Sunday 13th August Hosted by Helen and Stuart Senior, Creech St Michael, near Taunton.  No charge but booking is essential.

Hemerocallis need a good home

In by Bill Hodgson

Now that I’m back at Beggars Roost and the builders are sort-of finished I’m obsessively battling the drought trying to make a new garden. To make it more manageable it’s going to be essential to find homes for my ex-nursery stock, and there are far too many daylilies! As you know Hemerocallis never die so even after the long neglect …

Somerset Plant Fair Coming Up

In by Bill Hodgson

Only a few days to go now until the Group’s Summer Plant Fair at Lower Severalls on Sunday 11th of June from 10am to 3pm. Admission is just £3.50 for HPS and RHS members (£4 everyone else) (cash only please) and includes entry to the garden. The Group will have a plant stall as usual and we would appreciate any plant donations …

Somerset News for August 3rd

In by HPS Editor

This is a somerset news story with various pictures. This illustrates the idea of a group publishing news within their own group page on the national site.

Somerset Group Spring Plant Fair

In by HPS Editor

Over 12 top South West nurseries attending. Cost £4 for HPS members, including entrance to gardens. Yeo Valley Gardens, Holt Farm, Blagdon, BS40 7SQ. (map) Book on website www.somersethps.com. Refreshments available

Somerset Group Plant Sale

In by HPS Editor

Good selection perennials at very reasonable prices. Free parking and refreshments available. Entrance £1. West Monkton Village Hall, Monkton Heathfield, TA2 8NE (map)

Somerset Group Summer Plant Fair

In by HPS Editor

Many of the South West’s top nurseries will be there. Tea and cake available. Entry £3.50 for RHS or HPS (otherwise £4). Pay at gate. Lower Severalls, Crewkerne, Somerset, TA18 7NX (map)

Meetings

In by HPS Editor

Directions to West Monkton Village Hall The Hall site is located centrally within the village of Monkton Heathfield, just to the east of the Merry Monk pub on the A3259, approximately 3 miles from the centre of Taunton. The post code, for those with satnavs, is TA2 8NE: map reference is ST255268. The A3259 links the A38 between Walford Cross and …

Programme

In by HPS Editor

Meetings and lectures are held at West Monkton Village Hall unless otherwise specified.  All meetings at West Monkton Village Hall are free to members (except for the Group Plant Sale in April), and there is a modest charge of £5 for non-members (when space is available).  The Group has a plant stall and a book stall at most of the lectures listed, and holds …

Home

In by HPS Editor

The Hardy Plant Society Somerset Group Has an active and varied programme, of interest to all gardeners. We are friendly and genuinely welcoming to new members and would love to see you at one of our meetings. We produce two newsletters per year in January and June, and have a programme of meetings and events throughout the year. Somerset Federation …

Join us

In by HPS Editor

Joining Process All Somerset HPS members must first be members of the National HPS. If you are not already a member of National HPS please follow this link for instructions Join the Somerset HPS, see below Prices The annual subscription to the Somerset Group is £5 for single and £8 for joint membership: the membership year commences on the 1st of …

About

In by HPS Editor

The UK Hardy Plant Society (HPS) was formed in 1957 to foster interest in hardy herbaceous plants on the widest possible scale. The aims of the society are to give its members information about the wealth of both well and little known plants, and to ensure that all worthy plants remain in cultivation and have the widest possible distribution.  In the …

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Somerset

In by HPS Editor

The group meets at West Monkton Village Hall, Monkton Heathfield, Nr Taunton, TA2 8NE  (map)