Letter from the Chairman

Maggie Thorpe

Another great plant sale at Euston and another thank you to those kind members who grew plants for us, in particular those wonderful rare wild orchids which sold like hot cakes. Suffolk Radio featured our sale on a one-hour long gardening programme and 17 listeners came for the first time.

This year we held a raffle, the prizes for which were a luxury ferry crossing to Spain for four people, kindly donated by Bedfords of Bury St. Edmunds, Aveda beauty products and a book 'Pots and Plants' by Barbara Segall. Seven new members were enlisted and the table displaying one special/rare plant from each nursery created much interest. One small boy could not be dragged away from stroking the leaves of Verbascum bombyciferum 'Polarsommer'. Will he be a future horticulturist I wonder!

Helmingham Plant Sale is on the 17th September, and remember that entrance is free for much-needed helpers. Please give me a ring if you can assist in any way. Look out for some of our rare narcissus and other bulbs which will be for sale on Robert's plant stall.

We are proud to have helped in the production of the 'Three Counties Specialist Nurseries' leaflet which has been sent out to all members. It is free and you are welcome to more copies for friends. Six thousand copies for each of the three counties has ensured good distribution and we aim to make the next issue available early in the New Year, possibly with more nurseries and some advertising.

We are so grateful to Pat Pemberton who has taken on the job of Events Secretary and here are two examples of the exciting events we have to look forward to in 2007. Anna Pavord is coming to talk to us on 'Tulips' and Caroline Holmes on 'Poisonous Plants'.

A complete calendar of events will be ready by our AGM, this year to be held by kind invitation of Mr & Mrs Rupert Eley at East Bergholt Place. We look forward to seeing many of you there on Monday 27th November at 7.00 pm.

Please let me know if you intend to come so that we can cater for the right number. Supper and a glass of wine will be provided. If you feel you would be able to sit on our committee and help in any way, please do let me know in time for the usual proposal forms to be prepared.

I have just been to a NCCPG Council meeting in London where 40 delegates attend to discuss national issues, high amongst which comes the very important item of membership. The future of the NCCPG depends upon an increase in membership. We must do our best to this end, and I remind you that if you enrol a friend, you will receive a free plant (a clematis in fact). Do ask for membership enrolment forms from either Pauline Byford, our Membership Secretary (01284 828273) or me

Propagation officer

A Plantsman's Diary: Summer 2006

Robert Shepperson

July 14, 7.30 pm:

Weather blazing heat and drought, now cooling. Realise deadline for propagation article is only one week away. Resolve to write said article immediately. Instead take guitar and beer out into sultry evening garden and practice favourite music. Atmosphere luscious.

July 21, 4pm:

Weather blazing heat and drought.Note that newsletter deadline is today. Resolve to pretend have not noticed.

July 22,

Weather blazing heat and drought. Editor leaves answer phone message regarding missed deadline. Nobody at home to check messages.

July 24, 5pm.

Weather crushing heat, crippling drought. Come home from work at nursery covered in grotty yet somehow ruggedly attractive varnish of sweat, dust, compost and sun baked grass clippings to be greeted with "There's a message from Widget about the newsletter deadline." Curse in feeble, too hot to argue manner, try to concoct a cast iron excuse why cannot possibly manage before slumping defeated in* front of keyboard. Give up and go out into garden to pray for rain.

July 26, 6:30pm;

Weather psychosis-inducing, suicide-prompting drought. At third attempt scribble out article and persuade teenage daughter to type out on computer as follows:
2006 has been a difficult year for plant growers. From my point of view the flavour of the year was first manifest as early as 3 January, whereby my installation of a new 450-gallon water tank heralded the start of the driest winter in Met Office records. After two months this container, big enough to host a pool party, actually contained enough water to brew the party guests a cup of tea.
March and April rain did eventually coax the water level up past the half full mark whereupon the wet ground beneath the tank shifted, allowing the base to bulge, a small fit to form and most of the contents to dribble away into the soil. Thus was the scene set as we faced up to the shifting sands and rustling tumbleweed of summer 2006. By July 20 I was down to the last canfull, but mercifully the good people living next to my plot helped to rig up a hose from their stand pipe across to my bins, thereby averting a horticultural holocaust.
Despite this on-going water shortage the group produced a fine stock of quality plants. Group members gathered in March and July to help out. Their output in one afternoon was most impressive, it is as much as I can do to feed them with plant material fast enough to keep the production line moving.
At the Spring Plant Sale it threatened to rain as usual (remember rain?) but in keeping with this year's fashion it didn't quite manage it. Our plant sales were a triumph; from a completely stuffed car and trailer-load plus many generous donations of members' plants (particular thanks to Rosemary Wilson) I returned with about enough plants to fill a suitcase.
This result clearly indicates that we are producing the right sort of plants in the right sort of quantity. I must extend my grateful thanks to everyone who helped with propagation, sales and for all your plant donations. Without such contributions the system would clearly fail.

26 July, 8pm.

E-mail article to editor. Take guitar and beer into cool evening garden to practice favourite music. Still can't play music properly, but atmosphere is still luscious.

National collections Coordinator

Getting Your Eye In

By Christine Mole

I seem to have been quite busy with some of my current and future collection holders. It all started when Jan Lambourn agreed to come along to the Spring Plant Sale on May 28 and also look at some collections the day before. I think it must be really beneficial for the Plant Conservation Officer to be familiar with the collection holders' sites.

When Jan arrived on Saturday morning I whisked her off on our first port of call to Jim Marshall to see his Dianthus (Malmaison Carnation) and Sarah Cook Iris (Cedric Morris). Unfortunately neither were in flower, but we were given an impromptu lunch which was greatly appreciated.

We then drove over to Colin Chapman to view the Syringa collection, which were still flowering due to the cool spring. I always enjoy viewing them and I was really interested to see the progress taking place on the four-acre field. Each time I visit more have been planted. From there we went to Robert Grimsey for the Aesculus (horse chestnut), some were in flower. At present they are still young trees, but given time they will romp away in their tranquil surroundings.

After another good plant sale, Jan and I took the opportunity to visit Sue Wooster's Campanula (Alpine) collection, near Euston Hall. I could see she had been busy preparing and designing her stand for Hampton Court, her first RHS show. It all looked extremely promising.

On May 22 (the night before the Chelsea Flower Show) I received a phone call from one of our members, Simon Weeks, to say he was intending to have an Erysimum collection, asking for advice. I have since visited his site and returned back again to give him another two plants I had, to add to his list. At present there is not a collection of this genus, so I am really looking forward to seeing this completed.

Sarah Cook invited me to join her on one of her iris forays. The trip was to include a visit to Hemingford Grey, Cambridgeshire, Cambridge Botanic Garden and the late Ellis Carpenter's allotment. From each garden Sarah was given another possible Iris (Cedric Morris). By the end of the day I was really 'getting my eye in', noticing their distinguishing style.

Suffolk has two new applications going forward to the Plant Conservation Committee this August: Rupert Eley - Euonymus; and Sarah Cook - Iris (bred by Sir Cedric Morris).

I was also fortunate to help Sue Wooster along with Jose Mitson on her stand at Hampton Court, for which she obtained a Silver-Gilt medal - wasn't that great! Rougham Hall Nurseries received a Bronze for their Delphinium display - thanks to Ken Harbutt for 'keeping his eye in' and showing his collections for so many years. Congratulations to you both.

Membership Report

By Pauline Byford

We have had 36 new members since the 2005 autumn newsletter was printed, the most we have had since I became membership secretary. This is mainly due to our chairman's determined efforts and she is not resting on her laurels. To encourage you to keep up the good work, we are running a special membership offer: if you introduce a new member you will receive a free plant.

National Office has introduced quarterly renewal dates. Those of you who joined before November 2004 will continue renewing in November. Those who have joined since will renew in November, February, May or August. National Office will send out renewal letters the month before they are due.

Some of you have given me your e-mail addresses and I am sure many more of you have one. There are occasions when it would be convenient to send a quick reminder or message by e-mail rather than phone or write. It would also save on the postage. If you have an e-mail address please let me have it.

Report from the Treasurer

Justine Corney

The organization finances continue to be very strong. This has enabled us to invest in the new 'corporate identity' aprons that you would have seen at the Euston Plant Sale to help identify committee members and helpers. We all thought they looked very smart and practical. We have also extended the slides of plant collections and other events to enable Maggie Thorpe to continue with her lectures, which promote the work of the NCCPG.

We would remind all collection holders that help with their costs in certain circumstances is available from both the Suffolk Branch and National Office.

We have also been able to make an annual donation of £1000 to National Office, as we did last year, to help with their vital work in organization. Many of you will now realize that your subscriptions are collected centrally and the records are kept at Wisley of all members. This change, which Suffolk has been operating for two years, has this year been rolled out to include the whole country. The work that we provided in testing the systems and our input into the planning process has proved very useful.

Euston Hall plant sale was quieter than usual, whether this was because of conflicting events or the cool and late spring we do not know, but those who attended enjoyed excellent nurseries selling very good plants as always. The weather stayed fine despite looking very threatening at times and after the rain in the previous week, we were all very relieved.

Work is well advanced in the organization of the Helmingham Plant Sale and we look forward to seeing as many members as possible on 17 September.