Garden Society
The society was formed in 1996 and currently has 30 members who meet in the village Memorial Hall on the second Wednesday of the month most of the year. Meetings start at 7.30pm and after a presentation by a guest speaker refreshments are served.
Speakers cover all aspects of horticulture and nature. Recent subjects have included spring flowers, lilies, carnivorous plants, roses, and vegetables. Birds, bees and garden worms have also featured. In addition, there are ‘garden’ talks, on places such as Torre Abby gardens, Dartington and the Keukenhof gardens in Holland.
We organise full day visits by coach to places such as Kilver Court, Wells Priory, Abbotsbury Swannery and Torre Abbey Gardens.
There is a Mini Show every August followed by a Dutch Supper and an annual New Year lunch at Dainton golf course restaurant.
New members and visitors are very welcome. Annual membership is £4 per person and there is a £2.50 entrance charge (£3.50 for visitors) to each meeting.
For more information please contact: Christine Ashton, Secretary, tel: 01626 364543, or Richard Fitzgerald, Chairman, tel: 01626 337814
You will find the most recent updates and information posted below
March 2022
Report for March 2020
Richard Fitzgerald opened the meeting with a warm welcome to all, thanking members for turning out after much worry over the coronavirus.
He went on to thank Tony Scotney, who had decided to stand down from the committee after three years, and his wife Barbara for all her help too. He then welcomed Andrew and Pat Mill, who will be joining the committee to replace John Gover, who has retired from the committee after 17 years with the society. John has been chairman, vice chairman, treasurer and committee member and Richard thanked John and his wife Elizabeth for all their hard work.
Richard then introduced local gardener Simon Temblett, who specialises in Bonsai trees. Simon brought with him two examples of his work that have taken many years to reach the stage of apparently mature Bonsai. He explained that it is all an illusion, and the art is to take certain types of trees, such as spruce, hawthorn and Scots pine, place them in small shallow containers and with careful pruning and wiring over many years, you can train the tree so that it gives the appearance of an older, mature tree or shrub.
He said it is important to choose the right pot for your tree to complement the shape. His first example of a juniper was achieved by picking up a dead piece of trunk on the beach so it looks old and haggard. He then attached a live piece of juniper that he had rescued and carefully wired it to the dead trunk and after many years and careful attention it started to grow. It was then wired to manipulate it to achieve the desired effect. See the picture below to see the tree as it is today.
Simon then went on to repot a scots pine, showing us how to wire the roots into the base of the pot then adding a special mix of Bonsai compost. He then decided which was going to be the front of the tree and started to prune it to get a basic shape. Aluminium wire is then used to coil round some of the small branches to force them into the shape you require. It takes many years and lots of trimming and wiring to achieve the shape and size Bonsai you want.
Simon then went on to answer many questions. I think we were all surprised at the work and patience that go into growing Bonsai.
The stem of the month was a purple hellebore presented by Nita Wallis.
Ogwell Garden Society Programme for 2020
Wed 8th April: Illustrated talk on prairie gardening by Suzanne Jones
Wed 13th May: Talk on ‘Feeber’s cottage by Mike and Edna Squires
Wed 3rd June: Full day coach trip to Lacock Abbey, open to all
Sat 27th June: Plant stall – Ogwell Fete Day
Wed 8th July: ‘Both Sides of the Russian & Georgian Caucasus Mountains’, by Terry Underhill
Wed 9th Sept: Afternoon visit to ‘Middle Well’ NGS Garden
Wed 14th Oct: ‘Plants that excite’, by Peter Cantrill
Wed 11th Nov: Saul Walker, Head Gardener of ‘Stonelands’ Dawlish
Wed 9th Dec: ’50 Shades Of Grey’, by Peter Burks of Fermoys