Seaford Scene March 2020

Page 22

Legend has it that when Prometheus stole fire from heaven, Zeus, the king of the gods, took vengeance by presenting Pandora to his brother Epimetheus. Pandora opened a jar left in his care and the evils contained in it were then released into the world. Though she hastened to close the container, only one thing was left behind, hope. To continue being fanciful, seeing the unseasonal wonders on display in our beautiful garden at the Crouch early in February did make us ponder on the causes of our balmy – barmy? – weather and what we have done to bring to blossom so early the ruby-petalled chaenomeles, a brave abutilon, a shy Anemone blanda and a purple osteospermum nestling against a clump of not quite open crocuses. Have we, with global irresponsibility, opened our own Pandora’s Box or is the flowering of plants five months early just a harmless quirk of nature? Whatever the reason for these phenomena, other spring plants were eager to make their bright appearance too, with an abundance of snowdrops, hellebores and daffodils heralding warmer weather. Meanwhile, in the small ornamental pond, there was a large accumulation of frogspawn, or possibly newt spawn. Incidentally, our rain gauge has recorded the average rainfall for this winter as 18mm (3/4in) a week. To admire our floral wonders at their best requires tidy beds, so our volunteers have been busy weeding, hoeing and generally tidying after the winter, and all over the garden could be heard earnest debates about what to thin, what to keep and what to get rid of. Up for a bit of renovation are the wheelchair-friendly raised bed timbers where age and moisture have taken their toll.

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Meanwhile Bill and James could be found at the vegetable beds in front of the classroom, temporarily taking up the irrigation system to allow for manure to be spread. We’re trialling some different vegetables this year in addition to new cultivars, so we’re eager to see how they perform and how popular they prove to be. We’ll also be planting some vegetables and salad crops amongst the flowers. Bob was busy potting chamomile, so anyone who wants to try cultivating a lawn should see what’s on offer. ‘Plant them diagonally about six inches apart to allow them to spread out,’ he advised. We are very sad to be closing this month’s piece by reporting the death in January of one of our long-serving volunteers, Ron Meadwell. Ron was always so supportive of the garden and was always so cheerful. He was always happy to assist however he could and notably helped construct and paint the classroom. He also assisted in conserving the mosaic of hands which was on the side of the classroom – he laughed ruefully on being told that it was now having to be jigsawed together again after a gale blew it down. Our deepest sympathy goes to his widow, Stephanie, and to his family. We’ll miss you, Ron. The Garden Team Photos from top: Rhubarb crumble’s on the way; doesn’t this abutilon know it’s tender?; Chaenomeles makes a very early appearance; a clump of crocuses looks like a firework from above; why are crocuses and osteospermum flowering together?; snowdrops in February – that’s all right then.

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Articles inside

What’s On in Seaford in March?

57min
pages 135-146

Index of Businesses

0
pages 147-148

Seaford Rotary

7min
pages 130-133

Could You be a School Governor?

4min
pages 125-127

InnerWheel Club

1min
page 129

Seaford Afternoon Flower Club

2min
page 124

Corelli Ensemble

2min
pages 122-123

Seaford U3A News

2min
page 128

Clifden House

3min
pages 120-121

Lewes District Citizens Advice

2min
page 119

Havens Community Car Scheme

1min
pages 117-118

NewberryTully

1min
pages 115-116

Neighbourhood Watch Roundup

12min
pages 100-109

Martello Rotary

4min
pages 110-114

Seaford Music Society

1min
page 94

Meeching Amateur Dramatics

1min
page 95

The Youth Counselling Project

6min
pages 96-99

Beavers Back in Sussex

2min
page 93

Royal Society of St George

6min
pages 88-92

March, the Real NewYear?

4min
pages 72-78

Seaford Choral Society

3min
pages 84-87

Alfriston Clergy House

7min
pages 66-71

Celebrating Reading at Chyngton

6min
pages 79-83

Scam Awareness

8min
pages 62-65

Sussex Wildlife Trust

5min
pages 56-59

Seaford Town Clock & Weather Station

3min
page 60

Bishopstone Spring Show for Horticultural

2min
page 61

Miss Veronica Pitt’s Legacy

8min
pages 43-46

Serenity Cabin’s New Membership Scheme

2min
pages 52-55

Seaford Musical Theatre

5min
pages 38-39

Newhaven Wellbeing Centre

3min
pages 40-42

SDCA Health and WellbeingTeam

2min
pages 50-51

St Peter’s Church

3min
pages 36-37

Sussex Arts Collective

2min
page 33

Workshops for Ukuele with the Seaford

3min
pages 34-35

Refill Seaford and Newhaven

2min
pages 8-11

A View From The Potting Shed

4min
pages 16-19

Seaford Community Garden

4min
pages 22-26

The Garden Show at Firle Place

3min
pages 20-21

Mad Fundraising March – Looking for Local

2min
pages 4-5

Seaford Splash

3min
pages 6-7

Seaford Young Mayor’s Quiz Night Success

3min
pages 27-30

Annecy Primary School Redevelopment

1min
pages 31-32
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