GARDENING

LALESTON GARDENING CLUB

July is generally the hottest month of the year so really it becomes the time to sit in your garden and enjoy! There’s always dead heading to do and watering is a daily chore to keep your plants from wilting, but remember to use grey water whenever possible. Keep on top of weeds and harvest your crops wherever appropriate, catch those courgettes before they turn into marrows! Laleston Gardening Club are holding a Members’ BBQ on the 16th, booking is essential. Our Ladies section meets on the 5th and 19th, the latter will be a social evening before we take our summer break. We now proudly display our National Lottery Community Fund Plaque to thank lottery players for making our grant possible. Our new windows are on order and will be fitted before the winter sets in. Our Jubilee Celebration tea was a great success, enjoyed by all. Don’t forget to take photos of those beautiful gardens and submit to the Club to be considered for inclusion in our calendar for 2023. Please think about your entries for our Annual Horticultural Show too - it won’t be long until we hold it on Saturday 10th September. Handicrafts, art, Baking classes as well as gorgeous vegetables and stunning blooms. The Schedules will be available shortly. Keep in touch through our Facebook page and message facility.

Susan Ford

PORTHCAWL FLORAL ARRANGEMENT SOCIETY

We had great fun creating the floral displays for the Music and Flower Festival on Jubilee weekend. Later that week we had a speaker meeting who gave us an insight into working with the royal household and had many entertaining stories. In June our practice night taught us how to make a fancy floral table decoration. We also had a trip to Ross on Wye for the local NAFAS President’s day. This involved useful workshops and a superb demonstration by Kathryn Stangaard, chairman of the Flower Arranger magazine. Our July meeting is our AGM and this will be followed by a fish and chips supper. This concludes our programme and we meet again for enrolment in September.

Please call 01656222985 or look at our Facebook page for more information. New members always welcome. Alison Thomas

CEFN CRIBWR GARDENING CLUB

July, the hottest month of the year (as long as it doesn’t rain on the 15th St Swithin’s day!) They say Laziness is respectable this month, but not for you my fellow gardener, it’s time for the “feed, water, deadhead, hoe mantra, essential for a lovely garden this summer. Keep an eye out for pests such as lily beetles, aphids, vine weevil and snails remove them before they do harm. Its nice to chuck the snails over the field as they are very helpful for keeping the balance of the environment, they might have a little munch on your plants, but they won’t eat your lawn and clear up garden debris (plus they are rather cute) did you know if you see a slug climbing a tree its a sign of hot weather! Runner beans, don’t you love them! Add a handful of lime to your watering can this will help set the flowers and produce more pods, more beans -wonderful. Move your house plants outside for a little summer holiday, they’ll love it, especially orchids who need a spell outdoors to initiate flowering buds. “Your children and your garden both reflect the amount of weeding done during the growing season”.

Chris Early