News

Hello all.

Just dropping by to remind you all that the final few open gardens are opening next Saturday 8/8 for the Hospice -a little further a field at Sandhurst

That completes all the garden visits for them this year but the NGS has many opening still during the rest of summer into Autumn and beyond. They are all so good and so worth visiting if you do get a chance.

Meanwhile this year we have had many Butterflies in our garden flying around and they are so lovely to enjoy. We have already completed our entry into -

The "Big Butterfly Count " for this year and so hope you all will have a go too.

It is so important that data can be collected to monitor these wonderful creatures - so please try to set aside a couple of hours on a sunny day and log your findings online direct asap.

Our next event for the society will be our AGM to be held on 28th August 7pm for prompt 7.15 start please at the village hall.

Please come along to discuss the past year and plans for the society onwards. Your input is gratefully appreciated. We will serve drinks and a few small "nibbles "(Crisps Nuts and the like) so that once the formalities are completed we will have time to relax, chat and discussion.

Our Autumn Flower show will follow on 19th September at the village hall.

Please take a look at our schedule already available now on our website direct.( Poster attached)

Looking further ahead into October on 17th @ 2pm for 2.30 we have a lovely talk planned from Doug. Edworthy (who was brought up in Crowhurst - in Old Forewood Ln -alongside Alan and family ) who will offer a really interesting and detailed talk on his subject of "Fungi" - a subject he was inspired to study after growing up and spending time in the Forewood in the village ! (Poster attached) Free to members and £4 for anyone else who would like to attend All Welcome. ( Poster attached) Attendance numbers required pls.

We also both visited Herstmonceux Castle and grounds in the week on their open day for the NGS. That was so lovely and very inspirational and we had a wonderful time there on a sunny afternoon. (space here will not allow me to at present share our pics. of the Castle and grounds- sorry)

There is so much to see around this wonderful area of East Sussex and just on our doorstep!

Enjoy whatever you are next up to and enjoy your holidays if you are going away.

Hope to see several of you at the AGM

Thank you so much for your kind support.

Mary B x

Hello to you all on this yet another bright sunny morning - a bit cooler than before which is more tolerable. However still no rain for our gardens, so the ongoing supports are required with daily watering/feeding and trimming etc!!! It is so hard still to keep our gardens flourishing and it is currently somewhat concerning for our future Autumn Flower show in September.

Lets see what happens nearer the date in September with all fingers and toes crossed, and please do not forget we have other classes that I am sure most people could also enter. There is at this show also Honey entries of course for our lovely Bee keepers who have included a lovely Honey cake recipe, that you all may cook and enter, even if you do not look after honey bees themselves - just use a jar of lovely Sussex honey! Oliver has now completed this Autumn flower show's schedule which is now on our website so take a good look at what you may consider entering later on. Thank you so much.

Meanwhile Alan and I went to Penhurst Place, a Christian Retreat last Saturday which is very near Battle/Ashburnham. We had a very happy afternoon being shown around the whole estate. The accommodation, the very pretty gardens surrounding the estate and the white Geese that have made their home there for many years. (Sadly with the drought their pond was dry but they had a lovely old sink in their field full of fresh water to drink and dabble in if they so wished.) There was also a wonderful exhibition of Jay's beautiful nature related photos that she is always taking (and showed some of at out recent talk ) and some stunning Textile prints and Paintings made by one of the cookery staff there and an artist. They were a real treat to look at - such talent and all inspiring to Nature!

After this we had delightful "cuppa" and piece of tasty cake sitting in their beautiful tree shaded garden. We so hope some of you made this visit which I shared last week with you all.

Finally there were many gardens open in Hastings/St Leonards area over last weekend with many very pretty and welcoming gardens on display to raise funds for the Hospice - including their own garden there- which is a beautiful peaceful garden all the time and we have visited many times. We have also donated many plants there also that we have had left from our plant stalls over time!

I have added a few photos taken at Penhurst here for you to enjoy but meanwhile please note that this week - on Wednesday 22nd Herstmonceux Castle and very pretty gardens are open to the public via the NGS. The entry cost is just £12 for this day and refreshments will be available to purchase in their lovely cafe there.

A wonderful chance to see this beautiful place that over latter years has had much enhancements/renovations so is well worth a visit, even if you have been before. Again Alan and I hope to go along and also hope we may see some of you there also.

Finally next Saturday 8/8 there are several lovely gardens open for the very last events for the Hospice of this year within Sandhurst village - so not too far away and I am sure like all these beautiful gardens that have been offered by St Michael's will so be worth visits.

Enjoy again whatever you maybe doing as the summer remains with us at this time and keep me updated.

Many Thanks

Mary B x

Sorry me again !

I forgot to add to yesterday's Newsletter that Penhurst Retreat Centre just outside Battle TN33 9Q (where Jay - that gave us that lovely nature talk earlier in the year at the village hall is head gardener ) has an OPEN DAY for everyone this Saturday 18th July 10.30- 4pm FREE entry and with Delicious Refreshments to be bought !

I have never been and Jay says it is a very pretty garden so Alan and I will go there first over the weekend before going on to the Hastings Hospice ones also open this weekend as advised.

I have also been able now to add a few pictures from our visits last weekend's visits to open gardens at Hailsham and Eastbourne.

The gardens were so lovely. Perfect for a "Sunny Sunday afternoon" !

Enjoy

Best Wishes

Mary B x

Hello to you all

The heat goes on but there has been a few "respite" days lately with a super welcome breeze! The watering of the gardens also goes on as there has still been no rain for many weeks now and it is such hard work. Some nights it has been very late when we finally finish in the garden as we wait until it cools down before we water our plants. However many still look quite parched and trees are dropping their leaves already very sadly. Everything is early this year and I have already been out picking a few Blackberries to freeze to eat during winter with my breakfast. This usually occurs in late August so they are at least a month or so early this year!

It has however been a pleasure to sit and enjoy our garden some evenings this year, as so often in our " usual" summers there is often no warm evenings to be had so we must not complain!

We hope you have been enjoying time in your patches too.

Alan and I went along to the two gardens that were open last week in Eastbourne and Hailsham that I sent details to you all about

All I can say is they were beautiful and both very different. We had a very lovely afternoon

I am not sure if any of you went along as no one confirmed, but if not you sure missed out, However, both gardens will be opening again if you would still like to go along at some stage. The 20, Prideux Rd Eastbourne garden will be open again this Sunday 2.30-4 if you fancy a trip - easy to find very near EB DGH.

On this weekend also - nearer to home is the St Michael's Hospice's own lovely peaceful where delicious refreshments will be available. The garden will be open on Saturday 18th July alongside several others in that St Leonard's area. They all look great and some will be open for Sunday also so check them out in the little booklet or download details off the Hospice website .

Whatever you do have a very happy weekend

Kind Regards

Mary B

Have added a Poster here for our Autumn Flower show 19th September and one of my favourite photos of red and Mauve poppies! Enjoy !

Hello to you all

So hope you are coping well with this continued heat ,which looks set to stay for at least a week or so further and get a bit hotter again; acc. to the met. office tonight! All we can say is keep calm and keep cool !

Our concern here in our garden is keeping everything watered most days and have concerns if we do not get any rain soon our many water butts will be empty,! Guess you all have similar concerns. Save all the water you can using washing up water etc as plants never mind a bit of soap!

I wanted to let you know that there are 7 x pretty gardens in Little Common and Cooden Beach open this Tuesday 7th July for St Michael's Hospice and we so hope some of you will continue to support this so needy and essential cause.

Also there is a lovely private garden opening for everyone on Sunday 12th July at Hailsham. Paul is opening his very pretty garden for all from 10am to 4pm that day and the Address is :- 4,Douglas Close, Hailsham BN27 1NW Parking is across the road in Hawthylands Rd. FREE. Hoping some of us could visit as he would be so pleased; as he is very proud of what he has achieved and the garden seems to be his pride and joy!

It looks a very pretty largish, garden with a pond and has some Moorhens with babies on it just now! It seems very wildlife friendly. Alan and I plan to go along in the morning and it would be so good if any of you could join us. We are asked to bring along any refreshments we may require. Hoping to see some of you there!

Also in Eastbourne on Sunday 12th - very near to the DGH - there is an open garden for charity opening at 20, Prideux Road Eastbourne BN21 2NB. Again a very pretty town garden and refreshments will be offered here Open 2.30- 5pm. We hope to go to this one in the afternoon after Paul's also.

They need to know how many people will be coming along to this one pls so they can cater for numbers on the day. Please let Alan know if you plan to attend so they have adequate tea and tasty cakes for us ! This garden is asking just for donations to their specific chosen charity only. Lets hope the weather holds and perhaps not quite so hot!

I am quite excited as I love to see other people's creations to inspire me. Also who doesn't love a "cuppa tea" and homemade cake in a pretty garden that someone else looks after? That surely must be the pinnacle of an "English Country Garden" on a sunny Sunday afternoon!

Please join us and let Alan know on 07870525441 if you wish to attend either thank you !

Kind Regards

Mary B

Enjoy the flowers x