STROUD Gardening Club were welcomed to the start of their Autumn/Winter Calendar on September 16, by Chairman Ken Gracie.

He introduced the speaker for the evening, Michaela Freed from RHS Wisley, and the topic was a practical demonstration of 'Planting a Winter Container'.

Michaela supplied pots for each person present, together with packs of bulbs, and the Gardening Club supplied the compost.

Michaela demonstrated the technique of layering the bulbs, starting with narcissus, then tulips, then crocus and chionodoxa.

The pots were then topped off with horticultural grit, and labelled in readiness for people to take home and nurture with the intention of bringing them back to the club for the Spring Bulb Show at the club meeting in March 2016.

A new section in the programme for the Bulb Show would be brought in for these pots to be entered, and Micheala has agreed to be our judge for the evening.

Thanks were given to Michaela for a very lively and informative evening, which was enjoyed by all.

A raffle was then held, and refreshments served to round off a very successful evening.

During this meeting, leaflets were made available for a holiday in Southsea for next year.

This is in conjunction with Randwick Gardening Club, and is from June 26-30, 2016.

Further details available from Jan Davis on 07917876821, Secretary Stroud Gardening Club, or Betty Clark/Beryl Neal from Randwick Gardening Club.

Our next meeting is on Wednesday, October 21, at 7.30pm in the Bedford Street Congregational Church Rooms, when our speaker for the evening will be Mr Mark Draper from Graduate Gardeners Ltd, Bisley.

All members and non-members are welcome to attend our meetings.