Hilltop Gardening Club: Plant Auction

A GOODLY number of over 50 members and guests turned out for this year’s plant auction.

Members had been busily propagating and planting up from grasses to small trees and shrubs for the auction.

Club Chairman, Ruth Fraser, was the auctioneer and took early control of the bids rising in 50 pence at a time.

As a result of some interesting plants and clever auctioneering the sum of just over £250 was made for Club funds.

This money is used to help provide good speakers for the Club during the year.

At their meeting on May 3, members will hear about the Versatile World of Campanulas.

This attractive perennial ranges from the very small to the quite large and should prove an interesting talk.

I once had a small Campanula “Bussage” though it did not seem long lasting so I hope to learn something new.

Members will also be out in strength to open their gardens or help with teas for the annual Eastcombe, Bussage and Brownshill NGS Open Gardens on the afternoons of Sunday, May 1 and Monday, May 2.

Several hundred visitors enjoy this event each year and I have asked for good weather. Whatever the weather, though, one thing is certain – the teas in Eastcombe Village Hall will be as excellent as ever.

Apart from the monies made for the NGS charities, local charities Hope for Tomorrow and Acorns Children’s Hospice as well as Breast Cancer Care will benefit from the monies raised.

If you have never been before, do come.

A good selection of plants will also be on sale outside the village hall.

Membership and other information can be obtained from Margaret Headen on 01453 884869 or our website – hilltopgardeningclub.org.uk

Guests are welcome at all our meetings.