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H&DGC Events 2014
So here we are half way through the year already but still with lots to look forward to. So far we have held our Annual Dinner and AGM, our Pre-Mothers’ Day Plant Sale, visited the Flaxman’s garden to see the Spring flowers and the Gardeners’ Mart (very successful despite the pouring rain!). We will re-visit the Flaxman’s garden on Sunday 22nd June at 2.30pm to enjoy the roses. Do come along if you are free. Our next event is the Annual Flower & Veg Show on Saturday 12th July in Hempstead Village Show. Full details about entering and visiting are on this website along with the schedule, suggested recipes and handwriting texts. We hope you will all join in. This will be followed by the Horse & Pony Show at Hill Farm on Sunday 20th July. Our last Show in the year is the Autumn Show on Friday 10th October which is for members only and is a Social Evening to enjoy the fruits of our labours throughout the year. Not a member but want to come? – then contact Tricia Ridgway at Appletrees on 599784. We offer great value at £1 per annum or £10 for Life membership. Diana
Gardeners’ Mart 2014
The Gardeners’ Mart took place on Saturday 24th May (Bank Holiday weekend) and it rained from 6am. This was our 15th Mart and the first one where the weather failed us. It takes three months of sowing, germinating, pricking out, growing on, potting up, protecting and watering to produce the goods for the Mart. As you can see, the greenhouse gets rather congested! It’s like our own personal Chelsea Flower Show – you have to have it right on the day. David Haylock kindly lent us a pick-up truck to move the plants from Rosemary Cottage to the bus-stop where a team had assembled a series of trestle tables from the store in the Village Hall. Our Club banner was displayed at the front for passers-by to see what was going on and extra people were called upon to assist with selling and collating people’s purchases. And despite the weather, great numbers of you turned out. Huge thanks go to everyone who helped make the event happen and to all of you who came and bought plants from us. The end result was extremely successful with almost nothing left. Hopefully some of your plants survived the really wet period of weather that ensued that week and that you will have some lovely blooms in your garden this summer. Thank you everyone who supported us. Diana
Pre Mother’s Day Plant Sale
It’s a great feeling to try something new – a bit excited, a bit nervous and more. Well the Hempstead & District Gardeners’ Club tried a Pre Mother’s Day Plant Sale on Saturday 22nd March in the Village Hall and it was a great success. The idea was partly a social event with tea, coffee and delicious home-made cakes by Victoria Ham and Tricia Ridgway, mixed with buying some of your favourite Spring Plants, but with a different twist.
	Yes, there were pre-made baskets and pots but there were beautiful Auriculas in clay pots, roses and pots of tulips. Separately there were trays of violas, primulas and muscari and containers so you could assemble your own preferred colour scheme and for a charge of an extra £1, have it wrapped in tissue and cellophane, labelled and decorated. That meant that children could choose exactly what they wanted as a gift for Mummy and write on the label.
Some people bought plants for themselves, one as a gift for the friends they were visiting over the weekend, some just bought to make up a pot on the patio at home. I love the fact everyone had their own agenda.
	A really nice, social hour and a half was had by everyone. What did we learn? – well lots really which we hope to put to good use when we hold this event again. And based on this first attempt, it won’t be long before we do.
Thanks everyone who came along – we hope you enjoy your plants. Diana
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