November will go on record as being one of the wettest ever in England. What an extreme contrast after this summer’s drought. While I am most grateful for the rain, the garden is looking woefully bedraggled and all of us are squelching through mud and puddles - even the dogs refuse to venture outside! These mild temperatures are a blessing though, allowing us more time to plant trees, shrubs and spring-flowering bulbs before frosts arrive. At the time of printing, the trees donated by the Society to the villages of Dunsfold and Hascombe should be planted and settling into their new homes. We hope that these will be well-tended, and their foliage and flowers will be enjoyed by many generations to come. With so many diseases attacking trees, from Ash dieback to horse chestnut leaf miner, we must all do what we can to renew our green canopy for the benefit of our health, well-being and climate.
Christmas Party and Lecture
The Society will be celebrating the festive season at our annual Christmas party on Thursday, 8 December in the Winn Hall. We welcome garden historian, Cherrill Sands, for her illustrated talk entitled Tulips & Turbans.
The vibrant colour of tulips, heralding spring, and the beauty of its form has delighted many people over the centuries, from kings to commoners. Cherrill will tell the story of how the tulip came to Europe, the excitement of its ‘breaking’ colour and subsequent tulip mania, then the later tulip craze in Turkey. She will also discuss some of varieties which can be grown today. December and January are still good times to plant some tulips, so come for inspiration.
Winter Lecture Series
In January the Society will announce its programme of events for 2023. We will be hosting our winter lecture series online via Zoom once again. Mark your calendar for these dates:
Thursday 19 January 7pm: Roses in the Garden with Michael Marriott
Thursday 16 February 7pm: Rewild your Garden: The Knepp Castle Estate with Charlie Harpur, Head Gardener
Thursday 16 February 7pm: Growing Dahlias with expert Darren Everest
These lectures must be booked via Eventbrite and links will be available on our website shortly. The lectures are free to DHHS members and £5 for non-members. All the talks are being recorded and will be available to registered participants for one week after the event.
Membership Renewals Due
Please note that membership is due for renewal from 1 January. Membership remains at £10 per person and can be paid via BACS directly to the Dunsfold & Hascombe Horticultural Society Bank Account, the details are as follows:
Bank Name: National Westminster
Sort Code: 60 11 08
Account Number: 16513371
Ref: Surname ‘Subs’
Don’t forget now is a great time to think about ordering new soft fruit canes and seeds for sowing in early spring. What better way to spend a Sunday afternoon in front of the fire!
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