GE News August 2012

This summer has been pretty dreadful for the wet weather which has led to a huge growth of greenery including weeds, delayed flowering and worse than usual slug attacks.  However, more recently, it has cheered up and the dahlias are out.

We found some new members of the group through follow up from the GA Questionnaire and some who contacted us after our table display at the AGM.

Blooms at last

Activities

We replaced the summer plant sale with an outing to Redhouse Market Garden near Longniddry in May.  We advertised the opportunity using posters as this was an event for all who live in the Grange.  The rain tipped down that day but about 10 people ventured out and were able to make good use of the wide choice of summer bedding and small shrubs offered by Mr Patterson.

In June we visited Patricia Cook’s garden in Lauder Road which was looking remarkably good despite the weather.  Like everyone else she was disappointed that flowering was so late.  Plants we noticed and admired there were;

Erysimum ‘Wenlock Beauty’
Erysimum ‘Bowles Mauve’
Knautia Macedonica
Cirsium Rivulare ‘Atropurpureum’
Thalictrum aquilegifolium

Patricia had shared her agapanthus with us when she was dividing them in the spring.  My potful is looking great.

Agapanthus

After the Annual. Coach Trip – see below – our group took the opportunity to visit the private Dean Gardens by courtesy of a key holder.  Lovely inner city green space with views across the Water of Leith to St Bernard’s Well.

Some of us also were taken by Jean Bareham on the Secret Gardens of the Royal Mile tour which is available from Greenyonder Tours at www.greenyondertours.com  If you haven’t already done this I can highly recommend it.

The Annual Gardens Coach Trip

On 22^nd July about 30 of us joined the coach organised by Judith Reeves for a ride through Fife to Wormistoun House.  This is a lovely tower house and we were shown round by the gardener who is restoring the gardens.

Wormistoun House head gardener answers our questions

We then went on to Crail where many cottage gardens were open under the Scottish Gardens Scheme. We had lunch in the village then explored more than a dozen delightful gardens all afternoon.  Lots of hidden gardens some with lovely views of the sea.  There were plants for sale and a memorable offering of tea and cakes in the Memorial Hall.

View of Crail harbour from shared private garden

The library garden

Please pop through the doors at the back of Newington Library to sit and enjoy the sun and admire what Dorothy Ryle and her gardener have achieved.  It has been tidied and planted and now just need looking after. Please get in touch with Alison Bramley if you would be willing to join a regular and not too frequent group who can keep it up.

Residents enjoy the sunshine and newly planted Library garden

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If you want to join us and hear about future activities write to Alison Bramley at gardens@grangeassociation.com .