Following on from the Frome Selwood Horticulture Society 50th Anniversary celebrations last year, that included a 1960s-style social, the committee and members have had an even more eventful 51st year for 2017.
Monthly talks, on subjects ranging from “How clever is the Honey Bee?” to “Nature’s Neighbours”, and trips to Hestercombe and RHS Wisley, have been just a fraction of what the half century club has enjoyed.
In 2016, Frome Town Council invited the FSHS to create a floral welcome at the top of North Parade. The invitation continued last year, and the beautiful colour display has only recently been put to its wintery bed.
The May Annual Plant Sale and August Flower Show, so well supported by Selwood Academy, continues to be a great showcase for the club, with the public queueing well before the doors opening at 9.30am to purchase their spring bedding, and again in August to see the members’ competition, with produce from the garden and kitchen; and photos and paintings as well.
When many clubs are seeing membership fall, the society is seeing its membership rise, with upward of 140 members, often with 60 turning out for the once-monthly Tuesday evening meetings at Critchill School. Two in-house competitions this year to grow the best Narcissi Pink Pride and the Chilli Apache brought the best (and worst!) of returns, proving the point that it is a club of equals, with friendship at the core.
The Christmas Social was well attended, at the Frome Football Club, as was the coach trip to Sherbourne Garden Centre to see the festive lights. At the December meeting, club member, Dave Moon, gave his digital presentation of “The Garden.”
With other talks in the year entitled “Green Manures & Catchcrops”; “Improve the Look of Your Garden”; “Off the Beaten Track Hidden Gems”; “Hedges and Barriers”; “Bristol Botanic Garden”; “Vegetable Growing”; and “Colour Combinations”, why not come along to see what else is on offer for 2018?
You do not have to own a garden or have a share in an allotment. All you need is a desire to get out and share some good company. Visitors welcome.
For more information, visit the FSHS Facebook page or call Jane on 07776 208531.
Jane Norris
Above: FSHS winners with BBC’s Sarah-Jane Bungay.
