Programme 2026-27

LAST MEETING REPORT: 

During our third heatwave of the year (so far) we loved our visit to Sue and Richard Parker's garden in Llanfyrnach and we were grateful, with temperatures in the high 20's, for the shade offered by their mix of original mature trees, Western Red Cedar, Norway Spruce, Ash, Oak and Beech many over 20 meters tall, with large Rhododendron plants.  It was extremely hot but that didn't stop the many visitors from purchasing plants from the plant stall, which raised over £100 for club funds. The refurbished slate garden walls were magnificent, surrounding new planting and borders set in one acre. Soft fruits, raised vegetable and fruit beds were so productive and the cauliflowers in the polytunnel were magnificent!  There is a mixture of ferns in the shady areas as well as a small bluebell patch. Further on there is a 3 acre waterside meadow. In the field there is a vegetable patch, a nice riverside walk and a new poly tunnel, together with sheep. The field is a mix of wild flower meadow and bog areas with marsh marigolds, broad leaved cuckoo flower and other bog plants and willow trees. Altogether a wonderful renovation of an old house and garden.  Chair, Lynn Bushell, presented Sue & Richard with a gift voucher, on behalf of the club, to thank them for opening their delightful garden for our visit.

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NEXT MEETING:

​​​​​​​​​​Wednesday 12 August at 7.30pm

'Soft Fruit Gardening' with Liz Zorab

The talk is a celebration of soft fruit. It includes all the usual suspects and others that are less well-known, but are easy to grow and that we may already have in our gardens. Propagation techniques, hints and tips and I share some of my favourite preserving methods. Liz Zorab is an award winning gardener and video maker. She is also a best-selling author, a regular gardening expert for BBC Radio Wales, and writes a fortnightly column for Amateur Gardening magazine. Liz champions sustainable, low-impact and low-effort gardening practices. She blends ornamental gardening with food growing, creating gardens that feed the body and soul. On her YouTube channel she shares real-life gardening and attainable gardening ideas. Her videos have had millions of views around the world. Teas: Lesley Cutter & Tim Percival   Plant Stall: Sue Busby & Sue Sturges

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Sat 29 - Sun 30 August  Joe & Rosemary's Flower Festival at St Cledwyn's Church, Llanglyden

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Wednesday 9 September at 7.30pm

'The National Gardens Scheme - beyond the garden gate' with Jackie Batty

The talk will cover how the NGS works, how it started, where the money goes and gardens to visit in Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire. Jackie and her husband Martin garden at Treffgarne Hall and are lucky to have a walled garden where the focus is on borderline-hardy and exotic specimens. We continue to be delighted and amazed with what does grow and thrive! Charmed into opening for the NGS in 2008, we have continued to welcome visitors. Further charmed in 2009 to help on the County Team, Jackie took on the role of Assistant County Organiser and from 2017 has been County Organiser for Carmarthenshire & Pembrokeshire.

Teas: Ros Hammerton & Nina Weatherhead   Plant Stall: Sue Sturges & Beverley Morris - our final plant sale of 2026. 

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Wednesday 14 October at 7.30pm

'Symphotrichums & Beyond - Late Season Flower Power' with Janine Thomson

Janine makes a welcome return to the club, with an illustrated talk on Symphotrichums (Asters or Michaelmas Daisies to you and me!)​ and other late flowering plants, to add colour to the autumn border. Janine is owner of Heartease Plants and has a regular stall at St Dogmaels on a Tuesday, as well as selling at Rare Plant Fairs throughout the season.  She will be bringing plants for sale so there is no club sales table this month.

Teas: Howard Lillyman & Sharon Swift

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Wednesday 11 November at 7.30pm

'Bee-keeping for Beginners' with Rob Wilson

Rob lives in Abercych and runs a commercial honey enterprise, Cych Valley Honey Farm. They produce local honey, queen bees, nucleus hives, beeswax and much more. A family business with three generations celebrating 60 years of beekeeping. A full guide and description of the art of setting up and running your own hives. Products for sale.

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Annual Club Seed Swap. Don't forget to bring your seeds and take some away! 

Teas: ***

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Saturday 12 December at 2.00pm

Christmas Social 

Our annual social, details to follow

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Wednesday 13 January 2027 at 7.30pm

Gardeners Question Time with Jenny, Richard, & Roger 

Roger Spencer, from Trefedyn, will be joining club members, Richard Cain (formerly of Penlan Perennials) and Jenny Matthews (formerly of Moorland Cottage Plants), to answer all your questions. Compered by Roger Bushell.

Teas: 

 

Wednesday 10 February at 7.30pm

'Designing a Garden' with Andy Cutter

Club and committee members, Andy and Lesley Cutter are in the process of creating a new garden at Lower Kings, Boncath. Having trained as a Garden Designer in 2017, Andy has designed over 50 gardens for private clients. His talk will give an overview of the design process from a professional perspective and will include useful tips on garden layouts that members will be able to incorporate into their own gardens. Examples of designs will be included in the presentation and be available to view on the evening. Teas:

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Wednesday 10 March at 7.30pm

'The Adventures of a Seed Detective' with Adam Alexander

​I have a passion for growing fruit and vegetables, which I have been doing since I was a little kid. I am a filmmaker, writer and seed saver. My interest in discovering rare, endangered but above all, delicious vegetables from around the world began as the result of meeting a remarkable lady in a vegetable market in Donetsk, Ukraine in the late eighties whilst making a documentary series there. I write about that life-changing encounter in my book The Seed Detective. So began a pursuit for deliciousness and a journey of discovery and learning about the social and cultural relationships we have with what we grow and eat that I have been on for the best part of 35 years. Today I have a library of over 500 varieties of vegetables I have been given and collected in my travels around the world which I love to sow, savour and share. Seeds to share and books at a 25% discount.

Teas:    Plant Stall:                              

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Wednesday 14 April at 7.30pm

AGM and Social Evening

Teas:  Plant Stall:

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