Our next meeting will be held on Thursday November 9th when Sue Clarke will talk about Hardy Geraniums -The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Sue is a well-known expert on everything to do with growing hardy geraniums. She has been growing them for 25 years and has a Plant Heritage National Collection of Geranium sylvaticum & renardii. Geraniums can be beautiful but some can also be thugs. Sue will talk about the vast range of geraniums that are available and which are best for different environments.

Please note – our December meeting, on Thursday December 14th at 2pm, is a ticket only event (so we know how many mince pies are needed). Please collect your ticket at the November meeting.

Before that however we have two Zoom talks from TSGCN – on Thursday October 26th Timothy Walker (formerly of Oxford Botanic Gardens) will give a talk titled Bordering on Insanity (creating an all-year-round border) and on Wednesday November 9th Andrew Mikolayski will ask Do Your Roots need Doing? Good root growth is essential for healthy and productive plants. How can you be sure your plants are performing well under ground when you can’t even see them? Full details of these talks and how to join them are on the Tender Shoots Garden Club Network website.

If you need to make plans for the New Year our January meeting on the 11th is via Zoom and TSGCN when Sally Gregson from Mill Cottage in Somerset will tell us about Hydrangeas.

February is our AGM at 7pm followed by a talk at 7.30 from Jeff Bates about the Royal Gardens, Windsor. Details of all our meetings are on the Programme page.

Remember to keep an eye on your emails (and check the spam folder) especially through the winter months for changes to venue and programme in case the weather causes disruption to our plans.

Our next meeting is on Thursday October 14th at the Christ Church Centre in Stone when Ken Black will give a talk: Clematis – For All Year Round Colour. Our meeting starts at 7.30 with coffee/tea available beforehand. All are welcome, just £1.50 payable at the door.

Ken Black has been growing clematis for more than 30 years. He says he tries to make the whole evening as interactive and enjoyable as possible with a talk about the different varieties of clematis followed by practical demonstrations. He grows many clematis from seeds and cuttings and, if there are spare plants, there will be some for sale.

Before then however there is our bus trip to RHS Bridgewater on September 28th – if you have a place booked you should have an email about it before then, if Helen can get her computer to cooperate! Otherwise its 9.30 from the carpark at the Stone House Hotel.

And even before that, on Monday September 25th is a TSGCN talk via Zoom on Climate Change and its Effect on our Gardens by Lucy Hartley. Full details are on the Tender Shoots website.

Back to Clematis – they are such versatile plants that we can all find space for at least one – whether its a C. montana taking over a holly tree (intentional, or otherwise), or more showy ones scrambling through the border (possibly not intentional either) or brightening up a fence.

I’m sure that following Ken’s talk we will all be scrambling to acquire another clematis or two.

Our first meeting after the summer break is on Thursday 14th September when Alun and Jill Whitehead of Aulden Farm near Leominster will tell us about their favourite Cornish Gardens in a talk entitled Pasties and Tin Mines. Full details are on our Programme Page.

Our trip to RHS Bridgewater on September 28th is fully booked, you could ask to go on the waiting list in case of any last-minute cancellations. Those already booked should be getting details soon.

We have had an email about the Eccleshall Show to be held on September 2nd at Sugnall. The Horticultural and Craft Section have an award that was presented by the Stone Chrysanthemum and Dahlia Society a number of years ago – for the best exhibit of chrysanthemums or dahlias. So they thought they would contact us to see if any members would be interested in entering any of the open flower (or other) classes at the Show this year. The schedules and entry forms can be found on the Show website.

There are still a few Plant Hunters Fairs being held (more or less) locally before our next meeting – Bodenham Arboretum on Sept 2nd, Ness Botanic Gardens on the 3rd and at Weston Park on the 10th. Full details on their website.

We have no meeting in August but there is still plenty to do and see before our September meeting on September 14^th when we have a talk entitled Pasties and Tin Mines – Alun and Jill Whitehead of Aulden Farm take us around some of their favourite Cornish gardens.

During August there are at least four Plant Hunters Fairs not too far from here –

Wednesday August 2nd at Cholmondeley Castle, Malpas SY14 8AH

Sunday August 13th at Capesthorne Hall, Macclesfield SK11 9JY

Sunday August 20th at Carsington Water, Ashbourne DE6 1ST

and finally, really close to home, on Bank Holiday Weekend Sunday August 27 and Monday August 28 at the Dorothy Clive Garden.

Should you happen to be in Devon in August the RHS Rosemoor Flower Show is on from August 18 – 20 – more details on the RHS website.

In September, before our meeting there are three Plant Hunters Fairs

September 2^nd at Bodenham Arboretum, Kidderminster,

September 3^rd  Ness Botanic Gardens on the Wirral.

September 10^th Weston Park but you will need to book a ticket in advance for this one.

Full details of costs and opening times are on the websites – just click on the links above. There have plenty of other plant fairs and shows up and down the country so if you are on holiday its worth looking to see if one coincides with your visit.

Apart from plant fairs there will be lots of gardens open under the NGS scheme both locally and further afield – again details on their website, just click on the link above or download their app onto your smart phone.

September 2^nd – 3^rd Aulden Farm (near Leominster, Herefordshire) will also be open (under the NGS) this weekend.

For other garden-related trips have a look at some of the websites on our Useful Links page.

Our July meeting on Thursday July 13th is a talk from Robin Pearce called Crazy Daisies – exploring the world of ‘daisy-like’ flowers.  Robin is a retired nurseryman. He continues to grow very wide range of hardy plants, with a special interest in Dahlia, Hosta, Hemerocallis, Pulmonaria, and Galanthus, as well as woodland plants, ornamental grasses and hardy ferns. Robin is the former chair of the RHS Herbaceous Plant Committee, RHS Floral Judge, Exhibitor, Judge and Speaker. It sounds like a very informative evening awaits.

We have no meeting in August but there is still plenty to do and see before our September meeting.

Sunday July 2nd there is a Plant Hunters Fair at Whittington Castle near Oswestry SY11 4DF from 10 – 4. Free entry but pay and display car park.

Saturday and Sunday July 8^th & 9^th  11am to 5pm. Everybody will be warmly welcomed to Cannock Wood and Gentleshaw Open Gardens Weekend. 13 gardens, a very varied mix of sizes and styles to enjoy with refreshments in some gardens. Several have wonderful views and some are partially accessible by wheelchair users. Entry by programme (£5 for each adult) available on those days only at the Village Hall, Buds Road, WS15 4NB, free parking & plant stall. Please see www.opengarden.co.uk/ID1827 or www.cwggc.co.uk/events”

Sunday July 9th brings a Rare Plant Fair to Winterbourne House and Gardens in Birmingham

and Sunday July 23rd there is a Flower Power Fair at Sandon Hall.

The RHS Hampton Court Garden Festival is on from July 4 – 9, should you find yourselves down that way, and the RHS Show at Tatton Park (a little closer to home) is July 19 – 23. More details on the RHS website.

Moving on to August there are at least four Plant Hunters Fairs not too far from here –

Wednesday August 2nd at Cholmondeley Castle, Malpas SY14 8AH

Sunday August 13th at Capesthorne Hall, Macclesfield SK11 9JY

Sunday August 20th at Carsington Water, Ashbourne DE6 1ST

and finally, really close to home, on Bank Holiday Weekend Sunday August 27 and Monday August 28 at the Dorothy Clive Garden.

Should you happen to be Devon in August the RHS Rosemoor Flower Show is on from August 18 – 20 – again, more details on the RHS website.

Full details of costs and opening times are on the websites – just click on the links above. There have plenty of other plant fairs and shows up and down the country so if you are on holiday its worth looking to see if one coincides with your visit.

Apart from plant fairs there will be lots of gardens open under the NGS scheme both locally and further afield – again details on their website, just click on the link above or download their app onto your smart phone.

For other garden-related trips have a look at some of the websites on our Useful Links page.

Summer is (nearly) here and earlier hard work in the garden is starting to pay off. Take a break from weeding on June 8th for our monthly talk at the ChristChurch Centre at 7.30 when Samantha Hope from Hopes Garden Plants will tell us about Plants with a Story as she shares 25 of the most interesting she has come across so far – from where they were collected, how they are pollinated to folk law and old wives tales.

Our bus trip to Coton Manor at the end of May was a great success and you can find more photos over on our Photo Gallery page.

Lots of gardens are open under the NGS scheme this month – collect a booklet at our monthly meetings or look on their website for details. If you download the NGS app onto your smart phone you can find gardens that are open wherever you may be when you go on holiday.

There are also plenty of places holding Open Gardens events this month such as the one in Eccleshall on Saturday 17th – Sunday 18th. Barlaston are also hoping to organise one later this year – see their website for details. There are many other towns and villages holding Open Gardens weekends in Staffordshire listed on the website and as we are close to Derbyshire, Cheshire and Shropshire it is worth searching those counties too..

We are blessed with lots of beautiful gardens locally that we can visit such as Trentham Gardens (pictured), the Dorothy Clive Gardens, Shugborough, Weston Park, Dunham Massey, Chatsworth, Cholmondeley Castle and Gardens, Kedleston Hall near Derby and Lea Gardens near Matlock; not to mention RHS Bridgwater.

You can find more on the Great British Gardens website.

We have two local Plant Hunters Fairs coming up this month – Saturday 10th – Sunday 11th at Hodnet Hall and Saturday June 17th at Sugnall Walled Garden (two more great gardens to visit!).

Will there be time for gardening (or even just sitting in the garden) with all this going on??

First of all a big Thank You to all who supported our Plant Sale, whether helping or buying, as thanks to your efforts it was a great success and we had sold most of the plants by 12.30.

Our next monthly meeting is this Thursday May 11th when Maureen Sayers will be telling us why Foliage Matters. Maureen Sayer is a gardener and practising artist and designer who divides her time between the development of the garden at Southlands, the garden design and consultation service she offers and her own work which she exhibits in galleries and craft shops. In the past she was a senior lecturer in art and design. She is a member of the National Executive Committee of the Cottage Garden Society and a listed RHS speaker.

Our next trip is also this month – Thursday May 25th – when we will be visiting Coton Manor Garden in Northamptonshire. There are still a few places left so contact us via our email if you want to go.

There are several Plant Hunter Fairs coming up this month – Saturday 13th in Shrewsbury; Sunday 14th Capesthorne Hall’ Saturday 27th Carsington Water and Monday 19th Arley Arboretum in Worcestershire. See their website for full details.

Don’t forget –

our Annual Plant Sale is on Saturday 29th April at St Michael’s Community Hall from 9am – 1pm and admission is free.

Before we get to April we still have a couple of talks happening in March – our postponed March meeting is on Thursday March 30th at the Christ Church Centre as usual starting at 7.30pm when our speaker will be Don Witton with Once Seen, Never Forgotten – “Whether it is unforgettable garden scenes, beautiful flower blooms, bizarre plant names or hilarious horticultural encounters, this talk has an eclectic mix of images caught on camera during my garden and wildflower travels around this country and further afield.”

And even before that, on Monday 27th we can join the Tendershoots Garden Club Network (TSGCN) for a talk on Notable Botanic Gardens of the UK by George Hargreaves who is a volunteer guide at Westonbirt Arboretum. PLEASE NOTE – this talk has had to be postponed. We’ll let you know once it has been rescheduled.

In April our usual monthly meeting (April 13th) cannot take place as it coincides with Easter – instead we have a bus trip to Bents Garden Centre and Parm Place. Members should have received all the details in a recent email.

Other events taking place in April that you may be interested in are –

April 9 – 10th Plant Hunters Fair at the Dorothy Clive Garden

April 15 – 16 Dibleys Nurseries in North Wales are holding a Virtual Flower Show (so you don’t even have to leave home!)

April 24th a talk from TSGCN by Jackie Currie – How to grow Alliums and the best varieties to choose. Jackie is a PH National Collection Holder and will take us through her collection. (This will be a Members & Affiliated Club only zoom event)

April 26th Plant Hunters Fair at Arley Hall, Northwich.

April 30th Bluebell Walk in aid of All Saints Church, Sandon. Meet at the church car park at 1.45 for 2pm. Cost £5 pp (children free) – includes tea and cake afterwards!

In other news Trentham Gardens Garden Centre (part of the Blue Diamond Group) are now recycling compost bags – you can find the container to drop your empty bags in by the entrance, just to the left next to the full compost bags.

With the weather and the distance our speaker would be traveling we have decided to CANCEL to-nights meeting due to be held at Christ Church Centre, Stone.

THE GOOD NEWS— the meeting will now be held on:- THURSDAY 30th MARCH at 7-30pm with our planned speaker Don Witton and we hope you will all be able to attend.