Meetings are held in the Assembly Rooms, Dedham at 7.30 pm with speakers’ evenings on the first Wednesday of most months.   The Society has a varied programme of talks and events including a spring and autumn show each year;  please see below for more information.  Members can also take advantage of a discount on seeds from Thompson & Morgan.   The annual subscription is £5 and new members are always welcome. 

After the AGM in May the 20011/12 season started well with the ever-popular  Plant Sale  in Royal Square Dedham where members donated surplus perennials, vegetable plants and shrubs;  many a bargain was to be found which all helped to raise money for the Society.  This was followed in June with a splendid Afternoon Tea at Spice Cottage, Dedham, and its two neighbouring gardens.   Members and friends enjoyed a beautiful setting of koi carp ponds and wonderfully coloured planting, chatted with fellow gardeners and took advantage of the plant and book stalls.

A very successful Autumn Show took place in the Assembly Rooms in August with forty-nine members putting in a total of 408 entries in a variety of classes including a section for children.  This was followed later in the year with talks on PATIO GARDENING and THE GARDENS OF ENGLAND.   Members also enjoyed a SPECIAL CHRISTMAS EVENING in December with entertainment, wine and mince pies.

Outside visits are also very popular and in the last few years members have been to Wisley, Wakehurst Place,  Kew Gardens and Nymans.

THE 2012 PROGRAMME CONTINUES WITH:

1 February  FINDING THE BEST NEW PLANT VARIETIES with Thady Barrett

7 March         Richard and Mary Ford will talk on WATER IN THE GARDEN

31 March      The SPRING SHOW in the Assembly Rooms, at 2 pm.   Classes include:  Narcissi, Flowers, Decorative Art, Cookery, Photography and a Juniors’ Section.     Plus:  Plant sales, books, bric à brac  and  refreshments.

4 April           A talk by Tracey Coyne on BULBS FOR SUMMER AND AUTUMN

2 May       The ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING together with a talk on COLOUR IN THE SUMMER GARDEN with Ian Roofe

5 May       The annual PLANT SALE in Royal Square, Dedham     8.30 – 11.30 am

Events still to be finalised are a get-together at a coffee morning or afternoon tea as well as the annual outside visit – more details on these soon.

VISITORS ARE ALWAYS VERY WELCOME   If you would like to know more about the Society or any of its events, please contact Secretary, Elizabeth Ellis, on 01206 231164 or Chairman Mike Barker, on 01206 322147   January 2012