VISITORS are always welcome on the first Monday of the month at Colwall Village Hall WR13 6EQ.

We arrive from 7pm and a talk is given by a person well versed in their speciality at about 7.30pm. Arrive early, meet the members and enjoy a free cup of tea or coffee. While sipping your drink of choice join the group at the Interest Points; Garden Visits, What is it (plants)? Pests and Diseases, and Vegetables. Bring your questions, thoughts and examples to discuss with other interested members.

In August Marina Christopher talked on The Plight of the Bee; Flowers to the Rescue. By including a wide variety of plants which support bees we can enjoy our gardens more, perhaps visually and aurally but surely scent wise. The more highly bred the plant, generally, the less scent and fewer bees. A generalisation but if it smells good to us it suits bees. Bees see blue, green, purple and pink (birds see red and orange).

Grasses, though popular, are wind pollinated and no use to bees.

From late in the year Colchicum and cyclamen provide for the late flyers; on sunny days in January bumblebees will be flying; they create their own heat. Salvias, lavender and catmint are all excellent providers of pollen (food) and nectar (sugars).

Big flower heads, with yellow centres, make great landing pads. Daisies, asters, Echinacea, heleniums and cornflower; echinops, eupatorium, veronica and scabious are great food and nectar suppliers.

On Saturday, August 8 we held our 72nd Summer Flower and Produce Show. As ever the attendees were stunned by the quality of the displays; single stems, arrangements, plants in pots, indeed the whole gamut of floral art and skill was apparent. This skill was shown not only by our members but, being an open show, enthusiasts from the parishes of Wyche and Colwall. The vegetable classes were similarly well supported. In all there were 80 classes including Cookery, Photography, Handicraft and, not least, Junior Classes (7 to 14). The competition was keen meaning the winners had worked with skill and knowledge to get their entries up to snuff for the day.

Amongst the winners were Mr C J Lane with the RHS Banksian Medal and Frank and Holly Brown for their entries in the Junior sections Under 7 and 8 to 13 respectively

On Monday, September 7 we welcome John Scrace. John is a plant pathologist; his talk will be on the problems posed by plants and trees alien to this country. Come early; make/meet friends and discuss your gardening interests and challenges. There are many experienced and knowledgeable gardeners who are happy to answer questions. New members joining now, £12, have their subscriptions paid to January 2017. Visitors are charged £4.

TIM BEAUMONT