WAGS NEWS April 2002

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Chairman's Piece

Those of you that attended the AGM (and there were a lot of you) will know that the formal reports were mainly in the vein of my jottings in the January Newsletter. The only item to arise that is of importance was the Treasurer reporting that the Society made a loss of £52.00 during the 2001 financial year. This is not a cause of concern as the assets total over £21,000.00 and the loss can be attributed mainly to one off items of printing and out of date stock destruction. The subscription will remain the same at £2.50. The Committee were all re-elected. However Edward Tearle and Bob Cartwright both resigned at the end of the last WAGS year, so things will continue in much the same vein as last year. Edward’s role as Secretary has been taken over by Mel Jones. A full list of the current committee appears on page 8. While on the subject of resignations, Iris has indicated that she will be standing down from organising Trips and Talks following the AGM in 2003. You all know what is coming now don’t you? Yes, we desperately need to find someone to take on this valuable role. The committee is looking for a volunteer or Trips and Talks will cease.

Liz England has taken over the administration of the list of local businesses that offer WAGS members a discount. There was a misprint in the last two newsletters. Sheards of Brightwell have ceased trading. Root One is now trading from the site and Liz is hoping to add them to our list. (see page 11) Wears Nursery, just down the road from Root One, have always offered a 10% discount. Our apologies for not publicising this correctly.

This is also a timely reminder to all members that it does no harm to enquire about the availability of discount at any local garden related business.

Should a business that we do not list offer a discount, please let Liz know so that we can let everyone know the news.

It is also important to remember to show your WAGS card BEFORE THE TRANSACTION STARTS. Failure to do so might result in you not receiving discount.

Bernard Novell

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Show Time

Although last years Show was a tremendous success we are not going to rest on our laurels. The Committee have agreed that there should be as few changes as possible to the Show Schedule this year, but we do think that we should add some more classes into the Children’s section and there may be a couple of changes to specialties section.

As usual we can publish the titles for the Art and Photograph classes, so here they are:

Art

Class 66 ‘Growing Things’

Photography (Members Only)

Class 68 Colour print - ‘Over the Rainbow’
Class 69 Colour Print - ‘Lazy Day’
Class 70 B&W print ‘The Farmyard’
Children aged 12 to 16 - Colour photograph ‘Funny Faces’

Watch out for the final changes in the July Publication and remember IT'S YOUR SHOW, SO HAVE A GO!

Bernard Novell

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Trips & Catering

Our first visit for the year on April 28th, is to Stapehill in Dorset, where there are gardens, an Abbey, crafts and Countryside Museum. Entry and a cream tea is included in the £18 for this trip. If anyone is interested please let me know quickly as coach seats are booking fast.

On May 8 there is an opportunity to have a tour of Cross Lanes Fruit Farm at Goring Heath, to see the blossom. If you are interested & will be able to use your own transport let me know immediately as numbers will be limited.

July 2nd will be our visit to the Gardens of the Rose at St. Albans, trip cost £13. A new Jubilee garden should open for viewing.

The last trip that is booking now is for the Ball Colgrave Seed Trial Grounds at Adderbury in August. Trip cost £11.50. We shall take a coach so if you would like to join us, please book without delay. There is a full programme of events during the day including tours of the Trial Grounds, Flower arranging, demonstrations and Gardeners’ Question time.

Click HERE for our full programme.

Coach trips - £5 deposit per person when booking.

While on the subject of trips, I feel that it is time for me to pass the task on to someone else & I shall give up at the A.G.M. next year. Please will someone volunteer to take over? I have lots of information to pass on and will be happy to work with a new trips organiser for a while. You do not necessarily need to be on the committee to perform this task.

Catering

I would like to thank the ladies who helped with refreshments at the A.G.M. I just could not manage, with setting up, clearing and washing up without such willing workers. Many thanks to you all and to the members who came along and made it such a happy social occasion. Having said thank you, I am now warning you that I shall need help at the Band Concert and the Annual Show. It seems a long way off at the moment, but time slips away fast and any offers of cakes etc. will be most gratefully received. I’m not only calling you ladies but also gentlemen as well, especially for these occasions when tables and chairs need moving along with many other, rather heavy items. So please ladies and gentlemen, do let me know soon if you could help with the smooth running of these events. We can then contact you nearer the time.

I will not be at the store every week, so please telephone (and leave a message if necessary) or leave a note at the store - its free.

Iris Novell

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Answers to Jan 2002 Crossword

Across

3. Persicarias
4. Winter
5. Cherry
6. Foliage
7. Parsnip
8. Bonsai
9. Tomato

Down

1. Victoria
2. Greenhouse
3. Skirret
4. Chelsea
5. Pergola
6. Spring

I scour the gardening magazines for words or plant names, and came across an article in "The Kitchen Garden" October 2001 called Pickings from the past. It was about once popular crops that have fallen from favour. There were a number of vegetables that had to provide variety especially over the winter months. Skirret was among the vegetables mentioned. It produces sweet fleshy roots, which can be dug throughout the winter as long as the ground is workable. Seeds are available, so why not try some this year?

Editor

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Shop Talk

I am sorry that some of you have been disappointed with regard to seed potatoes. It would appear that the quantity is about right this year but the types are not balanced. We will try to improve on this next year.

Perhaps if I explain the process of ordering you may appreciate the problem.

Orders have to be with the supplier by October for next year's delivery. These are then delivered to the store in late January early February. They are then bagged up into 3 kilogram packs. The only pre orders we take are for complete sacks. It would be too huge a task to take orders for 3kg packs in August the previous year and then ensure the orderer received them. The only practical way is the first come first served principal which we operate at present.

Virtually all the seed orders have now been delivered. May I remind those of you who have ordered plants that payment becomes due when you have received all of your order. If there should be any problem with any of the goods received, please contact me so that I can take it up with the supplier.

I wish you all a successful growing season.

Peter Hallett

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Plant Sale News

The WAGS plant Sale this year will be on Sat May 18th from 9 - 12.

Please bring any surplus plants to the WAGS Store either on Saturday morning or better still, the previous evening between 6pm and 8pm.

Doug Sears

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W.A.G.S Programme of Events 2002

28th April Sun Visit to Stapehill, Dorset
8th May Wed Apple Blossom - Cross Lanes Fruit Farm, 2pm
18th May Sat Plant Sale - Centre 70, 9am
2nd July Tue Visit to The Gardens of the Rose, St. Albans
6th Aug Tue Visit to Ball Colgrave Seed Trial Grounds, Adderbury
11th Aug Sun Band Concert, Castle Gardens, Wallingford, 2pm
14th Sept Sat Annual Show - Centre 70, 2pm
6th Oct Sun Visit to Birmingham Botanical Gardens
Nov Possible visit to Westonbirt Arboretum to see Evening Illuminations

Coach Trips - Deposit £5 per person when booking.

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Discounts

Discounts are currently available at the following businesses (if you ask first), on the production of your CURRENT WAGS Membership Card, which must be shown before the transaction is started.

1. Newington Garden Nursery, Warborough to Stadhampton Road 10%
(Shrubs, herbaceous plants, pot plants, composts, bark, fertilisers)
2. Root One, Brightwell-cum-Sotwell 10%
3. Woodcote Garden Centre, Reading Road, Woodcote 10%
(Shrubs and plants, use with existing promotions)
4. Toad Hall, Marlow Road, Henley (Weekdays only) 5%
(Shrubs and herbaceous plants, NOT with any other offers)
5. Norman Cox & Partners, Scotts Common, Checkendon 10%
(All items except Fence & Trellis panels)
6. West Garden Machinery, Blewbury 10%
(New Machines only)
7. Lots O’ Pots, 3 Springfield End, Goring 10%
(Hand thrown Spanish terracotta pots)
8. Turner Groundscare contact 07740 279471 up to 20%
(discount on new machinery only)
9. Wears Nursery, Brightwell-cum-Sotwell 10%
(Shrubs, plants, trees, alpines, composts, bark and fertilisers)

Other businesses are under review. Please ask if discount is available and show your card. If you find a business which offers discount that is not listed, please let us know so that we can obtain terms in writing and publish details in the next Newsletter.

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Editorial

Wallingford Country Market

I joined the Wallingford Country Market about 10 years ago on my wife’s advice, with not a little scepticism. However I soon realised the group of people involved were very professional and knowledgeable about plants and gardening, and I was soon growing just a few more of everything and taking them along to the market to sell, and giving my gardening a whole new aspect.

We sell at the market price, 90% of which is returned to the producer. The market keeps the 10% to pay for rent and other expenses.

The market is always looking for new producers so if any of our WAGS members would like to earn a little cash to help pay for seeds and compost etc., I would heartily encourage them to grow a little extra fruit flowers, or vegetables and bring them along to the Market in the Regal Centre any Friday morning between 8.30 and 10.00. The market is open to the public from 9.45am to 11.15am. For further details contact 01491 202419 or 01865 858163

Frank Freeman

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