THE booked speaker had to cancel so Howard Drury, who is well known to the club, stepping in at the last minute.

He showed a superb film he had made on plants, people and countryside of New Zealand. He visits there regularly in November, starting at Christchurch, and tours the length of the South Island before moving on the North Island.

On both islands he visits numerous gardens filled with a vast variety of plants from many different countries, some of which grow in inhospitable positions such as dried up riverbeds and the rims of volcanoes. Many of these are the same as those grown in this country but flower much more profusely in their climate.

He also showed views of beautiful countryside including a helicopter landing on a glacier on top of a mountain with fantastic scenery all around. All the countryside is very well protected in New Zealand and the audience was very grateful to Howard for coming at short notice and providing a most enjoyable evening.

There was a club visit to the Well Dressings in Derbyshire recently, much enjoyed by all that attended. There will be no meeting next month as the club will be visiting gardens at Chaddesley Corbett.

The next meeting will be on August 3 when Brian White will give a talk on Scented Leaf Pelargoniums. Meetings take place at the Village Hall, Alcester Road, Wythall on the first Wednesday of the month at 7.30pm. Visitors are always welcome.