HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY: The speaker at the May meeting of BVHS was Mr Gordon Jones of Hereford who is a member of the National Chrysanthemum Society and who also lectures and judges for them. Appropriately his topic was 'Chrysanthemum Growing around the World'.

We were taken first, with the aid of slides, to Japan which contrary to popular belief is not where the chrysanthemum originated, although it is the national flower. Mr Jones said it is believed to have come originally from China but it is widely grown in that part of the world, but the type and way of growing is quite different from those grown in the UK. Mr Jones had some superb slides of some of the exhibitions held there.

From Japan we went on to Perth in Western Australia where they are container grown as the soil is sand. Next to Seattle in Canada and finally to Houston in Texas, USA.

Mrs Chris Northing proposed a vote of thanks and Mr Jones was heartily applauded. There were seven entries for the monthly competition which Mr Jones judged, 'A Vase of Garden Flowers', first Janet Harwood, second Diane McRobb, third Chris Northing. There are still some seats available for the visit to the Cadbury Garden Centre on June 28 at £6.50 each. The speaker in June will be Miss Everett who will be talking on 'New Zealand Flora' and the monthly competition will be 'One Stem of any Flower'.