MICKLETON GARDENING CLUB : There was a large turnout at the King George Hall this month to hear grower Peter Dodd talk about perennials and how to propagate them. Mr Dodds raises his plants on farm land at Willersey and then sells them at the Longborough Farm Shop, sometimes at a rate of 800 a week. He showed members a selection of his stock including variegated phlox, saponarias, campanulas, penstemons, rudbeckias and lobelia cardinalis. If all goes to plan he is hoping to have a permanent site at Longborough which will save him to-ing and fro-ing from Willersey and then he will have workshops for parties of up to five on how to propagate. No fee, members just have to buy a plant!

After coffee, there was a short demonstration showing his propagation methods using compost, vermiculite and sand and then there was an opportunity to buy the plants he had brought along which were eagerly snapped up. Daphne Beadle gave the vote of thanks and Joy Gill won the table top competition with her entry of a purple flower being a very pretty penstemon. Finally, members were reminded that the annual flower and produce show is on Saturday, so lots of entries and support for that please!