Welcome to the CABAHS website. Here you can find information about the Society, what we do and how to join in, along with general posts on gardening.
For our next meetings and events, see our Programme of Events.
May 2026 talk: Miss Willmott’s Ghosts
We were delighted to welcome Sandra Lawrence, author of an excellent book about Ellen Willmott FLS VMH (1858-1934). The book’s full title is ‘Miss Willmott’s Ghosts: The Extraordinary Life and Gardens of a Forgotten Genius’ and Sandra told us a lot not only about the forgotten Miss Willmott but also why she has been forgotten and what it has taken to bring her life and legacy to light once more.
Ellen Willmott was actually very well-known in her own lifetime, but after her death her name slipped into relative obscurity, accompanied only by increasingly wild anecdotes about her character and actions… only some of which were true. The story that most of us have heard, but which is unlikely to be true, is that Miss Willmott secretly scattered the seeds of Eryngium giganteum (aka sea holly) whenever she visited a garden. The following year, a magnificent and ghostly-looking plant – now known as ‘Miss Willmott’s Ghost’ – would appear to remind everyone of her presence.
Continue reading May 2026 talk: Miss Willmott’s GhostsMay 2026 Meeting and Show Table
Monday’s May meeting, the day after the Spring Plant Sale, drew members old and new, a fragrant and colourful Show Table and a fascinating talk on ‘Miss Willmott’s Ghosts’ by author Sandra Lawrence.
Plant Sale – May 2026
We had another brilliant and successful day in the Charlton House Peace Garden on Sunday. We were so happy, after all these weeks of tending our plant babies, to see them go off to loving new homes!
Thank you to everyone who grew the plants, helped to sell them (all 43 of you!), bought them, or just came along to enjoy the day.
Plant(s) of the Month: The Whites (May 2026)
A blue sky has appeared, white clouds are in retreat and the white flower clusters are glowing in the bright sunshine, after two days of rain.
Outside my window, Matthiola perennis ‘Alba’, the white scented stock, is soaking up the warmth of the sun. Classed as a short-lived perennial, this cluster is most likely 6-7 years old now, with grey-green foliage and flower clusters sitting atop tall, 3 foot, woody stems. Wonderfully perfumed, preferring shelter, full sun, good drainage and poor soil.
Pat’s 10 jobs for May 2026
1. At this time of year when the weather is warm early Dutch honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum) and Lonicera americana are a magnet for night-flying moths attracted by the spicy scent, so try growing one if you have the space.
2. If seedlings and cuttings are growing away well, put them outside during the day to harden off then bring them in at night if the weather is cold.
3. Iris are in spectacular full flower now, but be sure to keep their rhizomes free from weeds so they get baked by the sun which will aid flowering next year.
Jillian Smith
Most of our members will now have heard the sad news that Jillian Smith, Chair of CABAHS for many years, has died after a long illness. Many of us will be familiar with her beautiful garden in Winn Road which she opened for charity several times and which became something of an occasion, with tea and cake taken to the many seating areas dotted around the garden.
In addition to chairing the Society, Jillian also organised the annual outings and judged the Shows: no small task. Her horticultural knowledge and expertise were second to none and always delivered with grace and humour. We were lucky enough to welcome her back to judge our Autumn Show in 2025, the year of our anniversary. To honour the immense contribution Jillian made to CABAHS she was made one of our Vice Presidents on her retirement.
People live on in many different ways. Many of us now have plants in our gardens which were from Jillian – she was always generous with her donations and until recently was still contributing plants to our annual plant sales. Walking around our gardens there will often be a plant that we describe as “Jillian’s”. It is a terrific legacy to have left to us.
Jillian and Geoff Smith in their garden at Winn Rd with HRH The Queen Mother, 1975 
Jillian setting up the CABAHS Courtyard Garden, Chelsea Flower Show 1991 
Jillian in a Christmas hat, 1994 
Jillian with Joe Swift at Blackheath Hall, 2016 
Jillian at the CABAHS Spring Show 2018 
Jillian judging the CABAHS Autumn Show, August 2025
Jillian Smith
CABAHS Shows Secretary 1974-83
CABAHS Chair 1984-93
CABAHS Vice-Chair 1997-2006
CABAHS Chair 2006-2016
Vija V
The Gatehouse
Well used to opening in the summer to raise money for the local hospice, this year Ruth and Matthew opened their garden ‘The Gatehouse‘ for the National Garden Scheme in the spring. Ruth said she bought ‘something like’ 2,000 bulbs, not surprising in a garden of this size!
Described in the NGS Handbook as ‘one of London’s largest private gardens’, the grounds were originally part of Eltham Palace and are presided over by a hugely imposing copper beech. The great wall surrounding the garden and the mature trees lend the garden an immediate air of gravitas.
Spring Show 2026
Another enjoyable evening was had at our 48th annual Spring Show on Monday 20 April. While entries were a little down on last year, probably due to weather variations and unavoidable absences, we still viewed 69 submissions across 14 classes. Indeed our judge for the evening, RHS judging veteran John Hughes, commented on the consistently high quality of entries.
John proved a fair, interesting, decisive and informative judge, explaining his assessments and offering tips on showing plants to their best advantage. Thank you John! Thanks is due also to all who organised, set up, prepared the flags / certificates and did the raffle and refreshments.
Plant of the Month: Camellia (April 2026)
It really is a privilege to be invited into other people’s gardens, where the host is allowing us to peek into their private spaces, their secluded oasis and, we, the invitees, do feel very honoured on such an occasion. We see their tastes, their flair, their artistry of everything that make their garden special, thus revealing a little of themselves in the process.
Some are lucky enough to inherit established plants and Juli F is one of those gardeners who embraced her south-facing courtyard garden and the already mature crimson-flowered Camellia that came with it.
Continue reading Plant of the Month: Camellia (April 2026)Pat’s 10 jobs for April 2026
1. Cut back those shrubby Salvias now if you haven’t already done so, both in the ground and in pots. Cut just above a shoot and they will grow away fast, but listen out for forecast of frost.
and support your taller plants
2. Some bulbs are now over so make sure to deadhead and then leave the foliage to die back naturally, and give them a good feed to build up the bulbs for next year.
Continue reading Pat’s 10 jobs for April 2026
Charlton and Blackheath Amateur Horticultural Society 