Charlton and Blackheath Amateur Horticultural Society

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.

Small gardens

What is a small garden?

Margaret P's garden — Small is beautiful. Margaret P’s garden.

Technically, a small garden is considered to be one that is approximately 100m² (33 x 33ft) or less. While the average UK garden is apparently about twice that size (225m²– almost a tennis court), and most new build etc gardens are about half the size of ‘small’ (50m²), we are based in London and what really defines a small garden is probably more a matter of opinion and perception than exact dimensions. To complicate the topic further, many larger gardens are divided into smaller spaces or ‘rooms’, which will often have features and considerations in common with smaller gardens.

March 2026 talk: Plants for Shade

At our meeting on Monday 16 March we welcomed Lynne Moore of Moore and Moore Plants to talk to members about shade loving plants. A specialist in plants for shade for over 30 years, Lynne was clearly passionate about her subject and described herself as a ‘plantaholic’. She noted that from their very first time exhibiting at the Chelsea Flower show, one of the most common complaints she heard from visitors was that ‘nothing grows in the shade’ and this may be why our meeting attracted a large number of attendees. Lynne set out to prove that this is a very mistaken view…

Speaker Lynne Moore of Moore & Moore Plants, speaking at CABAHS, March 2026 — Lynne Moore talking about ’52 Weeks in the Shade Garden’

A slide from Lynne Moore's talk about plants for shade, March 2026 — Lynne Moore talking about ’52 Weeks in the Shade Garden’

March 2026 Meeting and Show Table

The March 2026 meeting had an energetic, spring-like atmosphere, with great attendance from members old and new as well as a number of guests. Thanks to all who took the opportunity to renew their membership for the year. We welcomed Lynne Moore of Moore & Moore Plants, who gave an inspiring and informative talk on plants for shade.

Everyone enjoyed refreshments, took part in the raffle, bought plants and seeds, collected their potato for the autumn potato growing competition and, of course, there was the regular Show Table. And what a lovely display there was this month – thanks to all who brought in their joyful and interesting plants and flowers:

Spring Show 2026 – classes to enter

The CABAHS Spring Show will take place on Monday 20 April 2026 and classes will be judged by John Hughes. Here’s a reminder of last year’s efforts!

Getting the 2025 CABAHS Spring Show set up and ready for judging — Spring Show 2025

Some of the 18 entries for Class 13: Narcissus 'Pipit' CABAHS Spring Show 2025 — Spring Show 2025

The classes you can enter this year are shown below, please have a go at as many as you like!

Pat’s 10 jobs for March 2026

1. Time to cut back Buddleja davidii hard… don’t be timid, take it right back to 40cm to a pair of buds. If you want a taller plant make the cuts higher up the stem. It will grow back in no time. The prunings make good hardwood cuttings and root easily straight in the ground.

Buddleja davidii in need of a hard prune — *Buddlejas* before and after a hard prune (not the same plant!)

Buddleja davidii after a fairly hard prune - already developing new shoots! — *Buddlejas* before and after a hard prune (not the same plant!)

2. You can pot up Dahlia tubers now by placing in pots or trays of peat-free compost in a frost-free place, and water once with no need to water again until shoots appear. Make sure the tubers are firm with no sign of rot.

What to look out for in the Old Pond Garden: March 2026

We hope you enjoy a spring walk around the walled gardens at Charlton House! Look out for:

Daffodil (Narcissus ‘Elka’)

Narcissus 'Elke' in the Peace Garden at Charlton House

A fragrant, small and early-flowering daffodil, you can spot Narcissus ‘Elka’ spreading gently in the Peace Garden. It has pale petals and a creamy yellow trumpet. The name ‘Elka’ comes from a combination of the names of two ‘lady daffodil growers’: Elizabeth and Kate.

Wood spurge (Euphorbia amygdaloides var. robbiae)

Euphorbia amygdaloides var. robbiae (wood spurge / Mrs Robb's Bonnet) in the Old Pond Garden, Charlton House, March 2024

Wood spurge is in the Euphorbia family, so take care! If the stems are broken, they gush with a thick milky latex substance that can cause irritation. They are handsome perennial plants, shade loving, with zingy lime-green flowers in late Spring and rosettes of glossy dark green leaves. Another name for this plant is ‘Mrs Robb’s Bonnet’ – we would like to see the hat that inspired that name!

Orchids at Kew Gardens

It’s celebration time for the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, as this is the 30th year of their much-loved Orchid exhibition, set within the rare and exotic planting in the Princess of Wales Conservatory.

Orchids at Kew, February 2026 — The magnificent variety of Orchids on display at Kew Gardens

This year, China is the inspiration for the exhibition, in particular the Yunnan Province, where 1,000 species of Orchid are to be found.

Charlton House Garden Volunteers are Six!

The official launch of the volunteer scheme to revive the Old Pond Garden took place on Sunday 23 February 2020. That’s six years ago, which apparently makes it our “Iron” anniversary ( new spades or forks anyone?). It seems unbelievable that volunteers then were more worried about the wind and rain from the tail end of Storm Dennis than the growing rumours of a future pandemic..

How far have we come? Well I have so many photos and emails from the last six years that I don’t know where to start! The first email I sent to the 33 folks who signed up that February included this immortal sentence:

“I’d like to stress that the volunteer work we envisage is not heavy stuff, and the emphasis is on enjoying the company of others who want to restore this garden to beauty.”

Plant of the Month: Edgeworthia chrysantha (February 2026)

So far February 2026 has been very wet, with heavy and prolonged downpours, which has restricted everyone’s garden visits, including mine. So I’ve had help this month from Ali H (many thanks) in seeking out winter-flowering specimens that are looking at their finest at the moment and hopefully will be of interest to you.

Originating from China and the Himalayan regions, Edgeworthia chrysantha is related to the Daphne family and I am not surprised as the flower clusters are extremely fragrant. They appear on the tips of bare stems in late winter, then in spring covered in foliage, consisting of attractive slender leaves, making a nice rounded shape to fit within planting schemes.

Edgeworthia chrysantha 'Nanjing Gold' at RHS Wisley (Winter Walk) — *Edgeworthia* species, ‘Grandiflora’ (with bee!) and ‘Red Dragon’ at RHS Wisley

Pat’s 10 jobs for February 2026

1. It’s time to prune your Group 3 Clematis (the Viticella and Jackmanii type) to tackle tangled growth at the base so they can grow away strongly. Take all growth back hard to about 6 to 12 inches above the ground, cutting above a leaf joint. Then give them a feed and a mulch. It seems drastic but they respond well and will grow quickly. If it’s a fairly new plant check around the base for slugs which can quickly eat any weak new growth.

Clematis viticella 'Betty Corning' before February pruning — *Clematis viticella* ‘Betty Corning’ before and after a hard prune

Clematis viticella 'Betty Corning' after February pruning — *Clematis viticella* ‘Betty Corning’ before and after a hard prune

2. Cut back all spent foliage on grasses making sure not to snip emerging shoots. And look out for any seedlings to pot up for our plant sales table if you don’t want them!