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.
June 2026: Gardeners’ Question Time
Our version of Gardeners’ Question Time was back for the June meeting and proved once again to be an informative and enjoyable event.
The evening started with a pleasant stroll around the Old Pond Garden, admiring the plants and taking in the evening sun.
Back in the Old Library, we set about tackling questions that had been submitted by members before the meeting. In a change to previous years, there was no formal panel or guest expert. Instead, questions were answered by our very own experts with lots of discussion and contributions from CABAHS members, compered by Kathy and illustrated with slides.
Continue reading June 2026: Gardeners’ Question TimeJune 2026 Meeting and Show Table
The evening started with a pleasant stroll around the Old Pond Garden, followed by our annual, friendly and informative ‘Amateur Gardeners’ Question Time’. As usual, there were was a raffle and a selection of plants for sale and reliable Show Table exhibitor Annie finally got to take away her trophy as winner of the 2025 Show Table Cup.
Continue reading June 2026 Meeting and Show TablePat’s 10 jobs for June 2026
1. There’s still time to direct sow some annuals like Cerinthe, Nasturtium, Nigella and Calendula for late flowering. Remember to thin out once germinated for decent size flowers.
2. Lily beetles are rife this year so be vigilant as they can devastate in no time (and they enjoy fritillaries too).
Continue reading Pat’s 10 jobs for June 2026May 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.
Continue reading Jillian SmithThe 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.
Charlton and Blackheath Amateur Horticultural Society 