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.
July 2026 Talk: Hardy Geraniums
July’s meeting featured an entertaining and informative talk about hardy geraniums by Graham Spencer who has been involved in the horticultural industry for over 30 years, including 15 years as a nursery manager and perennial plant specialist. In 2003 he set up Plants for Europe and now works with plant breeders to bring new varieties to market giving him a strong understanding of current trends and an expert insight into what makes a plant exceptional.
Graham gave us a comprehensive overview of this huge genus, with fascinating insights into the different species, their natural habitats and the many hybrid varieties bred to take on the the best characteristics of parent plants. Easy to grow and loved by bees, this popular group of plants includes 120-130 species and some 500-600 named varieties. Once established most are drought tolerant and flower from April to June or July. After a dormant period many flower again in September. British native geraniums include Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum) although many think of it as a weed.
July 2026 Meeting and Show Table
Well it’s been quite a month for weather! In June, we had had heavy downpours as well as blistering heat, but there has been no rain and yet more 30 degrees + heatwaves since then, as well as the imminent imposition of a hosepipe ban. It was good to be able to see such a range of healthy plants on the Show Table despite the difficult drought conditions.
Continue reading July 2026 Meeting and Show TablePat’s 10 jobs for July 2026
1. Maybe in this challenging weather the best thing you can do is mulch the soil (after watering, so that the soil is moist and the mulch will retain that moisture). If you pull out weeds leave them on the surface to keep roots cool, use grass clippings if you have them but making sure to keep away from stems of plants.
2. To save water just water around the roots of plants by removing roses on watering cans and spray attachments on hoses.
Members coach trip to RHS Hyde Hall
[This post contains lots of photographs, just click on the photos to see a larger version. There are so many plants that we haven’t named them all (we don’t necessarily know every cultivar), but feel free to ask about them in the comments and we’ll do our best to answer!]
On the first day of July more than 50 CABAHS members and a few guests set off from Charlton House bright and early for a trip to RHS Hyde Hall in Essex.
As we arrived, a staff member advised us not to miss the Cottage Garden near the entrance. They were not wrong – the garden was as exuberant as I’ve ever seen it, with bursts of height and colour expressed in some beautifully grown species such as Clematis, hollyhocks, Dierama and Zinnia.
Plant(s) of the Month: The Purples (June 2026)
Clematis ‘John Treasure’ (Viticella)
This free-flowering and vigorous Clematis has been growing on the north side of my garden fence – for many years, as the label reads £3.50!
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.
Charlton and Blackheath Amateur Horticultural Society 