Charlton and Blackheath Amateur Horticultural Society

Have you checked your Fig Tree recently?

A couple of months ago, we noticed the damage that was being done to the fig tree in the Old Pond Garden and realised that most other fig trees in the area were in a similar state. What was happening?

We were discussing it at a volunteer session one day and Pat T indicated that she had spotted the same kind of damage on her fig tree and had contacted the RHS for advice. The RHS confirmed our suspicion that the cause is a micro-moth called Choreutis nemorana. It is being referred to as the fig-tree skeletonizer moth or fig leaf roller – for rather obvious reasons! This species is widespread in the Mediterranean and North Africa where there will be more fig trees but more natural predators too.

It was recorded in Belgium in 2009 and the first record for Britain was in 2014 in London. Since then it has spread to East Anglia, Kent and the Isle of Wight.

To understand what is happening to the fig tree, we must follow the life-cycle of the moth. The adult moth lays whitish eggs in batches on top of the leaf. The larvae or caterpillars then hatch, begin eating the leaf but just the tender bits, not the ribs (hence one of its names). They also spin silk to create a protective web or cocoon, under which they continue to eat the leaf until they pupate. There are two generations with adults flying in July and again in the autumn. The second generation over-winters in sheltered places. The caterpillar grows to about 15mm long and the moth has a wingspan of between 16 and 20mm. For more information and photos of the different stages check here.

September – from my window

Sometime ago, Anna wrote an entry for CABAHS on what she could see from her kitchen window and the pleasure this gave her. At various times of year, most of us can look out of a window and see something to delight – it may not even be in our own garden! My neighbour grows fabulous roses and I can see these from an upstairs window.

This year I have planted Thunbergia Alata (Black-eyed-Susan) and Rhodochiton atrosanguineus (Purple Bells) in containers to clamber up tripods made of canes strung together.

Tripod covered in Thunbergia Alata (Black-eyed-Susan) and Rhodochiton atrosanguineus (Purple Bells)

In this container, the Thunbergia is a lovely dark orange, while in other pots it is the usual paler colour. Here, the two climbers have made friends with the velvety deep pink Salvia Curviflora. Seen from my kitchen, this combination has been a joy throughout this dismal summer.

What to look out for in the Old Pond Garden: September 2023

We hope you enjoy walking around the walled gardens at Charlton House!
This month, look out for:

Night moth Salvia (Salvia nachtvlinder)

Salvia 'Nachtvlinder' in the Old Pond Garden, Charlton House, September 2023

With velvety plum-purple flowers, this Salvia is attractive to moths and other pollinating insects and flowers over a long period – well into late Autumn.
It has deliciously blackcurrant-scented leaves and is said to protect roses against black spot when it is planted under them.

Michaelmas daisy (Aster x frikartii ‘Monch’)

Aster x frikartii 'Monch' in the Old Pond Garden, Charlton House, September 2023

A bushy perennial with clusters of yellow-centred, lavender-blue daisies that flower right through the Autumn, it is very attractive to pollinators. One of the most reliable and popular Michaelmas daisies (so called because they flower at the time of the feast of Michaelmas on 29 September), it was bred by a Swiss nurseryman called Frikart and named ‘Monch’ after a Swiss mountain.

Lullingstone World Garden

I made my first visit to the charming Lullingstone World Garden today, and am very sure I will be back! This is the most eccentric and fun walled garden, as you might expect if you are trying to fit a worldwide range of plants into it. I especially liked the plant labels everywhere, so you know what you are looking at.

World Garden gate — Entrance through the Moon gate

Australia house — Entrance through the Moon gate

There is a nursery selling high quality plants and a cafe serving great sandwiches and drinks, also lots of seating for picnics. The private House wasn’t open when I visited, but opens sometimes for events. Add it to your list for visiting!

Beth Chatto’s garden

Trying to select photos to use from a visit to Beth Chatto’s garden is not easy! All aspects of this Essex garden are stunning and there are numerous ‘take homes’ from a visit. The cluster of pots around a wooden bench is easy to replicate, with its mixture of plectranthus, fuschia, a small but perfect blechium, pelargonium ‘Vancouver centennial’ (keep a lookout for this at our plant sales – it was our ex-Chair Jillian Smith who originally provided a steady supply) and a charmingly named begonia, ‘Beth’s Houseplant’.

Of course, the dry garden is stunning with gaura, various grasses and verbenas (Bonariensis, hastata and ‘Bampton’) dominating the display in mid-August. Stipa gigantea and verbascums add height and Althaea cannabina has seeded itself generously. The blue of Catanche caerulea looked startlingly beautiful in one corner. This area of the garden is always a useful guide to what will manage with little water and good drainage.

August 2023: Gardeners Question Time

The panel this year consisted of the CABAHS President, Sir Nicolas Bevan in the chair along with the well known horticulturalist, retired Greenwich Park Manager and teacher, Joe Woodcock and our own knowledgeable CABAHS member, Pat Kane. It was a jolly affair much enjoyed by the members, held in the Old Library at Charlton House because of the possibility of rain.

Before the meeting, some members visited the Old Pond Garden to check on and discuss progress.

The Show Table – August

We had some superb exhibits on the Show Table at this month’s meeting, with a wide range of pot plants, flowers and fruits on display, so it deserves it’s own post! The Table was, as always, a great focal point for members to gather round and chat about the entries.

Hmm, the committee wonders if the new prize for ‘Best on Table’ is encouraging our members’ competitive sides to come out? Winner this month was Ruth C, with her beautiful vase of Dahlias ‘Creme de Cassis’. CABAHS President Nicolas presented Ruth with a pot plant plus a special CABAHS Biro. The biro is limited edition, and can only be given to a Show Table winner. In future we expect this to become as coveted an item as a Golden Gavel or Blue Peter badge…!

The whole Show Table:

A note about last month’s Show Table – winner was Pat K with her bowl of mixed sweet peas. Here is a selection of those entries:

Exhibit on Show Table — Pat’s Sweet Peas

There will not be a Show Table next month as you will no doubt all be busy entering classes in the Autumn Show, but we look forward to the display in October. 🙂

Kathy A

Autumn Flower, Fruit & Vegetable Display 2023

This year’s Autumn Show will be held in the Old Library on Monday September 18th at 7.30pm. Here’s a reminder of last year’s efforts!

Class 2. Bowl of mixed flowers — Class 5. Five Fuchsia blooms

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

CLASSES:

1. Vase of flowers, 3 stems of 1 cultivar

2. Bowl of mixed flowers (emphasis on quality of flowers, not arrangement).

3. Vase of shrubs or foliage, 3 or more stems, mixed varieties

4. Display of ornamental seed heads

5. Five Fuchsia blooms, single variety or mixed (flower heads only)

6. Ornamental pot plant (incl. cacti & succulents)

7. Display of fruit, any mixed.

8. Display of vegetables, mixed

9. Tomatoes (dish of 5)

10. Display of herbs

11. Preserves: jam, jelly or marmalade, chutney or relish

12. Baking – Apple cake, your own recipe – but here’s an example recipe if you don’t have your own favourite!

13. Floral Arrangement – display in a tea cup, all flowers to be home grown. Emphasis on floral arrangement.

14. Wildcard – anything not covered by other classes!

15. Competition: Yield from one potato supplied in April. (washed, in named transparent bag)

Please bring your own vases, except for the Fuchsia heads (Class 5), where containers are supplied. Water will be available.

Remember this is not an RHS show, it’s a competition for fun! There are a few prizes to be won, and there will be a cup for Best in Show.

Great Dixter

Throughout the year Great Dixter hold various events for their Friends membership. So, on yet another dismal July evening this year, Pat and I drove to Sussex. The evening began with drinks and canapes and a talk from Fergus which should have been held on the front lawn but, due to the inclement weather, was inside in the Great Hall. Three boxes of plants from the nursery, designed for dry, wet and shady aspects of the garden, were raffled at £5.00 a ticket. Surprisingly, as Fergus was talking, the sun came out and what could have been a wet evening turned into a very pleasant one. Although the colour of the sky in the photo demonstrates it was still fairly cloudy!

We had arrived slightly early, so were already able to explore the garden which is always full of surprises. The phlox were particularly beautiful and Pat and I were trying to note varieties for our own gardens! Following Fergus’ talk, which was generally about the work of Great Dixter and collaborative projects that were ongoing including one with Hastings council, we divided up into groups according to our chosen tour/talk. Each one of these was conducted by one of the students at Great Dixter. Pat and I had opted for the Long Border and Jungle Garden (although we popped out of the latter and into the Nursery!). The students are articulate and engaging and certainly know their material. Having watched Fergus’ lectures on the Long Border, it was interesting to see this in practice and explained to us by Andrew Wiley, one of the Chanticleer Scholars. A particularly interesting stand of Salvia Indigo Spires was a huge clump of individual cuttings rather than one big plant. Also in use was a lovely creamy apricot Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus Apricotta) – a colour which we have seen a lot in other gardens this year and can be picked out in the photo (one to be ordered for sowing next year!). We always leave these gardens full of ideas and plans!

Vija V

Arundel Castle Gardens

I visited Arundel Castle last week with my son and grandson who spent too long in the castle leaving little time for me to see the gardens. The castle is set in over 40 acres of verdant grounds and within that are the formal gardens in a Jacobean style comprising a domed pergola covered in hornbeam, temples, cascading fountains and obelisks. There is also a stumpery, some very colourful herbaceous borders and a wildflower gardens. I just wish I had more time.

Cascading fountains at Arundel Castle Gardens

There are two huge Victorian glasshouses, one housing a collection of pelargoniums and another for more tender vegetables in the kitchen gardens. The box parterre was in very good condition with little damage from box moth or blight and had in its midst some lovely healthy looking dahlias. Some of the huge pots housed tender perennials in quite a formal style in what must be a very sheltered spot. I understand that the garden underwent a renewal when the current head gardener arrived and surrounded the lawns with a tropical border based on work he had done in gardens in Bermuda. They also have a tulip festival in the spring which a friend of mine went to and said was spectacular. It certainly packs a punch and if you find yourself in the vicinity of Arundel it is definitely worth a visit but make sure to give yourself time to see it all.

Pat K