A GROUP of green fingered growers marks their club’s diamond anniversary this year.
Members of California Gardeners Club (CGC) have been sharing plants and horticultural tips for sixty years.
The highlight of their 60th year will be a talk on Autumn Flowering Perennials, given by Rosy Hardy.
Founder of Hardy’s Cottage Garden Plants, Rosy is a gold medal winner at both Hampton Court and Chelsea Flower Shows, and one of the foremost experts in perennial cultivation.
She will advise on the best plants to grow for all-year-round display, and how to care for them.
California Gardeners Club began in 1965, when a group of Finchampstead residents, most of them women, decided to set up a group whose aim was to educate, improve gardening techniques, and to display produce and flowers twice annually.
Their trading hut also offered discount garden products, and over the years, the club has become an established and thriving village organisation.
“On the first Monday of each month there is always an interesting talk, given by experts in their field,” said Sylvia Hawes from the club.
This year members have been able to learn about wildlife photography; drinks made from natural ingredients; container plants; and bee keeping.
“Many things have changed in the 60 years since the club’s beginnings,” said Sylvia.
“Newsheets were printed on a hand-cranked Roneo copier back then, but today our 150 members receive their monthly newsletter via email.”
These days they can also post pictures of their gardens on the group’s Facebook page.
“We still face some of the same challenges as gardeners then,” said Sylvia.
“Garden pests are still trying to destroy our precious plants.
“And our climate, although more extreme, has always been something gardeners have had to manage.
“Part of the fascination of gardening is to experiment, and to see just what you can grow despite the odds.”
Following Rosy’s talk, the club’s 60’s-themed Autumn Show will display members’ talents for produce, with presentations of vegetables, flowers, pot plants, floral arrangements, domestic items and photography.
Show competition class titles will be inspired by tunes from the Swinging Sixties, with anniversary cake and refreshments available from at the cafe area.
The club meets at California Ratepayers Hall on the first Monday of the month from 7.30pm.
Rosy Hardy’s talk can be heard on Monday, September 1, at 7.30pm, with the talk beginning at 8pm.
Non-member entry costs £2.
The group’s Autumn Show will take place at the Ratepayer’s Hall on Sunday, September 7.
Doors open at 2.30pm.
And from Spring to Autumn, every Sunday morning the club’s Trading Hut is open from 10am to 12am.
Visitors are always warmly welcomed.
For information, visit: californiagardenersclub.co.uk
