Middlesex
About the Group
The group meets at Field End Junior School, Field End Road, Eastcote, Nr Ruislip, HA4 9PQ (map)
Contact
Brenda Prada
020 8866 6292
middlesex@hardy-plant.org.uk
For more information visit the Middlesex Group website and/or follow us on 
2019 Programme
All meetings commence at 7-00 for 7-30 pm unless otherwise stated
| Monday 4th February, 2019 ’Funny Features in the Garden’ Andrew Sankey |
| Monday 4th March, 2019 ‘HPS and its Conservation Scheme’ Jan Vaughan HPS Chair (followed by the AGM and Cheese and Wine Social) |
| Monday 1st April, 2019 ‘The World Garden at Lullingstone’ Jim Buttress |
| Saturday 20th April, 2019 10am – 1pm Public Plant Sale The Community Hut, St. Martin’s Car Park, St. Martin’s Approach, Ruislip HA4 8BD Free Admission |
| 24th - 25th April, 2019 Keukenhof Tulip Festival, Amsterdam An overnight trip to the world famous tulip festival, where you can see some of the 800 varieties of tulips set in 32 hectares of beautiful landscaped gardens, sculptures and water features. |
| Saturday 11th May, 2019 10am – 1pm Public Plant Sale The Community Hut, St. Martin’s Car Park, St. Martin’s Approach, Ruislip HA4 8BD Free Admission |
| Monday 13th May, 2019 ‘Auriculas’, James Smallwood |
| Wednesday 15th May, 2019 Greys Court, Henley on Thames An opportunity to visit this 16th century National Trust House and Garden set in the rolling hills of the Chilterns with its magnificent 120 year old wisteria |
| Monday 3rd June, 2019 ‘Water in the Garden’ Tim Cole |
| 5th – 6th June, 2019 RHS Chatsworth A trip to the RHS Chatsworth Show with an overnight stay in nearby Bakewell |
| Saturday 8th June, 2019 10am -1pm Public Plant Sale The Community Hut, St. Martin’s Car Park, St. Martin’s Approach, Ruislip HA4 8BD Free Admission |
| Thursday 20th June, 2019 David Austin Roses, Wolverhampton A trip to see 700 different varieties of roses planted in two acres. This visit will include a guided tour |
| Monday 2nd September, 2019 ‘Acers and Improving Soil Condition' George Lockwood |
| Wednesday 25th September, 2019 Chartwell, the family home and garden of Sir Winston Churchill Now owned by the National Trust, this is a chance to visit Churchill’s home and garden from which he drew his inspiration |
| Monday 7th October, 2019 ‘Roses and Peonies’ Val Bourne |
| Monday 4th November, 2019 ‘On Top but Never in Control’ Professor Timothy Walker |
| Monday 2nd December, 2019 ‘Penstemons and Summer Sun Lovers’ Julie Ritchie |
2020 Programme
| January No Meeting |
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Monday 3rd February
AGM and Social Evening
'Hillingdon Green Spaces and Hillingdon in Bloom'
Paul Richardson
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Monday 2nd March, 2020
‘Teabags, Bras and Tights’
Darren Rudge
Known as “the Laughing Gardener”, with a novel and inspirational approach to gardening issues and problems from over 30 years’ experience in horticulture. Darren is a BBC garden broadcaster and radio presenter and a multi-award winning garden designer
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| Saturday 4th April, 2020 8.15 am to 4.45 pm PAPS - Passionate About Plants Brunel University, Kingston Lane, Uxbridge UB8 3PH |
| Monday 11th May, 2020 ‘Digging for Victory’ Colin Oakes As an Archaeologist by profession and a blue badge guide, Colin is well established and skilled to give us a fascinating talk |
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Monday 1st June. 2020
‘Water in Your Garden’
Tom Coles
Horticultural Lecturer at Writtle College, writer and broadcaster. Tom’s talk will include looking at traditional and contemporary usage of water in the garden, including maintenance
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Monday 7th September, 2020
‘How Plants Control Animals’
Dr Brenda Harold
Brenda is a qualified Botanist and retired University Lecturer. Talking with us about the fascinating topic of how plants defend themselves, both physically and chemically, from herbivores and how occasionally they become carnivores! And intriguingly how plants use animals to carry their pollen and seeds
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Monday 5th October, 2020
‘Plants Grow in Dirt’
Bob Brown
Bob spends much of his time going around the world looking for new things to bring back to his own nursery Cotswold Garden Flowers. He will bring and share with us his incredible knowledge on plants and also some of his own plants for sale
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Monday 2nd November, 2020
‘The World of Plants in Our Back Gardens’
David Hurrion
David is a trained teacher, an Associate Editor for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, an expert commentator and extensive plant discoverer
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Monday 7th December, 2020
‘Roses and Peonies’: A Marriage Made in Heaven
Val Bourne
Val is an award-winning garden writer, organic gardener and Lecturer. Her talk will follow the history of peony breeding and their use as companion plants for roses
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2018 Programme
| Monday 5th February, 2018 'A Complete Guide to Clematis' Peter Skeggs-Gooch Peter owns Thorncroft Clematis Nursery and has won 10 Gold Medals at RHS Chelsea Flower Show . He will advise on on how to achieve success with clematis. |
| Monday 5th March, 2018 'Topical Tips for the Season' Andrew Mikolajski Andrew is an expert gardening author, RHS lecturer and speaker and has written a wide range of books. Andrew will share with his us his tips for getting the garden in shape ahead of the gardening year. |
| Saturday 14th April, 2018 8-30am to 4-15pm Passionate about Plants 2018 Haydon School, Wiltshire Lane Pinner, HA5 2LX Our extra special biennial all-day Saturday event which should be a great day out, as usual. We have a terrific celebrity line-up, comprising Annie Godfrey, Frances Tophill, Adam Frost and Nick Hamilton, to entertain and inform us. Plants from specialist growers and garden sundries available for sale throughout the day. See Events page for details |
| Saturday 21st April, 2018 at 10:00 am - 1:00 pm Public Plant Sale The Community Hut (Car Park), St Martins Approach Car Park Ruislip, HA4 8BD Free Admission |
| Thursday 3rd May, 2018 at 9-00 am to 6-30 pm Coach Trip to Pashley Manor Gardens Tulip Festival A day trip to the fabulous Tulip Festival at Pashley Manor with over 40,000 tulips and 112 different varieties planted in garden colour themed rooms. Cost – £39 (Coach £23, Entrance fee £11, Organised Garden Tour £5) |
| Friday 11th May, 2018, 2018 Coach Trip to RHS Malvern Spring Festival Set against the backdrop of the Malvern Hills, this is the first RHS show of the year and and is the perfect opportunity to prepare for the coming gardening season. This will be a full day’s trip. Cost – £44 (Coach £24, RHS Group Entrance £20) |
| Monday 14th May, 2018 'Plants of the Season' Paul Green of Greens Leaves Nursery Greens Leaves specialises in rare and unusual plants from around the world, suitable for growing in the UK. Paul will bring plants for a practical demonstration, covering in particular the merits/vices of the plant, propagation, pruning and best use in the garden. |
| Saturday 19th May at 10:00 am - 1:00 pm Public Plant Sale The Community Hut (Car Park), St Martins Approach Car Park Ruislip, HA4 8BD Free Admission |
| Monday 4th June, 2018 'Bugs and Garden Plagues, Pests and Diseases' Geoff Hodge Geoff Hodge is a gardening and horticultural writer and the former gardening editor for “Gardening News”. His aim is to help gardeners get the best from their plants and their garden and he will share his expertise on dealing with gardeners’ worst nightmares. |
| Saturday 9th June at 10:00 am – 1:00 pm Public Plant Sale The Community Hut (Car Park), St Martins Approach Car Park Ruislip, HA4 8BD Free Admission |
| Wednesday 27th June, 2018 at 9-15 am to 5-00 pm Coach Trip to Capel Manor Capel Manor Gardens is a 30-acre estate surrounding a Georgian Manor House and Victorian Stables with richly planted themed gardens. A visit to the nearby Myddleton House Gardens may also be included in the trip. Cost – £28.50 (Coach £21, Entrance £7.50 including Guided Group Tour). |
| Saturday 15th July 2018 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Chenies Manor Plant and Garden Fair Chenies Manor, Chenies Buckinghamshire, WD3 6ER The Middlesex Group has, for many years, had a stand at this premier Plant and Garden Fair displaying examples of popular hardy plants. |
| Monday 3rd September, 2018 ‘Sweet Peas/Lathyrus’ Tom Atherton Tom is Membership Secretary of the Sweet Pea Society. This is an excellent opportunity to find out everything you need to know about growing these wonderful plants. |
| Monday 1st October, 2018 ‘The Story of Making Henstead Exotic Garden’ Andrew Brogan of Henstead Exotic Garden, Suffolk Andrew Brogan created a two acre tropical garden at Henstead Exotic Garden from scratch in ten years. Come and hear Andrew share his story of how he made this very special garden. |
| Monday 5th November, 2018 'Alpines and Bulbs from Mountains to Market' Rob Potterton Rob will talk about his memories and experiences travelling with the Alpine Garden Society seed collection expedition to the mountains of south west China. He will also look at the methods used to raise these seeds and establish plants into cultivation. |
| Monday 3rd December, 2018 ‘Seeds’ Paolo Arrigo Franchi Seeds are the oldest family run seed company in the world. Paolo is Director of Franchi seeds and will share with us his passion for growing the tastiest, freshest food on our plate from seed. Annual Photographic Competition 2018 – ‘Creative and Innovative Containers’ |
2017 Programme
| 6th February, 2017 Nigel Rowland 'Plants for Shade' Nigel Rowland is from Long Acre Plants, Somerset who specialise in unusual woodland plants and plants for shade, including Erythronium, Epicedium, hardy ferns, hardy geraniums, snowdrops, hellebores, viola odorata and Hepatica. Middlesex Group AGM will also be held at this meeting |
| 6th March, 2017 20th Anniversary 'The Creative Shrub Garden' Andy McIndoe Andy McIndoe was formerly with Hilliers and has 25 consecutive Chelsea Gold medals under his belt. Andy will help us make best use of shrubs to create striking and long lasting effects. |
| 3rd April, 2017 'Hellebores' Joe Sharman Joe Sharman is from Monksilver Nursery. He will show the species and the development of our modern garden hellebore hybrids. |
| 5th April, 2017 at 10:00 am - 2:00 pm Public Plant Sale The Community Hut (Car Park), St Martins Approach Car Park Ruislip, HA4 8BD Free Admission |
| 8th May, 2017 'Variegated Delights' Howard Drury Howard Drury makes a welcome return to demonstrate the range of variegated hardy plants and the best ways of using them. |
| 20th May, 2017 at 10:00 am - 2:00 pm Public Plant Sale The Community Hut (Car Park), St Martins Approach Car Park Ruislip, HA4 8BD Free Admission |
| 5th June, 2017 'The Wonderful World of Salvias' Janet Buist From her nursery Pennycress Plants, Janet specialises in Salvias and will share her expertise including care of those more tender varieties. |
| 10th June, 2017 at 10:00 am - 2:00 pm Public Plant Sale The Community Hut (Car Park), St Martins Approach Car Park Ruislip, HA4 8BD Free Admission |
| 16th July, 2017 at 10:00 am - 5:00 pm Chenies Manor Plant and Garden Fair £10.00 adults, £5.00 children 14 and under Chenies Manor, Chenies Buckinghamshire, WD3 6ER The Middlesex Group have for many years had a stand at this premier Plant and Garden Fair displaying examples of popular hardy plants. |
| 4th September, 2017 'Late Autumn’s Floral Finale' Dr. Andrew Ward Dr. Andrew Ward, of Norwell Nurseries shows us how we can achieve as much colour in October as in June, including hardy Chrysanthemums in the mix. |
| 2nd October, 2017 'Irises – how to grow these exquisite flowers' Susannah Applegate Susannah Applegate, with a fully illustrated talk will describe how to source and place these choice plants together with maintenance and care of their flowers. |
| 6th November, 2017 'Dreaming Spires' Stuart Dixon Delphiniums, Eremurus, Hollyhocks and more Stuart Dixon is a lecturer, writer and BBC Radio Nottingham broadcaster who will inspire us to bring these graceful and nostalgic plants into a modern border. |
| 4th December, 2017 Quiz Night Andrew Babicz is our Quiz Master for a seasonal – and very sociable - evening of quizzing! |