I was sitting down to write my garden piece for December and for whatever reason it came into my head to try and find 12 plants that represent the song Twelve days of Christmas…..So hear goes.
On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me……
First Day – a partridge in a pear tree – Pyrus communis (pear tree) I know an easy first one!
[Read more…] about Wellie’s Gardening Tips for December 2024
Have you heard of the Speak Their Name Suicide Memorial Quilt?
The Hampshire and Isle of Wight ‘Speak Their Name’ Suicide Memorial Quilt is a beautiful ongoing piece of art, created with love in memory of people lost to suicide by their bereaved friends and family. This project has been inspired by the quilts made in Greater Manchester and Yorkshire.
The Eastleigh and Chandlers Ford Fundraising Group for Marie Curie were delighted to enter a partnership with Thornden Hall last year to raise much needed funds.
Volunteers collected at Movie Nights at Thornden Hall Arts Centre at Thornden School in Chandler’s Ford raising £809.47 in the last 12 months.
Photos show Neil Daykin, Manager and Nicolette Lock for Marie Curie at a presentation of our Certificate of thanks at a recent Movie Night. [Read more…] about Marie Curie and Thornden Hall
Prune roses to prevent wind-rock and this is also the time to prune most deciduous trees, but a lot of deciduous ornamental grasses can be left until the spring. Prune grapevines after leaf fall, but before the end of December to avoid ‘bleeding’ of sap. Prune Acer (maple) species now as well to avoid them bleeding from the cut stems once the sap rises in the spring.
Now is the ideal time to plant bare rooted plants.
[Read more…] about Wellie’s Gardening Tips for November 2024
The temperatures are now dropping and the nights are drawing in, so it is important to get as many jobs done in the garden before it gets too cold. Wallflowers can be planted now. Continue planting spring flowering bulbs. Cut back herbaceous perennials that have died down.
Split and divide older clumps of overgrown perennials. Prune [Read more…] about Wellie’s Gardening Tips for October 2024
Lawns: sow new lawns or repair damaged patches. If sowing small areas, net to protect the seed from birds. Apply an Autumn weed and feed.
Fruit and Vegetables: Harvest apples now when they easily come off the tree when gently twisted. Sow winter salads such as lamb’s lettuce. Plant hardy onions eg Senshyu Yellow. Double your strawberry patch by pegging runners from the plants into pots filled with compost and keep them watered until they are rooted then cut them away from parent plant.
Dead head faded blooms, but leave some to turn into seedheads for the birds. Trim lavender plants by removing flower stalks and about 2.5cm of the current year’s growth. Hoe to keep on top of any weeds. Prune the wispy growth on wisterias, back to 5-7 leaves.
Prune climbing and rambling roses after they have flowered, unless they are repeat flowering. Prune summer flowering shrubs after they have flowered. Cut down wildflower meadows. Ensure Camellias and Rhododendrons are well-watered to encourage good flower bud formation next spring.
Prune early-summer flowering shrubs, such as Philadelphus, once they have finished flowering. Cut back flowered growth to a strong lower shoot and thin out up to a fifth of old, woody stems. Cut back hardy geraniums to ground level after they have had their first flush of flowers to encourage new foliage and more flowers later in the year.
Divide congested clumps of bearded iris after flowering. Dead head bedding plants, roses and herbaceous plants to encourage more flowers. Make sure fruit trees and bushes are well watered to support the developing fruits. Stone fruit trees such as plums and cherries can be pruned this month.
As we are all aware, the parliamentary constituency of Chandler’s Ford and Eastleigh is newly re-organised and most electors have had little opportunity to see their candidates in person.
In Chandler’s Ford, all potential electors are invited to a special event to see and hear from the parliamentary candidates for Chandler’s Ford and Eastleigh.
Date and Time: Sunday, June 23rd, 7:00 PM (doors open at 6:30 PM)
Location: Chandler’s Ford Methodist Church, Winchester Road, SO53 2GJ
Organised by Churches Together in Chandler’s Ford and Chaired by Bishop Geoff Annas, Acting Bishop of Southampton, the meeting is open to all electors in Chandler’s Ford and Eastleigh, of all faiths or none.
Please come and support this and hear from the candidates to help inform your vote, for an evening of discussion and engagement.
Remember to arrive early to secure your seat.
Pinch out tips of new growth on figs at the end of month, when the shoots have 5 leaves. Stop cutting asparagus now and topdress with a general purpose fertilizer. Regularly pinch out side shoots of cordon tomatoes. Summer prune gooseberries.
Sow salad crops at 2 week intervals. Plant out pumpkins and squashes, put straw around strawberries. [Read more…] about Wellie’s Gardening Tips for June
Once again Fryern Funtasia was held during the May Bank Holiday Monday, at Fryern Recreation Ground. Did you have a good time? Yes we did despite the rain.
You can imagine the organisation of this event was a mammoth task and it was so wonderful to see so many people and animals, and so many stalls, games, and activities.
Some children sang some songs about the ‘sunshine’ and don’t we love these children from Fryern schools?
Thanks to Chandler’s Ford Parish Council and Event sponsors – TMT Legal Services are supporting this year’s event, along with
National Lottery Community Fund,
Infinity Playgrounds,
Dripool Ltd,
Vitaplay
and A&A.
(Source – Chandler’s Ford Parish Council)
Below are some photos taken before the rain. Let’s start with some animals –
Hoe borders to remove weed seedlings. Mow lawns regularly now, apply a weed, feed and moss treatment if not already done. Sow lawns or lay turf. Spray paths for weeds. Prune spring-flowering shrubs such as Choisya and Ribes after flowering. Check for nesting birds before trimming any hedges. Tie in climbing and rambling roses as near to horizontal as possible. Tie in shoots of clematis and sweet peas as they climb.
Trim back Alyssum, winter flowering heathers and Aubrieta after flowering to encourage fresh growth. Plant out summer bedding towards the end of the month, after all risk of frost have gone. Watch out for slug and snail damage. [Read more…] about Wellie’s Gardening Tips for May
Sow hardy annuals and wild flower seeds in pots to provide colour in the garden. Sweet peas can be sown outside now. Prune penstemons and other slightly tender plants, divide herbaceous perennials. Put supports in place for perennials before they get too big. Protect fruit blossom from late frosts, tie in climbing and rambling roses. Feed shrubs and roses. Keep weeds under control.
There are several lovely knitted postbox toppers in Chandler’s Ford. Thank you Chandler’s Ford u3a once again for sharing your creativity in the community.
[Read more…] about Thanks to Chandler’s Ford u3a sharing Easter joy
Author: Canon Paul Hardingham
It’s amazing what treasure can be unearthed with metal detectors! In this season of Easter, let’s rediscover the greatest unburied treasure of the Resurrection.
The Apostle Peter reminds us that God ‘has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.’ (1 Peter 1: 3,4). What does he say about this treasure?
[Read more…] about The Treasure of Easter! By Canon Paul Hardingham
Dead head daffodil bulbs, but leave the foliage to die back naturally. Plant lilies and other summer bulbs in pots or borders. Feed ericaceous shrubs such as rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias and pieris with an ericaceous fertiliser.
Finish pruning roses early in the month. Cut dogwoods, willows and cotinus to promote vigorous new growth. Sow tomatoes, chillies, sweet peppers and aubergines indoors. Plant onions and shallot sets. Plant first early potatoes, sow parsnips when the soil starts to warm up. [Read more…] about Wellie’s Gardening Tips for March
Cut autumn raspberry canes to ground level ensuring you leave no stumps that could harbour disease. Prune out a quarter of blackcurrant older growth at ground level. Apply a general purpose fertiliser to tree, bush and cane fruit and mulch with well rotted manure or garden compost.
Force rhubarb for early pickings. Start chitting your potatoes. Start sowing some of your
chosen veg seeds indoors, such as broad beans,tomatoes, basil, kale and chilies.
[Read more…] about Wellie’s Gardening Tips for February
The start of a new year, time to plan what you want to do in your garden over the coming year. Look at seed catalogues and order which seeds you would like to sow. Wash pots and seed trays and clean the glass on your greenhouse. Plant bare-rooted trees and shrubs now. Cut back foliage of hellebores to show off their beautiful flowers.
‘Opening their treasure-chests, they offered him gifts…’ (Matthew 2:11)
I wonder what sort of gift-giver you are? Do you have creative ideas, effortlessly putting together fun, interesting and unique Christmas presents for your loved ones? Maybe you reflect on each person on your list and come up with perfectly personalised gifts? Perhaps you’re on the other end of the spectrum and pick up random items, in blind panic, on Christmas Eve? Most people are probably somewhere in the middle, working their way through a list of names and doing their best to find a meaningful gift.
As I have been re-reading the Christmas story this year the above words from the bible have stuck in my mind. They come from the story of the wise men who found the baby Jesus at the end of their journey. Filled with joy they bowed down, paid homage and opened their treasure-chests, and offered him gifts… The wise men lived in turbulent times and were overwhelmed with joy in finding the new king who would rule with God’s justice and bring peace.
[Read more…] about Christmas Message by Churches Together in Chandler’s Ford – 2023
Thank you for the crafters who are getting in the Christmas spirit in a creative way – with knitted or crocheted postbox toppers across Chandler’s Ford.
Many locals have shared their joy on spotting these on social media.
One of them features the words Chnadlers Ford u3a.
[Read more…] about Chandler’s Ford Christmas Postbox Toppers on Display
