Talk – Fergus Garrett  will speak about “Succession Planting for a Long Season”.

This talk is about layered, or succession planting, in which plants coexist in one space but perform at different seasons.

Fergus Garrett VMH is an English plantsman, horticultural educationalist and Chief Executive of the Great Dixter Charitable Trust. He is described as one of the most influential living garden designers and horticultural educators in Britain today. Fergus works full-time, hands-on in the garden at Great Dixter, as well as writing and lecturing extensively across the world.   Plant sale.

Talk – Annabel Watts  will speak about “The Changing Seasons at Munstead Wood”

A talk about Gertrude Jekyll’s garden, Munstead Wood, near Godalming.

AGM followed by Talk – Ben Pope  will speak about “Containing the Unconventional”

A talk focusing on the joys of container gardening and what can be achieved with a little imagination and inspiration.

Ben is Head Gardener for a private garden in West Sussex. He regularly writes for Gardens Illustrated and teaches at the Chelsea Physic Garden for The English Gardening School and at West Dean College of Art and Conservation. Ben is also a member of the RHS Herbaceous Plant Committee.  Plant sale.

Talk – Steve Edney will speak about “Salvias for the Garden”

The world of salvias is vast and our regular speaker Steve picks his favourite species and cultivars, from the tough Balkan sages to salvias for shade through to the dreamy foliage and flowers of some of the more tender forms. He will as always offer tips and advice on how to get the best from this amazing group of plants, samples of which he will hopefully have available.   Plant and seedling sale.

Saturday 18 October (10.00 for 10.45 am)

Talk – Julie Verity  will speak about “Beth Chatto, Derek Jarman and dry gardening”.   

The talk is about these two very different gardeners and their gardens.   

Julie Verity studied Horticulture and Plant Physiology at University, gaining two degrees and doing post-doctoral work in New Zealand.  After a successful career in business and education, she has returned to her love of plants through painting and giving talks about gardens and gardening heroes.  Plant sale

Talk – Tom Coward will speak about “William Robinson and Gravetye Manor”

A talk about William Robinson and his garden at Gravetye Manor in West Sussex.

After studying at Pershore College and Kew Gardens, Tom’s first job was as assistant head gardener at a property owned by Sir Paul McCartney in Sussex, followed by a job as Fergus Garrett’s deputy at Great Dixter.  For the past eleven years he has headed the garden team at Gravetye Manor.  Once the home of Victorian ‘wild garden’ exponent William Robinson, it is now a hotel and the garden is open only to paying guests.

This event is free to members and is followed by the Members’ Festive Lunch. Attendance at the talk and the lunch must be booked in advance.  More details to follow in the Autumn.