Ventnor Botanic Friends

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17th August 2020 By Colin Smith

Annual General Meeting

In line with Government resriction associated with the ongoing Coronavirus emergency situation it is still not possible for the 2020 AGM to go ahead at this time. A further review of the situation will be carried out on 30 September following the next update from the Charities Commission.

The annual Accounts have been signed off for submission to the Charities Commission.  These along with the annual reports from the Treasurer and the Chairman will be presented by the end of the month, even though the AGM is postponed. Members will be able to access the accounts via the Charities Commission website.

The Agenda for the original meeting is published here: – AGM Agenda 15 April 2020

The minutes of the 2019 AGM are here: – Minutes of AGM 21 February 2019

Due notice will be given of the revised date for the AGM both on this website and by email to Members who have their email address registered with the Society.

Filed Under: News

9th June 2020 By Colin Smith

Provençal Paradise

Here are some more glimpses of VBG Friend, Joanna Millar’s lovely garden in Tourrettes-sur-Loup in Provence (see Ventnorensis Vol. 27 Spring/Summer 2020).

It is a personal landscape that has evolved, with more than 50 years of Joanna’s love and care, from a wilderness containing a number of ancient olives and ‘many interesting trees and shrubs’. It is now a year-round joy winding up the old limestone-walled terraces where the steps and walls themselves have become important features.

Raising the canopies of the old trees and developing beds around them gives a free-flowing feel to the planting.

Plants are allowed to seed around the garden. Joanna calls her gardening style ‘haphazard’, but the result is a riot of colour and texture.

One of the first thing the Millars planted after they bought the Prieuré in 1969 was the wisteria on the terrace

Now wisterias are magnificent in Spring around the garden.

Roses are a great feature of the garden and Joanna reports that they have been particularly delightful this spring.

The sundial, with its typical memento mori looks down from the warm stone wall of the house, but it would be hard to feel anything but joyful in this beautiful garden.

Finally, a “Millar miscellany” which includes Rosa ‘Joanna Millar in all its glory clothing an old Cypress and Joanna’s faithful companion surveying the scene.

A garden is never finished of course and it is good to know that, although she is no longer able to travel here, Joanna still finds inspiration from Ventnor Botanic Garden. After spotting a lovely low purple bush in one of the recent sets of Garden pictures that Rosemary sent links to, Persicaria ‘Red Baron’ has now been ordered from a French nursery! 

Photo – Ian Pratt

Filed Under: News

11th May 2020 By Colin Smith

May – It’s Echium Time

Monday May 11th was a very windy day and rather chilly so ideal for another walk in the Garden. Following the government announcment yesterday Jack is excited that Wednesday, when ‘lockdown’ relaxes slightly and people can travel more, will see the footfall at the Garden increase.

Start in South Africa, still the most colourful area in the Garden.


Onto the Palm Garden, an area that Phil le May has spent many hours making it look its absolute best.


Work continues on the removal of the steps and the new wall has now been painted and planting placed around it.
One of the terrapins is posing in the sunshine.
The first view of Echiums is around the pond.


More Echiums by the pond and at the start of the Mediterranean Garden.


Wisteria covering the shelter by the Cork Oaks.


The Mediterranean Garden with the French Lavender still spectacular and Echiums everywhere.


More Echiums!


…and to finish in the Arid Garden. How those flowers on the spiral Aloe – Aloe polyphylla are developing and enormous flowers on the Yucca.

Filed Under: News

9th May 2020 By Colin Smith

ventnorensis

Despite the limitations of social distancing the Friends’ activities have continued and Ros & Simone have been very busy putting together the latest edition of ventnorensis which should be delivered to your door soon.

Obviously nearly everything that we do is affected by the current restrictions and we are having to come up with new ways of doing things so there may be some delays in the distribution but we will get there.

You can read our Chairman, John Bagshaw’s message to the Members below:

Filed Under: News

28th March 2020 By Colin Smith

Spring Colour in the Garden

We spent a long time in the Garden today lots of new things to see in the Mediterranean Garden although the weather was not as sunny and warm as Wednesday & Thursday last week.

For those who are not so local and are unable to visit the Garden at this time we have taken some photographs to keep you up to date with how wonderful the Garden is looking in early Spring.

I am working on reversing the content so that you will now see the most recent photographs at the top of the post. Further down the post the images may be a bit random.

To include more images for selection some images are in galleries. On your PC or laptop right click on the image and select ‘View image’, on your tablet or phone, long press and ‘Open image in new tab’.

At the end of our walk. Buds forming on the spiral Aloe – Aloe polyphylla in the Arid Garden.

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The Mediterranean Garden

  • Genus Ferula – Giant Fennel
  • The Olive Grove Walk
  • Chestnut tree in full blossom
  • Echium onosmifolium

Cistus albidus – Rock Roses receiving attention from the bees.

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French Lavender in the Mediterranean Garden.

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The Palm Garden

The Palm Garden is looking wonderful after Volunteer Phil le May dedicated many hours to getting everything pristine.

–

The fig tree by the waterfall already laden with fruit.

.
Arum Lilly in the Southern Hemisphere Terrace and the first flowers to brighten the long border.

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Acaccia in the Australia section.

–

Probably the last photos of the Japanese area as the last of the trees flower.

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The Southern Hemisphere Terraces.

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The Mediterranean Border with a colourful Aeonium and Echiums coming into flower.

–

The South Africa Terraces are already a riot of colour.

The Protea was spectacular but is fading now.
Butterflies and wall lizards are already enjoying the warmth of the spring sunshine.
The Japanese Garden looking north.

…___..
…and the Magnolia stellata is at its best.

…___…
The Prunus x yedoensis are looking good.

…___…
The pond has been refilled and replanted with the fountain flowing and the terrapins are back in residence
The pond & fountain have been cleaned and the concrete repaired.
The area where the stairs were demolished has been rendered.
Work continues to keep the Garden looking at its best.
The daffodils on the site of the old Totem Pole still provide a wonderful show.

Neighbouring Steephill Cove, still wonderful but deserted.

    Filed Under: News

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    Moor View, Godshill, PO38 3HW
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    10% Discount for Members of the VBG Friends’ Society

     



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