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Forthcoming Parwich and District Horticultural Society Trips

Make the most of summer, (now it’s here) and come and join us on our visit to Scampston Walled Garden, Yorkshire on  28 June 2016. It has been described as ‘perfect for casually curious garden lovers looking for something out of the ordinary as well as for plant-obsessed gardeners.’  There is a cafe/restaurant for lunch (not included), and as if that wasn’t enough, in the afternoon we are going to the nearby, privately owned, Jacksons Wold Garden. (See www.scampston.co.uk/gardens and www.jacksonswoldgarden.com)

This trip is open to all, the coach will leave from the Green at 8.45am, back 6-6.30pm.

Price (includes coach travel and entry to both gardens) , members £20, non-members £25, payable by 21/6/16. Please contact Glynis on 561, to reserve your place.

Another date for your diaries is our trip to Geoff Hamiltons’s garden at Barnsdale , Rutland on Tues 16 August, price members £12.50, non-members £17.50, payable by 10th August,please contact Glynis to reserve your place.

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Thank you Mike R for this information:

Himalayan Balsam (Impatiens glandulifera)

I wonder if any other residents of Parwich have found this plant in their gardens. This year for the first time I have found an abundance of this weed in our gardens at Flaxdale. I have not been aware of it before now. It grows in height at an astonishing speed, about an inch a day.

Wikipedia describes it as follows… “It typically grows to 1 to 2 m (3.3 to 6.6 ft) high, with a soft green or red-tinged stem, and lanceolate leaves 5 to 23 cm (2.0 to 9.1 in) long. The crushed foliage has a strong musty smell. Below the leaf stems the plant has glands that produce a sticky, sweet-smelling, and edible nectar. The flowers are pink, with a hooded shape, 3 to 4 cm (1¼ to 1½ in) tall and 2 cm (¾ in) broad; the flower shape has been compared to a policeman’s helmet.

After flowering between June and October, the plant forms seed pods 2 to 3 cm (¾ to 1¼ in) long and 8 mm broad (¼ in), which explode when disturbed, scattering the seeds up to 7 metres (23 feet).” (see https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impatiens_glandulifera )

It was highlighted as a nuisance on the East Midlands evening news recently. Whenever I see it in the garden I pull it up and compost it before the seed pods form.

I would be interested to know of anyone else’s experience with this invasive weed and whether I am doing the correct thing.

Mike R

The above plant was photographed in a Creamery Lane garden this July. It went from less than a foot tall to full flower in just over three weeks. It is particularly problematic along water courses, where it’s rapid growth quickly smothers native plants.

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