Sunday 15 February
Goodnestone Park Gardens
Wingham, near Canterbury map
11am to 4pm
Entrance £5.00            (HPS members £4.00)
Senior citizens £4.50           Children under 16 £1.00
*Members bringing display material before 10.30am – free

Event open to the public.

With a talk on hellebores and associated plants by
Tim Ingram at 12.30pm

This event has now become a much looked-forward-to and regular feature of our programme, despite the chill in the air and the uncertain weather in the middle of February. After last year’s record attendance, we look forward with anticipation to this year’s day. It is a time to get excited about the year to come in the garden and, in particular, the wonderful variation and interest that can be had from collecting snowdrops, hellebores and other early-flowering plants. As before, we aim to have many of these flowers on display and available for sale from specialist nurseries, and as always would be very grateful to members who bring plant material for display (and there will also be an HPS sales table). In particular, if you have any winter-flowering shrubs or interesting foliage, please bring them along (please note that members bringing display material before 10.30am will be admitted free). So far we have rarely had examples of early-flowering bulbs such as crocus, iris and some narcissus, so if you are keen on these and have them in flower, we would love to see them.

‘Hellebores and Associated Plants’ by Tim Ingram
Seating is limited and available by ticket only (from HPS sales table) so please arrive early to ensure a seat.

The tradition of growing hellebores in Kentish gardens, inspired for so many years by Elizabeth Strangman at Washfield Nursery, continues at Hadlow College and many other gardens around the county. Tim will give a talk on these and associated plants. To give of their best they are worth some care and the connoisseur may also develop a fascination with many of the species, like H. multifidis and H. torquatus, which are rarely seen in gardens. With them, of course, are so many other lovely winter and spring flowers that bring undiminished interest to the garden each year. As many keen gardeners will know, these plants have a habit of creeping up on you unawares until you find yourself captivated by their charm and subtlety.

In addition to the talk, displays and nurseries, there are, of course, also the extensive grounds of Goodnestone to discover: planted each year with more and more snowdrops and hellebores. Here you can see these plants at their best in a naturalistic woodland setting.

Please contribute to the day if you can, but do just come along and enjoy the excitement that we all feel at this time each year.