An evening with a difference. Mr Tony Braden of Hookley Herbaceous invited us to their nursery and told us of its history and workings.

The business was started by his father - in - law Mr Emmings, who had a vegetable field behind his house, from which he provided local shops with produce. This was successful until the ubiquitous super market intervened, making life difficult for the small producer.

Tony and his wife Linda were made redundant about that time so a new family strategy was required.  It was decided, after diligent research, that a nursery providing herbaceous perennials might be the answer, and Linda spent several years preparing and setting up the site, while her husband gained expertise working in a local nursery . They bought a van and began to supply their plants to local outlets until they were stymied by the requirement to use bar codes, which were complex and expensive.  Now they concentrate upon providing quality plants for garden centres, ordered by brochure or the internet.

Tony valiantly lectured a vast crowd of us, and took us around the nursery, showing us the greenhouses, plastic tunnel areas, potting sheds and helpful automated machinery, rainwater tanks and irrigation systems, all of which make life easier for everyone involved.  'Spring' cleaning takes place in autumn, when they prepare for all the complex stages of  plant propagation which are needed for the following year.

Then came the real treat, when we were generously permitted to flood over the site, selecting any plants which took our fancy to purchase for an unbelievable price.  Absolute bliss, we staggered home happy and laden.

Next meeting on 11^th August when Mr G Peach will talk on Irelands gardens and plants.