Mr Tim Pierce, an estimable man, who bravely stepped in to deliver a lecture on chrysanthemums to the un holidaying members of the club, was a veritable fount of knowledge in his subject.  An 'amateur' with 43 years experience of breeding and showing the great shaggy beasts, he has become a show judge of them, and of other flowers and vegetables .

He generally successfully produces around 250 plants a year, and he straightforwardly delivered a no nonsense account of how to emulate him, with fine detail.  Chrysanthemums have been known to the Chinese for 3,000 years, and there are an incredible variety, flowering early or late,
mop-headed, globular or flat.  Their momenclature is descriptive- spider, fantasy, squill, spoon, cushion, spray, and Elsie King is a real sport!

All are carefully raised from seed or cuttings, under cover around February, and are potted on as required until tall enough to be stopped, a term with which most gardeners are conversant, meaning the removal of a top bud, thus encouraging bushy growth lower down.  Think hedges and you will get the idea. Showing will demand of you elongating time periods and the learning of the skills of handling and supporting the blooms, but rewarding for those who persevere.

Our Chairman announced with sadness the death of our life member Mr Ron Watts.  To us he was a friendly lecturer, but he was also a nationally recognised judge of great probity and will be missed by all.

On a lighter note, Traceys  will now be offering garden products, and to us Members a 10% discount.  Great news.

Next meeting Monday 14^th September 2009 when Mr L Stebbings will be giving a talk on Seed raising and Cuttings propagation.

 
The new Autumn/Winter Christmas catalogue has arrived.  You can obtain a copy from St James' Church or at the United Reformed Church coffee morning on the 5^th September or at the following coffee mornings on the first Saturday of each month.  Also at the St James family service on the second Sunday each month.

As usual there is a lot of beautiful jewelry, and clothes I would love to have if only the colours suited me.   There are again silk scarves at £10 each.  My favourite gift for my youngest grandchild will be a Pet Purse.

• Christmas cards etc start on page 5 but you may not want to think about that yet.
  
• Thinking of next year's holidays?  There is a list of places you can visit through 'Meet the People Tours' on page 61.  There is also a map showing where the tours go.
  
• With the products for sale is a lot of information on the work of Traidcraft.