Members held their AGM at the Mabe Youth and Community Hall last week.

The club had enjoyed a very busy and fun filled 12 months with a good variety of speakers covering such subjects as ‘Rhododendron Conservation at Tremough’, ‘The Restoration of Heligan’ and ‘Exotic Evergreens’. There were also plant sales, slide shows, the Flower Show, annual luncheon and Christmas party. Highlights of the year included a return visit to Ron Scamp’s bulb fields; a guided tour of Tremough Gardens with head gardener, David Garwood, and a coach trip to the County’s Annual Spring Flower Show at Boconnoc. Members had also enjoyed running a coffee morning with Ron Scamp in attendance, selling his daffodil bulbs. The officers were re-elected en bloc: chairman, Dot Wickham; secretary, Val Bidgood; treasurer (joint), Margaret Barnicoat/Pauline Birkett plus committee members - Ruth Olver, Vilma Herring and Yvonne Vivian.

The ‘Annual Bloom of the Month Competition’: 1, Val Bidgood, 13 points; 2, Pat Thomas, 11; 3, Vilma Herring, 7. The Club meets monthly at the Youth and Community Hall in Cunningham Park. The next meeting will be on Monday, February 18 at 7pm when Ian Martin (Curator at Eden) will be presenting ‘Eden: Outside the Boundaries’.

Highlights for 2013 include return visits to Ron Scamp’s fields and to the County Spring Flower Show at Boconnoc. Talks at the hall include ‘Beekeeping around the World’, ‘Growing Vegetables in Containers’ and ‘Growing Carnivorous Plants’. There are also plans for ‘Outings’ still to be arranged.

So, are you a gardener? Do you have a window box, a few tubs or an allotment? If you are interested in joining our Garden Club and would like further information, please feel free to contact the secretary on 01326 373984; or turn up at our next meeting where you will be made most welcome; or follow us on our Facebook page (search for ‘Mabe Garden Club’).