By Victoria Plum 
By Victoria Plum
Our last speaker at the Reepham & District Gardening Club told us that he weeded through his garden in the spring and after that his plants would cover the ground and therefore no more weeding is required for quite a while. I aim to do this.
Two sayings are: “Nature abhors a vacuum” and “The best manure is the farmer’s boot”. If your plants cover the ground, there will be no room for weeds (although we know that they are only wildflowers in the wrong place).
And the farmer’s boot? If you keep a close eye, like a good farmer, on what is going on, you can take swift action to forestall problems.
I really enjoy the organised chaos that fills my garden at this time of the year but I am trying to keep order.
White bryony is everywhere and is very pretty. If you saw it for sale in the garden centre, having got past the candles, clothing, birthday cards, random ornaments, prettily packaged fudge and café, to the back of the property where the actual garden plants are, you would buy it.
Perennial, easy to grow, pretty leaves, flowers and tendrils and gorgeous red berries. Poisonous, so perhaps you wouldn’t buy it, but I would.
Some years I have left it to grow, but given the chance it takes the mickey, like the pretty bindweed (clue in the name here) and smothers, pulls down and swamps my choice plants. So, this year I am pulling it down as soon as I see it; I’m developing a ruthless streak!
Sadly, at the last minute, our speaker for the gardening club this month was unable to come. This is rare; our excellent speakers are usually very reliable.
Next month, on Tuesday 15 July at 7.30 pm in the Town Hall, Church Street, Reepham, Mike Hillocks will tell us about bonsai: how to prune, how to maintain and general information. There will be tea, coffee, and cake. Bring your friends. Meetings are informal, friendly and always interesting. And there is a raffle.
I’ll just pop outside to refill the hydroponic Super Gro and sugar solution for my marrow plants because it’s nearly time for the Summer Gardening Club Show in August.
P.S. Has anyone got a hose that doesn’t leak and twist? If you have, please tell me what sort it is.
Photo: White bryony (the bright green leaves) in my garden. Look closely and you can see the delicate, coiled tendrils. Photo: Tina Sutton
Geoff Fisher