Ballymena Garden Club is blooming!

When Ballymena Garden Club resumed its autumn and winter series of talks in October, after a two-year break due to COVID-19 restrictions, we were apprehensive regarding the turnout to meetings.

However, we were greatly encouraged by the response of existing members and have over the past two months welcomed nine new members.

In the garden, many concentrate on ensuring that there is an abundance of colour in the warmer months but lose interest in gardening once late autumn brings colder, wetter and darker times.

Adrian Walsh, the speaker at the November meeting proved that, with a little forward planning, we can have a garden full of interest all year round. A

drian should know because he was nominated “BBC Gardener of the Year” in 2021. In his talk he took members month by month through the year showing, using slides taken in his garden, how he uses succession gardening to create his year-round garden.

As an aid to members keen to follow his example he circulated a comprehensive list of plants which he used in his planting scheme.

Adrian, from the Stranmillis district of Belfast, opens his city garden by arrangement from June to October under the National Garden Scheme Northern Ireland. All monies raised goes to nominated charities.

Following the Club’s Christmas event, the talks programme will resume on Monday 6 February 2023 at 7.30pm in Ballymena North Business and Recreation Centre. New members always welcome.