The Rutland Group of the Hardy Plant Society held another excellent evening in March with Steve Edney, a well-known horticulturalist from Kent, being the guest speaker. His enthusiasm and passion for plants came across so clearly and infectiously throughout the talk. He has a passion for dahlias having served on the RHS Herbaceous Committee and being involved in the Dahlia trials. His topic was ‘Sticks, Stems and the Star Plants of Spring’. He has also achieved Gold awards at Chelsea and Hampton Court Shows.

To Steve a garden must centre on people and wild life, as they are the heart of everything. He uses the plants to provide food, hiding places and hunting ground for insects and animals. So Steve leaves all the cutting back until late March. The long border is 100 feet long and 6 foot in depth and it takes 6 days work to tidy in the spring!!. Trees pay an important part in winter giving structure and plants with scent are a bonus. Mahonia ‘Charity’ is one and should be mulched twice a year. Shrub roses can give interest throughout the year and ‘Scepter’d Isle’ is one that has a strong perfume. Bamboos can be useful in diffusing noise as well as providing movement. He also recommended being bold when pruning Cornus. He then took us through some of the wonderful springtime plants with Fritillaries, striking Astelia ‘Red Devil’, Daphne ‘Peter Smithers’ and Narcissus ‘Cassata’. Remembering to match the plant to the growing conditions it likes is essential. This was a lecture of high quality. Afterwards Steve had tempting and unusual plants sale for the audience to treat themselves.