Grass Clippings
‘As winter’s chill comes and goes – spring leaps forth with all of her beauty …’
Around our grounds
It does on occasion feel like May has arrived. The cool air in the morning, dew on the grass but with the expectant air that the day will be fine with a cloudless sky.
The simple pleasures of being on a golf course first thing in the morning is that you are constantly reminded by nature what time of year it is and after a long expectant winter, long days are here now, and we have to make the most of this time because sadly it is short and from the end of June the days begin to recede again.
The start of the summer tennis season is upon us and when the weather allows, the courts will be available for Members to use. Hopefully, it will be a good season and we have maximum usage for the courts this summer, as ever this is dependent on the weather and how much rain we receive during the season.
Court numbers 23 and 24 are currently being over seeded and top dressed, as a result of last year’s need to use these courts as an access road to do the necessary works on court block 7 to 10. There was a slight overrun of the contractors being ready to hand over Air Hall Two which meant that we didn’t make the germination window for over seeding last autumn and therefore the courts have been renovated this spring to prime them for play. Hopefully they will not be too far behind before we get them back into operation, but it is dependent on the germination progress of the seed and our old, trusted friend, the weather.
We will soon start to change out the spring bedding for the summer display so keep an eye out for Sam and the team planting out soon enough.
Spring gardening shows
May is the start of the summer show season and there is a plethora of events set around the country to keep the keen and amateur gardeners contented for hours. The main event is always seen as Chelsea being the hot ticket for the society crowd to see and be seen. From the press and TV coverage, it still draws attention like a three-ring circus, with garden designers trying to outdo each other for the ultimate golden ticket.
May starts for the more discerning gardener with the RHS Malvern (11th – 14th May), set pretty as a picture at the Three Counties Showground in Worcestershire, at the foothills of the Malverns. There are plenty of show gardens, demonstrations and horticulture retail therapy to keep visitors blissfully happy in delightful Elgar country.
After RHS Chelsea (23rd – 27th May), Manchester takes up the baton with the Manchester Flower Festival (26th – 29th May). From floral installations to outdoor dining, live music and entertainment, Manchester is promising a blooming amazing long weekend in and around the city.
Closer to home, the Royal Windsor Flower Show returns on Saturday 10th June, with speakers including Alan Titchmarsh, Katie and Giancarlo Caldesi and Rosy Hardy. There will be inspiring showcase gardens and a chance to source some fabulous nurseries, many of whom will specialize in plants of different varieties.
From 15th – 18th June the BBC Gardeners’ World Live bandwagon is rolled out at the NEC Birmingham, giving you a chance to meet and listen to your favourite BBC gardener in person. From the events website, there is a multitude of garden related events to inspire and inform anyone with a hint of a green finger.
RHS Hampton Court (4th – 9th July) is marketed as the biggest show of the season and has a more relaxed vibe than Chelsea. There is certainly more room to avoid the crowds and a host of non-garden items to keep the other half occupied if it is not their obsession. There are usually plenty of pop-up eateries on site for you to chill out at with acoustic melodies wafting across the grounds to help you while away the afternoon with a glass of your favourite tipple!