In spite of blustery weather damaging outdoor flowers, the table show had some delightful flower arrangements as well as indoor plants.
Jan Hunt shared her enthusiasm for Wormeries with us in a fascinating and amusing demonstration. Wormeries, she said, are a natural way of producing organic fertiliser and compost, and also reduce the kitchen waste going into landfill. We are all aware of the aerating job done by earthworms, but there are many hundred species of worms and it's the red ones that live in compost heaps and bins that are used in wormeries (tiger worms).
The worms produce compost and a liquid feed which is tapped off from the base of the wormery. This liquid must be diluted before using it on plants. The wormery doesn't smell foul.
Wormeries can be bought from specialist firms, but Jan makes her own more cheaply. She buys small plastic bins, preferably in a dark colour as the worms need dark to work. Then she makes a hole between the side and base and inserts a plastic tube for draining off the liquid feed. Inside she places 3 or 4 upturned plastic plantpots and on top of these a well fitting plastic colander or a bowl with drilled drainage holes. To prevent the worms slithering down into the liquid and drowning, she fits a piece of fine nylon netting inside the bowl. Then the worms are added along with some old damp compost. Finally the beasties are fed with kitchen peelings, teabags, ground eggshells, eggboxes and paper etc. (Newspaper can be used but nothing with coloured inks.) The wormery takes about 6-8 weeks to get going. It can be kept in the garage, but must be protected from freezing. The compost mustn't be too wet, only moist.
Annual Trip. Bookings are now being accepted. It's on 3rd July to Houghton Hall, which has a 5 acre walled garden divided into garden 'rooms' and includes a formal rose garden with over 150 varieties. There is a large deer park and throughout the grounds are contemporary statues. Another interest is the model soldier museum.
Our next meeting is on Tuesday 8th April at 7.30 in Cringleford Church Hall. Martin Davey will give us propagation tips. There's an extra table show for 10 flowers of the Narcissus family.