Latest News - August 2026
On Wednesday 24 June several heat-hardy members braved a delightful afternoon visit to the Manor House, Upton Grey. The temperatures soared but our host, Rosamund Wallinger welcomed us with open arms and gave an interesting talk on the history of the restoration and development of the Gertrude Jekyll garden. Members spent a lovely afternoon enjoying this delightful garden followed by a delicious tea, served by Rosamund, on the terrace.
Our evening visit to Hambledon House, by kind permission of Capt. & Mrs Hart Dyke, was a huge success. We were blessed with a glorious summer’s evening and enjoyed an introduction to the garden by Diana Hart Dyke whilst being treated to canapés and drinks before setting off on a tour of this hidden gem situated right in the centre of Hambledon village.
Our plant stall at the Froxfield Fete raised a very pleasing sum for the Village funds. Thank you for your support and generosity in buying and also for donating plants for us to sell.
August brings our lovely annual Summer Show, which opens at 2pm on Saturday 15 August at Froxfield Village Hall. Entries may be submitted by all residents of Froxfield and Privett and by members of the club whose 2025/2026 subscriptions was paid by 31 July 2026. All horticultural exhibits must be bone fide produce of the exhibitor, grown by them for a period of at least 6 weeks prior to the date of the Show. This does not apply to the Flower Arrangement classes.
Copies of the Show Schedule are available from Froxfield Stores and Budgens at West Meon Hut. If Budgens run out, please try Froxfield Stores or alternatively email fpgardenclubshow@gmail.com to request a copy. Anyone wishing to exhibit must submit their entry form and fee to the Show Secretary (Christine Stephens), a Committee Member or to Froxfield Stores (not to Budgens) by 5pm on Thursday 13 August. This year we have also included a children’s class, a ‘Garden in a Dish’, so please encourage your children and grandchildren to enter this. Unlike the other children's classes there will not be an entry organised by one of the schools, so it is down to our children/grandchildren to see what they can make. For those of you interested in the cookery classes, we have included one recipe this year for Tarta de Santiago. This is a delicious gluten free cake that originates from Galicia in northern Spain. Should you have any questions after reading the programme, please contact Christine Stephens at: fpgardenclubshow@gmail.com.
Again, we will be serving our delicious tea and cakes, there will be a Bring and Buy Plant, Cake and Produce Stall and of course a Raffle with profits going to the Garden Club. Donations of any suitable items will be greatly appreciated. Prize giving will be at 3.30pm. On the day of the Show Froxfield Village Hall will be open at 8am and the staging of entries must be completed by 10.15am. If you have any queries Please contact our Show Secretary, Christine Stephens on 01730 266529 or email her at fpgardenclubshow@gmail.com. We are very much looking forward to seeing many of you at the Summer Show and despite the hot weather we have been experiencing, we are hopeful of seeing a good range of entries at the show. If you have not entered before – take a look at the schedule and have a go! It’s a wonderful community event and great fun! Come along, enjoy all the exhibits of flowers, fruit, vegetables and cookery and enjoy tea and delicious cakes too!
Our next meeting and AGM is on Tuesday 13 October 2026 at Privett Village Hall at 7.30pm and our speaker will be Kevin Hobbs. There will be more information in next month’s Parish Magazine.