November 13th 2025
An unforgettable talk from Jos Mawdsley - on starting a 'Small Cut-flower Garden' from scratch in Bonnes. The sheer scope of each year's planning, planting and gathering is extraordinary. What began as a small dream has expanded to weddings, bouquets at the Ribérac market and seed gathering on quite a scale. Next year we plan to visit when her wild field full of local flowers is in full bloom and to see her nursery.
Remember to contact her for an event you are planning. IGC Secretary has all the information plus how to receive a copy of her recommended plantings.
Probably one of the longest and most informative G Q T we have held.
There were so many excellent areas of advice from both the panel and the audience.
For a summary of questions and answers click the button please.
(Members may also request a copy by writing to the Secretary)
OCTOBER 9TH, 2025
In spite of earlier worries about the weather, we had a beautiful day for our visit to
Les Jardins de Laussagne.
Picnic on June 12th
Situated in the small village of Vouzan (16410) the garden, originally a field surrounding the house, has been ten years in the making. Influenced by the English style of gardening, it hosts an impressive diversity of perennials, shrubs and trees, and is planned for year-long interest. The owners also enjoy adding quirky touches by adding reclaimed or repurposed objects which lend the garden a touch of whimsy.
Having followed the sinuous pathways and appreciated the planting, we then settled to enjoy another of Gill Winnett’s superb picnics. Each group had previously picked up its beautifully presented and brimming lunch basket, leaving it in a chosen shady spot, and the ensuing hour or so was filled with happy chatter and delicious food!
~HOSTA LA VISTA~​
A LEAFY LOVE STORY
Our President Ian, has had a long held love and knowledge of the Hosta and especially the variegated ones. His talk was about the history of the Hosta, its spread across Asia and Europe and its evolution into a plant family containing thousands of varieties.
He gave us growing tips, and answered many questions about the important aspect of looking after, splitting and potting on.
Plants that he had raised were on display and we were also able to buy many for club funds.
April 10th Meeting
A talk by Jacquie Strasser
JEANNE BARET was the first woman to circumnavigate the world. Her story of botanical discoveries, enduring great hardship and showing such fortitude that she made French history.
This is her legacy and it is one she could never have imagined.
March meeting
Following the AGM, Ian Warden our President, gave a short slide presentation entitled ‘Spring Beauties’ in the hope that it might encourage members to be a bit more adventurous in extending what the garden has to offer at this time of the year.
He introduced the members to less common varieties of Celandine, Arums, Winter Aconites, Hacquetia and Hepaticas.
Gardeners’ Question Time
FIRST MEETING - FEBRUARY 2025
Questions varied from recommendations for plants to grow in a bog garden, through the merit of leaving lichen growing on trees, to pruning fig trees and dividing hellebores.
When asked for their favourite gardening quotes, the panel’s replies were numerous and included the proverb “red sky at night, shepherd’s delight” and Kipling’s reminder that “gardens are not made by singing ‘oh how beautiful’ and sitting in the shade.”
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NOTE : the complete list of Questions and Answers can be obtained by emailing the IGC Secretary.
2024 - A YEAR TO CELEBRATE
This year we celebrated 20 years of monthly meetings and events. There were outings, a catered picnic and many ways in which, as a group, we could look back together at some very special achievements. Despite the Covid interruption IGC resumed with increased numbers, and a new meeting place located in a delightful hall on the banks of a river. An hour long PowerPoint presentation showed just how many successful events had been achieved.
Here are some of our 2024 EVENTS.....
a year at a glance
.......and so our year ended with a superb Christmas lunch catered by all the members. The room filled with laughter and an enjoyable plant knowledge quiz.
Our Committee excelled once again.