DIARY

from Horam & Vines Cross Village Diary

Welcome to the New Faces Representing us on Wealden

June is one of the more pleasing months of the gardener's year; The blooms of spring may have faded but in their place is a wealth of summer blossom. By mid-month we may give in the urge to drive the mower over the old daffodil foliage, this two month stay of execution will have helped the bulbs build up for next winter.

The season of the sucking and biting pests is in full swing, so to allow for a good night's sleep, the diligent gardener stay alert for on insect attack. If aphides and caterpillars are allowed to multiply unchecked they will wreak havoc in the flower garden and amongst the vegetable and fruit crops. Washing-up liquid and water in a spray bottle will work for aphids and the collecting of caterpillars may be profitably delegated to any underemployed children we may discover stooging about the house. We found the ages between four and ten most profitable for the exploitation of their labour, before they become aware they are being cynically used as unrewarded agricultural drudges. It is at this time of year that the reader will discover the benefits of their deep and thorough winter diggings; Drought has nothing like the same effect on thoroughly prepared ground as it has on shallow soil hastily dug to the depth of a mere few inches.

Planting-out of summer bedding will be carried on, room for growth should be allowed when planting, water until established.

Our minds may now be turning towards displays for next spring. Wallflowers, fox gloves, sweet william, forget-me-nots and Canterbury bells may be sown now in finely prepared beds to give them as long as possible to grow before planting out in autumn. Staking and tying and the feeding of plants that are actually in bud and bloom are other tasks which command our attention; A heavy June downpour will quickly lay any tall plants face down and spread-eagled across the lawn, always a chastening sight. Be alert to suckers growing from the bases of roses, they usually have more thorn and leaf than an ordinary stem and should be removed on sight. We may not be afeard to thin out crowded stems of such plants as Rudbeckia, Helianthus, Michaelmas Daisies, Phloxes and Solidagos. A few strong stems will make a far better display than overcrowded clumps. No faded flower heads should be allowed to remain on Rhododendrons and Azaeleas, snapping them off above the foliage will free the new growth and the buds will thus be freed from restraint and begin at once to grow vigorously. Yellowing leaves may indicate a liming of the soil which should be corrected with an acidifier. Any black bristly buds that won't open must be removed and burnt. Old Paeony flowers should also be removed, though one may wish to keep a few seed pods on the old types which make useful ma- terial for dried-flower displays at Christmas. In the vegetable garden we may continue to remove all unwanted runners in the strawberry bed. Seeds of French and runner beans may still be sown, that deep trench of organic matter the reader dug in some months ago will pay back with a heavy crop. Lettuce, radishes and spinach can still be sown for succession. Maincrop Turnips and Swedes around the middle of the month. Plant Brussels sprouts, broccoli, kale, cabbage, cauliflowers, sprouting broccoli and Savoys as the ground becomes available.

Continue with the thinning of previously sown crops; overcrowding in the nursery bed will produce thin and straggling specimens which will never regain their figures. Earth-up Potatoes little and often as growth proceeds. We should cease cutting Asparagus around the middle of the month and give the bed some nourishment to encourage strong top growth of the stems still remaining. That hoe should be stirring the soil from time to time to break up any panned surfaces and keep the soil from drying out and baking hard. No Hoers' Elbow please.

During the summer months plants in pots should be watered every day regardless of the weather and given a liquid feed once a week.

The last clearing out of the stove or fireplace will have seen the ashes spread around especially any fruiting or flowering plants. Though not around lime-hating subjects. And talking of ashes, assuming the reader has kept up to speed with jobs through winter and spring, they should soon have a thoroughly effulgent garden, one fit to make our neighbours green with envy, calling for just some minor daily pottering, so allowing us the time to enjoy long pipes in the sunshine, listening to the summer noises of bees buzzing at safe distance and on the wireless the happy sound of a successful England Ashes series and the merry sound of antipodean wickets a-falling.

River Mead Nursery

Foords Lane, Vines Cross, Horam, East Sussex TN21 9HB

Telephone No. 01435 813353 Email – info@rivermeadnursery.co.uk

Website - www.rivermeadnursery.co.uk

We have a wide selection of plants:Bedding Plants, Herbs, Vegetable Plants, Perennials, Shrubs, Fruit Bushes, Fruit Trees, Ornamental Trees, Grasses, Cacti, Agaves. Also available –

Home grown produce (seasonal vegetables, herbs, fruit, cut flowers and eggs).

Opening Times: Winter 9am-dusk Monday - Saturday

VENUE TO HIRE

• WEDDINGS

• BABY SHOWERS

• BIRTHDAY PARTIES

• WAKES

• WORKSHOPS and more

VERSATILE INDOOR & OUTDOOR SPACE

WHAT’S ON IN THE COMMUNITY

Young at Heart have had lots to celebrate this month - Our 5th Anniversary from opening, The Coronation and various members Birthdays - always an honour to celebrate their milestones. We hosted Qigong and singing with Rowana Mladek and Cake and Wine Club Choir at The Co-op in Heathfield - customers and cashiers joining in! The Co-op are kindly sponsoring us this year on the back of scanning your membership card. We visited the bluebells at Arlington which were a superb display and everyone enjoys a Young at Heart picnic! We’ve just had our first month of Fridays where members have been knitting and making crafts and Blackboys and Five Ashes School now join our school rotation. We had a talk from the Air Ambulance which was very informative for both the children and adults. Nobody should be lonely! Please contact Rachel 07971032667 if you have a friend or family member who might be interested? Kindly sponsored by Wealden Funeral Services and Trevaskis Consulting Ltd.

Uniting generations in the glorious setting of Heathfield Park Cricket Club

A full day of lunch, crafts and activities with pupils from local schools

Book a FREE TRIAL DAY and come and join us we would love to meet you!

Please call 07971 032667 or visit youngatheart.me.uk

Kindness

`HORAM FUN DAY 2023

SUNDAY 9th JULY 2023 12:30pm - 5pm.

Held on the Horam Recreation Ground & Village Hall

To be opened by the Skull Drummery. Snail Races - The Dog Show - Childrens Fun Fair - Diamond Dance DisplaysWealden Brass - BBQ - Boost Fit Display - Pizza Van - Bar - Ice Cream Van

WW2 Homefront Lindy Hop Displays - Hoopers HU-Dogs in Tune (bring your dogs & have a go.) Plus, many other traditional and new attractions. Refreshments in the Village Hall + Pevensey Ukuleles.

“NEW EVENT HORAM FUN DAY 2023 NEW EVENT”

Childrens fill a jam jar with flowers competition.Ana of Ana’s Flowers will be judging this event. Entries are for age groups 5-9yrs and 10-14yrs. Fill a jam jar with your choice of flowers. Download an entry form from www.anasflowers.co.uk Drop off at 2:30pm for judging at 3pm.Prize of £5 for each winning entry.

To book a stall, please contact: Brenda Macklin 01435 812018 or email hfd2023@ outlook.com. For more info call Dave Sutton 01435 812462 or 07889 652586

View the Facebook Page: Horam Fun Day & Craft Fair. More information will be in the village diary each month.

HEATHFIELD & DISTRICT CHURCHES TOGETHER

Invites you to ETCHINGHAM CHURCH