Events

Jonathon Hogarth of Hogarth Hostas hold the National Collection of small and miniature hostas, delightful plants that are becoming ever more popular. Jonathon’s passion for hostas led him to create this specialised nursery, showing his plants at many prestigious flower shows. He will share his secrets for success – including dealing with slugs and snails. Meeting venue: Caversham Heights Methodist Church Hall. 74 Highmoor Rd, Caversham, RG4 7BG.Meetings start at 7.45 Refreshments will...

AGM and members plant sale – more information nearer the date. Meeting at Caversham Heights Methodist Church Hall 74 Highmoor Rd, Caversham, RG4 7BG starting at 7.30 pm with refreshments from 7.15...

Miles Japanese Maples are a small family run nursery in Storrington specialising in young Japanese Maples that are sown, grafted and grown in the UK. Having struggled to find well-grown good quality maples for his clients, Miles Hayward decided to expand his gardening business and began exhibiting his own collection of unusual Acers. He now grows over fifty different varieties of these charming little trees and will talk to us about how, with the right care and attention, they will grow and...

Adam Pasco is a leading gardening journalist; as well as launching the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, and editing it for 22 years, he writes for or edits many of our favourite publications and has received numerous awards. He will be encouraging us to Spring into Action and Get Set for Summer in a talk packed with ideas and inspiration for the gardening year ahead. This is a Zoom...

February 22 – in person at Caversham Home Farm Plants in Bovingdon is a small traditional family run nursery specialising in Elatum Delphiniums. Exhibiting at Chelsea for the first time in 2022 they were awarded a Gold – and again in 2023. They are surprisingly tough hardy perennials; they can withstand very cold winters and are reliable and delightful garden plants. Graham Austin will be talking to us about all aspects of Growing Elatum Delphiniums – and will be bringing plants for...

Richard Barnes has been designing gardens and landscapes for over 30 years; he is a published author and photographer and speaks widely about horticulture. In his talk Plants from the End of the Earth he will be taking a look at the origins of the familiar, and not so familiar, garden plants and at the exploits of the Plant Hunters who risked everything to bring new varieties to our gardens. This is a Zoom...

Gilberts are a famed Dahlia nursery near Romsey. Nick Gilbert will be taking us through Gilberts Dahlia Year, with plenty of tips on how to get the best from these beautiful and rewarding plants. He will be bringing plants for sale...

Our ever popular Christmas Social – join us for a seasonal celebration in the company of your fellow gardeners. Full details will follow nearer the time… The social will start at 7.30pm NOT the normal 7.45 start time. The social will be held at Caversham Heights Methodist Church Hall 74 Highmoor Rd, Caversham, RG4 7BG starting at 7.30...

Dr Jill Raggett is Emeritus Reader in Gardens and Designed Landscapes at Writtle College. She has devoted her life to encouraging her students to make better spaces for everyone to enjoy. Following her well-received talk on The High Line last Winter, Jill will be talking to us about “The Prairies of North America – a place in my imagination…” which will take a look at the restoration of a small area of the North American prairies, an environment that has so influenced contemporary...

Alan Power was inspired from an early age to follow a career in the horticultural world. During the past 30 years he has worked in – and managed – some of the most beautiful gardens in Britain: Mount Stewart, Stourhead, Hidcote and Derreen. Now he works for the National Trust as Gardens Consultant across the South West, helping to care for the gardens that so many people visit, and ensuring that beautiful places can continue to be admired and enjoyed. He will take us along as he recalls...

Richard Bisgrove will be speaking to us this evening. His long and distinguished career in landscape management and horticultural education has gained him an international reputation and numerous awards. He will be speaking to us about William Robinson (1838-1935) whose ideas about wild gardening spurred the movement that led to the popularising of the English Cottage Garden style and were important in the development of the Woodland Garden. If you heard the talk about Gertrude Jekyll last...

The AGM starts at 7.30 pm followed by an Plant Sale. Location Caversham Heights Methodist Church Hall, 74 Highmoor Road, Caversham, RG4 7BG...

Paul Green of Green Leaves Nursery specialises in rare and unusual plants from around the world that are suitable for growing in the UK. The ever-expanding range of plants grown at the nursery in Gloucester are fully tested for hardiness. Paul will talk to us about exotics that suit the UK’s demanding climate and can bring a touch of glamour to our gardens. He will bring plants to sell, too! Meeting at Caversham Heights Methodist Church Hall 74 Highmoor Rd, Caversham, RG4 7BG....

Matt Oliver works at RHS Garden Hyde Hall. Many of us had the pleasure of watching his thrilling lecture on growing giant pumpkins last year – he holds the UK record at 1498lb! Matt will be speaking today about the Global Growth Vegetable Garden at Hyde Hall, and the 350 different species of edible plants he grows there. Zoom...

Heather Skinnerhe vice president of the NGS, will cover the history of the NGS from its Victorian roots to the present day. We hope to have snowdrops for sale on the evening, and in addition there will be a selection of work by our late and very much lamented member the distinguished artist Jenny Jowett. Meeting at Caversham Heights Methodist Church Hall 74 Highmoor Rd, Caversham, RG4...

Our next speaker is the garden historian James Bolton, who will be speaking about the relationship between Edward Lutyens and Gertrude Jekyll, surely one of the most successful garden design partnerships of all time. Together they created some truly iconic gardens in the English Style, including Folly Farm, Sulhamstead, which some of us had the pleasure of visiting last year. James trained originally with the Direction des Parcs et Gardens in Paris, followed by a year at the Inchbald School...

Samantha Hopes Winter gardens don’t have to be boring! Samantha, of Hopes Garden Plants, will highlight a whole range of winter flowering shrubs, herbaceous plants and bulbs to brighten dull days, with particular emphasis on the stunning Hellebores currently being developed. She will be bringing a choice selection of plants for sale. Meeting at Caversham Heights Methodist Church Hall 74 Highmoor Rd, Caversham, RG4 7BG....

Charles Chesshire is an internationally renowned garden designer whose creations can be found all over the world. He has written extensively on plants and garden design, and lectures widely in the UK and beyond. Charles will talk about his approach to design, illustrated by some of his many commissions. The lecturew is via Zoom...

Join us for a seasonal celebration. Bring some food to share and enjoy the company of fellow garden-lovers. 7.30 start ng at Caversham Heights Methodist Church Hall 74 Highmoor Rd, Caversham, RG4 7BG...

Dr Jill Raggett is Emeritus Reader in Gardens and Designed Landscapes at Writtle University. She has devoted her life to encouraging her students to make better spaces for everyone to enjoy. She will be speaking to us about The High Line, built on a historic elevated rail line in New York, which reimagines the role public spaces have in creating connected, healthy neighbourhoods and cities. Zoom...

As head gardener of Stourhead, Alan Power was a familiar presence on TV and radio, talking to us through the changing seasons. His descriptions of the Autumn colours were simply inspiring. After 25 years at the National Trust he has moved to the beautiful woodland garden at Derreen in County Kerry. Alan will be talking to us about his life in some of the most important gardens in the British Isles. Meeting at Caversham Heights Methodist Church Hall 74 Highmoor Rd, Caversham, RG4 7BG...

NOTE The talk will be held on Zoom Peter Savage In 2004 Bowdens was a small Hosta hobby business. It now provides a wide range of plants, including Ferns and Bamboos in addition to Hostas, and has won 125 RHS Gold medals. Peter will be talking to us about the many cultivars of Hosta, and about the design and build of Bowdens famed gold winning displays. There will be time for questions,...

Sarah Dixon – A walk through the Japanese Garden Western gardens are full of references and symbolism that we all recognise. Japanese gardens, too, are full of nuance and allusion, and Sarah will take us for a walk through Koishikawa Korakuen Garden in Tokyo, explaining the meaning and purpose of the various features and constructions – and revealing a heartbreaking story. Meeting held at Caversham Heights, Methodist Church Hall 74 Highmoor Rd, Caversham, RG4...

Hardy’s Cottage Garden Plants in Hampshire is a 24 times RHS Chelsea Gold Medal winning nursery that grows the strong healthy cottage garden plants we all crave. Rosie will talk about a selection of autumn flowering perennials – how to grow them, good combinations, and common pitfalls to avoid – and will bring plants for sale. Meeting held at Caversham Heights, Methodist Church Hall 74 Highmoor Rd, Caversham RG4...

3 Mar 2022 - Helen Chen: Bamboos. Helen Chen has loved bamboos for over 20 years She now has a small nursery, Japonica Plants, specialising in bamboo and other east Asian plants. Her talk covers how bamboos grow, runners and clumpers, growing in containers, and a look at numerous species. Talk via...

Carolyn Foster: Succession Planting Botanist, horticulturalist, and hands-on gardener,Carolyn is a leading light of the gardening scene in East Berks. Here she talks about how to get the most out of your borders, with colour and interest from one season to the next. Snowdrops for sale Lecture at Caversham Heights Methodist Church Hall, 74 Highmoor Rd, Caversham RG4...

Doug Stewar introduces some of Yorkshire’s finest but lesser-known gardens and their plants. Includes the Yorkshire Arboretum, Stillingfleet Lodge, and gems such as Rosemary Cottage, occasionally open for the NGS. A Zoom...

Annie Godfrey, Daisy Roots: Ornamental Grasses At her nursery in Hertfordshire Annie grows perennials and grasses. Plantswoman, speaker, designer, and Chelsea gold medal winner, she will give us an experview of ornamental grasses, and winning combinations, for our gardens. Plants for Sale. Lecture at Caversham Heights Methodist Church 74 Highmoor Rd, Caversham...

Nancy Stevens: Tree Tales Nancy is a gardener and speaker in Glasgow, with wide horizons in plant life. She says: “Do you want to know about The Tree of a Hundred Horses? the plight of Big Mike the banana? what trees have got to do with cheese? or what trees featured in 2001, A Space Odyssey? Then this is the talk for you.” She delighted us with her last talk in autumn...

  Marina Christopher: Perennials for late summer interest  Marina has been growing perennials and wildflowers commercially since 1984 (Phoenix Perennial Plants). She returns to Reading Gardeners to give another of her lovely ‘hands-on’ plant demonstrations, this time on late summer colour. Plants for Sale. Please note our new venue is Caversham Heights Methodist Church Hall 74 Highmoor Rd, Caversham RG4...

The AGM deals with the formal business of Reading Gardeners. Then we move on to the serious matter of our Plant Sale. Bring plants for other members to purchase, and find treasures from other people’s gardens. NB: 7.30 start. PLEASE NOTE - CHANGE OF DATE AND VENUE The Annual General Meeting will be held on Thursday 2nd April 2020 NOT 1st April Venue is Caversham Heights Methodist Church Hall, 74 Highmoor Rd, Reading RG4 7BG Meeting commences at at 7.30 pm not...

Derry Watkins, who runs ‘Special Plants’ near Bath, looks at preparing the garden for the season ahead: staking perennials, spring pruning, and so much else. Derry is a popular speaker and her plants are indeed special. Plants for...

Emma Allen project managed the creation and delivery of RHS Wisley’s new Exotic Garden. Responsible for the design, materials, layout, and plants, she tells us about the creative process and how it is evolving. Emma also manages Wisley’s Glasshouse, Rock Garden, alpines, mixed borders, and rose garden,...

Author and TV personality (‘It’s Not Easy Being Green’) Brigit Strawride’s talk will focus on the relationships between plants and pollinators, and the importance of creating gardens where both can flourish. Plants and books for sale...

Professional horticulturalist Sarah Dixon regularly visits the gardens of Japan, and communicates her enthusiasm for the different gardening styles found there. This follows on from her inspiring short talk at last season’s Members’ Evening. Snowdrops for...

Garden historian and author Kate Felus will take us on an illustrated journey through 300 years of great gardens created for grand ladies, telling the tales of the women for whom these designs were laid out, from the 1720s to the present day. Some of the gardens are famous, while others you may not have heard of, from Northern castles to Thames-side...

Jon Evans will explore the flora of the chalk and limestone hills in Southern England, and give an impression of the different habitats there, featuring many different orchids and other wildflowers. Illustrated with Jon’s superb photos. A popular speaker, visiting us for the 4th...

Join us for a seasonal celebration. Bring some food to share, and enjoy the company of fellow garden-lovers. Photo competition winner will be announced. There might be a quiz...

Geoff is a freelance gardening and horticultural writer, author, editor and broadcaster. He says: ‘My aim is to help gardeners get the best from their plants and garden and to answer questions, solve problems and give help, hints, tips and advice.’ He gave us a witty and knowledgeable talk on houseplants in Nov...

Horticultural consultant, speaker, writer, RHS judge. Andrew is a gardening author and lecturer, and formerly taught garden design at Warwickshire College. He will look at the history of gardening in the US, including some contemporary gardens by Martha Schwarz and Isabelle Greene, and a Hollywood...

Ken writes and lectures, teaches at Kew, is a Daily Telegraph columnist, and has written 7 gardening/science books, most recently (2018) ‘Darwin’s Most Wonderful Plants’ (and my favourite gardening book, ‘An Ear to the Ground’). In 2016 he was awarded the RHS Veitch Memorial Medal. He last spoke to us in 2012. Former head of horticulture at Sheffield University. NOTE THIS LECTURE IS TO BE HELD AT ST PETER'S CHURCH...

Wildlife presenter, cameraman and ecologist Matt explains how his journey into the world of trees, sparked by the oak, has taught him to see trees like never before. Their ecosystems are far more complex than we might...

Marina has been growing perennials and wildflowers commercially since 1984 (Phoenix Perennial Plants), and runs courses and workshops with rare enthusiasm and knowledge. This evening: Perennials that provide interest for autumn and winter with structure, seedheads and skeletons. Plants for...

The ever-popular Ray Broughton, formerly of Sparsholt College, takes us through some of the new developments in horticulture and how we can use them at...

Garden manager of several royal gardens, Mark Lane will talk about the trees, gardens and wildlife at Buckingham Palace, and managing how the gardens are...

Wildside takes its inspiration from natural landscapes. Before Wildside Keith Wiley was head gardener of the Garden House in Devon for 25 years. Jon Evans will bring us a third beautifully illustrated...

Weatherman and Gardener's Question Time chair Peter Gibbs takes a look at how British weather, climate and micro-climate influences the way we...

A popular and entertaining occasional evening where members give short talks on gardening related matters dear to them. Our President Michael Keith-Lucas, who is leaving the area, will give his farewell...

An informal get-together for members and partners, with food and drinks and...

TV gardener and topiarist Darren Lerigo is currently writing a book on honeybees. His talk  looks at the fascinating ways people garden around the world, and asks what ideas we can steal for our own patch at...

Winter doesn't need to be dull and boring in your garden, Samantha Hopes aims to highlight a whole range of winter flowering shrubs, herbaceous plants and bulbs to tempt you out into your garden in the winter months! Plants for...

Alan Goold is a noted speaker and specialist on roses. He runs Henry Street Garden Centre, which many of us...

Continuing a scientific strand in our talks, Dr Olwen Grace will talk about Kew’s exciting research into succulents. How did they evolve to survive such harsh conditions? Apart from their ornamental value, they have many other potential uses, some surprising. Kew’s living succulents collection is...

Leila Jackson grows, shows, and speaks about salvias. Leila also holds the national collection of abutilons. A popular and recommended speaker, who will bring plants for...

The AGM looks forward to the next year, and reviews how we’re doing. Followed by our popular plant sale. Bring plants for other members to purchase, and find treasures from other people’s gardens. Please Note it is a 7.30 start not 7.45...

Paul Green runs GreensLeaves nursery in Newent, Glos, and is often to be seen at Rare Plant Fairs. He will give a practical demonstration of using real plants – lots of them – to make the most of our gardens at this time of year. He will have Plants for...

Clematis specialist Marcus is often seen at plant fairs. A popular speaker, he brings us the delights of scented plants and how to make the best use of them. PLANTS FOR...

Alan Edmondson will discuss the wide range of plants that thrive in shade, demonstrating this with photographs of his own garden in Lymington in the New Forest, as it has been developed over the last five...

Many of us will have heard Ray Broughton speak before.  He’s always entertaining and full of practical ideas for gardeners from his experience as a lecturer at Sparsholt College, one of England’s foremost horticultural establishments. Plants for...

Alan Power is head gardener at the National Trust’s Stourhead and will speak of its history, management, and conservation. He will also tell us about his time at Hidcote and Mount Stewart (N.Ireland), and also touch on some of his experiences as a gardener on TV and radio. Plants for...

Iain Tolhurst will describe a farmer’s experience working with bio-diversity to promote healthy pest-free crops. Iain’s farm near Mapledurham is internationally recognised for its visionary approach to sustainable methods and biodiversity. It is an extraordinary place to see. He is much in demand as a writer, speaker, and...

Blackthorn Nursery in Hampshire was transformed into a garden when the owners retired. It features alpines and other plants collected over 30 years which were once the nursery’s stock in trade. Jon Evans is closely involved with the Farnham Alpine Society. He will show us some of the garden’s beautiful and unusual plants using his own beautiful...

Christmas Social Come and be part of our Christmas social evening. Bring some food to share, enjoy drinks and light entertainment, and relax in congenial company. 7.30...

Geoff Hodge a Popular speaker on all topics horticultural, will show us how to make the most of house plants. He says: “My aim is to help gardeners get the best from their plants,” so bring your plant and gardening questions. He has plenty of hints, tips, and advice and will (we hope) solve our...

Neil Miller is head gardener of the 125-acre gardens of Hever Castle. He has a long association with the ‘mind-blowing’ hidden treasure that is Jerusalem Botanic Garden, with its 10,000 species, operating in difficult circumstances. He shares his enthusiasm with...

Lois Philipps is a teacher and agricultural adviser, specializing in organic methods. A Fellow of the Institute of Soil Science, she will talk to us about the complex and teeming world which is the basis of all our gardens: the...

Mat Rees  is head gardener at Malverleys, an exceptional new garden in Hampshire recently featured on Gardener’s World. He trained with Christopher Lloyd at Great Dixter, and at Malverleys has created something quite inspiring. Plants for...

Jake Hobson looks at various pruning techniques around the world, and how they can inspire and be applied in gardens. He trained and worked in Japan. His company, Niwaki (Japanese for ‘sculpting trees’) runs topiary courses and imports Japanese garden tools and equipment. Books and tools for sale. Plants for Sale.   ...

The AGM reviews how the club is doing and gives members the opportunity to pose questions to the Committee. It also looks forward to the forthcoming year. It is followed by our popular plant sale. Members are invited to donate plants for other members to find and purchase. Please note specially that the evening starts at 7.30 and not...

Kim Hurst has been running The Cottage Herbery in Herefordshire for 40 years.. Using fresh and dried materials, her talk will cover a selection of aromatic plants and flowers that add perfume, scents and aromas to our gardens. Their uses in history and their uses today are a delight for the senses. The Cottage Herbery focuses on natural peat-free plants for healing and fragrance, and has won many awards, including gold medals at Chelsea. They can be found at farmers' markets, plant...

  OUR VIP EVENING A feature of Reading Gardeners’ Winter Programmes has been the occasional addresses by eminent speakers from the world of horticulture. Over the years, at these V.I.P. evenings, we have hosted such gardening luminaries as Roy Lancaster, Sheila Dillon, Nigel Colborn, Alys Fowler and Chris Beardshaw. This evening's VIP speaker will be Tom Hart Dyke. Tom was on a plant hunting expedition in 2000 in the Colombian jungle when he was kidnapped. Not knowing if he...

22 February 2017 Christine Brewster is well-known locally for her creative basket-making. For many years she has been making willow baskets, and much more, with a contemporary style. Her range includes plant supports and willow...

Julie & Stuart Akkerman - Cae Hir is an RHS partner garden, near Lampeter in Wales. Still run by the Akkerman family who set it up in 1983, it has been open to the public since 1989. Julie and Stuart will tell us about its origins and development into a beautiful and imaginative garden, drawing on different...

Jon Evans - Blackthorn Nursery in Hampshire was transformed into a garden when the owners retired. It features alpines and other plants collected over 30 years which were once the nursery's stock in trade. Jon is closely involved with the Farnham Alpine Society. His illustrated talk will cover some of the beautiful and unusual plants still featured in the...

 Members' evenings have always been popular and very enjoyable but depend on members volunteering to give brief talks. Your talk can be illustrated if you like but the choice is...

Come and be part of our Christmas social evening. Bring some food and enjoy drinks and light entertainment in congenial company. Please note specially that the evening starts at 7.30 and not...

Linda Smith runs Waterside Nursery in Sharnford, Leicestershire.  Her talk with images will demonstrate how to construct an area specially designed to grow moisture loving plants, and how to select plants that will thrive wherever you may want them to grow. Chelsea Gold Medal winners 2011-15 for aquatic plants. PLANTS FOR...

GARDEN INSPIRATIONS - Photography display and competition- 2016 We would like again to invite members to share the inspiring moments of their summer outings or from their own gardens. The aim is to encourage members to record and share those special moments of: joy, happiness, tranquillity, amazement, humour etc The deadline for submission is 23rd November 2016 . Please send entries to Ray Norton at Pudding Lane Nursery, Reading Road, Arborfield, RG2 9HP or electronically at...

South Africa's western cape is a richly diverse area with a mediterranean climate, so many of its plants will grow in English gardens. But for many of them you will need to give them some encouragement: plenty of light and protection from the worst of the weather. Julian Sutton's detailed knowledge of these plants and his passion for them were obvious. He took us from Table Mountain east to Port Elizabeth, stopping to look at desirable plants in varied conditions. H...

Former director of the Oxford Botanic Garden, Dr Timothy Walker talked about the all-year-round herbaceous border, illustrated mostly with photos from the border his wife created in their former home in Oxford. Deliberately provocative ("Everybody knows there are really only five kinds of snowdrop"), his talk was full of insights and good ideas for the big audience to take away; and as usual - this was his 6th talk to Reading Gardeners - he kept us amused with his witty...

Christina Shand with her husband David spoke to Reading Gardeners captivating her 50-strong audience with the story of her garden. In 20 years Christina has created a garden in Pembrokeshire, starting from wilderness. It was the story of the development and inspiration of Dyffryn Fernant Garden. Christina's garden is a personal response to the landscape under the Preseli hills, in which it sits. She told us of how she dealt with various inhospitable environments, some of her triumphs...

Chris Lane owns and runs "The Witch Hazel Nursery" a wholesale nursery in Kent and is the owner of one of the three National Collection  for these striking plants; so showy in February when not much else is at its peak. He also grows wisteria, flowering cherries, and much more, and is the author of the RHS guide to witch hazels. (www.witchhazelnursery.com) Chris provided us with an informative evening suggesting a large number of good cultivars which was a bit overwhelming. He introduced...