Alton Horticultural Society

Pumpkins, Sunflowers and Scarecrows, opportunities for lots of gardening fun.

Plant the Pumpkin and grow your own fruit for Hallowe'en

Plant the Pumpkin is a competition for children and grown-ups to grow the heaviest pumpkin.

Pumpkin growing kits (50p) are sold from our stall at the Spring Market held in the Market Square each May. The kit includes a pot, seeds, compost and growing instructions.

The pumpkins are brought to Alton Assembly Rooms on a morning in October to be weighed to find the heaviest pumpkins. Children often beat the grown-ups!

During half term you can hollow out your pumpkin and make soup (a recipe idea is given out). The pumpkin shell can then be used for Hallowe'en.

Results 2011

Children

Holly Lynam - weight 18.00kg
Wooteys Junior School - weight 13.00kg
Hannah Arbury - weight - 12.00kg
Tom Arbury - weight 12.00kg

Grown-ups

Robin Lees - weight 13.5.kg
ALFI - weight 10.00kg
Jemma Lynam - weight 7.00kg




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Grow the Tallest Sunflower was a new challenge for 2011 in which "children and the young at heart" were invited to compete.

Two people achieved a sunflower which grew to the height of 8ft 8ins (267cms)

Anna aged 5 and "young at heart" Mary McGinty.

Well done to you both. Thank you to everyone who took part



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How would you like to make a Scarecrow?

Each year we organise a Scarecrow Competition for children of 11 years or under.
Scarecrows meet on the grass at Alton Assembly Rooms on the last Saturday in June.

There are prizes for the winners - rather special plants from Garthowen Garden Centre but everyone who joins in the fun receives something to grow.

A Scarecrow Trophy is awarded to the overall winner and is held for one year.
There are two categories

A) Scarecrow made by you, perhaps with some help from your family
B) Scarecrow made by a group i.e. your Brownie pack, Cubs, School Club.

You may need some help from a grown-up to make the Scarecrow frame but most of the work should be your own. Do not use plastic faces.
Remember that you are trying to frighten the crows so it is a good idea to have something that moves in the wind.

Scarecrows do not need to be large. If you are using clothes you have outgrown the Scarecrow will be about your size.

If you are not able to make a Scarecrow you are welcome to bring a drawing or a painting of a Scarecrow and you will be able to choose a plant to take home.

2010 Individual category winning scarecrow made by Hattie

Scarecrow made by children of St Lawrence Playgroup
Winner in the group category and holders of the Scarecrow Trophy for 2010

2011 Individual category winning scarecrow and winner of the Scarecrow Trophy was made by Evie and Daniel

Scarecrow made by children of St Lawrence Playgroup
Winner in the group category for 2011

Bumblebees

Bumblebees are large furry flying insects which visit our gardens to feed on nectar and pollen from the flowers. They are part of the same family as honeybees and wasps but they are not likely to sting you.
We can help the bumblebees by growing their favourite flowers. We are lucky because the bumblebees like flowers that are easy to grow such as
foxgloves
bluebells
crocus
lavender
sunflowers
lupins
Using the highlighted letters can you find another favourite flower - - - - - - um.?

If you watch bumblebees in your garden you will see that they do not stop at every flower. This is because they know that another bee has already taken the nectar. Bumblebees have smelly feet. After feeding they leave a smell on the plant to warn other bumblebees that the nectar has already been taken.

You can find out lots more about bumblebees if you visit the website of the Bumblebee Conservation Trust.

www.bumblebeeconsevation.org.uk


Butterflies

Gardens are important for butterflies and butterflies brighten up the garden. Plants to attract butterflies are not difficult to grow.

Buddleia, a shrub, is by far the best nectar plant for butterflies and is first favourite with 18 species.

Other flowers especially popular with butterflies are the Ice Plant (Sedum) and Red Valerian. Both these plants are among those which you can choose at the Scarecrow Competition.

Butterflies also like buttercups, daisies and dandelions.

You can find lots more about butterflies if you visit the Butterfly Conservation website.

www.butterfly-conservation.org