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Great Yarmouth

Garden Lovers 2025

18 February 2025: Pelargoniums Explained - Ken Abel

Award-winning Pelargonium grower, Ken, showed us just some of the stunning variety of plants he has grown ranging from Standard Pelargonium to a Bonsai Pelargonium

Ken also passed on a huge amount of hints and tips on how we can grown bigger and better plants ourselves.

18 March 2025: Norfolk Butterfly Conservation - Alan Dawson

Looking after the insect life in our garden has become a key concern for anyone who grows flowers and vegetables, so we are very much looking forward to hearing what we can do to attract moths and butterflies to our garden.

There are currently 37 species in Norfolk after the discovery of the Purple Emperor.  Most of these butterflies are widespread, but others are restricted to certain habitats and locations.

15 April 2025 - Easter Tea & Plant Swap

Here are just some of the plants that members brought along to exchange at this popular annual event.

Several ladies sported gorgeous Easter Bonnets and the afternoon was rounded off with a very tasty tea.

Thank you to Terry and Maggie for arranging it and to all those who helped. Go to the Gallery page to see more images


20 May 2025 - The History of Tea and Coffee - Pat and Philip Alker

We all take for granted our daily fix of tea or coffee but do we ever spare a thought for where our favourite hot drinks originate or the journey they have undertaken to arrive in a mug on our breakfast table?

Join us on Tuesday when Pat and Philip will trace the roots of these iconic beverages.

17 June 2025 - Bressingham Gardens and Steam Museum

Viv Sprason organised a wonderful coach trip to Bressingham. It was a glorious summer's day as we all boarded the bus.

The gardens were breath-taking and many of the plants were available to buy in the adjoining garden centre. Huge hangers housed several steam engines and a Dad's Army Exhibition brought a smile to everyone's face. See a selection of photos in the Gallery

15 July 2025 - Hostas - Ken Abel

Ken delivered a well informed talk all about propagating and caring for this striking architectural plant, illustrated with many of his 500+ plants.

We saw plants with leaves as small as your thumb to enormous leaves bigger than a man's hand and in every green you can imagine. From growing a plant from seed to dividing your favourite Hosta, Ken gave us all we needed to know to have a go ourselves.

I wonder if anyone will bring a Hosta to next month's Summer Fair?

Summer Fair and competition

What a lovely afternoon. The quality of the produce was outstanding and gave judges, Pam Butcher and Wendy Styles, a very difficult task.

Plump tomatoes vied with beautiful blooms and carrots came head to head with beetroot but after much cogitation, the results are in and can be seen below. Well done to everyone who entered and congratulations to all the winners.

The first pictures are on the Gallery page

Garden Lovers Group Summer Fair Produce Competition Winners

Best in ShowLynda Hands and Grace Edwards
People's ChoiceSue Stannard
3 stems cut garden flowersLynda Hands
Single RoseJohn Knowles
Chrysanthemums or DahliasLynda Hands
Small vase of wild flowersMargaret Bond
Flowering pot plantJohn Knowles
Cactus or SucculentChris Knowles
Trees and shrubsJean Grist
TomatoesGeoffrey Graves
BeansLynda Hands
Longest Runner BeanSue Stannard
Fruit Plate PieMonica Graves
Pickled OnionsGrace Edwards
ChutneyJohn Knowles
Marrow/CourgettesJohn Watson
LeeksGrace Edwards
OnionsJohn Muir
Root VegetablesGrace Edwards
Three ApplesGrace Edwards
Three PlumsGrace Edwards
Three PearsJulia Langridge
Plate of soft fruitJohn Muir
Fruit CakeLynda Hands
Sponge CakeLynda Hands
Jams and MarmaladesMonica Graves
Best garden photographJo Graystone
Best garden plant photographGeoffrey Graves
CucumberMaggie Salmon

16 September 2025 - Plants on the Isles of Scilly - Tony Brown

Tony gave a fascinating talk on all manner of wildlife and plants that live and grow on the Isles of Scilly.

Illustrated with many of his wonderful photographs, we learnt about marine creatures in rock pools, many different birds including a Golden Oreole that, though rare, can be seen on the islands. The landscape itself was stunning and so different from our coast.

St. George's Theatre Cafe is a great venue, warm, airy and very comfortable.

21 October 2025 - The Orchids of Costa Rica and Kew Gardens Orchid Festival - Pat Alker

Tracing the day from sunrise to sunset, we saw a host of fabulous orchids that enrich Costa Rica.

Orchids that ranged every colour of the rainbow and in habitats as diverse as the Caribbean coast to the inland rainforests the variety is breathtaking.

18 November 2025 - Fuchsia Video

We all enjoyed a lovely video explaining everything you need to know to grow this beautiful plant.

From growing from seed, taking and caring for cuttings and creating a wonderful standard fuchsia, this video was exceptional.

December 2025 Christmas Party

Huge thank you to Maggie Salmon and Terry Wing for organising a great Christmas party, and thank you Terry for this great collage of all the fun of the day.

After a riotous sprout and spoon race and a great deal of fun with a Mr and Mrs Santa 'poke your head through' curtain we all enjoyed a festive tea, raffle and Secret Santa.