SRGC Discussion Weekend 2011- Dumfries 23rd to 25th September

[annew]

Thanks for the pictures of the Garden of Cosmic Speculation - I've wanted to see that for a long time. How fantastic to have the designer to explain it. The gardener in me, however, wants to know how on earth they manage to mow the grass on the twiddly bits?

[SusanS]

lawn mower on a rope? 

Darren did suggest trained rabbits 

[SueG]

I'd pay good money to watch the training of the rabbits!

Thanks for the pics

[ChrisB]

Maggi gave us a very entertaining talk about the forum and its inhabitants, laced generously with images of cakes that have been made by forumists over the years.  If you are reading this and your ears were burning on Sunday, that is why.  It has long been the tradition of the SRGC host to present speakers with a gift of the alcoholic kind, but in the case of Maggi, this was awarded to our beloved moderator instead.  Well done Maggi, you covered this forum with your love and inspiration and I'm sure those amongst the crowd are now more curious than ever about what we get up to here, maybe they'll even log on to find out.  I sure hope so.

[annew]

I'd pay good money to watch the training of the rabbits!

Thanks for the pics

[Darren]

I note my beloved has changed her avatar back to the bumblebee now that the discussion weekend is over and she no longer feels she needs to be recognisable 

[IRG ED Team]

This plant featured in a couple of talks at the DWE....





It is the parasitic plant Phelypaea tournefortii:  photos by Philip MacDougal, and it's cousins are the subject of Cliff Booker's article in the new IRG #21, online tomorrow!
see more here : http://www.srgc.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=7893.0  

[Maggi Young]

Yesterday I heard from Glassford Sprunt, who, having recently undergone hip-replacement surgery, missed his first SRGC Discussion Weekend in over thirty years. He managed, nevertheless, to get the printing of the programmes, badges and so on done and sent to the Reivers for the event.

Glassford works for the Club in so many ways it is more than remarkable, it is quite wonderful.  He compiles the Index for the Journal, the Rock Garden and for the International Rock Gardener, for instance... and where would we all be without those?

Back to Glassford's message to me, which I append below......

"Hello there Maggi!
 
I hear that all went well at the DWE.  I was delighted to receive a "Get Well" card from delegates.  I did not expect such a consideration.  I understand from Jean that some of the membership had noted my absence.  I was thinking of you all over the weekend.
 
It is now 4 weeks today since my operation and progress has been slow.  I feel that I am beginning to make progress at last.

I would like to record my thanks to all the signatories of the card. Perhaps you could find a space somewhere for this to be done, as writing to all is manifestly impossible.  

Best wishes,          

Glassford"


I do not doubt that many of you reading this would also  like to send your best wishes to Glassford for a continued recovery to full health.

[ChrisB]

We loved sending you the card Glassford, hope you are fighting fit very soon.xxxxx Christine B.

[Liz Mills]

I've just seen the recent Discussion Weekend posts and want to say 'thank you' to Susan for posting all the photos of the Garden of Cosmic Speculation.  I found the Garden totally mind-blowing and awe-inspiring and felt so privileged to have been allowed to visit it with a small group rather than with the hordes on the only Open Day in the year.  I loved best the sweeping curves of the grass banks round the water garden from the little hill (can't remember what Susan called this area) and would love to be able to go back again and just wander and try to understand more of what had been in Charles Jencks' mind when he conceived the various parts of the Garden.

His gardener who showed us much of the garden was also amazing for he deserves much of the credit for bringing to life the ideas in a practical sense.  He had been a traditional gardener on the estate providing fruit, vegetables and flowers for the 'big house' and seems to have made the transition to a landscape art gardener with remarkable ease.  All the maintenance work ( massive amount of grass cutting and hedge trimming along with other more traditional work) is done by himself with the aid of 3 others.

Lastly, Charles Jencks (an architect by profession I think) is also the co-founder of the Maggies Centres that many of you will know about.  His first wife, Maggie, died of cancer in 1995 (I think) and they had discussed the idea of how cancer sufferers would benefit from having access to a beautiful environment.  What a fitting memorial he has created to her and what an achievement on his part.  A truly remarkable man.

[ichristie]

Hello Glassford we missed you at the DWE and look froward to seeing you hale and healthy soon i will buy you a dram when possible just to kill any germs left after the op.  cheers Ian the Christie kind and Ann.

[angie]

Just a lovely picture of a lovely couple.
Ger & Mariet.

This was my first SRGC discussion weekend, just thinking I have a long way to catch up to Glassford Sprunt. Over thirty years  no wonder he was missed. How many years has this been going on ?

Angie

[Roma]

I only took one picture in Dumfries  -  specially for Maggi.  This Westie was guarding the door of the B&B where I was staying.

[ChrisB]

Angie,  hope you'll be coming to more now you have a taste for them.....

[angie]

Chris see you next year. Yes there will be no stopping me now. Really enjoyed meeting you. At least with the forum we get to keep in contact everyday if we want. When I emailed Ger to place a order he replied by saying is this the Angie that is on the forum nearly everyday. There aren't many days that I miss the the forum. Where else can we make friends so easy and all over the world and speak to them anytime, night or day, great isn't it 

Angie