Wed 2nd April 2014 - Carisbrooke Priory.

 Mark's Photographs.

Carrie's Photographs.

Although the rain was tipping down at 09:30 on Wednesday morning, by the time we met up at The Priory it had stopped and remained dry for our GG session. It had been some 3 years since we last visited this venue but we were soon scattered across the area of the walled garden working on numerous tasks including tree / shrub trimming, weeding boarders, cleaning paths and giving the area a general tidy-up. Goodness knows how many wheel barrow loads were taken over to the composting area, so it was a good job that we had an excellent attendance of GGmers. We even had entertainment, with squirrels performing their aerial antics in the trees above our heads as we worked. Many thanks to our hosts who supplied the tea and biscuits this week, they were certainly kept busy during our tea break...!

Carrie's Nature Lesson.

This week's find - kindly identified by our Chairman Mark - is a very pretty Snake's Head Fritillary (Fritillaira Meleagris), and these very unusual looking wildflowers are the only native fritillary species in the United Kingdom.  Different shades of purple flower begin to appear in the Spring, and a closer look reveals a checked pattern like silvery scales, which can also be seen on the luminous white form. They are found in the damp, lowland meadows and pastures of Europe, including south-east England, thrive on land which has never been used for intensive agriculture, and are now quite rare. Their other names include the checkered daffodil, checkered lily, chess flower, and frog cup.  They were also once known as leper lilies and lazarus bells, as the bell-shaped flowers resembled the bells worn by lepers in the Middle Ages to announce their presence.  They can be found in a number of locations including Europe, Russia and the U.K..

Message from Mark.

The IWGG would like to thank Carisbrooke Priory  for their hospitality today and for the marvellous facilities used to host our AGM.   As you can see it is a great time of year for a visit, lovely homemade cakes too!  

We have visited this venue many times over the years.  One particular time lodges in my memory, as it was  the site of the 1st anniversary celebrations of our independent group and my leading it, back in 2006. See the photo below - note the old van too!

Many thanks to Carrie and Mark for their contributions this week.