Page 47 - br-june-2022

June 2022 June 2022

SOCIABLE GARDENING CLUB
BOOKWORMS

Our May meeting was a triumph, over 30 members
‘A Walk in the Woods’ by attended. We were fascinated by our talk by
Bill Bryson Lorraine Love on Herbal medicines. I will never look
at nettles in the same light again after she told us all
A review by the Bere Regis Sociable the good things you can do with nettles and the wonderful affects on the male
Bookworms. libido. She talked for over an hour and then had to stop while we indulged in
Herbal nibbles and tried herbal teas. Lorraine was quickly surrounded by our
‘A Walk in the Woods’ by Bill Bryson is members asking more questions and buying up all her stock. I have nettle
his description of his adventure with vinegar and nettle tea in the cupboard and an ancient herbal cold remedy
friend, Stephen Katz, to walk The containing peppermint.
Appalachian Trail in the USA.
Next month on Tuesday 7
th
The first part of our discussion was to discover that most of us, although it wasn’t a June we hope to take
book we would usually have chosen, enjoyed the read. advantage of light and
However, more than one of our small group didn’t enjoy all of it - although there weather and we are
were parts and elements they felt were enjoyable. They also appreciated the heading out to The Old
detail in the additional historical, geological, ecological and social tangents Rectory at Pulham DT2
included between the actual recount of the hike itself. 7EA. It is about a 40
minute drive but I think it
Many of us enjoyed the humour that Bryson injects into his narrative and its ability will be worth it. The
to make us ‘laugh out loud’. This was especially noticeable in his personal garden comprises of 4
commentary of buying his hiking equipment and his reliance (or lack of) on the acres of formal and
maps he had. His descriptions of the other hikers they meet on their journey were informal gardens with
also humorous at times, although it was felt that some of these descriptions should splendid views. There are
have been more detailed to add depth to the memoirs and develop fuller Yew pyramid Allees and
characters. hedges, and circular
herbaceous borders with
Bryson’s relationship with Katz, his hiking companion, was also something we summer colour. There is an
found interesting and it too led to much discussion - the times they did, and did are exuberantly planted
not walk together; their differing perspective with regard to their approach to the terrace and purple and white beds for the jubilee, Box parterres, mature trees, a
challenges they faced; the apparent wavering distance and then closeness of pond, fernery, Ha Ha, and pleached hornbeam circle. If that is not enough there
their relationship and how, ultimately, their friendship endured. are 10 acres of woodland walks. There is also a bog garden with islands awash
The ending was unexpected but satisfying and overall, we agreed that although with primulas and irises. Some plants for sale. This for the cost of £10.00 to include
it was not a ‘thrilling page-turner’ it was interesting to read and provided us with tea and cake.
more general knowledge than we expected. It has encouraged quite a few of us In order to take all this in while we have daylight we hope to meet at the garden
to increase the amount of walking or more serious hiking we do, one member at 6.30 p.m. Any questions or queries please contact me susan Stone 01929
even suggesting that she would be interested to go the Appalachian Trail herself! 472083 or email susan97stone@gmail.com
Interestingly, two of us said that we had already recommended it to our male
partners - maybe due to its more factual nature??

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