\u00a0<\/p>\n
Remember that word?\u00a0 We like to challenge you!!!!!<\/p>\n
No-one in the Gardening Club is ever fazed by a situation!\u00a0 Read on\u2026\u2026.<\/p>\n
Cast your minds back to our usual lovely December meeting when Club members enjoy a splendid Buffet and the odd glass of wine!\u00a0 But who was the speaker this time who was going to precede the buffet??\u00a0 Well thereby lies the story\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n
Our popular booked speaker phoned on the Monday to say that his Covid test had proved positive so he had sent off the result and would know for sure the result by Wednesday lunchtime!\u00a0 Our December meeting was the very next day!\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 What to do?\u00a0 Remember my beginning?\u00a0 Nothing fazes the Gardening Club!<\/p>\n
Fortunately, one of our frequent speakers who is always warmly received agreed to stand by – just in case!\u00a0 How lucky was that?\u00a0 Yes, you have guessed – our booked speaker had Covid and needed to isolate.<\/p>\n
So instead, we enjoyed a talk from Barry Gayton – at just over 24 hours\u2019 notice – what a star!\u00a0 Barry is a favourite contributor to Radio Suffolk and Norfolk and what Barry doesn\u2019t know about gardening isn\u2019t worth knowing.<\/p>\n
He told us about some of the \u2018weird and wonderful of the plant kingdom\u2019. Here\u2019s just one or two snippets from his fascinating talk.<\/p>\n
Did you know that apple and pear seeds contain amygdalin<\/em>, a substance that releases cyanide <\/em>into the blood stream when chewed and digested. However, apple seeds in small amounts do not contain enough cyanide to cause harm. It is is better to spit out seeds to avoid any potential issues!<\/p>\n Then there is the Castor Oil plant (Ricinus communis<\/em>) grown commercially for the pharmaceutical and industrial uses of its oil and for us in landscaping.\u00a0 The plants are chiefly cultivated<\/a> in India<\/a>, China<\/a>, and Brazil<\/a>, largely as the source of castor oil<\/a>. Although the plant is the only species in its genus<\/a>, there are hundreds of natural forms and many horticultural varieties. The oil-rich seeds contain the poison<\/a> ricin<\/a>, one of the most toxic substances known, and consumption<\/a> of chewed seeds can be lethal!<\/p>\n Well, I hope that has whetted your appetite to come along\u00a0 to the Gardening Club.\u00a0 You never know what to expect next \u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.!<\/p>\n Hope to see you at the Annual Quiz on 3rd February when you sit with friends and enjoy an evening of fun, wine and nibbles and, oh yes, a very brief AGM!<\/p>\n Mary Duff<\/p>\n Chair Fowlmere & Thriplow Gardening Club<\/p>\n January 2022<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u00a0 Remember that word?\u00a0 We like to challenge you!!!!! No-one in the Gardening Club is ever fazed by a situation!\u00a0 Read on\u2026\u2026. Cast your minds back to our usual lovely December meeting when Club members enjoy a splendid Buffet and … Continue reading