SPEAKER for the April meeting was Geoff Oke, who gave an informative talk entitled Fuschias are Fun.

His passion for the plants began 25 years ago when he bought two from a garden centre.

He became a horticulturist in Surrey and has been growing fuschias for many years and is now a judge for the Fuschia Society, giving lectures and showing plants at the Malvern Show and other venues.

Fuschias are native to Mexico, South America and New Zealand.

In Mexico and South America, they grow on the mountainside in nooks and crannies in the rocks with very little soil to sustain them.

There are now 25,000 different varieties available.

He went on to give useful tips on cultivation, pruning and feeding and also on pests and diseases and how to cope with them.

The club went on a visit to Kew Gardens to see the annual orchid show. The orchids were absolutely fantastic, with so many different varieties and colours and some with beautiful perfume.

It was a very enjoyable day out for everyone who took part.

The speaker next month will be Duncan Coombs with The Pruning of Shrubs and their Aftercare. Meetings are held at the village hall, Alcester Road, Wythall, on the first Wednesday of every month at 7.30pm. Visitors welcome.