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BNCS Webletter May 2006

Another month has gone by and it is time for another letter.

Firstly let me apologise for the problems there have been with some of the links on the site recently. It was apparently due to problems with database migration, whatever that is! Hopefully by the time you read this Denis will have sorted this out. Denis is the brains behind this site and would I am sure help anyone who wanted to set up a web site.

There are a number of changes to the site.

Firstly there are two new sections, Articles and Gallery. Now that members have started writing specifically for the web site I felt it appropriate to put them in their own section. Most recent is an article by Brian Yates about his trip to Allwoods. I hope others will be inspired to put pen to paper (or preferably send electronically to the web editor). Articles can of course also be entered directly on the “Discussion Forum”. (This has had to be shortened to “Forum” on the Home page to make space for the new sections). The long awaited “Gallery” has arrived but is still under construction.

Secondly the bulky files are now in pdf (Portable Document Format). Just click on the file. To download these you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader which is a free download. I hope this makes accessing them easier.

Norman Overington has sent me details of his website. It contains a number of pages of interest to the carnation enthusiast. There is already a link from “Interested Related Sites” on our site to Peter Russells pages. However there is also a downloadable screensaver of Border Carnations and a fascinating page entitled Carnation of the Day. Do have a look.

Do share with everyone your useful hints and tips. There are sections on the Forum for you to enter these directly. Whether you grow pinks, borders, PF’s, alpines, Malmaisons or annuals share your experiences with others. And for our overseas visitors to the site why not give give us all an idea of the issues you have with Dianthus in your country.

Let me again remind you all of the two big forthcoming events; the visit to Whetmans Nursery and The Pinks Day at Wisley. I do hope as many members as possible will be supporting both. Don’t forget your BNCS tickets will admit you to Wisley for the Pinks Day and the day of the June Show.

More members have joined. They are listed on the “New Members page.”: A very warm welcome to you all.

Today I received some new plants from Newport Mills Nursery run by John Barrington. He has recently started listing Perpetual Flowering Carnations specialising in classic English, scented and exhibition varieties. It was a real pleasure. They arrived in perfect condition packed to survive the trauma of the Postal Service. But the most exciting aspect was to obtain varieties I grew years ago but lost; Joe Vernon, Valerie Ann Stringfellow, Crompton Princess and Bettys Delight to name but a few. I wish him well in his new venture and hope members find his listings useful.

It is a very busy time of year. The warm weather has resulted in a lot more time required watering dianthus plants in pots. And of course if they are drying out quickly it is probably an indication that they need potting on. It is important to continue spraying with both insecticide and fungicide. Spray before you see the red spider mite! Don’t wait for it to arrive. Look out for slug and snail damage and use slug pellets to keep them at bay.

Disbudding PF’s starts in earnest. Make sure your plants are well supported with canes and wire supports. For anyone growing annual varieties from seed this is the time to be hardening off and planting out young plants. Perhaps someone will write an article on annuals. It is an area not covered in detail in The Societies literature.

Good Luck in the forthcoming season.