Flower Club, March 2023, -Lloyds Flower farm

Ashton Hayes and Tarvin Flower Club meeting, March 2023 – Lloyds Flower Farm

(Click on the images to enlarge.)
The enthusiasm of Diane Lloyd infected us all as she told us of her project. Lloyd's Flower Farm is a relatively new venture which is the culmination of a love of flowers and a great deal of very hard work. Friends and family have all helped to create a garden out of a very overgrown field.

After much research Diane and her husband have found that their site in Tarporley is the walled kitchen garden of the now demolished Arderne Hall. The walled garden was started round about 1900 but was not demolished in 1958 with the hall. They found evidence of some shrubs and plants but the wall could not be seen for overgrown brambles.

The plot when unearthed contained, a 1971 caravan, a pit, an old greenhouse, 2 apple trees, a badger sett, foxes, rabbits and squirrels which ruined the tulips. There is no water or power supply but they have still managed to produce an environmentally friendly garden which provides enough flowers to be sold on a monthly basis at Tarporley market and all done on a limited budget.

Diane gave us her tip for long lasting flowers. After cutting place the flowers overnight in water up to their necks and once in a vase change the water regularly. There is much research and experimentation going into this project and with the additional hard work it is starting to prosper. The Little Angels gift shop in Tarvin is an outlet for some of the flowers in the summer.

6 lucky people went away with a bunch of flowers won in the raffle. Merryn made lovely cake as a Mother's Day treat and we all enjoyed a great evening.

The April meeting will be on the 12th in the Edna Rose room when Louise Jones, our Cheshire Chairman will demonstrate. Visitors are always welcome.

The pictures were provided by Diane.