The Cornwall Garden Society’s (CGS) November lectures will be delivered by Christine Skelmersdale VMH who is a well-known lecturer and has been an enthusiastic gardener since childhood.

She has recently retired after 52 years of running Broadleigh Gardens in Taunton, which specialised in smaller bulbs, iris and South African plants.

Christine exhibited for 40 years at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. In 2009, she was presented with the Victoria Medal of Honour (VMH) – the RHS’s highest award for services to horticulture.

She is a passionate photographer of plants in the wild, in pursuit of which she has travelled extensively.

In her talks, Christine will reveal why South African bulbs are so good for summer colour and how the Atacama Desert springs into life with amazing displays of annuals when it rains once every seven years.

Celebrating the South: The Wonderful South African Legacy will be Christine’s subject on Tuesday 11th November at 7.30pm at The Alverton in Truro and on Wednesday 12th November at 2.30pm at St Mellion International Resort in Saltash.

These lectures are free for CGS members. Non-members are welcome to attend to find out more about the Society and donations are gratefully received.

The Cornwall Garden Society is a charity that exists to encourage and improve the science, art and practice of horticulture in all its branches; share knowledge about good gardening principles and Cornwall’s rich garden heritage, and promote, conserve, protect and study the natural environment, historic gardens and designed landscapes in Cornwall. The Society is affiliated to The Royal Horticultural Society and The Gardens Trust.

To become a member of the CGS, please visit www.cornwallgardensociety.org.uk/join/

You can also follow @CornwallGardenSociety on Instagram, Facebook and Threads.