Our summer displays have again been commented on favourably by visitors, with the hanging baskets, tubs and window boxes giving an excellent showing. It is a great shame that water cannot be piped to platforms I and 2, as we could use bedding plants along the borders as well. Unfortunately(?) we always seem to have a spell of hot weather at planting-out time and lose a number of young plants. That is if the rabbits don't get there first! But that's another story.

I must thank the members who grew various plants for us this year including marigolds, Godetia, Nemesia and Lobelia. They are all in various parts of the gardens or baskets. For those members who are interested the baskets and tubs contain many old favourites including lmpatiens, Lobelia, geraniums, fuchsias, pansies, Nepeta, Bidens, Verbena, Scaevola aemula and elegans.

The centre bed on platforms 2/3 again contains dahlias which seem to thrive here. The superb display always receives favourable comments from members visitors alike and will last until the first frosts in October.

Grass cutting continues apace by mower, strimmer and shears. What a difference it makes, though. A small band work most weeks for many, many hours to keep the site trim, usually on a weekday evening or Saturday. Please bear this in mind if you are asked to move your car for a short period at 'cutting' time. Our particular thanks to the members who donated anonymously to the mower's new and secure home. No longer will it need to be parked in the restoration building.

We are still collecting petrol coupons. especially Esso, as their new catalogue contains many useful goodies and we still need more good topsoil.

It is evident from the comments we receive from some of our visitors that the 'detail' around the station building brings back many memories, from the enamel signs to the milk chums, the chocolate machines to the luggage. We would like to arrange a small display of non-railway ephemera to bring back even more memories, and are looking for items such as tin containers, packaging, ornaments, calendars etc. Anything in fact which 'granny used to have one of those'. Please let me know if you have anything you consider suitable - it must be small enough to go in a display case, and be pre-decimal days.

As always, my thanks to all those who have helped during the year, and as always, new faces will always be welcome any Sunday, so why not come along?

Notes:
The text in this Quainton Railway Society publication was written in 1993 and so does not reflect events in the 20+ years since publication. The text and photographs are repeated verbatim from the original publication, with only a few minor grammar changes but some clarifying notes are added if deemed necessary. The photos from the original publication are provided as scans in this internet version of this long out of print publication.

Reference:
Parks & Gardens - P J Hoskings - Quainton News No. 73 - September 1993