252 September 2015 - Gryffe Advertizer

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Brighter Bridge of Weir
The local primary school kids went back after the
summer (?) break a couple of weeks ago. A few
days before they did, some of our volunteers noticed
that the footpath to the school was heavily overgrown
- not just with weeds, but brambles, too: nasty, jaggy
things and a trip hazard as well, as one of our volunteers quite recently
discovered (her fractured wrist is healing, slowly).
And so it was that they set out to clear the footway and generally tidy up the
approaches to the school.
The Group’s Secretary
was going to take ‘before
and after’ photographs,
but an unexpected work
commitment meant that
the task was started
earlier than planned, so
he only got ‘after’ pictures.
You can see one or two of
them here.
Throughout August
residents and passers-by will have seen members of Brighter Bridge of
Weir, in groups of varying
sizes, out and about weeding
here, watering there,
deadheading everywhere
else. The sharper-eyed may
also have noticed a fresher
face amongst the usual team.
We’ve been joined by Eilidh
Falconer, a local girl who is
aiming for a Saltire Award.
The local weather this
summer has meant that the
floral displays haven’t been
quite as spectacular as we’d
hoped, still, it’s been better
than nothing, wouldn’t readers
agree? We’re already thinking ahead to next year and how to get the most
out of our increasingly fickle climate. Don’t forget - if you have any thoughts
about making the village brighter, or any comment to make about our work,
you can tell us on our Facebook page or contact us through our website
www.brighterbridgeofweir.org . You can even tweet us @WeirBrighter.
Oh, and put a note in your diary to keep 24th October clear for a fun night
out. More details in the next issue.
Kilmacolm Flower Show
Saturday 5 September
The Annual Flower Show in Kilmacolm takes place on
Saturday 5 September in the New Community Centre,
doors open at 11am with prizegiving at 3.30pm.
Please come along to support the Show. If you are
exhibiting please bring your entries on Friday evening
between 6pm and 10pm. If you are coming to admire the cut flowers, the
potplants or hanging baskets, or range of prize vegetables, we look forward
to welcoming you. Also the jams and homebaking, the exquisite floral art,
and the special entries in the children’s classes and the Picture Gallery. After
the prizegiving there will be a sale of flowers and vegetables by donation at
the close of the Show at 4pm. For further details, please contact Jill Russell
(show secretary) on 01505 872393
Colourful Kilmacolm
September already! So we will have had our summer.
The weather has certainly been disappointing, but it
is surprising how well plants have coped. Each year
we try out a different combination of plants and monitor
them to see which do best. Of course, if the weather is warm
and sunny, pretty well all plants will thrive, provided they are kept watered
(not a problem this year!). This year our geraniums (strictly speaking,
pelargonium’s) performed surprisingly well, both at the park and at the
time capsule, and begonias provided a good splash of colour once they got
going. Petunias, on the other hand, missed the sun and tended to sulk –
much like us, I suppose.
There is always a silver lining however. We have had pretty well 100%
success with establishing our new plantings at the Pullman – stick them in
and let nature and the Scottish summer weather do the rest!
So, we learn from the successes and failures and plan accordingly for
future years. Talking of
planning, it will soon be
time for the big changeover
as we try to keep
some colour and
interest over the winter
months.
Have you spotted
our members deadheading,
tidying up,
weeding, planting?
Maintenance is ongoing
and helpers are
always needed. You too can join us, exercise your green fingers, meet new
people, maybe have a coffee and a chat when the work is done. If you just
want to support us as a ‘non-active’ member that’s fine too. Membership
forms can be downloaded from our website www.colourfulkilmacolm.org.uk
or you can phone Peter (01505 872448) or Diane (01505 872611). There
are also lots of photos on our website showing what we have been up to
so far.