'Wonderful to the weird' could well have been the response to Bob Wallis and his brilliantly illustrated talk at the August meeting of Manorbier and District Gardening Club. In fact, it was his own description of the wide range of specimens on view in his acutely observed slides. The actual response from the club members was spontaneous applause and a vote of genuine thanks from the vice-chair, Bruce Price.

Members had been well informed and entertained with a fine running commentary, incorporating a virtual world tour, related to 'Autumn in the Garden'. The journey took in plants with tongue-twisting names such as Leucojum Autumnale Oporanthum alongside the more familiar Acer.

Encounters en route included Narcissus Bulbocodium MB4.35 and Romulea Longituba Var Alticola. All delighted the eye, easier for amateurs to admire than to spell!

Frequently, Bob could recall precisely where and when a particular plant was photographed. A close-up of an exquisite, individual, yellow Alpine would be followed by a slide showing a wonderful swathe of sunshine-yellow foliage covering a complete hillside somewhere in northern Turkey. We were shown plants gardeners struggle to obtain and nurture in this country, growing wild while being nibbled by goats in more exotic locations. Other regions visited included the Himalayas, India, Romania and Greece.

When he is not speaking, travelling and winning prestigious prizes for his plants, Bob and his wife run a nursery, 'Buried Treasure' in Carmarthenshire, specialising in dwarf bulbs and Alpines with about an acre-and-a-half under cultivation.

Another guest who rapidly decided to join the club on the very same evening was Lucy Evans who came along as a representative of the Skrinkle Tenants and Residents Association. STAR is holding a gardens competition within the neighbourhood and asked the Gardening Club to provide the judges. Pat Henderson and Felicity Klein were soon asked to utilise their knowledge and experience in these roles. Details of the competition will be announced shortly, while prizes will be provided by the club.

In partnership with the local WI, a visit to the National Botanic Garden of Wales is being organised for Thursday, September 6. Cost is £10, which includes travel, entrance and a full guided tour. Lunch is available at three different eateries at the garden, offering visitors a wide choice of meals and prices. Bookings should be made now by contacting Joan Beddoes on 871860.

The next meeting of the club will be on Wednesday, September 12, in Manorbier Village Hall at 7.30 pm. The speaker will be Richard Bramley warning that 'Winter Approaches'. Why not come along? You will have a warm welcome and an enjoyable evening. You might even learn something! But don't worry, despite that subject matter, it's still summer, so enjoy it while it lasts.