From the Post Bag

JT from Bucks "It has been very worthwhile doing this course and hopefully my exam results in June wil be positve. Thank you".

JL from Europe writes of her Garden Landscape and Design Drawing course. "I loved doing the course learned a lot also about things which don't come naturaly to me and had helpful and good comments from my tutor."

RB from Berkshire - "I knew very little about horiculture before embarking on the course and now I feel I have a solid understanding of both theordtical and practical aspects of horticulture... I thought the questions and case studies scattered through the course booklets (and answers provided) were extremely helpful to reinforce the subject matter.  Also, my tutors feedback on assignments was very helpful".

FB from Manchester - "Just a few reflections at the end of my RHS Level 2 course.  I enjoyed the course and it has improved my own gardening greatly.  My alloments are looking much better...This takes me to another point.  You suggest that the RHS 2 is equivalent to a grade A/B. As a senior examiner with experience of 'A' Level, 'AS' level and GCSE and Entry level - I believe that the RHS 2 gets up to 'AS' Level.  The marking criteria that you used to mark my papers were higher than we would use of GCSE and remind me of AS level criteria.  This particularly so with the short questions."

AF from Worcestershire - I would like to add that I very much enjoyed the course and it encouraged me to delve a little deeper into one of my favourite interests.

NL-S from Shropshire wrote "I would like to reiterate how much I am enjoying this course and how sad I am on the penultimate lesson!

JP from Hampshire wrote:

Dear Oliver

I felt that I should drop you a line to let you know I took the Genetics exam last Thursday afternoon.  Happily I kept writing for the duration and feel that I should reach the required standard to pass. In the past I have attended college on a part-time basis, however this did not always work with me and so changed to Coprrespondence Course last September for this Module.

The course you provided suited my needs and I found that my studying was far more disciplined and productive.  I was able to set my timetable to my pace and in the two months prior to the exam undertook an extensive revision program.  The notes you provide and your comments/marking of my submissions were most helpful, and I am sure has greatly increased my chances of success. I have most certainly enjoyed these studies, and have learnt a great deal. In fact it has beeen a most interesting period of study. My thanks to you.

Mike Farr - tutor has written of one of his charges, that JN of Northants has achieved some very good work indeed - and illustrates the advantages of using the RHS approach - ie, the opportunity for thorough research and presentation working steadily through the topics - it is an automatic yardstick for self-motivation which meas so much in the longer term.

Christine Walkden - a tutor for quite a group of our members.

Didn't Christine do well on BBC2 in the early part of the year.  Christine has shown her passion for gardening and her great competence as a professional horticulturist and as a teacher in the private gardening arena.

I'm sure all who have seen her will have been delighted that her programmes have been different from the traditional style whihc has been of decking, great gardens and garden creations.  her gardens have been about real people and their actural gardens with their thrills and spills.  All credit to her I say.

Of flowers people and philosophy

Following Mary and my recent visit to see an elderly cousin in a nursing home far distant from here it has been hard to know how to contribute meaningfully with encouragement and support for his wife.  Recently our vicar - Reverend Sally Wheeler spoke on the 'epiphary moment' when something became quite clear and it is in this spirit that I have spoken of the good memories shared.  I do recall his mother and father speaking of their days of hardship in the same town Maldon - then more of a village - they used to grow their potatoes from the peelings.  There was real poverty and very little food in wartime England in the spring time (and yes it can be done if you cut the eye end of a bit carefully - let them dry to make a skin over the cut surface and start them like you would chit early potato "seed").

Well it has been easy to send flowers via flowers4delivery also on 0800 1383 222 and to think through the prayer our team rector Canon Roger Clifton used as the closing prayers for the week for Christian Unity United Service held in St Bartholemews lovely old church in Corsham.

Leader  May the glory of God fill our hearts, the mercy of

            God transform our lives, and the love of God heal

            our world.

All        May the road rise to meet us,

           may the wind be always on our backs,

           may the sun shine warm upon our faces,

           may the rain fall soft upon our fields,

           and until we meet again

           may God hold us in the palm of his had.

I don't often engage in religious discussion but I thought I would share these thoughts with you as Peter Mann comes to mind right now.

Peter Mann has since died and a tribute to him was given at his funeral.

Events

One of our tutors Callum Johnston whose nursery garden in Meifod, Powys, Mid Wales is open for several events in July.

Saturday 1st July

Callum Johnston

Passing Landscapes Digital Photography

Sunday 2nd July

Summer Serencade

Seasonal part songs for the open air

www.tanyllyn.the-nursery.co.uk for more details and directions

This was passed on to me but not quite sure where it came from.  I hope you agree.

The computer's swallowed grandma

Yes, hoestly it's true.

She pressed "Control" and "Enter"

And disappeared from view

It's devoured her completely

The thought just makes me squirm

May be she's caught a virus

Or been eaten by a worm

I've searched through the recycle bin

And files of every kind

I've even used the internet

But nothing did I find

In desperation I asked Jeeves

My searches to refine

The reply from him was negative

Not a thing was found "online"

So, if inside your "inbox"

My Grandma you should see,

Please "scan", "copy", and "paste" her

In an email back to me.