Ballymena Garden Club agm

MEMBERS of Ballymena Garden Club met for their annual general meeting recently.

After a short business session during which the Secretary and Treasurer presented their annual reports, and Office Bearers for 2012 were elected the Chairman introduced local bee keeper, Lorraine McBride as guest speaker.

A member of the Mid-Antrim Beekeepers’ Association, Lorraine, outlined the history of beekeeping and described the role and life cycle of the queen, worker and drone in the colony.

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Members were made aware of the importance of honeybees in agriculture and horticulture as pollinators.

Great interest was shown in the products of the hive, namely honey, pollen, wax and propolis, all of which are of use to mankind.

Lorraine concluded her talk by mentioning the problems faced by beekeepers, specifically the lack of forage due to intensive agricultural practices coupled with problems associated with parasitic mites and diseases.

The speaker at the next meeting on Monday, March 5, at 7.30 pm in Houston’s Mill, Broughshane, will be Barbara Kelso, a professional garden designer from Greenisland, whose topic will be “Creative Planting in Irish Gardens”.

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Plants will be on sale at the Bring and Buy plant stall and prospective members are invited to attend.

The Club’s Annual Spring Flower Show will be held on Saturday, April 28,in Broughshane Community Centre and will be open for public viewing from 2-4pm.

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