The December meeting of Winchester Horticultural Society had a real Christmas feel, with the interval devoted to conversation and consumption of festive fare.

Paula Harris-Allen had made the fruit- filled, decorated cake and other members brought mince pies, all washed down with seasonal cheer.

Guest speaker, Gerald Ponting, gave a beautifully photographed illustrated talk on the flowers and gardens of France. He advised on using a tripod when taking pictures so that the whole scene can be studied and unwanted parts cropped.

The first slides showed the vivid flowers in formal gardens around Orleans, while the second was of calm shades of green in attractive patterns of hedges and remarkable topiary, with beds of vegetables chosen for their contrasting colours and forms.

The third section was of a garden illustrating from tender love through to shattered love, while the fourth evoked delicate wild flowers.

Members then presented items with a seasonal theme: Edmund Hodgkinson read humorously of the problems caused by "The Greenfly", followed by Stanley Holloway's poem, "Old Sam's Christmas Pudding". Wendy Hodgkinson read the delightful "Tiger" by NZ writer, Janet Freyn, with its happy but unexplained ending.

Max Francis presented "Talking Turkeys" on the endless possibilities of leftover turkey and Pam Ayres's "Oxfordshire", a down-to-earth countdown to Christmas. Ted Ashley concluded with John Betjeman's "Christmas".

Marjorie Budd was welcomed back and a fond farewell offered to Babs Self, who will be leaving shortly to be with her family.

Competition: L. Ponting - sugar paste poinsettia 9 (certificate); M.Wilson - chutney 7; E. Hodgkinson - pot cyclamen 7.