LILIES - RHS Lily Group
LILIES - RHS Lily Group
LILIES - RHS Lily Group
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21st Annual Show of the Garden Club of Virginia at Ashland, and the NALS 16th<br />
Annual Show at the National Arboretum in Washington (DC), she visited many of<br />
the great names in lily growing at that time and their gardens. At the NALS show<br />
she was delighted to meet many of her correspondents – ‘a happy experience to<br />
pin faces to names’ as she put it. Some of them would later visit Quarry Wood.<br />
She ended her journey in the Californian mountains looking at rare lilies in their<br />
natural habitat. Dee recalled it as a memorable trip, full of warmth and kindness.<br />
Dee was a charming and persuasive woman, warm and effusive, affectionate<br />
to those she took to; but her outgoing nature concealed an inner strength and<br />
determination – although she did not invariably get her own way. Remarkably,<br />
during the 40 years that I knew her she always had the zest and appearance of<br />
someone ten years younger. She was an enthusiastic networker, long before<br />
that term gained general currency, and had many contacts at home and abroad<br />
– particularly in Australia, New Zealand and the USA.<br />
Dee was catapulted into the chairmanship of the <strong>Lily</strong> <strong>Group</strong> Committee in<br />
1982 during the middle of a meeting, immediately following her predecessor’s<br />
resignation. Chairing meetings was not her forte, but she proved to be adept<br />
at spotting people with suitable talents, then recruiting and motivating them<br />
to help the cause of lilies in general and the <strong>Lily</strong> <strong>Group</strong> in particular. During<br />
her chairmanship she gathered about her a small nucleus of talented and hard<br />
working Committee members to put her ideas into effect: building up the <strong>Group</strong><br />
by offering its members an extensive programme of lectures, shows and outings,<br />
attractive publications, and an internationally renowned seed distribution<br />
scheme. There were also several one-offs such as the distribution of the North<br />
lilies in 1985, and she also devised ways of improving the financial position of<br />
the <strong>Group</strong>. At <strong>Lily</strong> <strong>Group</strong> functions she was always highly visible, introducing<br />
herself and welcoming members – especially new ones.<br />
Throughout most of Mr and Mrs Simmons’ time at Quarry Wood the garden<br />
was open to visiting gardening groups. From time to time it also hosted<br />
international lily conferences and the <strong>Lily</strong> <strong>Group</strong> itself. Dee and her husband<br />
Martyn were generous hosts, and on such occasions a marquee would be erected<br />
on the spacious lawn to the south of the house where drinks and refreshments<br />
would be served. These gatherings were very popular, and guests were free to<br />
wander around the 15 acres of grounds whilst Maurice Woodgates was usually in<br />
attendance. The garden suffered terribly from the great storms of 1987 and 1990<br />
which felled many of the older trees.<br />
Dee’s later years were, inevitably, saddened by the passing of so many old<br />
friends. Her husband Martyn, who had been such a great support, died in 1999<br />
(Obituary, The Times, 21 June 1999) and Woodgates followed a few years later.<br />
Nevertheless, she continued defiantly to outface old age.<br />
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