Four Seasons
To keep you updated with the latest news and reviews on gardening topics, the Gardeners' Circle WA Inc. offers a magazine, 4 times a year. This magazine is called 'Four Seasons' and is free to members (AU$3.00 to non-members). An edited transcript of speakers presentations, seasonal tips and 'Jobs to do' for each month, a general events diary and information on discounts to members can be found in the magazine.
This page features some articles from the Four Seasons, edited by Lorraine Douglas, with assistance from Jacques Maissin, Ellie Collins, and Frances Docherty.
'Letters To the Editor' can be emailed to Lorraine Douglas (magazine editor) at lorraine.douglas@iinet.net.au
This page features some articles from the Four Seasons, edited by Lorraine Douglas, with assistance from Jacques Maissin, Ellie Collins, and Frances Docherty.
'Letters To the Editor' can be emailed to Lorraine Douglas (magazine editor) at lorraine.douglas@iinet.net.au
president’s perspective
Hallo everyone. Wasn’t it great to see Gardening Australia win two Logies?!
I hope our votes helped, but it’s tremendous recognition of the widespread appeal of gardening. I’m sure I’m not alone in believing that the value of gardening is seriously underrated. It is both an art and a craft, and an activity which improves not only our health and well-being, but the environment as well, no matter how small our patch.
Winter is definitely with us and we’re loving the rain, although the cold takes some getting used to. It’s wonderful to see how much colour and interest there is in our gardens at this time of year. There are always some Grevilleas and Salvias to delight us, Wattles, Kangaroo Paws, Banksia and Hardenbergia are lighting up grey days, Limonium (perennial Statice) never stops, Iboza (Nutmeg Bush) provides a seasonal delight, as do the ‘Paperwhite’ Jonquils, while many Roses are still flowering. You only need to look at our plant display table on meeting nights to sample the range of plants flowering now in members’ gardens.
During the winter I decided to visit each of our Local Groups at one of their regular meetings. We have seven groups, which collectively represent about two thirds of our membership, and I wanted to liaise with them personally, seeking their feedback and ideas. My thanks to the Group Coordinators, those attending, and the garden hosts on the day, for their warm welcome – and I enjoyed seeing ‘new’ gardens as well!
At our May meeting, Josh Byrne demonstrated the ongoing efforts to raise awareness of environmental responsibility at a home garden level, with an abridged version of public workshops being held. Although most of us are already committed and practising many of the recommended approaches, there are always things to be learned, and changes to be trialled…
In June, two of our members gave their first ever Powerpoint presentation, with Leanne Oakley on WA Orchids, and Linda Mitchell on Travels with their Austin Healy. Both were enthusiastically received, with the quality of the visuals and narratives impressing the audience. We look forward to more of our members’ contributions, even on a much more modest scale.
Then in July we had one of our regular member presenters in Deryn Thorpe delighting us with some of the beautiful gardens to be visited in Tasmania. Also, plant grower and member Denise Sorbara presented us with a fascinating plant profile on Canarina canadensis including dated photos of its development. Thank you all for the obvious effort and preparation on our behalf.
National Gardening Week is coming up in October (13th-19th), and this year we’d like to participate in some way. So, if you have anything planned or ideas of ways in which we could contribute, please let me or one of our Committee know.
That’s all folks. Keep that rain coming, and I’ll see you again soon. Jan Russell-Brown
Jan Russell-Brown
I hope our votes helped, but it’s tremendous recognition of the widespread appeal of gardening. I’m sure I’m not alone in believing that the value of gardening is seriously underrated. It is both an art and a craft, and an activity which improves not only our health and well-being, but the environment as well, no matter how small our patch.
Winter is definitely with us and we’re loving the rain, although the cold takes some getting used to. It’s wonderful to see how much colour and interest there is in our gardens at this time of year. There are always some Grevilleas and Salvias to delight us, Wattles, Kangaroo Paws, Banksia and Hardenbergia are lighting up grey days, Limonium (perennial Statice) never stops, Iboza (Nutmeg Bush) provides a seasonal delight, as do the ‘Paperwhite’ Jonquils, while many Roses are still flowering. You only need to look at our plant display table on meeting nights to sample the range of plants flowering now in members’ gardens.
During the winter I decided to visit each of our Local Groups at one of their regular meetings. We have seven groups, which collectively represent about two thirds of our membership, and I wanted to liaise with them personally, seeking their feedback and ideas. My thanks to the Group Coordinators, those attending, and the garden hosts on the day, for their warm welcome – and I enjoyed seeing ‘new’ gardens as well!
At our May meeting, Josh Byrne demonstrated the ongoing efforts to raise awareness of environmental responsibility at a home garden level, with an abridged version of public workshops being held. Although most of us are already committed and practising many of the recommended approaches, there are always things to be learned, and changes to be trialled…
In June, two of our members gave their first ever Powerpoint presentation, with Leanne Oakley on WA Orchids, and Linda Mitchell on Travels with their Austin Healy. Both were enthusiastically received, with the quality of the visuals and narratives impressing the audience. We look forward to more of our members’ contributions, even on a much more modest scale.
Then in July we had one of our regular member presenters in Deryn Thorpe delighting us with some of the beautiful gardens to be visited in Tasmania. Also, plant grower and member Denise Sorbara presented us with a fascinating plant profile on Canarina canadensis including dated photos of its development. Thank you all for the obvious effort and preparation on our behalf.
National Gardening Week is coming up in October (13th-19th), and this year we’d like to participate in some way. So, if you have anything planned or ideas of ways in which we could contribute, please let me or one of our Committee know.
That’s all folks. Keep that rain coming, and I’ll see you again soon. Jan Russell-Brown
Jan Russell-Brown