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
president’s perspective
Hallo everyone.
Who could have imagined we’d tire of rainy days? At least we’re all old
enough to remember very wet winters, but there hasn’t been one like this for
at least 20 years. And before the rain, it was unusually cold. So we’ve had
lots of excuses not to do much in the garden.
Our meetings, though, have been busy as usual. In May, guest speaker John
Viska from the Australian Garden History Society gave us a fascinating snap-
shot of early Perth gardens and their development from purely productive to
gardens for pleasure. Deryn Thorpe continued the historical theme with some plant profiles of ‘oldies but goodies’ from her own garden.
The beginning of May had also seen us participate in the Perth Garden Festival, deferred from its earlier April date, at the new venue of Langley Park. While the venue and our location lacked appeal, the weather was kinder than forecast and our helpers were kept very busy chatting to the public and encour- aging potential members. Our current membership is almost 300, with more than 20 new members since the start of the year. We love seeing new faces, as well as all the familiar ones! Special thanks to Merilyn Ide who has volunteered to take on the role of Pop Up Shop Coordinator for the rest of this year.
It was an exceptionally cold night for our June meeting but the hall was buzzing with lots of people when Lisa Passmore gave us a helpful insight into managing weeds, pests and diseases by natural means, in her presentation, while Fran Kinninmonth explained traditional features of Chinese gardens in her comprehensive talk.
Our July meeting was an activity night, with lots of learning and sharing all about plants from our own gardens (with a few questions and choccies thrown in). Visitors and members alike seemed to relish the opportunity to talk about plants with a smaller group – and interact with others new to them. A special thank you to Jacques Maissin and Anita Emery for their impressive profiles of some rare specimens.
In my own garden I’ve avoided the devastating chilli thrips but I’ve had a plague of grasshoppers munching their way through the garden (I can even hear them move when I walk nearby!), as well as rats eating most of my passionfruit – both for the first time ever. Fortunately, poppies, Pentas, Poinsettias, Osteospermums, ivy geraniums, Iboza (Nutmeg Bush) and late roses are all providing colour to look at from inside. And there are always some Salvias flowering…
So stay warm, and dry if you can, enjoy your winter garden, and we’ll look forward to spring. In the meantime, I always look forward to seeing you at our meetings.
Jan Russell-Brown