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
As I drafted this, I began by saying how good it was to be back into our routine.
By the end of the day, we were back into lockdown! It just shows that
we need to be constantly grateful for what we can do and share, whenever
possible. We are glad, though, to see the back of summer. The devastating
bushfires which spread from Woorooloo to Gidgegannup destroyed the
home of one of our members, and of some of our members’ friends, and our
hearts go out to them. Apart from an impromptu collection at our first meeting, we can only wait until a future time when we can help with a new garden.
Our meetings for 2021 started on a high with the presentation of Life Membership to Lorraine Douglas, and you can read all about it in my article inside. Dr Paul Huisman, Curator of
the WA Herbarium, shared his enthusiasm, and stunning images, about a not so well-known area of plant life, in WA’s marine plants. He also insisted that it was developments in DNA rather than the Herbarium’s preferences that lead to plant name changes which we often find frustrating…
March saw us manage our AGM with our customary brevity, and Frances Docherty’s help. Committee member
and Pop Up Shop organiser Marguerite Moors stepped down, and all other Committee and Executive
members volunteered to stay on for another year, and were re-elected unopposed. We urgently need some more Committee members, however, to meet our constitutional requirements, not just to help out. Please consider giving us a little more of your time for a period – we really need you, and you will make long lasting new friends.
We were treated (after some heart-stopping technical issues before the meeting) to a wonderful presentation
by Kingsley Dixon on the development and rebuilding of Cypress Farm. Many of us are looking forward to seeing some of the stunning autumn colours at this rare and fascinating Waroona property.
Then in April, plantsman John Colwill enlightened us about the surprisingly wide range of WA’s daisies.
Many of these are in danger of disappearing, and John’s own efforts to breed some of them for introduc tion
into home gardens encouraged members to try some for themselves. We also had an excellent presentation on Mediterranean gardens by member Margot Tobin, illustrating with overseas and personal examples, ways to deal with these conditions, and have a garden to enjoy.
While we welcome the change in seasons, for many gardeners this summer was noteworthy for the disheartening
impact of chilli thrips on their roses. We cannot undo the damage from this summer, but we are trying to help our members with specialist advice from our speakers. In June, Lisa Passmore will be talking about natural ways to deal with a range of plant pests and diseases, and Sabrina Hahn will be including ‘future proofing our roses against chilli thrips and other sapsuckers’ in her August presentation.
In the meantime, enjoy the Autumn season. It’s my favourite time of year, with so much growth in the garden from still warm soil, little wind, bulbs to plant and seeds to sow for spring delight, and mild conditions to draw you eagerly outside. Happy gardening.
Jan Russell-Brown