Next weekend, Saturday 11th – Sunday 12th August is my last open day for Open Gardens Australia this year (click on the link if you want details).
Here are the 170 productive plants currently on the August menu at ‘Bellis’, my home.
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Almost 1,700 people visited my garden last weekend. And what a very friendly, gentle, respectful and very inquisitive mob they all were.
I found the first visitor snoozing in her car as the dawn mist was rising. People arrived gradually at first, but as Brisbane turned on one of its magical autumn days, things began to bustle.
Caterpillars abound and beetles are in the mood for love…it must be Crematoria!
The first koel of summer has called, the first mosquito has bitten and the first dust storm has sprinkled Brisbane red ochre. While I’m out there watering, counting every drop as it falls onto the crisped ground, thunderstorm clouds are full of promise yet lacking in rain. It’s the first day of crematoria, south east Queensland’s flexible new season, that bridges that rigid, neat European concept of spring and summer.
Clare, a budding young gardener, turned up at the Gardening Australia expo early this morning for the live talkback broadcast. I hope my suggestions help her bean seedling thrive.
So Clare, if you read this, thanks for the picture and poem – they made my day 
Happy gardening!
Jerry Coleby-Williams
19th April 2008
The Gardening Australia expo, Brisbane, was a big success. Better plants, better displays and keen gardeners determined to succeed, whatever drought may bring. We were there too, mostly at ‘Jerry’s Bellis garden’ display.
I’d like to say a big thank you to Expertise Events – to Gary, Dawn, Matt and Rudi – the team who made the expo work. Expertise sponsored the ‘Bellis’ display. Thanks guys for your timely help and support in getting things right.
It’s taken me two hours to answer the questions you’ve sent via our website. Continue Reading →
The second SPROUTS Awards was held at The Point Pre-school, Oyster Bay, Sydney on Wednesday 28th February. The SPROUTS Awards highlight examples of sustainable early childhood services.
The winning entry was The Point Pre-school and the award was made for their holistic approach to environmental projects at the centre. The kids, teachers and their Director, Catherine Lee, plus a host of parents, local indigenous leaders and educators and their local MP created a lively event.
Who would have thought that Auntie’s long-running, bargain-basement gardening show would outlive and outperform the ‘Burke’s Backyard’ tv show and thrive as the ‘Sydney in Bloom’ expo folded?
Drought has so far claimed over 11,000 jobs in horticulture in NSW alone. A water state of emergency has been declared in SE Qld. Petrol prices and interest rates are rising and discretionary spending by consumers is declining.
Is there a drought, or is it just a drought of leadership?
Who can you trust? Continue Reading →
