The Enchanted Garden, Brisbane

As the sun goes down and the evening settles in, Roma Street Parkland’s Enchanted Garden springs to life. From 8-17 December, the Spectacle Garden in Roma Street Parklands will be adorned with twinkling lights, beguiling decorations and mellow music – meander through, enjoying a festive feast for the senses.

Summer Vegie Gardening Talk

To celebrate National Gardening Week in Australia, the Friends invite all members & guides to a morning with Arno King who will give a talk on Summer Vegie Gardening.

Arno, a Registered Horticulturist and Registered Landscape Architect, will talk about:

How to prepare the vegetable garden to maximise summer production;
The importance of seasonal produce;
The right vegies and right varieties to suit the season;
Top crops to grow over the summer;
Seasonal issues to address;
followed by a Q & A session.

 

Where: Kitchen Garden at Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Mt Coot-tha

When: 8 October 2017, 10am to 12 noon – come at 9.30am for a cuppa.

Cost: Tickets $5.00 for Friends and Guides
Tickets collected at venue

Bookings: info@fbbgsa.org.au

Contact: Julie Lumsdale 0455 512 302

Vegies in pots will be available to purchase on the day.
All proceeds go The Friends to support the various projects and activities

 

Gardening on a budget workshop, Brisbane

Join us in Kate’s garden to learn about gardening on a budget. This 2 hour workshop will cover lots of garden basics, but importantly how to prioritise limited garden spending. Topics covered will include:
•  Soil preparation
•  plant selection
•  where and how to buy plants
•  basic design and layout of the garden
•  reusing and repurposing materials
•  basic propagation

This workshop is perfectly suited to gardening beginners, or anyone wanting to stretch their gardening dollars further. Kate’s garden features many reused and repurposed items, and cheaply sourced plants which have been used together to create a wonderful and rewarding garden with very little financial investment.
Located at 49 Arras St Yeronga

Pruning and propagating, Brisbane

Many gardeners tell me they are afraid to prune and have no idea how to propagate. This workshop is for you! This 2 hour workshop will cover pruning of perennials and shrubs – and will include natives like grevilleas which can be tricky.
We will then look at propagating – by cuttings, division and seed. All participants will have at leave with pots of cuttings (from Kate’s garden!) and will be ready to fill their gardens with plants they have propagated themselves!

Cost $45 includes afternoon tea.

Bookings essential as numbers are limited. To book call or text on 0448 460 037, or email thegardenerswall@westnet.com.au

Ipswich Home Gardener’s Expo

The Ipswich Home Gardener’s Expo is on Saturday 26 August 2017 at the complex located between Eileen and Green Streets on Glebe Road, Booval, Ipswich, from 8:30 am and 3:00 pm. Cost $5.00 adults,children under 12 years free.

There will be over 70 stalls with many plant stalls, garden tools, garden products and ornaments, craft, bark painting, pots and hangers, and much more. A Plant Crèche is on site to look after your plants and a ATM will be available should you require more funds.

In the Speaker’s Forum this year, our guest speakers are Jerry-Coleby Williams, Noel Burdette, Claire Bickle and Paul Plant.

Plant Fair Noosa Botanic Gardens

Plant Sales – Garden Guest Speakers – Classic Cars – Food – Fun
The Friends of Noosa Botanic Gardens welcome everyone to a Father’s Day celebration as part of the Noosa Botanic Gardens Plant Fair 2017.

A number of dedicated plant sellers will be at this event to offer you:

  • collectable rare plants
  • natives for the garden and habitat
  • tropical exotics
  • edible herbs, vegetables and fruit trees

Garden presentations with Guest Speakers:
10am – Growing bromeliads
11am – Orchids
12pm – Home-made organic pest control
1pm – Composting – what to add and not to add
2pm – Propagation – how to make stem cuttings
Support the Botanic Gardens by attending this event. Sales from the Friends stall will be invested back into the gardens.

For Dad’s there will be vintage classic cars and lots of other interesting items at the event.

Entrance is FREE

National Tree Day, Australia

National Tree Day is when we celebrate our lifelong relationship with trees. Nature elevates the human spirit. It ignites passion, inspiration, creativity and purpose. And it’s the driving force behind why more than a quarter of a million people participate in National Tree Day each year.

There’s no better time to bare your heart and soil than National Tree Day. We want everyone to know the inspiration that nature can bring.

Find a National Tree Day event near you HERE

Arno King at Queensland Garden Expo

Here subtropical plant expert Arno King talk on a range of subjects at the Queensland Garden Expo. Arno is a landscape architect, horticulturist, garden writer, GardenDrum author, and experienced presenter who works and gardens in subtropical SE Queensland.

Arno’s talks are all free after show entry.

Friday 7 July
10am – garden travel in Singapore and Japan. (Jacaranda Stage)
1pm – Fun with foliage. Subtropical foliage provides dramatic colour, varied
texture and a variety of shapes to be used in the garden. Learn about the
diversity of plants available and get ideas on how to combine them. (Jacaranda Stage)

Saturday 8 July
10am – Japan and China – how garden travel can provide inspiration for your own garden. (Jacaranda Stage)
11.15am – Perennial subtropical vegetables – the easy option for the beginner and time poor gardener. (Kitchen Garden Stage)

Sunday 9 July
10am – garden travel in Singapore and Japan. (Jacaranda Stage)
12pm – Exotic tropical flowers. Some of the most beautiful flowering plants in the world thrive in the subtropical garden. Orchids, gingers, heliconias, anthuriums and bromeliads provide colour and interest. Learn how to incorporate them in your garden. (Banksia Stage)

Recycled Garden Art workshop, Brisbane

Recycled Garden Art. This one will be from 9am to 1pm, and will include a light lunch. Cost $90. Places at this one will be limited so book early. We will have a creative time designing garden art from junk or old objects. Many materials will be supplied but you are also encouraged to BYO some favourite bits to turn into art. We will also have tools and a handy man on site to help us turn our ideas into an art piece to take home.

Bookings are essential – contact Kate on 0448 460 037 or thegardenerswall@westnet.com.au

Weed Feast! Brisbane

Weed Feast! This will be a lunch time event, 11.30am – 2pm. The menu will include dishes suitable for all level of cooks from beginner to advanced, and will provide options for vegans and vegetarians as well as meat and dairy lovers. There are only 6 places available per workshop! Cost is $85pp if you have not done the weed workshop, or $75pp if you have. Bookings are essential by 8 November – contact Kate on 0448 460 037 or thegardenerswall@westnet.com.au

‘Weeds – from foe to friend’ workshop, Brisbane

Weeds from foe to friend. For those who missed the last workshop or for those who want to delve further into the wonderful world of weeds – how to use them, eat them, compost them, use them as soil indicators, eradicate them without poisons, and including a discussion of specific weeds – bring one from your garden you would like to know more about.

Bookings are essential – contact Kate on 0448 460 037 or thegardenerswall@westnet.com.au

 

Sustainable gardening for lazy gardeners Level 2, Brisbane

Sustainable gardening for the lazy gardener level 2. While the Level 1 workshop is not a prerequisite it is helpful. This workshop will delve much deeper into gardening in harmony with nature to create not only a very beautiful garden, but also one in which nature does the hard work for you, so you have more time to enjoy it.
We will discuss plant health and when, how and even if we should intervene, we will look at the important role tiny critters play in the garden and also look at making our garden friendly for larger forms of wildlife – including ourselves.
As usual this workshop will cost $45, and will include afternoon tea and a free plant from June’s Home Grown Plants.

Bookings are essential – contact Kate on 0448 460 037 or thegardenerswall@westnet.com.au

Authentic Zen Garden, Brisbane

Set against a backdrop of 470 hectares of Australian koala bushland, this authentic Japanese Zen Garden in Springwood, south of Brisbane will open for the first time to the public.
Designed by Tokyo-based master landscaper Tamon Yamaguchi, the Zen Garden cost $500,000 to complete and showcases a magnificent display of plants including Sango Kaku (Acer Palmatum), Trident Maple, Tropical Birch , Crape Myrtle, Scarlet Maple, Eumundi, White Oak, Chinese Elm, Weeping Willow, Banbusa Chungii and more.

Free entry, open 10am to 3pm.

Gardens of Hampton, Qld

Gardens of Hampton – visit 3 magnificent Queensland country gardens featuring crab apple walk, old fashioned roses, massed perennials, mature trees, clipped camellias, wisteria arch, fruit trees, vegetable gardens and persimmons ripe and ready to harvest! Open from 9am to 5pm both Saturday 27 May and Sunday 28 May 2017. Entry $5 per garden (U18 free) at the gate.

James and Barbara McGeogh
Emaho Trees
507 Ravensbourne Dip Road via Tessman Road, Hampton

Trish and Adrian Allan
Blue Hills Garden
Deeth Road, Crows Nest

Glennys and Col Seccombe
Secca’s Valley
Palmtree Road, Hampton

Hampton is an easy 1 hour 50 minute drive west of Brisbane city, via Toowoomba.

Lindmar Open Garden & Plant Lovers Fair

Visit the beautiful acreage garden of Lindmar Garden, browse the many stallholders selling rare plants, garden products, tools, garden furniture, garden art, heritage seeds, birdhouses and native beehives. Talks by guest speakers. Light refreshments and sausage sizzle available for sale.

130 Blewers Road, Morayfield (Morayfield is only 50 minutes drive north of Brisbane city.)

Entry $7 (U18 free)

 

Esk Garden & Lifestyle Fair, Qld

A real country garden fair with something for everyone! Plant stalls, guest speakers featuring Noel Burdette, scarecrow contest, delicious food, free off-street parking.

Venue: Old Esk Railway Station, Pipeliner Park, Esk-Hampton Road, Esk, Queensland. Only a one and a half hour drive west from Brisbane city.

Cost: Entry by gold coin donation.

Garden Releaf

Independent garden centres across Australia will be holding Garden Releaf Day 2017 on Sunday March 19. Amongst other things there will be loads of fun, COLOUR themed activities and focusing on the benefits of plants and gardens to enrich our lives. Garden centres will be exploding with beautiful plants and informative displays.

Established in 2014 by Garden Centres Australia (GCA) Garden Releaf is an innovative program to help people understand the benefits that; spending time in a garden, being surrounded by living plants and enjoying healthy fresh produce can have on a person’s health and wellbeing. The program aims to provide the community with ideas and inspiration, information and events through its supporting Independent Garden Centres about how they can get involved with immersing themselves in plants and gardens; whether they are apartment dwellers, city block residents or on the land. The Garden Releaf program also focuses on raising money to support selected charities, such as beyondblue

Check out the program at your local independent nursery HERE

Subtropical Cottage Gardening Level II workshop, Brisbane

Workshop: Subtropical Cottage Gardening Level IIThis workshop carries on from the first Subtropical Cottage Gardening workshop and will delve deeper into cottage gardening and will include much more plant information including edible and medicinal plants in the cottage garden, and more design ideas. 2 hour workshop, 1pm-3pm, $45, booking essential

Workshop: Recycled Garden Art, Brisbane

Workshop: Recycled Garden Art. This is for those wishing to be eco friendly and those just wanting to make gardening easier – let nature do the hard work for you. Covers soil care, water wise gardening, reducing chemicals and fertilisers and plant choices. 4 hour workshop, 9am-1pm. $90 (includes lunch). Booking essential, limited places.

Weeds: from foe to friend workshop, Brisbane

Workshop: Weeds from foe to friend. For those who missed it last time or for those who want to delve further into the wonderful world of weeds – how to use them, eat them, compost them, use them as soil indicators, eradicate them without poisons, and including a discussion of specific weeds – bring one from your garden you would like to know more about. Cost $45 including afternoon tea and a free (non-weed!) plant from June’s Home Grown Plants

Subtropical Cottage Gardening workshop, Brisbane

Workshop: Subtropical Cottage Gardening. What is a cottage garden and why do we want one, why they are a great garden style for Brisbane, cottage garden design and plants which achieve this design BUT which suit our climate. Spend an afternoon in Kate’s cottage garden learning how to create a beautiful and easy care cottage garden in the subtropics. Cost is $45/person and includes afternoon tea and a free plant from June’s Home Grown Plants.
Bookings are essential as numbers are limited. Confirm your booking by calling or texting Kate on 0448 460 037 or by email thegardenerswall@westnet.com.au

Gardening on a Budget

Workshop: Gardening on a budget. Learn from Kate Wall how to save money and what not to cut costs on, propagating, and how to know what you need and don’t need to buy to have a great garden, and will include money saving garden design ideas. 2 hour workshop, 1pm-3pm. $45. Booking essential

Ipswich Garden & Plant Expo

Ipswich Garden & Plant Expo is a tropical and subtropical plant lovers paradise, with over 100 plant stalls selling all types of plants, local horticulture experts, guest speakers, food stalls, entertainment, organic and edible gardening. Free parking. $10 entry, $8 concession, under 15 free. Only a 35 minute drive from Brisbane!

Gardening on the Edge, Maleny, Qld

Visit six privately-owned gardens in the scenic hills behind Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. Free entry to garden market, specialist plant stalls and food available. Garden Club produce and plant stall.

Six open gardens including the historic Pattemore House. $20 for 6 gardens, $12.00 for 3 garden and $5.00 for 1 garden. Tickets available at Maleny Showgrounds and at the gardens. Enquiries to Dot – 5445 7795, Marnie 0428 669 990 or gardenontheedge@gmail.com

Maleny Showgrounds, 13 Maleny-Stanley River Road, Maleny, Queensland 4552. Only a 1.5 hour drive from Brisbane city

Giving Garden open in SEQ

Ian and Judy Wintle are once again opening the Giving Garden, their beautiful subtropical garden in Birkdale (east of Brisbane city) in South East Queensland. There will also be unusual and rare plants for sale and refreshments provided by the local Lions Club. The garden is open to raise funds for Lions Club charities supporting disabled children.

The Giving Garden is known for its collections of beehive gingers, orchids, costus and bromeliads as well as stunning layout with winding paths and views.

The Giving Garden is open at 5 Carlton Court, Birkdale, 4159, Queensland, on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 November, 2016, from 9am to 4.30pm. $7 adults, children free.

Verge Gardening

‘Verge Gardening’ covers safety issues, soil preparation, appropriate plant choices, edible verge gardens, and caring for a verge garden. Join Kate Wall, garden writer, consulting gardener, and biologist to learn how to garden in harmony with nature, and create beautiful and rewarding gardens suited to our SE Qld climate

Cost $45 includes afternoon tea and a free plant from June’s Home Grown Plants. 49 Arras Steet Yeronga, in Brisbane. Bookings essential contact Kate Wall at thegardenerswall@westnet.com.au

Butterfly Gardening

Butterfly Gardening – hear a talk given by Jo Hammond, Butterfly Lady. Learn about the value of butterflies in the garden and how to attract them. Cost $35 including free plant) Saturday 15 October, 2-3.30pm at The Gardeners Wall, Yeronga, in Brisbane.

Noosa Plant Fair

Noosa Botanic Gardens Friends’ Plant Fair on Sunday 4 September 2016 from 9am to 3pm will have specialist plant sellers selling a range of unusual and collectible plants.

There’s a great speaker lineup – Paul Plant (10am), John Green (11am), Arno King (12 noon) and Dr Seonaid Melville (2pm) plus live music at 1pm and classic cars on display.

FREE entry

Weeds: From Foe to Friend

Learn from sustainable garden expert Kate Wall how to appreciate the benefits of weeds and what they can be used for. Topics covered include:
•  edible weeds
•  medicinal weeds
•  compost value of weeds
•  weeds as indicators of garden conditions
•  how to mange unwanted weeds without using poisons
•  other uses for weeds
Cost is $44/person and includes afternoon tea and a free plant from June’s Home Grown Plants.
1-3pm, Yeronga, Brisbane

Bookings are essential as numbers are limited. Confirm your booking by calling or texting Kate on 0448 460 037 or by email thegardenerswall@westnet.com.au

Sustainable Gardening workshop, Brisbane

Learn from Kate Wall how to garden in harmony with nature. Get useful information on eco-friendly gardening without compromising on beauty or good garden design. Topics covered will include:
· Water wise gardening
· Attracting good bugs
· Reducing the need for sprays, chemicals and fertilisers
· Soil care
· Composting / recycling organic matter
· Understanding and working with microclimates in the garden
· Incorporating edible and medicinal plants

Cost is $45/person and includes afternoon tea and a free plant from June’s Home Grown Plants.
1-3pm, Yeronga, Brisbane
Bookings are essential as numbers are limited. Confirm your booking by calling or texting Kate on 0448 460 037 or by email thegardenerswall@westnet.com.au

Subtropical Cottage Gardening

Spend an afternoon in Kate Wall’s Brisbane cottage garden learning how to create a beautiful and easy cottage garden in the subtropics. Topics covered include:
* what is a cottage garden
* the history of cottage gardens and why they are relevant today
* applying the principles of cottage gardening to a subtropical setting
* plant choices for the subtropics

Cost is $44/person and includes afternoon tea and a free plant from June’s Home Grown Plants.

1-3pm, Yeronga, Brisbane

Bookings are essential as numbers are limited. Confirm your booking by calling or texting Kate on 0448 460 037 or by email thegardenerswall@westnet.com.au

Hidden Design Festival comes to Brisbane

Hidden all around Australia are stunning gardens, designed, constructed and maintained by landscape professionals – gardens which are rarely seen, other than by their owners and friends. The Hidden Design Festival, Queensland showcases these gardens to the public. After two years of sell-out success in Sydney, Hidden is set to open here in Brisbane on Saturday 5 March 2016. If you love seeing high quality gardens and want to see the work of some of our top garden designers, you will not want to miss this event. Continue reading “Hidden Design Festival comes to Brisbane”

Guilfoyle and his warm climate plants

A few years ago, whilst researching Polyscias (commonly called Aralia) cultivars for a magazine article, I came across mention of their discovery and introduction by William Guilfoyle during his voyage on the HMS Challenger in 1868. I was surprised to learn this was the same W R Guilfoyle (1840 – 1912) who later became the famous curator at the Melbourne Botanic Garden. Continue reading “Guilfoyle and his warm climate plants”