Gardening in the Winter Months

An update from the Hills Organic Garden

What a difference the cooler weather makes. Over the last few weeks we have been very busy planting vegetables for our spring harvest and with the cooler weather, our little seedlings are now starting to flourish.

We have Bok Choy, Leeks, Shallots, Baby Spinach, Beetroot, Lettuce, Silverbeet, Tomatoes, Cabbages, Cauliflowers, Beans, Snow peas, Eggplant, Carrots and Strawberries all doing very well.

The baby spinach and lettuce are now ready to pick along with the silverbeet. It is so nice to be taking home some produce already.

Our members are all enjoying their time at the garden as it is so pleasant to be out in the sunshine watering and weeding and maintaining our beautiful community garden. We have a wonderful bunch of keen gardeners who are all willing to lend a hand and each Sunday afternoon we gather at the garden to tend to the plants and keep the surrounds neat and tidy. At the moment our herb garden has flowering basil which is attracting the bees, society garlic (which has beautiful edible lavender flowers), thyme, tarragon, mother of herbs, and garlic chives.

The HOG community is a friendly group who offer people in the Hills District the opportunity to grow vegetables using organic principles. Age is no barrier so feel free to come along one Sunday afternoon to have a chat and a look around our beautiful garden.

As the days are getting shorter and cooler, we have decided to change our working bee time on a Sunday afternoon. The new time will be from 2.00 p.m. to 4.00p.m. As well, our members attend the garden through the week to water and do general maintenance.

You will find us at 416 Bunya Road, Bunya next to the Off Leash Dog Park. Membership Fees per year are $20 for adults, $30 for family and $10 for Juniors. Visit hog.org.au, search “The Hills Organic Garden” on Facebook or phone 0415 856 532 for information. We look forward to meeting you.

John Oxley District Orchid Society Annual Winter Show

Tips for the Cold & Chilly Season

An update from the Mitchelton and Districts Garden Club

Wow! Already we are in the second half year of 2023. How time flies!

During the last few weeks, the executive members of the Mitchelton and Districts Garden Club Inc. have been very busy with an EXPO at Arana Hills. The June General Meeting also took place which included a farewell function for Pat Killoran, a long serving president who retired towards the end of last year. Unfortunately Pat was ill and unable to attend. The members who took part in preparing for this function are to be congratulated for their splendid efforts. A card and gifts from the club were delivered to Pat’s home the next week.

Remember to hose your garden between the hours of 9am and 4pm in winter. This allows the foliage to dry before nightfall. Dampness encourages attack by disease and mildew, especially powdery mildew, so try to avoid it. Check citrus trees for gall wasp and citrus leaf miner. Prune off offending pieces. Tie them up in a plastic bag to go in the rubbish bin. Spring flowering annuals and vegetable plants would benefit from a liquid fertilizer at this time. If lots of little weeds are showing in your lawn, in dry weather give the areas a sprinkle of sulphate of ammonia. The next morning’s dew will melt the sulphate of ammonia which will burn and kill the weeds. The grass will be burnt too, but the chemical will also provide nourishment and it will not be long before the lawn is green again.

The next meeting of this club is at the Enoggera Memorial Hall (entrance at 36 Trundle Street) on Thursday morning, 3rd August. The topic of the guest speaker, Rose Graham, is Herbal Teas. Herbs have always played an important role in the well being of humans and animals, but they must be used according to directions. Visitors and new members are most welcome to attend. Morning tea is served from 9.45am and the meeting commences about 10am

For more information please email mitcheltongc@ gmail.com or check out their Facebook page @ mitcheltongardenclub

Learn About the Gorgeous Geraniums

Saturday 29th July 8.30am - 4pm

Sunday 30th July 9am to 3pm

Auditorium Botanic Gardens Mount Coot-tha

Admission $4.00 Children Free

Displays of hybrid, species, and native orchids. Perfect opportunity for photographers. Plants and growing accessories or sale. Potting demonstrations both days at approximately 10am and 1pm. Brisbane City Council runs a bus service to the gardens. There is off street parking, with disabled parking at the front door.

From the Ferny Grove Garden Club

The July meeting of the Ferny Grove Garden Club will be on Friday, 28 July, at 1 pm. The club meets in St Matthew’s Church Hall, Church Road, Mitchelton. Helen Rattenbury will be speaking about the popular geranium plant. While pelargoniums and geraniums are certainly tough and very easy to grow, they still require tending to maintain their health and keep them looking their best for the next season. With Helen’s advice we will be looking forward to a bright spring. For more information please telephone Elizabeth 07 3851 0568.