Down the Garden Path

The Russell’s garden in Molesworth – one of eight gardens open for the Alexandra and District Open Gardens weekend.

Yea Garden Expo Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 September

This is just the time of year when interested gardeners are busy more. Check out the Australian made ride on, articulated tipping barrow preparing their gardens for spring colour. The Yea Rotary club organised expo provides an opportunity to view a host of garden related products at the Yea Saleyards site on Flat Lead Road, just off the Yea-Whittlesea Road, a few kilometres on the south side of Yea. The site is flat, sealed and easily accessible for everyone. Why not take advantage of the $10 entry fee, free parking, a wide range of goods and services, and a plentiful supply of food and drinks, much of it home made. Over 70 vendors will be on site from 9am to 3pm each day, with exhibits ranging from bulbs, seeds, seedlings, flowering plants and trees to garden tools and equipment, garden art and ornaments, compost, fertilisers and which has always been a big hit with visitors as are the quirky horseshoe garden sculptures produced by Yea local Darryl Callander. Take advantage of the plant creche where purchases can be left until ready for pick up on departure. The popular speaker program, featuring a range of topics from bee keeping, pruning and more will again be available over the two days. An opportunity for visitors to both rest and learn!

Find out more at www.yeagardenexpo. com.au or keep up to date via Yea Garden

Expo Facebook. This year tickets can be bought at the gate or prebooked via www. trybooking.com/BZOYD.

Alexandra & District Open Gardens Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 October

There will be eight gardens to visit this year – three gardens in Alexandra and five country gardens between Molesworth and Taggerty. At each garden you will find additional attractions for you to enjoy and maybe even make a purchase. Coffee and food will be avialable at some gardens with others having sculptures, plants, garden seeds and handmade garden tools for sale.

The Old Molesworth School garden will be open for the first time. It is set on the Molesworth State School grounds and

Call Blake on 0438 751 932

- Tree Removal - Tree Pruning - Tree Climbing - Free Quotes & POWER EQUIPMENT

operated as a school for 100 years until closing its doors in 1978. Jill and Andy Russell purchased the property in 1999. After cleaning up the grounds they were left with two fabulous oak trees, a magnificent spotted gum and some fruit trees.

Then with the advice from some family members “no straight lines and good deep beds” they started to plot their garden. Trees were planted for shade and autumn colour, a camellia hedge for privacy, a vegie garden to grow among other things some silver beet for the chooks and lots of flowers to keep their bees busy. Molesworth has an unpotable water supply – “So, we can’t drink the water, but we use a good amount of it on the garden”. “For us the garden is what we make of it – exercise, birdsong, creativity, perfume, solitude, surprise, colour, satisfaction, fresh air, enjoyment and much much more, “ says Jill and Andy. For more information visit www. alexandraopengardens.com.au for a map of all the gardens and descriptions of what you can see at each one. Tickets are available at the Alexandra Information Centre, Alexandra Garden Nursery, Goulburn Valley Nurseries and at each garden gate, admission is $5 per garden or $35 for an all-gardens pass.

Yea and District Open Garden Weekend Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 November

Since the inaugural Rotary Yea and District Open Garden weekend, many beautiful gardens have been displayed and this year will be no exception. Seven unique gardens will open and visitors are welcome from 10am to 5pm each day. Five large country gardens and three town gardens will be on display, the majority of which have not previously been opened to the public. They range from old historic properties to recently planted gardens. These properties demonstrate creative ideas and designs with a varied plant palette offering something for all garden lovers. In conjunction with the Open Garden Weekend the Yea Garden Club will have its annual plant sale selling hundreds of potted treasures at bargain prices. While in Yea visit the Yea Wetlands Discovery Centre, to view the Indigenous Garden plantings and learn more about the natural highlights of the Yea area. A multi ticket covering all seven gardens over the two days can be purchased through Try Booking for $40.00 www. trybooking.com/CAKFD (a saving of $10) or alternatively at the Yea Wetlands Discovery Centre or any of the gardens. Entry to individual gardens can be paid at the garden gate (cash only please)

For further information visit www.yearotary. org.au or contact 0408 935 733.

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