“Through the Garden Gate ” Newsletter of the Medowie Garden Club

August 201 8

Established 2009 Proud Member of Member Count:63 Garden Clubs of Australia

President: Warwick (Rick) Porter Secretary: Chris Voigt Treasurer: Fran Easter Editor: Warwick (Rick) Porter Ph: 49281120 , 0411117867, email [email protected]

Monthly Meeting The August meeting was held at the home of Chris and Geoff Voigt. Thanks to Chris & Geoff for again hosting this meeting and allowing us to wander your very lush and interesting garden . The meeting was attended by 31 members with 5 visitors (Angela, Phil, Carol,

Graham, Emily ) with 12 apologies.

The c lub bank balance reported by Fran was $ 4788 . The next meeting will be hosted at Rick and Glenys Porter's at 244 Fullerton Cove Road, Fullerton Cove with a talk on orchids by Florence Humphries .

Suggestions A member suggestion that a whiteboard be made available at meetings for members to list gardening questions and ideas . This is a good idea in principle, but awkward to manage as we already have lots of items to move to meetings and store each month in between. So for now it has been decided that these questions and ideas may be better handled by putting them in the suggestion box for research and feedback to be given at a following meeting. Gardening q uestions may always be raised at meetings during general business and answered by members if possible . Angela raised the topic of white flecks o n the trunk of citrus trees which was determined to be white scale, needing treatment with white oil or 'Eco oil ' which is reputed to be safe for humans and beneficial insects . A home -made recipe for horticultural oil at the next meeting. Please keep sugge stions coming! Forget -me -Not…..Upcoming Events

Medowie Club Events...... Getting Busy!

Event / Date&Time Location /Travel Equip/ Cater Contact ing NEXT: September Rick & Glenys Porter, 244 Chair, Cup Rick & Glen Meeting: Sat 1st Fullerton Cove Rd, Fullerton & Food 4928 1120 Sept, 12:30 Cove. Plate October Meeting: Francess & Mark Zahra- Chair, Cup Francess Sat 6th Oct, Tipper, 24 Lakeside Terrace, & Food 0416831680 12:30 Medowie - complete with cows. Plate MGC Sale Medowie Community Centre BBQ, Tea & Chris Sat 20th October, Car Park. Setup:7am, sale: Coffee 4982 9025 8am-1pm. provided Gloucester Garden Car pool from the Bull & Bush. Chris Ramble: 13 th Oct Details TBA 4982 9025 November Denise Birrell, 5 Court Rd, Chair, Cup Denise Meeting: Medowie - with demo of how & Food 4981 7919 Sat 3rd Nov, to make a Kokodama plant ball Plate 12:30 and auction of it. Reciprocal club Possible ramble of club member member garden gardens with Brandy Hill club ramble TBC invited in return for their ramble last year. Club member Possible club ramble of small garden member's small gardens and Ramble TBC lunch at Murrays. Woodville Gardens Possible club ramble to Albion 17th Nov TBC Farm, Dunn's & one other. Visit to Rare Plant Possible club visit to a rare nursery, TBC plant nursery at Salt Ash. Xmas Lunch Sat Lemon Tree Bowling Club Chris 24th Nov Details TBA 4982 9025 December Meeting: Nettie & Rod Sullivan 88 Chair, Cup Nettie & Rod Sat 8th Dec, James Rd Medowie & Food 4982 9064 12:30 Plate TBA: To Be Advised TBC: To Be Confirmed

Club Donation A motion was passed at the August meeting to increase our annual donation this year to $1000 and make it to Rural Aid in aid of our struggling farmers. This will be reviewed at a meeting later this year and, depending on the drought situation and our finances, possibly be added to by further donation.

Mary's Apricot Tree The photo below is of Mary Emmerton's spectacular weeping apricot tree. Congratulations to Mary for growing this amazing tree. Sadly Mary's daughter is suffering from a very serious illness but Mary has gained much comfort from admiring the beauty of this lovely tree each day. Our thoughts go out to Mary at this very difficult time.

Thanks to Bob Spooner for this excellent photo.

New Member Welcome to returning member Pamela Merton. Great to see you back Pamela!

Plants To Vie For and related species

The “Blue Puya” (Puya alpestris subspecies zoellneri) shown below, is a plant we spotted in a western NSW garden on a driving holiday and were amazed by the huge size of the spike and the unusual flower shape and colour. The plant looks totally unreal – as if from another planet! It is actually from Chile and is a type of Bromeliad with a low mound of thin toothed leaves and a 2-3 metre tall flower spike in November. The turquoise-blue flower colour is very rare in the plant world and is even rarer when combined with the orange of the anthers and pollen. I believe there may be some growing at Mt Tomah Botanic Gardens.

There are several other species: , with upright deadly spines has bright yellow with orange pollen which are borne on spikes up to 4 metres tall! It is apparently becoming rare in its natural habitat and is facing possible extinction.

Puya chilensis closeup Puya dykioides closeup

Puya dykioidesis from Argentina and forms a rosette of arching 1m softly toothed leaves.

1m long spikes carry many white and pale blue flowers emerging from soft pink bracts.

The combination of colours in these flowers is stunning!

Puya flowers are said to be fertilised by large moths, blackbirds and giant hummingbirds.

All of these seem to be very rare in Australia, in fact the Blue Puya is the only one that I know can be found here , which I think is a real shame - wonderful plants.

Photos & some plant data courtesy of strangewonderfulthings.com.

This is a review of a story I first published in October 2015 for those who have not seen it or who would like to see it again.

"Gardening is about enjoying the smell of things growing in the soil, getting dirty without feeling guilty, and generally taking the time to soak up a little peace and serenity" ~ Lindley Karstens

Cheers, Rick. Stapelia