Mary is an Australian author who trained as a journalist at The Australian Women’s Weekly and became a long time presenter on Gardening Australia, and a very entertaining speaker. She has written more than 40 gardening books and four memoirs. Mary lives at Blackheath in the Blue Mountains and also has a house in the town of Frayssinet-le-Gelat in France.

The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, July 20 at 9.45am, not the usual garden club meeting week. This will be a soup and damper luncheon, with a larger than usual Trading Table plus a white elephant stall of gardening things. The function will be held at the Gloucester Soldiers Club auditorium to accommodate over 250 enthusiastic local members and visitors, which will include members of neighbouring garden clubs including Krambach, Nabiac, Wingham, Killabakh, Taree, Manning Organic Gardening Group, Stroud, Nelsons Bay, Dungog, Paterson and Walcha. Also attending is George Hoad, president of Garden Clubs of Australia, president of Killabakh and zone co-ordinator for this area.

For enquires email president Shirley Hazell on hazell@tpg.com.au or phone vice president Judy Holstein on 6558 9434 by Friday.

Meanwhile, winter had finally arrived for the club’s June meeting and with the wind cold and blusterly and threatening rain the meeting was transferred from the garden of Frank and Pearl Beggs to the Uniting Church hall. Pearl shared the story of their garden and Frank, an avid poultry fancier, gave expert advice on his pet subject. In the show and tell section Sharyn Blanch shared her observations about the Boab tree while travelling in the Northern Territory. Inspired by the Ode to the Boab, Sharyn composed her Ode to Helen (Evans) and her contribution to the garden club.

Winners of the flower competition were: Merlene Curby first with a Double Delight rose, second was Shirley Hazell with a Desiree camellia; and third was Helen Evans with a Banksia. In the fruit and veggie section, Kerry Marston was first with a cauliflower, equal second were Shirley Hazell with a navel orange and Merlene Curby with a lemon. Lucky door was Brenda Pennicuik and Jane Harris’ name came out for the membership draw, however she was absent. Not much gardening going on with this very cold weather but spring is only a couple of months away!