By Beatrice Hawkins
The year is almost at an end and what a challenging year it has been in the garden. The drought has been hard and even though we have had rain over the weekend, it is not over yet.
Despite the challenging weather the Warwick Horticultural Society held two wonderful flower shows and a great spring garden competition this year. I am always amazed at the quantity and quality of the entries in these events despite what the weather throws at us. We do have dedicated gardeners in this area and without their support the Society would not be able to conduct the wonderful shows that we do. St Mary’s Hall was full of flowers, vegetables and pot plants in both autumn and spring and was enjoyed by the many visitors that attended. Despite the hard winter the gardens judged in spring were a delight – thank you to all the people who enter the events the society holds each year as without you we would have nothing.
As readers of this column will have realised I have spent a lot of time travelling this year for various reasons and have seen a lot of the eastern side of this wonderful country. I have been literally ‘out the back of Bourke’, in western Queensland, the northern, central and southern tablelands of NSW and the snowy area of NSW and northern Victoria, as well as some coastal areas.
Everywhere the country was suffering from lack of moisture but without doubt the worst was the Bourke and south western Queensland areas that have been drought-declared for seven years. It is so heartbreaking to see the devastating effect the prolonged dry has on this beautiful country of ours. Having been involved in rural life for many years I feel for our farmers and hope and pray that we get drought-breaking rain in the near future.
Recently while down in the southern areas I saw some beautiful peony roses in full bloom – big and gorgeous with a delicate perfume – unfortunately not something that will grow in our area and I feel privileged to have seen them growing in profusion. Azaleas, hydrangeas, weigelas and rhododendrons were also spectacular and with the cooler climate, the roses were still in beautiful full flower.
My garden suffered badly while I was away this time as, with the water restrictions in place, I could not set up an automatic watering system. I have wonderful neighbours who kept my pot plants alive and as I hadn’t had time to plant a vegetable garden before I left, I saved myself some money as the plants weren’t there to die! But I will miss having my own tomatoes and melons.
I have done a lot of cleaning up, weeding and removing dead things and it is back to at least looking like someone lives here again with the grass cut and the edges trimmed. Vincas are really a wonderful flower as they have come up from where they self-seeded earlier this year and are filling spaces and providing colour.
Another surprise today was the discovery of about half a dozen lovely blooms on the Jacobean lilies. I do love them and find they are a most forgiving flower that seem to deliver regardless of the neglect – they just multiply and come back faithfully year after year, but I admit I was astonished and delighted to see them flowering this late in the season
Now for a few thoughts that might make you smile.
It’s back-breaking work making a garden a nice place to relax in, it is never made by saying “oh how beautiful” and sitting in the shade. It takes a lot of water – most of it in the form of perspiration. But if you wish to be happy forever, make a garden. However, the person who said a job well done doesn’t need doing again has never weeded a garden.
Now, the common description of a weed is that it is a “plant out of place” but it is also one that has mastered every survival skill except for learning how to grow in rows. It is a plant not only in the wrong place but one that is intent on staying!
Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them. A weed is only an unloved flower and a plant whose virtues have never been discovered.
Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit – wisdom is not putting it in the fruit salad. And philosophy is wondering if that means tomato sauce is a smoothie.
My wish for you is a safe and happy Christmas and drought-breaking rain before the first issue of the Free Times is printed in the New Year.
Remember – life began in a garden and we can either complain that roses have thorns, or rejoice that thorn bushes have such beautiful flowers!
*This is an old article that we’ve digitised so our readers have access to our full catalogue.
