Beatrice Hawkins
THE Free Times welcomes our new gardening columnist BEATRICE HAWKINS whose writings will be a weekly feature in our pages. Beatrice recently moved to Warwick and is involved with the Warwick Horticultural Society and enjoys sharing her musings on all things garden-related …
GARDEN Trivia for the week – Johnny Appleseed, real name John Chapman, was born on 26 September 1774. We all know the romantic story of Paul Bunyan walking across America cutting down trees and Johnny Appleseed following behind, planting apple seeds which grew into trees for the following settlers to use. I am sure there was considerable poetic licence used by Mr Disney in this folkloric story but John Chapman was a pioneering nurseryman in America.
We may not have the ideal climate in Warwick to grow apples commercially, but varieties including Pink Lady, Jonathan, Granny Smith and Gala can be grown here in backyards, and we only have to travel 60 to 70km south to the Stanthorpe region to be able to get wonderful apples of many varieties. My favourite all-purpose apple still has to be the Granny Smith, followed closely by Golden Delicious and Pink Lady. Old-fashioned Jonathans are, in my opinion, hard to beat for an eating apple and the very best for “toffee apples”, but very hard to find these days. Maybe I’m going to have to plant one in my own backyard.
Gardeners are busy at the moment, with the contents of nurseries a constant temptation. There are so many beautiful gardens worthy of entering the garden competition in Warwick and surrounding areas. The weather has been very kind to us and everything – weeds included – is thriving. Even in my new vegie garden I am picking snow peas and spinach and my tomatoes are flowering – beans, cucumbers, melons, carrots, lettuce, potatoes, rhubarb and cabbages are all progressing nicely along with a variety of herbs.
The Horticultural Society has the 2016 Garden Competition happening at present with entries closing on Friday 7 October and judging taking place the following week. If you haven’t already entered, entry forms are available at Bryson’s Place and should be returned there for pick up by the end of Friday. This competition is open to all areas of the Southern Downs Regional Council.
The Spring Flower Show will be in St Mary’s Hall on Wednesday and Thursday 19 and 20 October. Schedules are available once again from Bryson’s Place and entries will be taken from 8am on the Wednesday. Judging commences at 10am, and doors open to the public from noon and all day Thursday. Presentation of trophies for both events will be from 4pm Thursday afternoon. There is a great variety of categories so pick up a schedule and see what you have in your garden and plan to enter.
This year there will be something other than beautiful flowers, pot plants and vegies to see. For the first time there will be garden art and objects to purchase as well as the usual fresh sandwiches, delectable cakes, scones and slices to enjoy with a cup of tea or coffee. Come in your lunch hour and enjoy lunch and the spectacular sight and scent of nature and go back to work refreshed.
Do you have a gardening query for Beatrice? Send her an email at hawkins.beatrice@yahoo.com
If you have a suggestion for a title for Beatrice’s column email editor Jeremy Sollars at jeremy.sollars@freetimes.com.au
