U3A Ballarat Gardening Interest Group

Event Report by Coral Hiscock The U3A Gardening Interest Group were offered attendance at a plant propagation workshop. Two workshops were undertaken on the 16th March by Andrew Parker at his home in Canadian.   Attendees were shown around Andrew's garden, discussing and speaking of plants that were propagated, planted out and have spectacularly formed into a very colourful and quite unique garden. Andrew spoke on different ways to propagate, using cuttings from all types of plants including creeping or border plants, layering of small conifer type plants, succulents and many more.   The weather, watering, pests and other issues were discussed by the group and best practice care for young plants once propagation had taken place was interesting and welcoming for successful planting.   Andrew then demonstrated; with the attendees undertaking, how to make small newspaper pots, lining them in trays with soil, then potting up the cuttings. Some of the cuttings used were Salvia, Cistu

Event Report by Kerren Melgaard Today was a surprise. My third visit to a garden designed for a dry climate, this time at the end of summer, held an expectation of a parched ground with withered flora, brown and grey being the colour palette. Not so. Fresh green growth on eucalypts, red on proteas and a dazzling display of colour from kangaroo paw, ericas and eremophilas to name a few. This volunteer-led garden is a two decade “work in progress” featuring Australian native plants and those from countries such as South Africa and America which tolerate low water conditions. John, our guide, showed us how this once industrial wasteland, with the vision, planning and hard work of many volunteers, can be converted into a place where both people and wildlife can enjoy.   Mounds of bare earth become mounds with paths, which become themed garden beds. Public funding and local council support along with external expertise, have also helped bring this open garden from “a good idea” to nationa