U3A Ballarat Gardening Interest Group

 Colac Excursio n 24th October 2023 After meeting at the Buninyong Tennis Courts, an intrepid group set off to the epicentre of the latest earthquake recently in Victoria! How brave were we? However the effects of the earthquake was superceded by the potholes in the roads we travelled. We arrived at Colac Botanic Gardens [laid out in 1868] in plenty of time to avail ourselves of refreshments in the Gardens Cafe, which offered a great variety of foods and beverages efficiently served. After which we met Anne Mercer and Helen Paatsch, our guides for the morning. Terry had thoughtfully brought a portable loudspeaker so all we oldies could hear easily, but our guide refused to use it. So we strained to hear anything and the frustration on Terry's face was clear to all! As a result we tended to scatter and explore at our own pace.  Lots to see: The Oak Drive: a 100 year old variety of oaks. Children's Playground  National Trust Significant Tree Register: five trees in the gardens. A

                U3A Trip to Tesselaars Tulip Festival October 3rd 2023 Rain! Rain! And more rain! Who will ever forget this trip? After discussion as the whether or not we should proceed with the day, it was agreed by most that we should take the chance and go. Steve, our bus driver, agreed to carry on, so off we went in the rain. Some people were well prepared for the wet weather, others more optimistic in white shoes, sandals and white pants! As we drove through the gloom the weather did not improve, in fact became wetter and wetter. After passing through the beautiful Dandenong mountain ash and tree fern forest, we alighted to cries of 'Coffee! Coffee'. Not only coffee, but Bavarian Bangers, French Crepes, Scones, Gozleme, Baked potatoes etc. Lots of food choices. Huddled under marquees, U3A people sheltered from the rain before venturing out to see the sights. And what sights there were to see! Fields of tulips, and daffodils, Fairy gardens, sculptures, a maze, gazebos, wi