Gunnedah Garden Club holds last meeting for year before Christmas luncheon

Gunnedah Garden Club members have wrapped up their official meetings for the year with a busy day of flower and vegetable competitions, gardening advice, an orchid presentation and visits to two private gardens at Carroll.

The meeting began with the club’s regular flower and vegetable competitions, with members showcasing some of their seasonal garden produce and blooms.

Helen Murrell’s mauve campanula ground cover and Julia Withers’ tiny native orchid shared first place in the flower competition.

Shirley Palmer took second place with her magnolia floribunda, featuring large, scented blooms, while Sue Walker’s fragrant, long-flowering Just Joey rose placed third.

Cecily Jaeger and Sandra Howes.

In the vegetable competition, Julia Withers claimed first place with her rhubarb, while Fay Byrnes’ broad beans and Ann Penrose’s spinach shared second place.

Members also discussed a range of gardening challenges during the problem plants segment, including caterpillars damaging geraniums and black marks appearing on tree orchids.

Coralie Howe provided an update on the Show Society Rose Show, which attracted 165 entries, down from 263 the previous year. Ellen Mitchell was congratulated on winning champion rose.

Coralie Howe and Patsy Elphick.

The club also acknowledged its patron, Marj Hill, who recently celebrated her 91st birthday. Several members visited her with a bouquet of flowers to mark the occasion.

Guest speaker Kerry Bee shared his extensive knowledge of orchids, drawing on about 40 years of experience growing the plants.

It has been a shared interest with friends David Maher from Tamworth and locally, the late Graham Law.

Judy Chapman chats to a cheeky cocky.

He had about 80 potted cymbidiums, but is now winding back, and has now reduced his collection to 36.

He explained how to care for and repot orchids, including practical advice suited to Gunnedah’s hot, dry climate.

Orchids are naturally tree-growing plants that generally perform better in coastal conditions. Mr Bee recommended using green shade cloth or positioning plants beneath trees and shrubs to provide dappled sunlight, with morning sun preferable to afternoon exposure.

He also advised protecting orchids from frost, raising pots off the ground to improve air circulation and prevent slug damage, and repotting approximately every three years or when the pot becomes full.

Kerry Bee with his cymbidium. RIGHT: Judy Chapman chats to a cheeky cocky.

Members were given a demonstration of the repotting process, including dividing plants, removing old roots and soil, treating roots with fungicide and using a commercial orchid potting mix.

Mr Bee also covered watering, fertilising and pest management, highlighting the importance of protecting beneficial insects such as ladybugs.

Members thanked Mr Bee for his informative presentation and the opportunity to learn more about orchid care.

Following lunch, members travelled to Carroll to visit two private gardens, with the club thanking Patsy Elphick and her daughter Melissa for opening their gardens to visitors.

Sandra Howes, Melissa and Julia Withers. RIGHT: Coralie Howe and Patsy Elphick.

The gardens offered members an opportunity to explore the work and beauty hidden beyond the roadside, with plenty to admire and enjoy.

The club is also seeking more volunteers to help maintain the Lions Club gardens, which members regularly attend, with a working bee potentially planned for the new year.

The meeting concluded with details of the club’s upcoming Christmas luncheon, which will be held at the Golf Club.

Members are asked to bring a $10 Kris Kringle gift and a donation for the Christmas Bowl, with proceeds to be donated to Yallambee.