Next week is National Gardening Week, a new addition to the Australian gardening calendar launched at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show earlier this year.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
The driving force behind the idea, and the man who launched the initiative, is local gardener and The Garden Clubs of Australia president, George Hoad.
“National Gardening Week offers everybody a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the simple joys of gardening and to highlight the associated environmental, social and health benefits”, George said.
George is delighted there has been such a positive response from the gardening community and horticultural industry including ABC’s Gardening Australia, Bunnings, the Garden Centres Association of Australia and the Horticultural Media Association who have embraced the idea and are actively promoting it.
The Garden Clubs of Australia Inc., established in 1950, is the nation’s premiere organisation for garden clubs and other like-minded groups and today has more than 700 affiliates representing over 45,000 members.
“I see the establishment of a National Gardening Week as an extension of The Garden Clubs of Australia’s primary objective, to extend the culture of gardening into the wider community for the benefit of all citizens,” said George.
“I have been made aware of numerous events being planned by garden clubs and other organisations across the country to celebrate National Gardening Week including open gardens, special guest speakers at garden club meetings, landscape workshops, high tea garden parties, stands at local shows, special displays, etc., which I find very exciting in its first year.”
National Gardening Week is open to everybody – people of all ages, organisations, businesses, local communities, local councils, schools, etc. - to participate in and celebrate gardening in any way they choose.
Locally a number of events have been organised including the opening of a new Sensory Garden at Storm Retirement Village, Taree and a special window exhibition at Wingham Museum.
Upcoming events include:
- High Tea Garden Party, October 8 from 1pm – 4pm at George Hoad’s Killabakh garden
- Open Garden, October 8 from 10am – 3pm at Liz Cross’s garden, 12 Patanga Close, Taree
- Gloucester Gardening Club will be hosting a walking tour through District and Billabong Parks, October 14. Contact George for details on 6550 5890.
Many other countries annually celebrate this great national pastime of gardening including the UK, USA, Canada and, last year, New Zealand and South Africa held their inaugural celebrations.
The events motto is Dig In and Celebrate and George said it is now Australia’s turn to dig deep, cultivate the country and delight in the sheer pleasure of gardening.
