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"What a great year it has been!"

29/11/2024

Hard to believe this is our final newsletter for the year! What a great year it has been. We’ve visited fantastic nurseries and beautiful private gardens, both large and small.

Looking ahead to 2025, mark your calendars for March 27th, 2025—we have a bus trip planned to the Blue Lotus Water Garden in Yarra Junction. More information will be available in January.

I’d like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Heather Wallace, Len Jeffree, Corrie Witlox, Geraldine McCorkell, and Bev Lee. Your help throughout the year has been invaluable.

To our Garden Appreciation members—you are such a lovely group and wonderful company.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a happy New Year. Stay safe!

Gwen Turner

October - Exploring five acres of beautiful Sable Park Garden

25/10/2024

On October 24th we visited Sable Park Garden, the beautiful garden of Les and Rosemary Bolitho. We had a lovely morning exploring five acres of gardens, including a pond lined with yellow irises, 700 roses, and various sculptures. After two hours in this enjoyable setting, we headed to the Pinsent Hotel for lunch and a chat.

On November 28th, we will meet at Benalla Rose Garden at 10:15 am for morning tea. Please bring a cup and a small plate to share. Hot water, tea, coffee, and milk will be provided. The Rose Garden is looking stunning, with vibrant roses in full bloom. Lunch will follow at the Royal Hotel Benalla. This will be our final meeting for the year, and I hope to see you there. Happy gardening!

Gwen Turner
0438 627 010 [email protected]

September - 'George and Arthur's magnificent garden'

30/9/2024

On 26th September we had a very relaxing morning at George and Arthur’s magnificent garden in Wangaratta where we were made very welcome. There were lots of colourful plants in very large pots, serenity, the wow factor. A lovely lunch followed at the Wangaratta RSL. We had a great day.

Unfortunately, a lot of people were unwell and unable to attend, while some had to leave after visiting the garden. I hope you are all feeling better.

On 24th October we will visit Sable Park, 185 Lindner Road Wangaratta. We will meet at the U3A car park 9.30am. Lunch will be available at the Pinsent Hotel, 20 Reid Street, Wangaratta.

Sable Park is going to be open on 26th & 27th October to raise money towards Carevan, Wangaratta. Entry $5 per person. Devonshire tea will be available (under cover). 700 rose sculptures by Sam Anderson and much more.

Please let me know if you will be attending our outing in October—Mobile 0438627010 or Email: [email protected] or text. Happy Gardening!

Gwen Turner 0438 627 010

A reminder & news of invitation to Wangaratta U3A on 10 Oct.

12/9/2024

This is just reminder about our outing on 26th September to Arthur & George’s private Garden 16 Steane Street Wangaratta and Parkland Nursery.

Lunch at R.S.L Wangaratta.
B.Y.O Morning Tea

Also, we have been invited to the Wangaratta U3A meeting at Wangaratta Race Club 10 am to 12 noon on 10th October. They have a guest coming to display and sell Garden Art.

If you wish to attend either event please email text or phone me on 0438 627 010
[email protected]

Gwen

Coming up in September - the beautiful garden of Arthur and George, Park Lane Nursery then lunch at the RSL in Wangaratta

30/8/2024

On Thursday 26 September we will visit the private garden of Arthur and George at 16 Steane Street. Wangaratta, followed by a visit to Park Lane Nursery, Wangaratta. Meet at the U3A car park at 9.30. BYO Morning as well as tea, coffee and milk. Lunch will be at the Wangaratta R.S.L.

I’m looking forward to our lovely Spring weather and the joy of new growth, flowers and blossoms.

Please contact me if you are attending our outing - email [email protected] or mobile 0438627010

Gwen Turner

July - "Our mid winter outing to the Royal Hotel"

1/8/2024

Our July outing to the Royal Hotel was a nice way to spend a Cold Winters Day. You are a great group; you all love a bit of a chat and a beautiful lunch!

A reminder that there will be no outing in August as we are having our annual winter break. On Thursday 26th September we will visit the private garden of Arthur Hill and George at 16 Steane St. Wangaratta, followed by a visit to Parklane Nursery, Wangaratta. Meet at the U3A car park at 9.30. Lunch to be arranged - details in next newsletter. BYO morning tea.

We have some members who aren’t well - a speedy recovery to you. To those of you who are away, we hope it is nice and warm where you are! Stay warm!

Gwen Turner 0438 627 010

June - The Garden of Petra and Barry Poole

28/6/2024

What a lovely morning we had at the garden of Petra & Barry Poole in late June.

Morning tea (pictured) was beautiful, many thanks, Petra and friends!

It may have been cold but after a cuppa and lots of chatting we warmed up.

Lunch was at Golf Club, with more eating and chatting taking place. What a great way to spend a cold winter’s day.

Please note that on July 25th we are only having lunch, meeting at the Royal Hotel, Benalla at 12 noon. Please let me know if you are attending.

To our members who are unwell, we are thinking of you. Get well soon!

Finally, a reminder that there will be no outing in August as we are having our annual winter break.

Gwen Turner 0438 627 010

May - Echuca Plant Farm and Nursery - Bus Trip

28/5/2024

We left Benalla at 8am on Thursday 23 May to go to the Echuca Plant Farm and Nursery, stopping at a lovely park in Echuca for morning tea featuring yummy cakes made by Geraldine. Thank you, Geraldine!

Then on to one of the best nurseries I’ve ever been to. Everything was so well grown and presented, the plants just beautiful, the staff so helpful. Lots of plants went into the undercarriage compartment of the bus, which was almost groaning with the load.

We then went to the Moama RSL for an excellent lunch where we were looked after superbly by the staff. Wayne the bus driver took us for a drive around Echuca after lunch, dropping us at the wharf.

The bus, full of beautiful plants and 49 happy travellers, arrived back at Benalla at about 5 pm. I had so many plants Wayne drove me home and helped me to take them in!

All in all, it was such an enjoyable day, and the weather was so kind to us. Thanks must go to Wayne for looking after us so well.

Photographs taken at the Port of Echuca - Anne Nelson

Coming Up - On Thursday 27th June we will be meeting at 9.30am at the carpark to go to Petra Poole’s garden, 5 Crockford Street, Benalla, where Petra and her helpers will provide morning tea. Thank you, Petra. If you live in the West, you may like to go straight to Petra’s home. Please let me know if you are going to do that.

Lunch will be at Benalla Golf Club. If you haven’t already put your name in the book or let me know, please phone to say you will be attending as I need to know the numbers for catering.

To those who have gone north for the winter – good luck – and to those who have been unwell and were unable to go on the bus trip, we hope you have recovered.

Gwen Turner
0438 627 010

April - 'Brookfield Gardens, Maze and Cafe' Myrhee - Coming up on May 23 'Echuca Plant Farm and Nursery'

28/4/2024

At our Anzac Day visit to Brookfield Maze Garden and Cafe, we welcomed three new members. The weather was beautiful, the garden lovely to walk in, and our lunch most enjoyable. Some of our members become lost in the maze, resulting in lots of laughter when they came back!.

We have a few seats left for our bus trip to Echuca Plant Farm and Garden. Please see the details below.

Gwen

Echuca Plant Farm and Nursery Trip Flier (PDF)

March - 'The fabulous, quirky garden of Carolyn and Gary Smith'

29/3/2024

We had a wonderful day at the garden of Carolyn and Garry Smith 46 Murray Rd Benalla on 'Easter Thursday'. It is a fabulous and quirky large garden with Garden Rooms and fun Art work made with recycled materials. Great scones made by Garry - thank you! We had a very relaxing morning.

Coming up

Thursday 25 April (Anzac Day) Brookfield Gardens, Maze and Cafe
There has been a change of venue for the Anzac Day, 25th April Gathering from listed in the first edition of the newsletter. Instead of going to the Cafe at Winton Wetlands as previously advertised, the group is now going to Brookfield Gardens (Maze) and Café, 1121 Benalla-Whitfield Rd. Myrrhee. We will still meet at MITRE 10 car park at 11:30am.

Thursday May 23rd - Bus Trip to Echuca Plant Farm and Nursery

Our visit to Echuca Plant Farm and Nursery, Northern Highway Echuca West on Thursday 23rd May includes a Bus Tour around Echuca Township

The cost is $32 pp to be paid by 30th April, or by other arrangement with Gwen. Money can be left in an envelope at RedB4 Books, next to Hide's Bakery. Please put your name and 'Garden Appreciation Echuca Bus Trip' on the front of an Envelope with your money.

Meet at Benalla Rose Garden, Royal Hotel End, at 8 am. Morning tea in Gardens. Lunch at own cost.

Please ring, text or email me if you would like to attend April's visit to Brookfield Gardens and Cafe and/or May's Bus Trip to Echuca Plant Farm and Nursery - 0438627010, or [email protected]

To all who have been unwell, I hope you are now on the mend and had a very happy Easter.

Gwen

February - Melissa & Guy Mounsey's 'Little Potting Shed'

24/2/2024

Welcome back to Garden Appreciation for 2024.   It was great to meet new members and catch up with previous members of the group.

What a start to this year’s activities! On Thursday 22 February, 56 members and 4 guests were welcomed to My Little Potting Shed in Samaria Road, Moorngag, by Melissa and Guy Mounsey, Melissa’s Mum and two very friendly dogs.   It was lovely weather, and the flowers beds were full of brightly coloured Dahlias. Melissa gave a talk on how they started their business, followed by morning tea, then a walk around the gardens.   Thank you, Melissa and Guy, for making your garden available to our members to view.

Lunch, at the Tatong Tavern, was attended by 53 members.   The service and food were excellent.

On March 28th (Easter Thursday) we will visit the large garden of Carolyn and Garry Smith, 46 Murray Road, Benalla. We will meet in the U3A car park at 9.30am and will drive into the garden to park when we arrive. Lunch will follow at the North Eastern Hotel.

April 25th (Anzac Day), venue to be announced next month. On May 23rd there will be a bus trip to the Echuca Plant Farm, Echuca West and more.

Please note, I'm away until the 14 March. If attending the March activity, please contact me after that date: Mobile: 0438627010 or e-mail [email protected]

Gwen Turner

Coming up - Melissa Mounsey's 'My Little Potting Shed' garden

28/1/2024

The Garden Appreciation group will meet in the Seniors’ carpark at 9:30 on February 22nd to car-pool. Our first outing will be to the garden of Melissa and Guy Mounsey at 1901 Samaria Road, Moorngag. It’s on the left-hand side, the business name is ‘My Little Potting Shed’. Melissa, who is a well-known local florist, and Guy are now growing a wonderful variety of flowers. The flower beds are in the open so you may need hat, umbrella and drink.

Please bring a small plate to share at morning tea and your own cup. Tea, coffee, milk, hot water will be supplied. Lunch will be at Tatong Tavern, Tatong/Benalla Road at I2 noon.

It’s very important to let me know if you are attending, also if you have any dietary requirements – 0438 627 010, [email protected].

I’m very pleased to welcome new & old members and am looking forward to visiting private and public gardens with you this year. I hope you all had a lovely Xmas and New Year!

Gwen Turner

'Two Farm Gardens' - a relaxing morning & an enjoyable lunch!

25/11/2023

On Thursday 23rd November we visited two farm gardens, the first Karen and Peter Nankivell's garden in Old Lurg Rd. What a relaxing morning - stunning views and garden, morning tea under a shady pergola.

Then on to Geraldine and Garry McCorkell's farm garden in Samaria Road to enjoy a beautiful lunch, catered for by the Pink Ladies, as we sat under the canopy of lovely large trees.

Thank you all for your company this year. It has been a very sad year for some of us and your support is greatly appreciated. Thanks also to Bev Lee and Len Jeffers for all your help.

Wishing you all a "Very Happy Xmas and a Happy New Year",,,

Happy Gardening!

Gwen

Betty's Yarrawonga Garden "... sure packed a punch!"

29/10/2023

On Thursday 26th October we visited the Garden of Betty Seymour in Yarrawonga. We were greeted by members of the Yarrawonga Garden club with a beautiful morning tea. Their President, Shirley, gave us a short talk about their club and then we viewed Betty’s unique garden. It may have been small, but it sure packed a punch! The garden was full of plants, some in pots on the ground, many very special. Some of us came home with pots and cuttings, Betty is a very generous lady.

Our lunch at Tame Cafe was yummy; the service, price and food excellent. We all had a very enjoyable day.

The group will meet at U3A Car Park on 9.30 on Thursday 23rd November when we plan to visit the garden of Karen Nankivell at 265 Old Lurg Rd Benalla. Please bring your own morning tea. Lunch will be at Geraldine McCorkell’s home located at 686 Samaria Road, Benalla. Catering will be by Pink Ladies: cost $15 pp. This will be our last outing for the year. Please let me know if you will be attending.

Gwen Turner
0438627010

September - Sophie Arendt's Garden and Sandra's Nursery

30/9/2023

We visited Sophie Arendt’s beautiful garden on Thursday 28th September. Forty-two of us were greeted to the most amazing garden and a wonderful morning tea - thank you, Sophie, Dawn and Fay. We went on to Sandra's Nursery in Witt Street (some of us leaving with more plants), then lunched at the Benalla Golf Club. It was great to catch up with you all again after a break!

On Thursday October 26th we will meet at U3A car park 9.30 to visit the Yarrawonga garden of Betty Seymour, 4 Gilmore St, Yarrawonga, opposite the main gate at show grounds. I have been told 'Betty’s Garden' is one of the best in Yarra. Lunch at Tame Café, Belmore Street, Yarrawonga. Please let me know you are attending to assist with morning tea arrangements.

I hope you are all enjoying our spring weather.

Gwen

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