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In early December, the Garden Team worked in Kirsten and Marcus's garden before a festive afternoon tea and a break until next year. Thank you, Ray for the photograph!  Photograph: Ray Berry Garden Team meets on the 2nd and 5th Monday of the month - 2 pm to 4 pm - at various venues, with the first session on Monday 10th February.
Elspeth Maconachie We felt useful in Rupe's garden, as he's had to take it a little slower than usual lately, so there were actually a few weeds to eradicate and twigs to trim.
He had his sleek telescope set up for us so we could appreciate the sun's activities which juxtaposed nicely with the shady spot under his backyard tree during afternoon tea. We'll work in Kirsten and Marcus's garden in December before a festive afternoon tea and a break until next year. Elspeth Maconachie We had a lovely sunny day for the work party in October, in fact, maybe a bit too warm. Cold water was readily available and frequently taken. Much was achieved, particularly clearing of the pathways and branches that were overhanging the footpath were removed in Coster St. We knocked off by 3.15pm for a well deserved afternoon tea and nibbles on the deck in the shade.  Bill Parris
"What a great effort in tackling the big job of digging up 5 large tussock grasses. The pruning and weeding jobs also were a big help. What an improvement. Thank you everyone! Karen and Peter Nankivell" The 'Before and After' effect! Elspeth Maconachie Photographs - Peter Nankivell
The host of our August session expresses feelings typical after the visit, this time from a team of ten. “The change to the veggie garden was wonderful--yesterday morning it felt overwhelming, but after the garden team had worked their magic it felt like I could get back to enjoying it with some new planting. Rup did a fabulous job pruning and tidying up the buddleia, the Silver Princess and the crepe Myrtle. A massive thankyou to everyone for their energy and effort - what a great team!!! And we finished with a lovely afternoon tea” I know Kathy was equally pleased with our end-of-July afternoon at her place.
Elspeth Maconachie We went soft in July, bailing out on the afternoon although it was only rather cold, grey and damp. A bit of sunshine is forecast for our fifth Monday session so we can make up for lost time.
Elspeth Maconachie We were lucky to catch a warmish afternoon in June, and the cheery company made light work of the piles of prunings and the tasty spread afterwards! Shirlie was left with many green bin loads but a sense of rapid achievement.
We next visit Janet's on July 8th at 2pm. There's a fifth Monday in July as well. Elspeth We had a lovely autumn afternoon and the novelty of a new garden when we spent a couple of hours hosted by Melody and Richard.
Next time we will be mainly snipping vine prunings at Shirlie's, before another new garden when we visit Janet's on July 8th. There's a fifth Monday in July as well. Elspeth We had another delightful afternoon, this time among Helen's interesting trees and mainly native shrubs. We felt useful enough to justify another tasty afternoon tea and also exchanged armfuls of fruit, vegetables and seeds from several gardens. Photographs: Helen Repacholi We'll be at James's place on Monday 29th April.
Elspeth Maconachie The team was sensible and postponed March's afternoon in response to the forecast. Happily we have two chances to catch up in April, first at Helen's place and later in James' garden.
Elspeth Last year we finished at Kathy's and added a garden kringle, with a few seeds, cuttings and produce exchanged over our usual feast.
At the first '24 gathering, weeds were a bit hard to find but Rupe was pleased by the results of our trimming and tidying. To dodge the hottest hours, we started half an hour earlier, a tactic which worked well and may, at times, be used again depending on the weather forecast. We welcomed two new garden grafters and enjoyed a sumptuous afternoon tea in a pleasant shady spot. It was a lovely start to our year, thanks Rupe. On Monday, March 4th we'll gather at .... garden ( ... to be added, watch this space or the upcoming newsletter, your emails or if all else fails, phone me!) Elspeth Maconachie Garden Team commences on Monday 12th February at 2pm and is held on the 2nd and 5th Monday of the month - 2 pm to 4 pm - at various venues. Emails are sent out with details of the venues in the weeks before the date.
Elspeth 0418 621 764 Melbourne friend Jill joined our 'Fifth Monday' Garden Team session at Terry's on 30 October. Jill took these photos and commented "A very productive hour and a bit!". At our 'Second Monday' session on November 13 we enjoyed Karen and Peter's garden, where we helped spruce a few details in anticipation of Garden Appreciation's pending visit. Afternoon tea was enjoyed under a leafy pergola from which we enjoyed watching varied birdlife, enhanced by Kathy's wide knowledge. Elspeth It's been a good year for plants, bugs and weeds, but it's also been relatively easy to pull up weeds with soil staying soft. I think we were pretty effective in Ray's front garden and when we moved to the back we were impressed with the productivity, and use of space.
Let's hope we're just as useful at Terry's on Monday 30th. Elspeth It was refreshing to see a new garden. We trimmed, weeded and conquered kangaroo paw and took home small clumps, also some from Helen's variety of potted cuttings, and left her looking forward to finding new plants for some gaps, behind neatened edges. The afternoon took on the look of Henty field day, or a curly Casterton, when her dogs showed they were also keen workers, going through hoops and around and over obstacles in their training circuit.  Helen's years of tree planting demonstrated the progress possible in a few decades and made a lovely backdrop to the generous spread we shared on the front verandah. 
Elspeth In late July the team gardened at James' place, where unwanted plants were replaced. The section certainly looked spruce after treatment.  In August it was Marcus and Kirstin's garden. What a delightful afternoon - lots achieved, beautiful weather, a sumptuous repast and conversation with lovely people. Elspeth
Bill has photographic proof of the spick and span of our crack team. Unfortunately, much of the crack is in our backs and knees, or we'd be hiring ourselves out! Photos - Bill Parris Elspeth
Before the team arrives, we are motivated to mow and strategise. After the work is done, we are inspired and motivated to make the most of great progress and pleased to admire our larger compost piles, trimmer shrubs and neater edges. And we have cheerful, good company for the afternoon and tasty offerings to accompany our well-earned cuppas.
Elspeth Maconachie Other than weaklings who cowered from covid or who fled to northern climes, an energetic team enjoyed a new garden out Lurg way.
Our other country venture is out Goomalibee Road on May 29th. Elspeth A few holiday apologies but we still had an effective planting and pruning team at Tulip St on Easter Monday. Well done the secateurs seven! Another enjoyable afternoon.
Elspeth There were a few apologies this month because of the long weekend, but an energetic team of six joined Kathy at her place for a lot of very welcome pruning. After a couple of hours on a warm afternoon, we were ready for afternoon tea. Special thanks to Kirsten. We then helped ourselves to Karen’s magnificent home grown pears and Rupe’s juicy tomatoes before heading home.
We are next meeting at Terry's in Violet Town, but given Easter Monday it might be worth considering deferring until May when we have two sessions . (Members can look out for an email or message quite soon.) Elspeth In December we rested on our well pruned, weeded and mulched laurels with a festive gathering at Marcus and Kirsten's place.  Our first Garden Team session for the year will be at Rupe’s on Monday 13th February from 2 to 4 pm. I’ll send the address details in an email later, especially to our newcomer, Karen.
Elspeth Maconachie Great work done by a keen team. Started in drizzle but ended in sunshine at Bill's in late October. At Rupe's in November there were some rainspots to dodge, but again the team worked well. It's always a pleasure to have cheery company and lovely next day to survey the progress on tasks which had been starting to look daunting.  Elspeth Maconachie
The team made an impression on the jungle at Elspeth's, but it's looking robust again because the mower broke down with heavy demands made on the rare sunny, dryish days since. Shirlie's kind offerings bedded in and the pup both admired and laughed at.
Thanks crew - a pleasant degustation followed as usual. We hope to finish the year at Bill's on cup eve Monday, Rupe's on November 14th and Marcus and Kirsten's on Dec 12th. Elspeth A willing team whipped out weeds while admiring the range of native plants out the front.
The driveway and vegetable areas were also given attention and some carried home welcome products from Ray's impressive seedling nursery which will make healthy additions in vegetable patches. Elspeth |
About the Garden TeamA band of enthusiastic gardeners gathers once a month for an afternoon at each member’s garden in rotation. The working bee uses each members skills and abilities to achieve about six hours effect in an hour and a half. Then we rest on our laurels with tea provided by the host and a home-baked and/or healthy plate from the visitors. We head home a little fitter and inspired, often with a new cutting or garden tip. Meeting Times2nd and 5th Mondays
2 to 4 pm Meet at members' gardens by turn. (If the 2nd Monday is a public holiday, the garden team often meets on an alternate day. Information about changes is included in the newsletter) Convenor and contact details
Elspeth Maconachie
0418 621 764 Archives
January 2025
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Developed and maintained by members, this website showcases U3A Benalla & District.
Photographs - U3A members; Benalla Art Gallery website; Weebly 'Free' images;Travel Victoria and State Library of Victoria
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