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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 Energy and enthusiasm helped us to be productive in Shirlie's pretty garden and we were rewarded with a sumptuous spread at afternoon tea.
It's rather soggy underfoot but let's hope we can dodge showers on Monday 29th August at Ray's. Elspeth It was an energetic and very useful turn up at Tulip St in July and we look forward to Shirlie's cake when we meet at Ray's on August 8th. If it's really tasty, we'll reward her with a session at her place on the 29th.
Elspeth Call us softies if you like, but in the steely chill, we called off both our June sessions and are hoping it’s third time lucky when we try again on July 11th to head for 6 Tulip Street to weed and prune.
Elspeth Maconachie Our April working bee at Vicki's was timely with her being busy with the recent move and I think we all felt pleased with the sprucing.
At our May at session Kathy's there was much pruning and weeding in pleasant autumn sunshine. I also want it noted that there were no rock cakes among the delicious afternoon tea! The late May session at Terry's was postponed due to the first harsh burst of wintry conditions. We received a message to the group explaining Frank and Val's move to Melbourne. We were glad to hear from them and wish them well. Elspeth Maconachie Rupe had obviously been working hard but left the group with a bit of weeding just to keep us in practice.  On April 11th we'll be in Vicki's new garden at 10 Senator Drive and in May we have 2nd & 5th Mondays so think if you're ready to host one.
Elspeth Maconachie It was good to have nearly all the team back and to enjoy the company of new addition, Jim.
Given quite hot conditions, Kirsten and Marcus didn't drive us very hard and there was plenty of rehydration and conviviality around the table. Next month, on the Monday holiday, we'll put in our efforts in Rupe's garden despite two apologies. Elspeth Maconachie We have received intelligence, in the form of a photo received in an email from Frank, of Garden Team enjoying one of their hard earned and renowned afternoon teas.  It appears that the group has continued to meet whenever restrictions have eased to allow this.
Media Team It has been lovely to be joined by a new band of garden enthusiasts and it will be interesting to see one of the new gardens when we gather at Ray's, 29 Riverview, on May 10th. I know the hosts have found the progress in their gardens most encouraging.
Elspeth Maconachie There was plenty of cheerful energy brought to Shirlie's garden which provided a lush green backdrop to a well deserved afternoon tea.
Ray joined us again and Vicki and Deborah were new recruits who compensated for several apologies from travellers Jane, Bill, Kirsten and Marcus, and Frank (who we hope feels fit again). On our fifth Monday, March 29th, we will be at Terry's place and on April 12th we will gather at 29 Arundel St (northern end). Elspeth Maconachie A band of enthusiastic gardeners gathers once a month for an afternoon at each member’s garden in rotation. The working bee uses each member’s skills and abilities to achieve about six hours effect in an hour and a half. We meet on the 2nd and 5th Mondays from 2 to 4 pm.
Our first meeting is on Monday 8th February at Rupe Cheetham’s, 61 Benson Street. There’s lots of pruning and potting to do. BYO favourite gear and something for afternoon tea. Rupe will provide coffee and tea. Elspeth Maconachie 0418 621 764 "March 30th (email to Garden Team members) It's a pity that we won't be beavering away in Kathy's garden this afternoon but I hope you will feel inspired by the showers and that if we all get on our knees to weed at 2pm today there will be a communal energy felt. (or have I been doing a bit much tai chi lately?) Almost half of your donations back in September are quite well established here now and part of the nice reminder gardens can offer. Stay safe and strong. Elspeth" Garden team continues to work on a variety of projects while they're split into smaller work units. It has been good to catch up with reports and photos providing proof of dedication!   “Member of Garden Team at work this afternoon“ "Shared proof of Frank's dedication"  "Afternoon tea as always! Many thanks to Kirstin & Marcus for the delicious apple pie!"
Our break for the long weekend has grown fearfully long but please remember that gardening is good for mood as well as weed control.
Stay safe. Elspeth Maconachie We put in a good effort with minimal grumbling about the humidity and were well rewarded with an ample spread on a cool verandah. It was lovely to add Ellen to our task force.
We will take a long weekend break and gather at Kathy’s on the fifth Monday in March, the 30th. Elspeth Maconachie Shears and snippers trimmed and tidied in Shirlie's lush and colourful garden. We'll finish our year back at Deslie's patch in December.
Elspeth Maconachie Willing workers arrived on Sept 30th with generous armfuls to populate my sparse new garden on Goomalibee Road and made remarkable progress. Next we visited Kirsten and Marcus on Oct 14th where the team was just as numerous and helpful and the post-weeding feast just as delicious (and the coffee far better) We look forward to another productive session at Shirlie's on Nov 11th and plan to finish the year with Deslie on Dec 9th.
Elspeth Maconachie We cancelled in early September and I'm sure we'll be luckier on September 30th when we meet at Goomalibee Rd - it was a day of bone-chilling wind and a popular decision.
Elspeth Maconachie ,A sunny patch gave enough time for pruning and weeding in the front garden before a convivial and tasty afternoon tea at Frank & Val's.
Having gathered on the 5th, we've held off until September and our first session will be at 476 Goomalibee Rd on the 9th. As it's a new venture and a rather blank canvas there'll be room for planning and perhaps planting (if you have cuttings of geranium, salvia or suchlike hardy critters) and if you can stand the racket we have leaves to shred - even a few river gums to plant . Then there's a fifth September Monday to consider so perhaps we can settle the rest of the year's venues (four if we continue into December). Elspeth Maconachie Much useful pruning and weeding was done at new recruit, Terry's garden, earlier this month.
Our fifth Monday may be a first Monday of the following month, and that may necessitate holding off our usual second Monday session. If that's confusing you, please look out for a clarifying email from Elspeth and if you still can't work it out try joining the Brain Games gang - we use both hemispheres to work out problems (see above). Elspeth Maconachie Deslie's enthusiasm for the group's activity may see similar groups spring up in Gippsland and the Riverina. I think she'll be able to update them on good progress at her patch on our latest gathering.
We promise to (try to) let Bill take it easy if he's back in time for our next garden, at 6 Tulip St Violet Town, on July 8th, when Terry opts in on a regular basis. Elspeth Maconachie  The trailer load shows how productive the team can be but perhaps the highlight was the knot-tying demonstration from Marcus - impressively rapid and effective!
We need to decide whether our next gathering, at Deslie's, is on the allotted Monday (long weekend) or is better put back to the third Monday. Elspeth Maconachie We worked well at Kathy's garden among a generous scatter of birdbaths, which I hope won't be quite as desperately needed from now on.
By publication we'll have been to Mitchell St and be almost at Gray St. *special note of thanks from the goat to Kathy, who brought a bag of some of her tastiest weeds to Brain Games next day! Elspeth Maconachie |
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Photographs - U3A members; Benalla Art Gallery website; Weebly 'Free' images;Travel Victoria and State Library of Victoria
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