Wednesday, April 25, 2012

'Elsewhere' - Pam Tanner


Our native garden covers about one acre of a two-acre block with beautiful red soil at Beecher.

The property slopes downhill from West to East.  When we purchased it the whole area had been burnt off leaving only the bigger Eucalypts, Acacias and Xanthorrhoeas.  A section in front of the house was covered in black plastic held down by small unattractive local stones and had a HUGE cactus growing in the middle. Another small garden was planted with “mother of millions”!!

For 27 years I have labored with determination and love. I have marked out areas for gardens, covered them with thick layers of overlapping wet newspaper and mulched them heavily.  I dug holes and planted first the larger trees and later the understory trees and shrubs.  Most of these I have grown myself from seeds or cuttings that I begged or stole from long-suffering friend’s nurseries. As much as possible, I planted indigenous natives.

The garden has grown to the point where it has become self-mulching with a deep layer of leaf litter. This has its down side as a bush turkey has read the “Land for Wildlife” sign at the front gate and has built his nest right in the centre of one of the large gardens still having its understory planted. He has cleared a very large area around his nest, taking no care with anything in his way, and takes great delight in digging out any recent plantings all over the garden, and even half the plants in the nursery.

Rough paths, mainly for access for the wheelbarrow, wind around the beds; but I enjoy just wandering through the beds as you do in the bush. Grass areas are kept to a minimum and these are never watered. The garden itself is only watered when plants are very new or stressed as we are not on town water.




Usually I don’t enter the local garden competition, but last year the garden was looking so good I entered on the spur of the moment. I regretted it as soon as I had, so I was overjoyed when it was announced winner of both the Native and Acreage Gardens awards.  Then that excitement was crowned when it also won Reserve Champion - the first time a native garden has ever come anywhere near winning the major prize.  Now I think I can just rest on my laurels and just enjoy my bit of bush.

Pam Tanner
20.04.12  

SGAP Gladstone Branch - 2012 Program

Below is a list of excursions and activities planned for 2012.


Visitors are welcome to attend up to three excursions before becoming a branch member.


Please register with Ruth Crosson on 4972 1447 for any excursions you would like to attend.

Participants are asked to bring a first-aid kit, food and drinking water and ensure that they have sufficient petrol for the day. Remember to bring your camera and a notebook.

Species lists are available for some areas by pre ordering by the Friday preceding the excursion.

Date
Location
Notes

2012

Jan Sun 15

Tondoon Botanic Gardens

10am Meet at BG’s Café Tondoon. Membership due. $5.00 Family or single. Order lunch.
10:30 Walk around Tondoon, check progress.
12:30 Lunch at BG’s. Raffle.
1:30 to 2:30 Guest Speaker in Visitor’s Centre
2:30 Meeting and AGM

Feb Sun 12
Mt Rollo Excursion
Steep gully
9am meet in front car park outside Tondoon front gate.
Travel to Mt Rollo, about 4 kms. Lunch may be late when we get back to parked cars.

Mar Sun 4
Clean up Australia day
8:30am Registrations at shelter shed at Canoe Point.
Brings sacks, though some will be provided. Bring gloves and drinking water.
We clean up a large area in Tannum and Boyne Island.
Lunch follows end of clean up, at about 11:30am

Apr Sun 15
Blackman’s Creek, Boyne Valley area.

8:30am  Meet  at Calliope Crossroads Service Station. Cars okay. BYO lunch. Leader is Brent

May Sun 20
Four Mile Scrub, Boyne Valley Road
8:30am Meet at Calliope Crossroads Service Station. BYO Lunch

Jun Sun 3
EcoFest at Tondoon
Set up Sat 2pm.  Sun from 8-am. Golding’s Tent usual area.

Jun Sun 17

State Forest 207 Targinnie

Some dirt road surfaces. Scrub areas. Brent leader. BYO lunch

Jun 17


Meet at junction of Yarwun, Targinne Roads on Port Curtis Way 9am. Travel convoy.

Jul Sun 15
“Shirley “ A property in Miriam Vale area
Scrub creek and high hill exc. BYO lunch in
backpack. Meet 9 am in car park behind Visitor’s Information Centre Roe St. Miriam Vale. Cars okay. Dirt road surfaces. Travel in convoy.

Aug Sun 12

Round Hill headland and Old Nursery Botanic Garden. Agnes Water area
Meet 9am in car park behind Visitor’s Information Centre, Roe St. Miriam Vale
Convoy to headland.  Afternoon excursion to ID species at the scrub area at Old Nursery

Sep Sun 9
Spring Creek or other. Mt Larcom area.
Scrub exc. Meet 9am at junction of Yarwun, Targinnie Rds. On Port Curtis way. Dirt surfaces, Cars okay. BYO lunch. Brent leader.

Oct Sun
CBC  / Observer Garden tours
By coach. Bookings essential.
Nov Sun 18
Garden visit to winner of CBC Large garden 2011
Kilmister’s at 22 Cathurbie St. Emmadale,
New Auckland, West Gladstone. Arrive 10 am for tour. Lunch BYO noon to 1 pm.

Dec Sun 9
BBQ Breakfast BYO  at Tondoon arboretum area
9am.A walk will follow.
2013
Jan Sun 13
Tondoon Botanic Gardens
Meet 10 am at BG’s Café, Tondoon. Memberships $5-00. 10-30 am walk. Lunch 12-30.
1:30 pm Guest Speaker, Visitors Centre. Meeting & AGM 2:30 till 3:30.

Feb Sun 17
Garden Visit to Winner of Native Garden, Acreage Garden and Reserve Champion Garden
Meet at Tanners Property “ Elsewhere” Siding Road Beecher. Arrive at 10 am for guided tour with hosts Pam and Chris.  BYO lunch.

Mar Sun 3
Cleanup Australia Day
Canoe Point Tannum  meet 8:30 am to Register at shed on left.