September 2011
At the VIAGM this month it was decided that individual members would, on a rotating system, take responsibility for organising our gardening visits and activities.
The Kangaroo Valley Garden Group began when Janette Gale said that there was enough grant money left to put a small ad in the Voice, so what did we think that the Valley community would like?
Dawn Daly and I, passengers in the car at the time, suggested a garden group and then promptly forgot about it.
But Janette is an example of the dictionary definition of proactive and the next thing I knew Audrey Rice rang to ask to become a member.
“Of what?” I asked and she told me that there was an ad in the Voice asking anyone interested in forming a Garden Group to ring my number.
That was nearly eight years ago and since then we have had more than 100 activities, many with more than 40 members attending, one with as few as four dedicated gardeners.
I am about to hang up my secateurs as Garden group convener, as I have finally accepted that I agree with Charles Barr that “The best way to get real enjoyment out of a garden is to put on a wide straw hat, hold a little trowel in one hand and a cool drink in the other, and tell the man where to dig.”
Thank you to everyone who has so generously allowed us to visit their garden and ask questions, to everyone who has suggested things to do, to everyone who is now or has ever been a member of the Group and especially to Judy Inall who has been a wonderful supporter and a generous contact person for those who do not have email connections (that is a lot of time on the phone!)
Good luck and may the weather be kind to your gardens and may you all get great pleasure from their beauty.
Lee Sharam