 Growing Gardens
with Julia Hancock
Open Your Garden, Open Your Heart
Australia's Open Garden Scheme has been operating successfully for fourteen years now, and each year opens approximately 750 gardens around the nation. The Scheme is run almost entirely by a team of volunteers with a percentage of the gate money going to administration and operating costs. The balance of the funds raised can either be kept by the garden owner, donated to their favourite charity or given to the community group of their choice. Readers of this column may be interested and surprised to learn that the far north coast of New South Wales donates more money to charity through the Scheme than any other region in Australia, a statistic of which we can be truly proud.
Gardens generally open through the Scheme for one weekend of the year, giving locals and tourists alike the chance to see the horticultural splendours of the region. For the locals, it's a good opportunity to see what grows best in their own neighbourhood. For visitors it's an outing full of pleasure and delight. No matter where you are from, or how extensive your gardening knowledge is, visiting a garden is always an inspiration. And even if you don't know anything at all about plants you can still enjoy a wander around a beautiful garden.
The gardens which open through the Scheme often provide scrumptious morning teas and lunches at a very reasonable price, inexpensive and sometimes rare plants and top quality crafts produced by local people.
If you would like to offer your garden for the Scheme contact the Lismore area selector on 6622 5622 who'll tell you more about it.
The new Australia's Open Garden Scheme guidebook detailing locations, dates and times of every opening, is now available through newsagents and bookshops, or visit the website on opengarden.abc.net.au.
Lismore Garden Club
 The Spring garden competition is now closed and the judging is finished. The best of luck to all gardeners - and don't be disappointed if you don't win this year, it will make us all do better next year.
This has been the hardest year I can remember - with wind, frosts and not much rain, giving plants a very uneven flowering season. The competition entries were an improvement on last year, and on behalf of the Garden Club, thank you for your participation. It is greatly appreciated.
Happy gardening.
Inquiries Don 6624 3855.
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