Club newsletter 141 - June 2018

1. June 2018 NEWSLETTER NO.141 PAGE 1
GARDEN CLUB
Coffs Harbour Garden Club is a not-for-profit community organisation
for gardening enthusiasts from the NSW mid-north Coast.
C O F F S H A R B O U R
COMING UP What’s happening?
Recently, we received a call from Kath Nicholls, who is the
Lifestyle Co Ordinator at Legacy Aged Care Coffs Harbour.
She was wondering if one of our members may be interested
in going along to the centre and giving a gardening talk. She
said her residents are aged from 80 -102 and would not
expect an advanced gardening seminar, but simply a chat
from a friendly face to maybe talk about what grows well in the
area or some other generic gardening information.
Perhaps a few tall tales of gardening successes and failures
might raise a few smiles. If you are interested, call Jane on
0411 160 784.
Don't you love it when a
plan comes together? The
April outing took us to
Wendy & Gary's place at
Kungala where they grow
lots of carnivorous plants.
The ones I bought are not
quite as hungry as Mortica
Addams’ plant, Cleopatra,
but they are very happy in
my pond. They don't ask for
water or food .
So, what's happening in your garden? Would you like to share
a picture or two for the newsletter about something in your
garden? Send it in to me at editorchgc@gmail.com
Cheers,
Sue
Saturday 16th June
MONTHLY MEETING
1:00pm for a 1:30pm start
at the Display Room,
Botanic Gardens
Wednesday 4th July
AIRPORT GARDEN
Call Peter to join the gnomes!
Come along and support this
great initiative - making sure
that our airport is as welcoming
as possible!
Thursday 5th July
GARDEN CLUB OUTING
Meet 10am Botanic Gardens
1. Wendy and Mick’s place at
25 Ann St Coffs Harbour
2. Tess and Brian’s place at 256A
Mount Brown Rd Upper Orara
Lunch at Coramba Pub.

2. June 2018 NEWSLETTER NO.141 PAGE 2
Birthday Greetings
Guess who is celebrating a birthday in June?
Happy Birthday and happy gardening to:
Sonja MITCHELL, CorinneSTAGGS & Robert STOKES
Airport Garden Report
If you'd like to join in - give Peter Kimber a call.
Peter (ph 6650 0985)
Zone Day
This year will be hosted by the Nambucca Valley Garden on
the 28th July at Nambucca Heads RSL, Nelson Street,
Nambucca Heads. There will be raffles, a trading table, plant
displays, guest speakers and entertainment. Speakers include
a “mystery” speaker from Sydney, who, from all reports, is
really excellent as well as a local speaker, Libby Wiley from
ABC.
Cost for the day is $35 (this includes morning tea and lunch).
The day will start with Morning Tea at 9.30am and the day will
conclude 2.30pm to 3.30pm. Plans are underway to share a
bus with Woolgoolga club. The club will provide a $20 subsidy
to offset members’ costs.
RSVP 20 July to Jane.
FLOWER OF THE MONTH
SALVIA
KINGDOM Plantae
FAMILY Lamiaceae
GENUS Salvia
SPECIES Hundreds
There are over 700 species within the
genus Salvia. Salvia officinalis is
common sage that we love so much
with chicken and salvia splendens is
that red Bunnings annual salvia that self
seeds so well you only ever have to buy
it once.
The perennial salvias which come every
colour possible and grow so well in
Coffs have an added benefit - they
attract some interesting bees.
Bring along your favourite for the
competition table on Saturday.

3. June 2018 NEWSLETTER NO.141 PAGE 3
June Outing: Deanna and Elisabeth’s Gardens
With unexpectedly fine weather after a night of storms, we embarked on another great garden visit. For
those that made it to Deanna Twomby’s garden at Korora, the morning tea and garden made the effort
very worthwhile.
As you can see, Deanna even colour coordinated her outfit to her garden for the occasion. As usual, during
our wanders Margaret Franks helped us identify all the treasures in the garden, which included lots of
spaces hidden by long camellia hedged paths, and she gave us some very timely advice on winter gardening
and pruning.
Given the shade in the garden, it also gave us some good ideas on how to utilise a few cooler climate
plants in our subtropical gardens. Thanks Deanna – the garden and the morning tea were lovely.

4. June 2018 NEWSLETTER NO.141 PAGE 4
After resisting more scones, we made our way to Elisabeth Bor’s garden in Beryl Street, easily spotted by
her sign out the front. Such a contrast. Elisabeth’s garden was a lovely reflection of her European heritage
especially bulb beds planted on the edges of her lawn, where just the tiniest tips of tulips and other pretty
bulbs were just emerging – I would love to see those in full growth.
In addition to the bulbs there were amazing bromilliads adorning the base and crooks of many of the trees.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t identity some of the most interesting plants and Margaret Franks had managed
to escape from my constant “what’s that plant”? Maybe you can identify some of them from the pictures.
As well as showing us her garden, Elisabeth also showed us her treasure trove of beautiful handmade
ceramics, paintings and jewellery.
Not all of us could resist these goodies. Jane found herself a lovely blue necklace and Margaret –a turtle!
We then wound down our adventures at Café 180 in the Northside Shopping Centre. The food was well
priced, very plentiful and the café is worth a visit. However, they did have a bit of a rush on just as we arrived –
so not such a hidden secret any more.
ThanksagaintoourclubmembersDeannaandElisabeth whosogenerouslyopenedtheirgardens. We came
away knowing you and your gardens better and as always, with some new ideas for our own patches of earth.
Ifyouwouldliketoopenyourgarden,pleaselet MargaretFranksknow-wewouldlovetovisit.

5. June 2018 NEWSLETTER NO.141 PAGE 5
Spring Garden Competition
At the May meeting we raised the possibility of the SGC perhaps not proceeding in 2018 if there was
insufficient involvement from members to organize & run the competition. There is great news on this
front - on 1 June there was a meeting of members interested in being involved in the running of the
competition for 2018.
The meeting was called by Pat Roser to plan and allocate tasks. Eight people went along to the CEx all
willing to help. Important jobs were identified and allocated. This is what was decided at that meeting.
Pat Roser will be the Spring Garden Competition Administrator and she will also coordinate the
running of the School 2018 vegetable growing competition which will be Curly Kale. With Julie Worland’s
assistance, Mr Fothergill’s seeds have promised 150 packets of seeds for the schools competition.
Maria Bell will be the Committee Secretary as well as co ordinating the receipt of entries into the
competition and preparing the Judges’, Stewards’ & drivers’ books.
Anne Marie & Tom Ely will process vouchers, receipts and keep the records of all monies and in-kind
donations received and funds expended to run the competition.
Barb Porteous will assist by clearing the PO Box, processing snail mail entries for Maria and delivering
cheques and voucher donations to Tom & Anne Marie.
Kevin Sheedy will be the Sponsorship Coordinator. As a new recruit Kev will be sending letters to all
our tried and true sponsors hoping they will support us once again and of course sending them one of the
collectible CHGC thank you awards if they do. Old sponsors sometimes fade away so if you have an idea
for a new sponsor let Kevin know - preferably after you’ve secured the donation.
Julie Worland will be the Publicity Coordinator. This involves sending items to the Advocate and to the
Advertiser (Woolgoolga) to encourage entrants; liaising with Advocate for coverage of judging and
publishing results of the competition to announce the open gardens; on-air info chats with 2AIRfm and
ABC, sending info to the Seniors Magazine and to Focus Magazine (post comp).
Marg Crawley has, once again, agreed to pull this event together from a catering prospective. Marg will
be seeking assistance from CHGC members to help provide supper for the Presentation Night. In
addition Marg has agreed to gather the trophies from the 2017 competition, deliver to Greg’s Trophys for
engraving and collect them for the Presentation Night. (We all know that Greg’s Trophies are the best in
town because they don’t send a bill!)
Round-a-bout Co-ordinator - Barbara Porteous, Barb Fitzgerald and Noelene Sell have put their hands
up for this duty.
Bunnings BBQ Co-ordinator - Simon Young has once again agreed to coordinate the BBQ effort
which will most probably occur later in the year as the allocation of dates doesn’t happen until the second
half of the year.
Competition Judges - Pat advised that Anne Deveridge and Anne Kennedy from South West Rocks are
available and have agreed to judge the residential sections of the SGC. Accommodation has been booked
by Maria at the Tahitian for the nights Sat 15 – Mon 17 Sept.

6. June 2018 NEWSLETTER NO.141 PAGE 6
Spring Garden Competition (continued)
Margaret Franks has been contacted and has agreed to judge the Schools categories.
The Competition Categories - There was discussion at the meeting about the many entry categories.
Some categories have been eliminated and others merged. More about that later after Maria finalises the
entry form.
Key Dates - Launch will be Saturday 28 July by way of a paid advertisement the Advocate hopefully in
conjunction with editorial by Wendy Andrews (given to her by Julie) and perhaps a radio interview on this
date too. On launch date the on-line entry form will be added to website with a post there about what
Judges look for, how to enter.
Closing Date for entries: Friday 7 September 5pm
Judges & Committee Dinner: Saturday 15 September 6pm
Judging to commence: Sunday 16 Sept (Coffs Central), Monday 17 Sept (South), Tuesday 18 Sept (North)
Presentation Night: 21 September Cavanbah Centre
You can still be involved - It was decided there are sufficient Committee members to run the
competition but Committee is really looking forward to and will need assistance from the wider CHGC
membership later for:
• Data entry of entries into the competition and creating the judging results document that is needed
for Presentation Night and for publication in Advocate of the winning gardens for viewing.
• Printing of judging forms, judging guidelines and the myriad of certificates including Participation
certificates for school entrants, winners certificates for all categories, thank you certificates for
sponsors;
• Stewards to assist the Judges;
• Drivers to drive the Stewards and Judges around
• Assistance decorating hall & providing supper on Presentation Night.
Call Pat Roser on 66 902 511 or Maria Bell on 041 8695 113 if you would like to help.
Busy Bees
Anyone allergic to bee stings and love walking
barefoot on the sand?
I’ve noticed lately that Emerald Beach, where I walk my dog
Sam, has lots of dying bees washed up on the sand. They will
sting even though they’re on their last legs so beware!
A bit of history: Beekeepers offer two explanations. One is that worker bees fly erratic routes
in their search for pollen. Once full, however, they take the most direct route (a beeline) back to the hive.
Sometimes beelines cross bays. If salt spray falls on the bees' wings, it brings them down. Onshore winds
then wash the crippled insects to the beach. Another beekeeper told me that some of the bees we see
struggling at the shoreline are too old to make it home. Worker bees live only a few weeks, hauling pollen
until they drop in their tracks. Sometimes this happens over the water, and then the wind blows the spent
bees ashore.

7. June 2018 NEWSLETTER NO.141 PAGE 7
COFFS HARBOUR
GARDEN CLUB
CONTACT US
Contributions, feedback, ideas and
articles are always welcome.
WEBSITE
www.coffsgardenclub.com
PO Box 885 Coffs Harbour
PRESIDENT
Jane Durler
0411 160 784
presidentchgc@gmail.com
VICE-PRESIDENT
Sue Young
0413 883 831
presidentchgc@gmail.com
SECRETARY
Barbara Porteous
0409 819 842
secretarychgc@gmail.com
TREASURER
Anne-Marie Ely
6656 4229
treasurerchgc@gmail.com
PATRONS
Julie and Paul Worland
"Friendship through gardens”
Busy Bees (continued)
But even injured and old bees manage to get their blade-
sharp stingers poked into our skin. Then, two pairs of
muscles push the stinger deep into the tissue. At the same
time, muscles pump venom from the insect's venom sac into
the wound.
At the beginning of a sting, the entire end of the bee's
abdomen detaches from its body. Because the separated
section includes nerves and muscles, venom still pumps into
the wound after the insect flies away (or rolls over) to die.
It takes about two minutes for a honeybee's venom sac to
empty completely. That's why, if you're stung, it's important
to get the stinger out as quickly as possible in the fastest way
possible, including pinching with your fingers and pulling.
Be safe all you allergy sufferers. And from my own experience
they pack a punch.
What’s Coming Up
Saturday 16th June 2018 - Meeting
Usual location: Display room at Botanic Gardens,
Hardacre Street Coffs Harbour. Come along at 1:00pm
for the competition table and trading table and to say
your hellos. Don't forget your salvias!
Wednesday 4th July 2018 - Airport Garden
Working bees will generally be every 2nd month, but it is
on in July. Email Peter if you would like to join in.
email: p.j.kimber@bigpond.com
Thursday 5th July - Garden Visits
Our next outing is on Thursday July 5. We’ll start by
meeting at the Botanic Gardens at 10am and have some
morning tea (BYO or purchase from the cafe, if open).
First garden will be Wendy and Mick’s place at 25 Ann St
Coffs Harbour. They have lots of plants for sale so a little
bit of retail therapy to start the day!
Next garden will be Tess and Brian’s place at 256A
Mount Brown Rd Upper Orara. There is enough parking
for 6-7 cars up their driveway close to their house.
Lunch will be at Coramba Pub.