My Town Magazine, Discover Queensland Edition 8th September 2014 Edition 41 | Page 50

The answer lies in the soil

W

By Breanda Cross

e may not have been ‘ singing
or dancing’ in the rain, but for
the large crowd attending the
free workshop at Garden Gems nursery
in Burpengary last Saturday, we were certainly ‘smiling’ in it.
Although the early-bird attendees were
comfortably seated and relatively dry under tarpaulin, even the latecomers stood
content under umbrellas in the welcome
but unrelenting winter rain, listening and
laughing at the highly informative and
entertaining local horticulturist, Noel
Burdette.
Also known for his garden programme
on radio 4BC, Noel is a regular visitor
to Garden Gems. Ironically his topic was
advising us how to keep our gardens
soils ‘wet’ during the hot dry summer
months ahead. And this he did, with the
old adage – ‘the answer lies in the soil.’
Good preparation before planting is the
key.
Noel’s easy raconteur delivery of garden
tips and generous give-aways and door
prizes created a festive atmosphere to
his dedicated audience. He gave sound
advice on the importance of choosing
sturdy plants for our sometimes treacherous Queensland weather conditions:
how to bring them to full growth, and
maintain constant flowering – these
topics and more were covered in the two hour
session. So regardless of their destiny in the flower
bed, or flower pot, the addition of natural or
commercial fertilizers, is paramount to the eventual
success of the plants,
Adding to the unique charm of the rain-drizzled
morning, the proprietor Kathy Richards provided a
surprising and most welcome morning tea, superbly
prepared and presented by Kathy’s daughter Charmaine.. The near-party atmosphere was heightened
as, clad in every conceivable style rain-gear, we all
introduced ourselves over cups of tea, relished the
bite size sandwiches, and almost reverently agreed
the cup cakes were almost too pretty to eat.

50

Garden Gems is a comparatively small family run
nursery, with a superb web page offering excellent
garden tips, and proudly insistent that virtually all
their plants are raised by their own hands. Their
interest in ensuring their plants go to good homes
does them credit, as does their web page, which
provides useful garden tips in a variety of interesting projects.
As a newcomer from the Garden City of
Toowoomba I was delighted at my first association
with other garden lovers, and, with the aid of my
new found friends I look forward to adding my
own small contribution to beautifying this delightful
area.