Welcome
to the home of the Sunshine Golden Age Garden Club.
The club was founded in 1921 as the Sunshine Horticultural Society and continues to meet regularly. Our aim is to create a convivial social atmosphere which fosters the pleasure of sustainable home gardening and improves the skills of the amateur gardener.
to the home of the Sunshine Golden Age Garden Club.
The club was founded in 1921 as the Sunshine Horticultural Society and continues to meet regularly. Our aim is to create a convivial social atmosphere which fosters the pleasure of sustainable home gardening and improves the skills of the amateur gardener.
Monthly meetings are held on the 2nd Wednesday of the month at 7 pm unless another time is given by prior notice. Meetings are held each year from February through to December. No meeting in January. Visitors and new members most welcome.
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Monthly club meetings, guest speakers and events for 2024 are here. |
Club Meeting, 7 pm Wednesday 13 November
Glengala Community Centre
Annual Plant Sale
Speaker: Craig Castree, the multi-talented garden guru.
All you need to know about edible seed collecting
Craig might be bringing his books for sale on the night so cash might be the better option.
All you need to know about edible seed collecting
Craig might be bringing his books for sale on the night so cash might be the better option.
Message from the President
November 2024
November greetings dearest members and gardening friends.
Better gardening weather is at last upon us with plantings at urgent pace to catch up on due to unseasonal windier, colder and drier weather for Melbourne Winter and Spring.
Better gardening weather is at last upon us with plantings at urgent pace to catch up on due to unseasonal windier, colder and drier weather for Melbourne Winter and Spring.
Congratulations to the Brimbank Councilors newly elected and thank you to some unsuccessful candidates and to some that didn't nominate. Our garden has been blessed by the support and consideration that Brimbank Council Councilors and Administrative Staff have bestowed upon us and we hope that this continues to progress our 103 old Brimbank community club.
I have not been informed as yet that our regular meeting hall hire has been approved and also awaiting on the status for our 2025 Show Community Grant.
I have not been informed as yet that our regular meeting hall hire has been approved and also awaiting on the status for our 2025 Show Community Grant.
Preparations for 2025 Show and Guest Speakers
(some of these will be allocated for our monthly meetings.)
I would dearly love your suggestions/ recommendations for any other guest speakers some to compliment a designated annual event.
(some of these will be allocated for our monthly meetings.)
I would dearly love your suggestions/ recommendations for any other guest speakers some to compliment a designated annual event.
I would dearly love your suggestions/ recommendations for any other guest speakers some to compliment a designated annual event.
- FEBRUARY ROSES AND ROSE EXHIBITING.
- MARCH SHOW DISCUSSION &ENTRIES AND FEATURING A PICTORIAL BY JIM AND GREG OF EUROPEAN HOLIDAY 2024.
- APRIL AUSTRALIAN AND AMERICAN CARNIVOROUS PLANTS WITH PETER BLOEM.
- MAY AGM
- JUNE
- JULY GARDENING A TO Z WITH CHRIS MICHALOPOULOS
- AUGUST
- SEPTEMBER SPRING GEMS FROM THE TREASURE TROVE OF LOVELINESS "BY TERRY SMYTH MELBOURNE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS
- OCTOBER PAT TRIMBLE MEMORIAL MINI SHOW.
- NOVEMBER ANNUAL PLANT SALE
- DECEMBER
Also, formulating dates for
Peter Leigh, Post Office Farm Nursery Hellebores
Eleisha Moledowney, Curator Williamstown Botanic Gardens.
The Rose Society Of Victoria Inc over four days hosted the State Rose Championships and the Australian Rose Championships as well celebrated its 125 years of establishment, the National Rose Society Of Australia Gala Dinner, AGM and Field Day Tour, congratulations to our own Sandra who is The President of Victoria and the National Rose Societies, the Championship Roses on display were flagrantly exquisite.
At the Gala Event had the privilege to meet with Stephanie Williams from David Austin Roses England Stephanie shared good rose news that in 2025 Four (4) new David Austin Roses will be released in Australia. At that event our very good friend from Neutrog Helen Lovel was also in attendance
as well my long standing very good friend Gavin Woods a World Rose Federation top judge and administrator a top Dahlia Judge and also behold a top Bird Judge - some talent.
Well done to all our members who participated at our 2024 Pat Trimble Memorial Mini Show some exquisite exhibits were on display, bravo to Jill for her splendid Best Exhibit In Show and my appreciation to Rosemary for stewarding.
I hope members and friends are able to attend our forthcoming events Gardenworld Nursery Day and Presbyterian Church Community Gardening.
Recently I had a surprise phone call from a person named John who got my details from our website. John conveyed to me he had numerous dahlia tubers boxed that he wanted to donate, upon our conversation he sadly said that they were lovingly grown by his wife who had recently died. If arrangements work out, tuber clumps will available for members to take home at no cost (please share with me a photo when tubers are in bloom) the rest will be taken to Ripponlea for pot growing to evaluate on size and type and hopefully put a name to those varieties.
Last call for input for our 2025 Annual Show Schedule if you have a suggestion please contact me as we require to finalize it so that Stanton could take it to the printers and to be made available at our December and in our Website. I hope to hear from the Dahlia Society of Victoria Inc if they will allocate The 2025 Metropolitan Dahlia Championship to us for our Annual Show.
It looks like it be will be similar event for our December end of year Christmas Party, our club will provide the protein i.e. Roast chicken and liquid refreshments members and friends are kindly asked to bring a plate for taste diversity. members that have special dietary requirements are welcome to provide or purchase these specifically endorsed food items and our club will reimburse you.
Thank you to our dedicated members who have stepped and undertaken some of the tasks that I normally do in the service of our club in particular the last few months whilst having another surgical procedure pre and of recovery time, also thank you for your calls, messages supportive thoughts and prayers they made a difference.
I hope that the person reading this is also of good health and also of their loved ones.
If you're not travelling so good our best wishes and a very speedy comfortable recovery and congratulations for birthdays and special days in your daily life. Please don't hesitate to call me or our very good office bearers if you require support or to discuss any aspect of our club.
This month our trading table will have as a highlight our Annual Plant Sale, also our Competition Tables, Raffle and our delicious Supper. If donating any pot plants please bring along a quality item not poor specimens or discards.
I remind members bring a bit of extra money or your Debit / Credit card for the opportunity to purchase our guest speaker Craig Castree new book or his first one.
Thank you to Stanton for the monthly updating of our Website, Helen for producing our Newsletter and hopefully Akif will continue our Facebook page.
Werribee Park: Stanton and myself attended to prepare tubers for planting and a box of tubers donated from Ripponlea and our Club. Stanton additionally provided extra support with staking and planting regrettably it has been a difficult process undertaken as Stanton and to a lesser extent myself were required to provide more hours and labour from the initial discussions with the Werribee Park gardening staff. Regrettably I am weighing my input obligations.
Williamstown Botanic Gardens are this year growing dahlias as promised to Eliasha that we will donate the tubers; it will be interesting to see the outcome.
On Thursday 21 November, night a week after our Wednesday general meeting, the Victoria Dahlia Society of Victoria will hold its Green Plant Auction and possibly some tubers. They are not your general run of the mill dahlias. If interested have a chat with Stanton or check the DSV website.
Happy Healthy November
Chris
At the Gala Event had the privilege to meet with Stephanie Williams from David Austin Roses England Stephanie shared good rose news that in 2025 Four (4) new David Austin Roses will be released in Australia. At that event our very good friend from Neutrog Helen Lovel was also in attendance
as well my long standing very good friend Gavin Woods a World Rose Federation top judge and administrator a top Dahlia Judge and also behold a top Bird Judge - some talent.
Well done to all our members who participated at our 2024 Pat Trimble Memorial Mini Show some exquisite exhibits were on display, bravo to Jill for her splendid Best Exhibit In Show and my appreciation to Rosemary for stewarding.
I hope members and friends are able to attend our forthcoming events Gardenworld Nursery Day and Presbyterian Church Community Gardening.
Recently I had a surprise phone call from a person named John who got my details from our website. John conveyed to me he had numerous dahlia tubers boxed that he wanted to donate, upon our conversation he sadly said that they were lovingly grown by his wife who had recently died. If arrangements work out, tuber clumps will available for members to take home at no cost (please share with me a photo when tubers are in bloom) the rest will be taken to Ripponlea for pot growing to evaluate on size and type and hopefully put a name to those varieties.
Last call for input for our 2025 Annual Show Schedule if you have a suggestion please contact me as we require to finalize it so that Stanton could take it to the printers and to be made available at our December and in our Website. I hope to hear from the Dahlia Society of Victoria Inc if they will allocate The 2025 Metropolitan Dahlia Championship to us for our Annual Show.
It looks like it be will be similar event for our December end of year Christmas Party, our club will provide the protein i.e. Roast chicken and liquid refreshments members and friends are kindly asked to bring a plate for taste diversity. members that have special dietary requirements are welcome to provide or purchase these specifically endorsed food items and our club will reimburse you.
Thank you to our dedicated members who have stepped and undertaken some of the tasks that I normally do in the service of our club in particular the last few months whilst having another surgical procedure pre and of recovery time, also thank you for your calls, messages supportive thoughts and prayers they made a difference.
I hope that the person reading this is also of good health and also of their loved ones.
If you're not travelling so good our best wishes and a very speedy comfortable recovery and congratulations for birthdays and special days in your daily life. Please don't hesitate to call me or our very good office bearers if you require support or to discuss any aspect of our club.
This month our trading table will have as a highlight our Annual Plant Sale, also our Competition Tables, Raffle and our delicious Supper. If donating any pot plants please bring along a quality item not poor specimens or discards.
I remind members bring a bit of extra money or your Debit / Credit card for the opportunity to purchase our guest speaker Craig Castree new book or his first one.
Thank you to Stanton for the monthly updating of our Website, Helen for producing our Newsletter and hopefully Akif will continue our Facebook page.
Werribee Park: Stanton and myself attended to prepare tubers for planting and a box of tubers donated from Ripponlea and our Club. Stanton additionally provided extra support with staking and planting regrettably it has been a difficult process undertaken as Stanton and to a lesser extent myself were required to provide more hours and labour from the initial discussions with the Werribee Park gardening staff. Regrettably I am weighing my input obligations.
Williamstown Botanic Gardens are this year growing dahlias as promised to Eliasha that we will donate the tubers; it will be interesting to see the outcome.
On Thursday 21 November, night a week after our Wednesday general meeting, the Victoria Dahlia Society of Victoria will hold its Green Plant Auction and possibly some tubers. They are not your general run of the mill dahlias. If interested have a chat with Stanton or check the DSV website.
Happy Healthy November
Chris
Chris Michalopoulos
President Sunshine Golden Age Garden Club Inc
chrismichalopoulos1719@gmail.com
0418 543 649
President Sunshine Golden Age Garden Club Inc
chrismichalopoulos1719@gmail.com
0418 543 649
House photos featuring roses were taken by Akif
CULTURAL NOTES
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Earwigs
Upon my first opportunity to go back in my garden I was shocked to see my silver beet and lettuce crop riddled with holes as if a machine gun had sprayed them or ferocious hail stones. A few days later I tested for earwigs by using a few 160mm plastic pot a ball of newspaper or material ball like in the pot thin bamboo stakes approx. 1/3 of a metre in length and placed them in the affected areas, pot facing down as in a hat. Following day shaking the paper and cloth on a flat concreted area produced 17 scuttling earwigs. I increased the number of pots in a variety of areas and as of today approx. 200 earwigs were detected. I have put it down to the construction of a new fence and also an uninterrupted breeding cycle. Summer and Autumn Edible and Flowering seedlings are slowly being planted, this year the Edibles include cucumbers, aubergines, tomatoes, tomatillos, Asian greens, mustard greens, various zucchinis beans, peppers, chillies, potatoes, Japanese root vegetables including daikon, okra, a large variety of herbs including basil, shiso, mint, fennel, parsley, dill and a fresh batch of silver beet replacing the older tired plants, and add a few other Edibles from our plant sale or visiting a garden nursery like Gardenworld to check on new products. As for flower seedlings and cuttings, Zinnias, Cosmos, Hollyhocks, hydrangeas, pelargoniums, chrysanthemums, cineraria, lobelia, lupin, stock, wallflower, marigold, pansy, snapdragons, petunia, succulents, aster, carnations and of course dahlias. Tips
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Scilla Peruviana
'Freesia' Rose
Mountain of Sweetpeas.
Snow peas for seed collection
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A typical monthly meeting...
centres around a guest speaker followed by supper. Members can, and do, have a cuppa at any time. Meetings take place in first class community facilities generously provided by Brimbank City Council. There is ample parking and disabled access.
The ingredients that make up a typical meeting are:
The ingredients that make up a typical meeting are:
The monthly newsletter
Distributed free to members at the start of the meeting.
Gardening problem solver session
Here members can ask questions and get advice on how to solve their gardening problems.
A guest speaker
The club works hard to find engaging and knowledgeable guest speakers on a wide range of topics ranging from the cultivation of particular plant species, to floral art design, to local history - and everything in between.
The competition table
Provides a showcase for members to exhibit flowers, succulents, vegetables and other plants from their garden as well as flower arrangements and other floral art creations and handicraft and cookery items. The best exhibit wins a prize and an award.
The trading table
Is crowded with plants and cuttings donated by members for sale at bargain prices.
Raffle
$1 a ticket gives you a chance to be a lucky prize winner.
Supper
The evening finishes with a mouth-watering supper of savouries and sweets.
Annual membership subscription
$2 per year. The cheapest subscription of any garden club in Australia!
Where and when
Click to enlarge
Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of every month (except for January) at 7 pm in the Glengala Community Centre (Castley Hall) at the corner of Glengala Road and Simmie Street, Sunshine.
*SGAGC INC ACKNOWLEDGES THE TRADITIONAL CUSTODIANS OF THIS LAND AND PAY OUR RESPECTS TO THE WURUNDJERI PEOPLE.
OUR CLUB WELCOMES ALL CULTURES, NATIONALITIES, AND RELIGIONS, OUR COMMITMENT IS TO BE EQUITABLE AND INCLUSIVE.
OUR CLUB WELCOMES ALL CULTURES, NATIONALITIES, AND RELIGIONS, OUR COMMITMENT IS TO BE EQUITABLE AND INCLUSIVE.