THE Friends of the Botanic Gardens (FOBG) have been busy watering, potting, re-potting and labelling thousands of plants in preparation for tomorrow’s biannual plant sale.
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With prices starting at only $3 each, or four for $10, the plant sale is a great opportunity to grab a few plants to fill some holes in the garden, or start a whole new one.
For the first time, vegetable gardeners will get a look in with a large selection of tomatoes and chillies available.
Money raised goes towards funding some of the group’s activities throughout the gardens.
When you walk around the gardens the signs attached to the trees, detailing the plant species etc, have all been made by the FOBG.
“That was one of our bigger purchases as it’s a dedicated machine designed to print up the labels,” volunteer Libby West said.
The group is actively building new projects throughout the gardens.
“We’re putting in a new entrance to the propagation centre and constructing nesting boxes for native birds and mammals,” Ms West said.
“We’re also looking at getting a feature for the water fountain.”
The range of species available tomorrow is broad and all have been raised by the volunteers.
Plants that are grown and matured locally always have a better chance of survival when planted out, and the species available at the centre including succulents, rudbeckia, correas, oaks and native salvias, as well as a vast array of acacias and eucalypts, have all been propagated from locally-growing species.
“The advantage is that they’re all from stock that is native and growing well in this area,” Ms West said. “Also because they’ve been grown here they’re toughened to our conditions.”
A recent count had over 3000 plants in the centre. Tomorrow’s sale at the gardens starts at 8.30am.
