Andrea's Garden Reflections - Andrea Whitely Garden Consultant

Feeling like a winner, *here’s me with my very special award*

Drum Roll Please

Grand Rapids Michigan was the host city for this years annual conference of Garden Communicators International. 2024 was the first time in its’ 76 year history Garden Communicators International honoured an Australian garden communicator,

What an Honour!

Now a Fellow of GardenComm International, this honour recognizes me as a member in good standing demonstrating exceptionally high degrees of skill, professional ethics, and dedication to GardenComm’s mission and values.

Education and Collaboration

GardenComm International provides opportunities for education, recognition, career development and a forum for wide-ranging interactions and collaborations within the gardening and horticulture industries for garden communicators all over the world.

*Receiving my award from Immediate Past President of Garden Communicators International from Maria Zampini*

Traveling and Sharing Knowledge

After many years serving as a Regional Director (Canada and The Rest of The World), I worked on the marketing sub committee set up especially for the purpose of rebranding of Garden Writers Association (GWA) to become Garden Communicators International (GardenComm). I have attended every face-to-face conference since 2015 and the virtual ones during the pandemic.

I feel extremely lucky to have been mentored by some incredible garden communicators during my association with this organisation.

Visiting the best of the best public and private gardens all over the USA and Canada, as well as behind the scenes sneak peeks into world famous plant growers and the work that they do to bring beautiful healthy plants to market has been one of the most wonderful aspects of my GardenComm membership and travel over the years.

Educational opportunities provided by speakers from all over the world have been integral to my professional development in garden communcations.

Each year, I am updated and inspired by not only the latest plants coming to market, the trends but also equipment that is available for gardeners and I bring that back that knowledge with me each year to Perth to share with my clients and radio audiences.

Mostly, though it is the people who have become my trusted friends freely sharing information and a desire for genuine collaboration despite the challenges associated with the tyranny of distance.

If you would like to find out more about being a member of Garden Communicators International please click on the link below

https://info.gardencomm.org

*GardenComm International friends helping me celebrate by big honor* *in Grand Rapids Michigan*
Photo: Bill Mulvihill

Perth city horizon with grey stormy clouds overhead and a choppy murky river to the front.

Makuru June and July The Season of Fertility

OK, so yes, it is rainy and a bit cold out there but that shouldn’t stop us die hard gardeners from setting the foundations for a stunning spring garden.

Makuru in Noongar language, (the indigenous language from where most of us live and garden here in Perth and Western Australia) is known as the season of fertility. June and July, is the time when the seeds you plant in your garden will easily germinate shortly after you plant them. The seeds will be watered and nourished by the rain and warmed by the sunshine when we have those days in between the rains. It is the perfect time for planting.

Be a careful shopper

New plants when planted small as tube stock or smaller specimens will really take off at this time of the year and actually will settle into the soil much faster than if your were to plant a bigger plant from the garden centre. This ultimately saves you money and you end up with a more beautiful garden with healthy well established plants by the time we experience the heat of summer as the roots are more established and can survive with less water. At the garden centre or nursery don’t always go for the biggest plant you can find. There is always a good selection of smaller plants to choose from. Check them out first. Many local councils will offer vouchers for discounted tube stock plants from APACE nursery to help you get started. https://www.apacewa.org.au/

Prepare your Soil before you Plant

This is the best time to improve your soil with compost and minerals to prepare. The soil is nice and damp so will make digging easier and adding nutrients to the soil a breeze. Also, it is cooler so easier on your own body working outdoors. I use Mature Compost from Swan Valley Landscape Supplies. https://www.swanvalleylandscapesupplies.com.au/

Don’t Prune Your Roses just yet

It is still too early to prune your roses, wait until August or even early September. Don’t prune them too hard, especially if you have cut them back after Summer due to the dreaded chilli thrip.

Keep an Eye on Your Weeds, please!

Keep your weeds under control by pulling them as they emerge, let’s not make heavy weather of this…see one poking its head out, rip it out. Stop them from spreading their seeds into your neighbour’s house. My favourite weeding tool is the Cobrahead Weeder-you can buy them in Australia now. https://www.allrareherbs.com.au/product/mini-weeder-cultivator-garden-tool/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwk8e1BhALEiwAc8MHiBGY1Wqjdw55k5Q8GW25583V8kREmPPxhB2B0i44S_yUD8CS8F6B7xoCf_EQAvD_BwE

Snuggle Up with A Good Book

If it’s too wet outside, there’s always a good gardening book to read. I am reading Good Life Gardening by Hannah Maloney. https://au.permacultureprinciples.com/product/good-life-growing/

What are you reading, this winter?

Andrea’s Garden Reflections

Australian honoured for the first time in 76 years

Working your way through Winter