Gardening with Margaret Matthews
Enjoying our gardens in winter
with Margaret Matthews
In winter there is not the same urgency about tending the garden. Last summer, especially, was a difficult one with little rainfall, the loss or deterioration of many plants and long hours spent hosing the more delicate and precious of our plants. We should refrain from replacing those that did not make it through the long dry spell and select species that are more likely to stand up to our Mediterranean type climate.
In the next few weeks it will be time to plant new roses and bare-rooted trees. Defer pruning established roses until July, as Melbourne often has sharp frosts in late June and into July.
Winter is a good time to clean and sharpen garden tools and to read up on any information about unfamiliar plants we may acquire. In the long cold evenings there should be time to read and learn about other people’s gardens; not only those in our own country, but also enjoying the exotic and unfamiliar gardens in other parts of the world. If it is not possible to travel and see gardens first hand, there are many books and videos that will bring them to life. There is time, too, to study mail order catalogues and order plants for the season ahead.
There will also be time to venture out beyond our own garden gate and discover other people’s gardens. Australia’s Open Garden Scheme, where garden owners Australia wide generously open their gardens to the public is active at a certain time of the year. There is a break from viewing gardens in late autumn and winter. If we acquire the book that lists all the details of the gardens open, we can plan well ahead as to which gardens we would most like to visit. The generosity of garden owners and the time and effort of the many volunteers have made this enterprise an outstanding success.
During winter we should always make time to visit the Royal Botanic Gardens. This, in fact, should be a high priority, for there is so much to see and do and so many activities in which we can take part, which will assist us in learning about plants and also introduce us to other like-minded people. Of course, the Gardens are worth a visit during every season of the year.
The following information is from the Autumn 2004 edition of Botanic News, published quarterly by the Friends of the Botanic Gardens:
Preparations for the 2004 Art of Botanical Illustration Exhibition are under way, and the date and opening hours will be available from the Herbarium, Royal Botanic Gardens. The botanical art displayed at this biennial exhibition is of an exceptionally high standard, and if you have not previously paid a visit you will be impressed by the talent of our botanical artists.
You could also consider joining the Friends of the RBG, and perhaps participate in some of their diverse activities. The full range of the Friends’ activities is found in the Botanic News.
Winter is a magical time to visit the Gardens. While there you could take in the shop at the Herbarium and have a meal at the Observatory Café, where they serve vegetables from the surrounding gardens.
I wonder how many of us have seen or heard of a series of paintings by Anne Marie Graham, titled The Garden for all Seasons. They were on exhibition at the George Adams Gallery at the Arts Centre during April and May. This particular exhibition has now closed, but I will quote from the brochure promoting it:
"The Garden for all Seasons is a triptych recording the Royal Botanic Gardens in a sweeping panorama and was painted in 1983. This work was the genesis for the last series of paintings depicting the Gardens. These beautiful paintings each exploring a different view, bring to life the colour and activity in the Gardens through the changing seasons.
Characteristic of Anne’s unique style, the series is enlivened by balanced composition, by outstanding colour harmonies and an extraordinary eye for detail."
I hear on the grapevine that there is soon to be another exhibition of Graham’s work, so watch for dates and location in the press.
Winter is already with us, so don’t let the grass grow under your feet! There is so much to see and do and we can never learn enough about gardens and plants.
Margaret Matthews gardening archive page
