Gardeners get head-start on August competition ideas
The following members must take two plates of snacks each, with each plate to contain at least 10 portions: P Watkins, G Barnes, B Beard, J Buitendag, Z Catlett, B Coetzee and P Stewart.
NATALIA Garden Club’s president opened the July meeting with a prayer, as usual and welcomed everyone present, especially visitors Donna Frank and Isobel Dobie.
She welcomed Pam Theeruth and her husband Poken back to the club.
Jeanne Buitendag demonstrated how easy it can be to make a heart-shaped planter, ideal for the miniature succulent garden, which is the one of the competitions for August.
Marie Pistorius spoke on the use of plants throughout the ages and how some of the age-old remedial properties of these plants, like frankincense and cedar wood oil, are still being used in modern medicine.
The club donated some bags of compost and put some plants in the planter box outside the Bluff municipal clinic, transforming the drab exterior of the building into something very attractive. Sister Grace Mufamadi, who is in charge of the clinic, has expressed her pleasure and thanks the garden club for this gesture.
Margaret Everett thanked all who had brought plants for the Thembela fete.
Birthday wishes and gifts went to those who had birthdays in July. Door and raffle prizes were won by Jeanne Buitendag and Betty McGeorge. The 100 club draw was won by Russel Jones, who donated his share to the sandwich fund.
Competition results were as follows:
Decorative: M Auguste 6,5, M Jones, E Devine and D du Plessis 6; L van Jaarsveld 5.
Culture: N Brown 10, C Kotze 9,5 and G Barnes 9.
Best bloom or spray: C Kotze 10, M Dunn, J Huygens, D du Plessis and L van Jaarsveld 9, N Brown 8. Best orchid: M Dunn 10,C Kotze and L van Jaarsveld 9,5, N Brown 8.
From my garden: D du Plessis, J Huygens, C Kotze and B Beard 10, M Dunn 9,5, N Brown and E Pickster 9. Best pot plant: C Kotze 10, N Brown and D du Plessis 9, J Huygens and B Beard 8,5.
The next meeting is on 14 August at the Pigeon Club, Tara Road, at 9.30am. Visitors are welcome. The speaker is Desmond D’sa, who did South Africa proud by being named as one of the six worldwide recipients of the international 2014 Goldman Environmental prize.
The following members must take two plates of snacks each, with each plate to contain at least 10 portions: P Watkins, G Barnes, B Beard, J Buitendag, Z Catlett, B Coetzee and P Stewart.
