Thank you for your support

The Galston District Garden Club held the OPEN GARDEN WEEKEND at the end of October, opening eight gardens for the public to ramble through at their leisure.  Friday was a little showery in the morning, but it cleared up for the rest of the weekend.  We had a steady flow of garden lovers admiring the beautiful gardens and the preparation of the gardens by the owners for this event.  All the money raised has been distributed to the charities of choice nominated by the garden owners,  as well as many local charities including the local bushfire brigades

The Club wishes to thank all the garden owners, the Volunteers who “manned” the gates, who served the morning and afternoon teas, sold the plants and books, and the public for supporting this annual event.

A plant that took my eye while rambling through one of the gardens was Lamium. 

It will grow in full sun or partial shade with lovely purple flowers and a variegated leaf.  Colour in a shady spot.  Apparently, it has a sprawling growth habit and does not usually attain a height of more than 200mm but spreads about 3000mm.  The squared, hollow stems branch at the base of the plant and ramble enthusiastically to form a ground cover quickly.  This mat forming perennial ground cover spreads indefinitely over time.  Lamium maculums feature heart shaped or ovate triangular, stunning silver leaves that are sometime slightly fuzzy, spotted, or toothed with long petioles.  The aromatic green leaves have slivery or white variegation, which may be limited to a white or silver stripe along the midvein or spread to cover almost the entire leaf, depending on the cultivar.

Spotted Dead Nettle produces purplish-pink or white flowers that bloom from late springtime through early summer and off and on until autumn.  The flowers helmet-shaped and are formed in the leaf axils of the upper leaf pairs, offering a lengthy floral display.  The sweet hooded or helmet-like blooms are very attractive to bees and other pollinators.

Although this member of the mint family prefers slightly moist soil, the Spotted dead nettle is somewhat drought tolerant.  Like most plants, it is far better to underwater than to overwater.  Once established it may do just fine with natural rainfall.  During times of drought, a deep weekly watering should suffice.  Fertilize twice a year, early spring and midsummer with an all-purpose fertilizer.  Prune as needed to remove dead and damaged stems and maintain the shape and height you desire. 

THE GARLSTON GARDEN CLUB have a break over the Christmas season and the first meeting for 2025 with be on the 12^th February (2^nd Wednesday of each month)  The meetings are held in the Community Hall, 37 Arcadia Road, Galston at 7.30pm.  For further information …..

Email: galstongardenclub@gmail.com