Fifty Lakes Entrance Garden Club members and visitors attended the June meeting on a sunny but cold winter day.
Guest speaker was Tanja, the owner of the Bruthen Heritage Tearooms, who spoke talking about how she got involved with the Bairnsdale Show.
Tanja was making scones, jam and cream for her cafe and thought it would be a good idea and a bit promotional for her to enter in the Bairnsdale Show.
Then the next year in the jams and preserves section she made apricot and fig jam, apple jelly, marmalade, chutneys and it just went on and on.
She wrote an article for the local newsletter the Tambo Rambler on locals who were entering the show. Then she had to interview herself and the quote that got her into horticulture exhibiting was “If you want to make award winning jam, you need to start with award winning fruit”.
The first year it was lemons then it snowballed with silverbeet, rhubarb, roses, etc. She would go through the garden and pick something and spend hours sorting it all.
And the next thing she knew she had won a perpetual trophy – to see her name on the trophy just made her want to do it again.
She went on to win many ribbons and trophies. She has entered the show for many years and enjoys meeting people and often gets to see the same people from last year for a catch up.
She has just taken over the stewardship of the horticultural section of the Bairnsdale Show. Tanja is interested in the language used by the garden club on the show bench – easy to understand, clear cut. She wants to re-write the Bairnsdale Show schedule in a similar style.
As a steward – although finding it hard – she will retire from exhibiting.
Tanja mentioned she was hoping to find some people to help the exhibitors to display their entries in the best way. Tanja is encouraging all garden club members to enter in the show – the horticultural section was looking empty last year especially in the floral section.
It was all members judging in June and what beautiful show bench entries they had to choose from. Shirley Bardwell gave a lively commentary on the showbench and there were many different types of flowers from late roses, orchids, camelia, hellebore, many bright natives, amazing terrariums and fresh vegetables and fruit.
In the five cuts section Sheryl MacCubbin was first with purple flowers of salvia and gorgeous orchids plus bright foliage. Ann Barker was second with beautiful wattle, banksia and kangaroo paw surrounded with foliage.
Natives in a basket section was won by Diane McStay’s stunning entry in shades of lemon, gold and a pop of pink. Second was Ann Barker’s entry in mainly bright pinks.
The plant growing in an unusual pot section was full of funny little pots. First from Sheryl MacCubbin was dark burgundy leaved, pink flowering oxalis grown in a pot that is short sighted – as it was complete with spectacles. Second was a pot that was like an angry person with a fern growing out of its head – a lot of fun.
The bits and pieces section is strictly no flowers – so use your imagination. Equal firsts went to Shirley Bardwell with her entry a recycled one from last months floral art and Diane McStay with a bright entry full of different coloured berries. Second was Dearne Albert. Shirley’s entry was best exhibit of the day. Shirley said it has lasted in the vase for a month and she just added a few pieces to brighten it up – just goes to show what you can do.
The next Lakes Entrance Garden Club meeting is Monday, July 15, at 1.30pm, at the Lakes Entrance Mechanics Hall. Visitors are always welcome.
IMAGE: Diane McStay’s entry won the natives in a basket section. (PS)
