Hi everyone,

I do hope you have been enjoying Spring.  I often express the love/hate relationship I have with spring to those around me.  I am completely enraptured by greeting my favourite flowers again, watching the bird activity of nest building and raising new chicks, and a faithful pair of Blue Tongues who come back and breed under my deck each year – surprising me in the garden periodically and inquisitively watching me while I work.  This is offset by the crazy schedule of weed control before the annual grasses set seed, getting the last plants in the ground for the year, starting a new season in the nursery while winding up the old season’s plants, and bracing ourselves for the seed collecting season.

We love to show off the Arb during this time too.  The grounds really are glorious and we have been lucky to have been filmed recently by Gardening Australia with presenter Millie Ross.  The session will show next year sometime – stay tuned!  We also had a lovely Wildflower day at the end of October with our local favourite people, (Janet, Justus, Bronte and Charlotte)  presenting – engaging kids and adults with flower filled activities and some management tips for grasslands.  Nicki Munroe, specialist in burrowing Australian mammals, also joined us and kept us very entertained with yarns about Bilbies and Bandicoots.  If you missed the wildflower day or haven’t been for a visit lately, drop in and have a walk.  It really is a lovely time to be wandering through the grassland.

We’ve had a few new additions to our team of late.  We welcome Rose Young who will be taking over from Angus Thompson as our commercial manager – assisting us with business planning, staffing and our strategic direction and partnerships.  Angus has been trying to retire for some time, so we will eventually let him step back.  Angus has been  instrumental in assisting us to grow the Arb business and become more self sustaining.  His advice and direction have been invaluable.  Jemma Norman has joined the nursery team and assists Fearghus in the nursery with growing and selling plants.  You may have had a chat with Jemma lately if you’ve been in for some plants.  Our bush crew have been out and about and will be busy over summer with seed collection work.  Nellie Watson and Steph Brophy join Mim and Joe on the bush crew – planting, weed control and soon to be busy picking seed.

While the nursery will close the door for the year on Thursday 16^th November, rest assured we will still be working away!  Volunteers are always welcome to assist with seed or nursery work.  We will be back again in March 2024 for fresh plants in the nursery, or you can catch us for last minute plants at the Euroa Farmers Market every 3^rd Saturday of the month.

Thanks everyone for your continued support.  Regards Cath

Cathy Olive – Development Officer

Euroa Arboretum