It was a rather large meeting this month with 72 members in attendance.

Our Vice President opened the meeting and regaled us with tales of her childhood experiences with gardening.  She spoke about her grandparent introduced her to so many of the practices that she uses today such as sifting soil.

Five members presented a few lovely blooms for Flora of the Month

• Stephen Wedd – Dahlia ‘Bangalow Ruby’ and D. ‘Barbara Elaine’
• Julia Bambery – Vanda orchid ‘Princess Mikasa White’ from tropical Asia. Grown in open basket. Zelenkoa onusta, Dancing Lady Orchid. Small yellow flowers. From Ecuador and Peru.
• Lesley Player – Carphalea kirondron ‘Flaming Beauty’
• Fay Bogg – White Cane Begonia

Our Guest Speaker was Paul Martens from Hanging Rock Flowers. Paul a florist and cut flower and foliage grower with a background in landscape contracting.  Paul has a flower farm near Kyogle, and grows local and non-native flowers and foliage for his florist business in Lismore. Paul’s farm suffered losses during the floods last year but had replanted and is trialling growing non-local natives and has had mixed results especially with Western Australian plants. Paul described how the plants are planted, pruned and the culture that has produced best results. He does not fertilise his plants.

Paul showed examples of the lovely plants that is grown and sold in his business.

The meeting ended with a lovely afternoon tea once again provided by a group of members for which we were all grateful.