May 2023 Newsletter
Hello Gardeners
Here's an update on this month's activities, events and what’s growing in the garden.
What’s Been Happening
Autumn Plant Sale Wrap Up
Our Autumn Plant Sale was a great success. A massive thanks to everyone who came along to the garden on the day and an even bigger thanks to our volunteers for their efforts up to and on the day.
We sold heaps of plants, had a successful tour of the garden, got to share quite an assortment of garden-grown produce with our visitors and the sausage sizzle sold out.
From a personal point of view, it was lovely to meet so many of you and let you know all about the different produce we grow and our wonderful garden.
Garden Security
We now have two security cameras installed. They are monitoring the garden 24/7,
We would like to acknowledge the grant The City of Holdfast Bay council provided the garden for the purchase the security cameras.
Upcoming Events
Working Bee
When: Sunday 4th June at 10am
Where: North Brighton Community Garden (parking off Brimble St)
What to Bring: Gardening gloves, water bottle, sunscreen & hat
Working Bees are a great way to get involved in the garden and to get to know your fellow community gardeners.
There is a job for all abilities. Any time you can spare to help would be great.
New Member Orientation
When: Sunday the 4th June at 11am
Where: North Brighton Community Garden, (parking off Brimble St)
Recently joined as a garden member or want to learn about what we do and how you can be involved in the garden, come along to a new member orientation session. No booking required.
Wednesday Morning Tea
When: Every Wednesday 10 to 11am(ish)
Where: North Brighton Community Garden, (parking off Brimble St)
Have a world-famous brownie recipe? Bring it along to our regular social event where everyone is welcome to come along for a cuppa, chat and share a bite to eat. We’ll often stay back to do a few jobs as well.
What to bring: Gardening gloves, drink bottle, plate of food to share (encouraged but not compulsory)
Get involved with the garden!
There are a number of ways you can help out at the garden, get involved with the garden community and meet like-minded people. This includes helping with propagating, looking after garden beds, watering, creating signs or creating mosaic projects.
Let us know by emailing northbrightoncg@gmail.com if you can help with any of the following or would like more information.
House (garden) Keeping
Member Plots + missing produce
Reminder, that the plots on the left-hand side of the garden when you walk into the garden are leased by members. Members put a lot of time, money and effort into growing produce for their own use. Please don’t pick any produce from these plots without permission. If you see any of the general public doing so, please politely ask them to stop.
If unsure of what produce is available to garden members, please ask before taking.
What’s growing in the garden
Not only do we grow plants, there are lots of insects that live and grow in the garden. One of my favorite parts of visiting the garden during the warmer months is observing Monarch butterflies and taking photographs of their different lifecycle stages. During summer our milkweed plant played host (feed) to 30+ Monarch caterpillars on a single day (I counted them). This month I’m sharing a few interesting facts on Monarch butterflies.
Monarch Butterflies
Monarch butterflies were introduced to Australia in the 1870s, they originated in North America.
The female Monarch will lay between 290 to 1180 eggs over her life, and eggs take 3 to 8 days to develop into the caterpillar. Caterpillars eat for 4 weeks; The caterpillar then spins a silk pad, hangs upside down and forms a beautiful green chrysalis that takes 8-10 days to change into a butterfly.
The caterpillar host plant is Milkweed or Swan plant. Milkweed is named for its milky sap, which consists of a latex containing alkaloids and several other complex compounds including cardenolides. This makes the caterpillars and butterflies poisonous, but only if you eat them!
Things to do in the garden
Sow or plant a second round of winter vegetables.
Plant and/or transplant deciduous trees.
Foliar (leaf) feed citrus/evergreens from now and through winter.
Autumn is a great time to propagate new plants from cuttings. Take hardwood cuttings from herbs such as rosemary, sage thyme and lavender.
Plan your crops for spring then buy/source seeds.
If anything needs building, do it now while it’s cool and easy digging.
Autumn is a good time to establish a worm farm (except in frost prone districts) as it gives the worms plenty of time to settle in before the main breeding season in spring.
Happy Gardening
Lisa & North Brighton Community Garden Committee