Guest Speakers 2025

21 January – Mary Moody – 70 years of gardening in the Blue Mountains ... read more
Come and celebrate our birthday with a special Morning Tea and Cake.
Mary Moody is an Australian author who trained as a journalist at The Australian Women’s Weekly and was a long-time presenter on Gardening Australia. She has written more than forty gardening books and five memoirs – Au Revoir, Last Tango in Toulouse, The Long Hot Summer, Sweet Surrender and The Accidental Tour Guide. She lives in the Blue Mountains and has supported our club many times in the past.
 
18 February – Neil Sing – Those pesky fruit flies
Neil has vast experience growing fruit as he managed a large orchard in Queensland for many years.  He will explain how to organically eradicate fruit flies from your garden. After the talk Kerrie Lee will demonstrate how to prune hydrangeas at the railway garden. Join us for lunch afterwards at the Alexandra Hotel Leura.
18 March – Seniors Festival
For this special meeting we will have a different format starting at 10.15 am for non members. Enjoy morning tea on arrival followed by formal speakers and ramble through a local garden. Transport is provided to and from the garden for anyone without a car. Come and hear from:
  • Australian Native Plants Rescue Nursery expert speaking about Australian Native Plants: the dos and don’ts to keep your plants thriving.
  • A horticulturist will talk about planting and caring for indoor and outdoor potted plants. The potted plants will be available for purchase.
  • Finally a cooking demonstration on healthy, simple recipes you can try at
    home using garden plants and herbs. Sample tastings and recipe handouts free.

There will also be a raffle on the day. All welcome – $5 for non members.

April 15 TBA

 

Past Years Speakers

2024

16 January – Frances Scarano and Anne Rickwood – Blue Mountains Wild Plant Rescue Service

20 February  – Alexandre FelizAll about Mushrooms

19 March – Bryn Hutchinson – Flower Meadows: Why Grow Them & How to Ensure Their Success

16 April – Rhiannon Phillips, Market Gardening in the Mountains 

21 May – Robert Trinajtic – Water Features

18 June – Robin Johnson – Winter Propagation Workshop

16 July – Lis Bastion  – The Big Fix
20 August – Rhiannon Phillips – Keeping Poultry 
17 September – Sue Carney – Bees in your Garden 
15 October – Mat Murray – Mt Tomah Botanic Garden Turkish delights
19 November – Anthea Hinchliffe – Heritage Roses
10 December – Grandview Hotel Wentworth Falls

2023

17 January – Sharon Baldwin, Author, The Gardeneers, Kids Permaculture 

21 February – Robin Johnson, Propagation and Grafting

21 March – Brenda Lyon – All about Daffodils 

18 April – Robert Trinajiscic from Hedge and Arbour

16 May – Robyn Bible – All about Geraniums and Pelargoniums

20 June – Michael Barnes – Irises

18 July – Matt Stephens – Tree Hollows 

15 August – Bryn Hutchinson – Firdaus Gardens 

19 September – Sue Cunningham – Protecting our Bushland 

17 October – Graham Jurd – In Defence of Ferns

12 December – Christmas Lunch – The Bunker, Leura

2022

bluebell flower
Purple bluebell flower

15 February – Liz Benson, Pollination

15 March – Lis Bastian, About Permaculture 

19 April –  Duncan Leys, My garden

17 May – Oliver Kelly, Frog Habitats 

21 June – Neville Burns, Snakes of the Blue Mountains 

19 July – Peter Green, Pyrolysis and Biochar 

16 August – David White and Bridget Moseley, Leura Garden Festival plus Queens Platinum Morning Tea 

20 September – Vicky Austin, Citizen Science

18 October – Robin Johnson, The gardener through history

15 November – Lyndall Crompton,  Saving the Shipley Apple 

13 December – Grandview Hotel Wentworth Falls