THIS month Queanbeyan marks its 175th birthday and among the celebrations is the opening of the Sensory Gardens in Ray Morton Park, near the Riverside Park, at 1.30pm, on Saturday, September 28.

Right now, the council’s Parks and Recreation staff are putting the finishing touches to what I understand was the idea of councillor Trudy Taylor.

The raised stone walls and wide paths provide wheelchair access to all areas of the garden. A wide variety of small trees, shrubs and perennials have been planted to enhance the senses of sight, touch and smell. These include lavenders, geraniums, rosemary and a variety of herbs.

Mayor Tim Overall said recent additions to the gardens included some amazing sculptures and hands-on musical instruments and a series of Aboriginal totems by the Ngambrii people would be included.

Two unique structures, or I should say works of art, by the council’s Alan Neal include the designer gate, in which he used old farm and garden tools to reflect the hard work of the early pioneers and his large free-standing metal design entitled “Clayton”.

A series of specially handcrafted ceramic tiles are embedded on the top of the walls. The idea was a partnership between the council and the Richmond Fellowship. The tiles are the work of many of the Richmond Fellowship clients, young people experiencing social and behavioural challenges and long-term unemployment.

I would like to congratulate Tim Overall and the Queanbeyan City Council and, in particular, the Parks and Recreation staff. The city has more than 50 parks, the largest being Riverside Park. They are all very well maintained year round, along with an excellent city-wide tree planting and maintenance program.

The city’s birthday celebrations, all centred in and around Ray Morton Park on September 28, will include an historical transport parade led by HMAS Harman personnel in a special “Freedom of Entry Parade”.

 

 

 

Jottings…

 

•  If you are selling your home, please don’t cover your gardening sins of neglect and weeds with a layer of mulch.
• And real estate agents take note: a “fully landscaped garden” is not a patch of lawn with a tree in the middle!
• Unless you have decided where to put new plants, stop buying them. I visit gardens with dozens of plants sitting around in pots for, sometimes, years. Then I am asked for planting ideas but by then they are totally root bound!
• As we go into spring, look out for the logo of possibly the best range of perennial plants in Australia grown by Plant Growers of Australia, the Victorian company that supplies almost every garden centre across the country. I use their plants almost exclusively in our garden because of their excellent quality. For Cedric’s and his clients’ gardens, only the best will do!