The first meeting of 2011 Garden Club was held on Tuesday 8 February at The Vonda Youngman Community Centre in North Tamborine.
Despite the inclement weather many enthusiastic garden lovers attended.
Large tables lined the length of the hall laden with plants and cuttings, many from the beautiful Botanic Gardens, which had been propagated and donated by the Potty Potters.
Leonie Rowe, secretary of the club told The Daily Star that "all proceeds from the sale of the plants, would be donated to the Premier's Flood Appeal."
President, Ron Gordon welcomed everyone back to what is going to be an activity-packed 2011 for garden enthusiasts.
On a somber note, he expressed is sympathy for the victims of the recent widespread flooding and announced the donation of the proceeds will become part of the Flood Appeal.
In March the Garden Club will be holding elections for the Executive Committee and he encouraged members to nominate for one of the number of positions available and to " share your unique talents and enthusiasm for the good of yourself, your fellow club members and the broader community."
The Garden Club President also asked for help in the upcoming fund raising in "Springtime the Mountain" or "helping our with a myriad of other tasks that make our Club function".
Finally he announced that a new agreement had been signed with the Scenic Rim Regional Council in regard to managing the Botanic Gardens.
This is an important development for The Botanic Gardens as it "establishes a cooperative and clear working relationship, provides certainty for the next 5 years and clarifies the responsibilities of both organisations", he said. Copies will be made available for borrowing from the Library from next month.
The guest speakers at the meeting were Marj Simonsen and Elwyn Paton who took those present on a fascinating tour of "Beautiful Country Gardens in Victoria".
One of the many spectacular gardens open for "Australia’s Open Garden Scheme" was that of Dame Elisabeth Murdoch at Cruden Farm, Langwarrin near Melbourne.
Dame Elisabeth Murdoch's magnficent gardens. Photo: ABC Gardening
Photographs taken of the Victorian gardens by Marj and Elwyn were projected onto a large screen at the front of the hall.
At Cruden Farm, Langwarrin, the audience was taken along a driveway lined with lemon scented Eucalyptus which like all the trees on the property, had been planted by Dame Elisabeth herself.
Black Angus cattle happily grazed in the lush paddocks and wide walkways bordered with perennials meandered along to white wooden benches in tranquil settings.
The main house, "like something out of Gone With The Wind" according to Marj, sits majestically amongst the gardens of poplars, rare oaks and magnificent Rhododendrons.
A mature Rhododendron in full flower stands next to the house and they were told by their guide that this Rhododendron flowers each year in time for Melbourne Cup Day!
The next meeting of The Garden Club will be on Tuesday 8 March at the Vonda Youngman Community Centre where the Guest Speaker will be Roy Bilbie on the subject or "Vireyas and Hoyas".
For more information on what's happening with the Tamborine Mountain Garden Club in 2011, you can visit their website at: www.tmbotanicgardens.org.au