September, what a month it was.

No rain whatsoever and a heat wave, temperatures in the high 30s the result is that the ground is warmer than usual so everything will be early.

The Black Sapotes which we usually pick in November are ripening on the tree and unfortunately the Flying Foxes have found them.

The Possums have found the ‘Nam Doc Mi’ Mango tree and are determined to strip every leaf off it and no matter what I try I cannot stop them, I have set traps, put toilet blocks in the tree, bought electronic repellents and a special wood chip and still they come.

On the 13^th we had a bus trip from Esk ‘Valley of the Lakes’ Garden Club, they are a great club and really enjoyed the garden but being so dry it was difficult to prepare.

On the 26^th we visited ‘The Gap’ Garden Club, again a great club with almost 100 members in attendance. I gave my new presentation ‘Clever Gardening’ which was very well received.

Then on the 30^th another bus load of visitors from the ‘Bundaberg Garden Group’, again the garden was dry but they knew that as they are suffering the same as we are.

I have found a really good product Rocky Point ‘Active 8, finding it great to add to the vegetable garden and flowering plants like Daylilies and Hippeastrums and it’s not expensive.

We are now in ‘Open Garden’ mode and this year will be our 15^th opening and I am sorry to say our last.

It is getting harder and harder each year and all our helpers are getting older and older so we have made the decision that 2017 will be our last, we still plan to have a couple of plant sales a year where people can walk the garden but it will not be the big deal opening with catering, raffles ect.

As I am writing this I can hear the sound of light rain, here’s hoping I have better news in my October blog.