The Fascinating World of Succulents

In the realm of gardening, succulents stand out for their unique beauty, diverse forms, and remarkable resilience. These plants have captivated the hearts of gardeners and home decorators alike, offering an oasis of greenery that thrives with minimal care. So, let’s delves into the world of succulents, exploring their characteristics, benefts, care tips, and why they are an excellent choice for both novice and experienced gardeners.

Succulents are plants that have adapted to arid environments by developing thick, feshy parts to store water. This adaptation allows them to survive in conditions where water is scarce, making them an ideal choice for dry climates and water-wise gardens. Their ability to retain water gives them a distinctive appearance, with leaves that can range from rounded and smooth to spiky or ruffed, in hues that span the rainbow.

One of the most appealing aspects of succulents is their incredible diversity. There are thousands of species, each with its unique shape, size, and colour. From the rosetteforming Echeveria to the towering Saguaro cactus, and from the trailing String of Pearls to the sculptural Aloe vera, there’s a succulent to suit every taste and space. This diversity allows enthusiasts to create varied collections and explore the vast range of forms and textures these plants offer.

Benefts of Growing Succulents:

• Low Maintenance: Succulents require minimal watering, making them perfect for those with busy lifestyles or beginners looking to green their space without the commitment required by more demanding plants.

• Air Purifying: Like other houseplants, succulents help purify the air by absorbing toxins and producing oxygen, enhancing indoor air quality.

• Therapeutic: The act of caring for succulents can have therapeutic effects, reducing stress and promoting a sense of well-being.

• Decorative Flexibility: Succulents are incredibly versatile in decor, ftting seamlessly into various design schemes, from modern minimalist to boho chic. Despite their reputation for being hardy, succulents do require some basic care to thrive:

• Light: Most succulents prefer bright, indirect light. A south or east-facing window is ideal. Some species may tolerate direct sunlight, but it’s essential to acclimate them gradually to prevent sunburn.

• Watering: Overwatering is the most common cause of succulent death. Allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings, and then water thoroughly. In winter, reduce watering to once a month or less, depending on the humidity and temperature of your environment.

• Soil: Use a welldraining soil mix designed for cacti and succulents. This ensures excess water drains quickly, preventing root rot.

One of the joys of succulent gardening is the ease of propagation. Many succulents can be propagated from leaves or stem cuttings, making it simple to expand your collection or share with friends. Gently twist a leaf from the stem, let it callous over for a few days, and then place it on top of soil. With minimal care, roots and a new plant will emerge, offering a rewarding experience for gardeners of all levels.

Succulents offer endless possibilities for creative displays, from terrariums and fairy gardens to wreaths and wall art. Their structural beauty makes them ideal for creating living sculptures, and their low water needs allow for innovative installations in unexpected places. Whether grouped in a container for a striking centrepiece or spread throughout a landscape for drought-tolerant gardening, succulents bring life and beauty to any setting.

Succulents are more than just plants; they are a gateway to an engaging and low-maintenance form of gardening. Their adaptability and striking appearance make them suitable for various uses, from enhancing indoor air quality to creating breath-taking garden displays. By following simple care guidelines, even those new to gardening can enjoy the wide array of benefts these remarkable plants offer. As we continue to seek sustainable and water-wise gardening practices, succulents stand out as a testament to nature’s ingenuity, offering beauty and resilience in the face of challenging environments.

HAMBLY, Ian Leslie

Passed away 2nd March 2024 Late of Lennox Head.

Dearly Loved husband of Colleen. Loved Father and Father In Law of Tony & Lyndie, Debbie & Monique. Grandfather “Father” of Joseph, Olivia and Helaina. Loving Brother of May Gregor. Will be sadly missed by all his relatives, friends and carers. Aged 75 Years “Forever In Our Hearts”

As per Ian’s wishes, a private cremation has been held.

Annie Mae Middleton

Nee: Mount eld Late of McLeans Ridges. Passed away on 27th February, aged 92 years.

Dearly loved wife of Robert ‘Bob’ (decd). Loved Mother and Mother-in-law of Gail, Steven, Carolyn (all dec’d) and their spouses, and Stuart and Louise. Cherished Nanna to her 9 grandsons.

Relatives and friends are warmly invited to attend Annie’s funeral service to be held at St Bartholomew’s Anglican Church, Alstonville on Monday March 11th, at 10:00am.

Auction List:

Kubota RTV X1120D with power steering and tip tray 810hrs, Retracom 8 Pallet 3 fan Cool room, Triton 4cyc 3L Ute with ali tray Nov 07 176,000kms, LQ of Steel Cattle Panels & Gates, qty of man gates, Same Taurus Dozer 1029hrs 2.5m Blade including Slasher, Deep Rippers and Winch, Kubota M7040 4WD Tractor 1503hrs with LA1153

Loader & 8’ Bucket, MF 353 4WD Tractor 789hrs, Quik Spray with two reels and remotes, Costos Hyd. Post Driver, MF 373 4WD Tractor 4444hrs, 6’ Superior Slasher, Hyd. Berends 8’ Grader Blade, Agrihaus Soft Bale

Grab Loader, 9 Tyne Rippers, MF 7

Tyne Rippers, as new Teven Vet Cattle Crush, 6’ K Series Slasher, Silvan 600L Spray Unit, Selecta

Diesel Tank, Qty of various new Farm Gates and Barb Wire, Silvan 400L Hose Reel, Lister fully reconditioned diesel Motor, Pee Wee 50cc Bike, Honda CTX200 Farm Bike, Old Scooter, RI Small Crop Irrigator, qty. Irrigation hoses and sprays, Dryer & Cooling small crop fan, As new Molasses 20,000L Tank, Spray Tanks, 600L PTO Spray Unit, Roll of Flexi Hose, Yard Belting, Varius Yard Panels & Bows, Railing, Steel Fence Post, Concrete Post, Dog Fence

Post, 3PL Forks, Steel Stays, Wire Stays, 2 Elec. Compressors 50L 2HP, 3PL Bale Spike, Carry All, 1T & 2T Self Feeders, 5’ Rotary Hoe, Back Rub Frame, 6m x 400mm Poly Pipe, 3PL Pump, Jarrett 16 plate off set Disc, Berends 5’ Rear Blade, Jarrett 8 Tyne Chisel Plough, 3 Disc Plough, 4’ Rotary Hoe, Pasture Harrows, Wire Security Gates, Qty of 2nd Hand Iron, Farm Pajero and heaps of Tools, small machinery & Sundries.

Warnings

See www.bom.gov.au/australia/warnings

Northern Rivers District:

Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower near the Queensland border. Light winds.

Thursday. Partly cloudy. The chance of morning fog inland. Slight chance of a shower. Light winds becoming easterly 15 to 20 km/h during the afternoon then becoming light during the evening.

Northern Tablelands District:

Partly cloudy. Winds easterly 15 to 20 km/h becoming light during the morning then becoming easterly 15 to 20 km/h during the afternoon.

Thursday. Mostly sunny. The chance of morning fog. Slight chance of a shower in the north. The chance of a storm in the south in the afternoon and evening. Light winds becoming east to southeasterly 15 to 25 km/h during the day.

New South Wales:

Fine apart from the chance of a shower in the northeast. Mostly sunny. Daytime temperatures near average in the northeast and above average elsewhere, most notably over the southern inland. North to northeasterly winds near the coast, freshening in the south later. Northeast to northwesterly winds inland, tending southerly in the southwest.

Thursday. Isolated showers in the northeast. The chance of isolated afternoon showers or storms about the ranges and central inland. Fine and partly cloudy elsewhere. Daytime temperatures above average, most notably over the southern inland. North to northeasterly winds near the coast, shifting southerly in the south later. Southeast to northeasterly winds inland.

Byron Coast: Winds: East to southeasterly 10 to 15 knots decreasing to about 10 knots during the afternoon. Seas: Below 1 metre. Swell: Southerly 2 to 3 metres inshore, increasing to 2.5 to 4 metres offshore south of Yamba. Weather: Partly cloudy.

Coffs Coast: Winds: East to northeasterly about 10 knots. Seas: Below 1 metre. Swell: Southerly 2 to 3 metres inshore, increasing to 2.5 to 4 metres offshore. Weather: Partly cloudy.

Gold Coast Waters: Winds: Southeasterly 15 to 20 knots turning easterly 10 to 15 knots during the evening. Seas: Around 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres offshore north of Point Lookout. Swell: Southerly 1 to 1.5 metres inshore, increasing to 2 to 2.5 metres offshore. Weather: Partly cloudy.

Low:3:30am0.2m

The Casino RSM Cavaliers Cricket Club travelled to Ballina on Saturday to take on the Bears in the fnal round of the LJ Hooker Premier League 2-day competition.

With the Cavaliers sitting in fourth on the ladder, it was an important game to cement their position and continue to build momentum in their charge to the fnals.

Ballina won the toss and elected to bat on what looked like a fat deck, with hot humid conditions prevailing.

The Cavaliers got off to a dream start, with both Matt Jeacock (9 overs 1/34) and Olly

Walker (11 overs 1/18) clean bowling both openers to have Ballina in all sorts at 2/5. Matt and Olly both bowled great opening spells, continually beating the outside edge of the bat and putting the Cavaliers on top. With the bowlers continuing to bang away on a good line and length, the runs were hard to come by as the Cavaliers pushed to maintain the pressure on the new batsmen.

Ballina looked to fghtback, putting on 59 runs for the 3rd wicket, before the wily veteran Al Nowlan was introduced into the attack. Pushing into a stiff breeze, Al was able to use all of the tricks in his bag to make the vital breakthrough, with a great catch taken by Lawrence Walker to help get the Cavaliers up and about.

Al struck again shortly afterwards to have the Bears in trouble at 4/76. Al bowled a tremendous frst spell of 9 straight overs and showed he is still a force.

Cooper Mulcahy (9 overs 1/14) bowling in a purple patch of form was also bowling a tight line and length and with good pace down breeze. Cooper made the key breakthrough just before tea, removing Cox (54) with a cracking delivery,

CASINO RSM

WOMEN’S BOWLS

RESULTS

The results for social bowls on Wednesday 28/2 were:

Annette James/ Jan

Dwyer, Nancy Moran, Denise Skinner & Raelene Skirrey def

Annette James/Jan

Dwyer, Tanya Maxwell, Denise Grice & Ivy Watson.

In the other game the winners were:

Jan Cooke, Julie

Creighton & Kay

Jonsson def

Marlene Jordan & Maria Hellyar & Mary Mead

CASINO SOCIAL GOLF RESULTS

03-03-2024

Due to the lack of players, there was no competition last Sunday so the monthly medal round will roll over to next Sunday and the sponsor is Gumbo Pies. Visitors are welcome to play with hit off from 6-30am till 7-30am.

CHERRY STREET CROQUET CLUB

12 R Poynting N.Poynting 20 d J.Doust N.Watts 12

J.Hannigan 12 d

N.Barnes 10

R.Sparks J.Bate 12 d

M.Russell 9

C.Edlund P.Bolte 12 d

D.Jones R.Allen 11

TOURNAMENTS:

Bribie Island Association Croquet

Singles Division 3 : L.Bray 1, S.Oaten 2, I.Carr 3, P.Waters 4.

Division 4 : J.Rule 1, J Walker 2, G Connolly 3, J.Pool 4.

Qld Mens Open just clipping the bails, to have Ballina at 5/99 off 38 overs at tea.

Lawrence Walker (8 overs 2/12) bowling his right arm off-spinners kept the pressure on. As the runs dried up, the wickets began to fall, as the Cavaliers pushed the felders in around the bat, looking to clean up the tail. Lawrence took two wickets back- toback, to have the Bears at 7/105.

As the Bears looked to shut up shop and dig-in, captain Vidler went back to Al Nowlan to rap up the tail. In the very frst ball of his spell, Al struck, with a well- judged catch by Matt Jeacock.

Jed Mulcahy then swooped on the ball at mid-off, with a bullet arm, to keeper Vidler, to have the Ballina batsmen just short of the crease, in a slick piece of felding.

Then it was left to Al Nowlan (11.5 overs 4/24) to fnish the Bears innings off at 134 from 55.5 overs.

It was a top effort from the ageless warrior who is still loving his cricket.

All the bowlers did a tremendous job, bowling tight lines and giving the batsmen very little to score off. It was particularly pleasing to see every catch taken in the feld.

The Cavaliers then had a diffcult 1 hour to bat. With Ballina pushing hard for early wickets, the Cavaliers fnished at 2/20 from 16 overs at stumps.

Marist Brothers forfeited to the Cavaliers on Sunday in the T20 competition. The win will see the Cavaliers playing in the T20 fnals next Sunday.

All the players will be looking forward to fnally playing fnals cricket after a couple of re-building years. It’s a great reward for everyone’s hard work and dedication in becoming a force again.

Singles Golf Croquet

Championships :

B.Martin 1, G.Giles 2, C.D.Venn 3, D Green 4.

Club Metting Thursday 7th March 12md.

All new players very welcome.

Play days Tuesday, Thursday, Sundays 9am.

CORAKI VETERANS GOLF RESULTS

THURSDAY 29/2/24

Only 44 golfers today winner G Binks, 2nd D Vagne, 3rd A Parr, free game W Swindle, chicken/ball winners D Knox, M Fairfull. T Doyle, R Black, J Voght, P Bruggy, J Kelly, G Gibson, P Brophy, P Smith, S McDonough. Nearest pins 3rd/12th J Sauer, 6th/15th B

McDonald. Golfers please note on a vote last week we have decided to keep the 8.00am hit off for another month don’t be late. This Thursday will be the Monthly Medal for March.

AS USUAL TILL

THEN GOOD GOLFING EVANS HEAD WOMENS BOWLS

Winter Triples Round 5 played 21-02-24

B. Hancock, G. Marczan, K. Keevers defeated V. Forshaw, K. Robson, P. Freeman. J. Beckett, L. Stratton (sub), S. Downs defeated M. Adams, A. Viney (sub), L. Vidler.. J. Williams, K.

Townsend, E. Gollan defeated S. Maxwell, M. Carey, J. Fernance.

M. McPherson, A. Eyles, V. Hart BYE Round 6 -

J. Williams, K.

Townsend, E. Gollan defeated B. Hancock, G. Marczan, K. Keevers.

M. Adams, A. Viney (sub), L. Vidler defeated M. McPherson, A. Eyles, V. Hart.

S. Maxwell, M. Carey, J. Fernance defeated V. Forshaw, K. Robson, P. Freeman.

J. Beckett, L. Stratton (sub), S. Downs BYE. Final Round 23-02-24.

By Tim Howard

Harwood has prepared itself for the Clarence River Cricket Association frst grade semi-fnals with a thumping 143-run win over Tucabia Copmanhurst at Harwood Oval.

Resuming at 1/60 in reply to Tucabia’s meagre 109, Harwood passed that mark two-wickets down and proceeded to use the rest of the innings as batting practice for its top order, racking up 7/252 before the rain came to end play.

Opener Maison Simmons was unlucky to miss a half century, dismissed on 49 after an innings that mixed stoic defence with belligerence.

While he soaked up 137 balls for his 49, his innings included three sixes and a couple of fours that lit up long periods of defence.

The rest of the order cashed in on the opportunity, with captain and leading run getter Ben McMahon keeping his form intact with 47 to second top score.

Coby Tabor, 38, was one of three of Harwood’s middle order to make useful contributions. Evan Lewis and Josh Lane each score 34 and the other batters made double fgures in a good hit out ahead of the fnals.

Rain probably robbed premiers GDSC Easts of a morale-boosting win against the high fying Lawrence outft at Lower Fisher Turf.

Chasing Easts 209 Lawrence were 5/128 and would not have considered themselves out of the game with skipper Nathan Ensbey 29no and the explosive Doug Harris 19no when rain stopped play.

Easts spinners David Duroux and Andrew Kinnane had secured four of the fve wickets and had made scoring diffcult.

Earlier Mark Ensbey had top scored with 37.

Duroux was the pick of the Easts bowlers with 2/18 from 13 overs of left-arm orthodox spinners.

Kinnane’s off-breaks were also effective snaring 2/26. Luke Hayman picked up the other wicket to fall.

Rain ruined the third game of the round with Souths Westlawn 4/131 chasing 216 against Coutts Crossing. A frst innings win for Coutts would have given them enough points to take a semi-fnal berth.

Resuming at 6/143 and with 11 overs to bat Coutts made the most of their opportunities to fnish on 216.

Noel O’Connell did a lot of the damage with a pugnacious 41 to boost the score above 200.

Souths Westlawn chased vigorously in the 28 overs they had to bat and felt they had a chance to pull off a win when rain stopped play.

Brenden Cotten was 55 not out when players left the feld due to bad light and lightning strikes. Then rain set in ending any possibility of further play.

Souths player Anthony Dickson said the weather ruined a good afternoon of cricket.

“We were going for it,” he said. “Cotto was still there and we had plenty of batting to come. It just wasn’t meant to be.”

Saturday’s semi-fnals pits the top two on the table, Harwood and Lawrence against each other at Harwood Oval.

The elimination fnal will be a contest between GDSC Easts and Tucabia at Ellem Oval.

Both games will be played over the Saturday and Sunday of the weekend.

Playing times have altered with Saturday’s play beginning at 12.30pm and on Sunday play begins at 10.25am.