Autumn
14
14
News
Wednesday May 9, 2012
Brigitte and Petra’s excellent exhibition
Chrysanthemum care
“Pigment and Clay”, an exhibition of paintings and ceramics by two well known Cooma artists, Brigitte Mackay and Petra Murphy, opened at the Raglan Gallery last Saturday. Petra and Brigitte’s previous combined exhibition at the Raglan was “Rustico Italiano” in 2006 which featured ceramics and paintings with an Italian flavour. Their latest exhibition explores the artists’ love of nature and the environment and showcases Brigitte’s iconic still life paintings in oils, acrylic and water colour as well as pastels, drawings and printmaking. The opening attracted a big crowd with plenty of sales made in a very short time. The artists are pictured celebrating in front of some of their work.
Week 2
It’s fair to say that chrysanthemums have faded a little in popularity. They used to be grown extensively in gardens but these days they’re most often seen as an indoor flowering plant. One thing hasn’t changed, though. Chrysanthemums (in this case, the potted varieties) are still invariably associated with Mother’s Day. By happy chance, their long, nearly-unpronounceable name ends in ‘mum’ and their flowering coincides with Mother’s Day. Chrysanthemums flower in autumn because their blooming is triggered by shortening days. We’re all aware that flowering can be affected by temperature but it’s less well known that light levels play an important role, too. This means that chrysanthemums in glasshouses can be manipulated to have their flowering occur on cue. For most of us, our initial experience with a chrysanthemum will be as a potted indoor plant. Keep the pot in a well-lit position and regularly remove dead flowers and leaves. Water at the base so that the leaves stay as dry as possible, and don’t overwater. Remember, an indoor plant doesn’t require anything like as much water as the same plant would if grown outdoors. When the plant stops flowering, you have a choice. Either take it out of the pot and add it to the compost, or plant it into a sunny garden bed. Water in with some Yates Uplift Root Booster. This helps the plant to settle in, and Uplift’s natural soil wetter component will ensure that moisture gets right through to the roots. Chrysanthemum plants are very good value. They require only the most basic of care and can last for years. Feed every so often with some easy-to-apply Yates Acticote or Garden Gold. Large parts of the plant will die back after flowering, leaving a low clump of new shoots emerging from the base. These new shoots are much favoured by snails, so spread a light sprinkling of Blitzem or Baysol pellets to protect them. At the end of winter, trim back any remaining dead stems and feed again. In spring the plants will send up tall, upright shoots. Pinch these back two or three times before the end of the year. This will encourage a bushier growth habit. Pests and diseases As well as the snails and slugs already mentioned, watch out for aphids. When they first appear and their numbers are small, they’re easily removed by squashing the pests between your finger and thumb but, if numbers increase, they’ll need to be sprayed. The best thing to use is Yates Rose Gun Advanced, a combination of insecticide and fungicide that will control most of the common plant problems. White rust is a particularly nasty disease that has arrived in Australia relatively recently. With its persistent white pustules, white rust is very difficult to treat but the new Zaleton fungicide from Yates is registered to control this problem. Zaleton comes in a dropper pack that evenly measures out drops of concentrate into the required amount of water. Spray every couple of weeks when conditions favour disease or when the pustules are evident. Zaleton will also help control powdery mildew, another fungal disease that often attacks chrysanthemums.
Nimmitabel the place to dance the night away! Nimmitabel the small town with a big heart is about to hold their annual Bonfire Shed Concert to raise money to finish building the Sheep and Goat Shed to house the increasing amount of Show Shearing, Stud Merinos, Flock Merinos, British Breeds, Goats and Crossbred lambs coming to the Nimmitabel Show. This year we had the seond year of Show Shearing competition, to ensure its smooth running to make more room for the shearing stands and to cover the sheep we need to extend both the sheep and goat sheds and install the power to the sheds. The 16th Annual Bonfire, Barbecue and Shed Concert is to be held on Saturday May 19, 2012 starting at 6pm at the Nimmitabel Showground. The extension to the sheep shed is going to cost $35,000, last years Nimmitabel Bonfire raised over $4500, and have been added to the funds to extend the sheep shed on the Nimmitabel Showground. The following artists are generously donating their time and
expertise to entertain the audience: Ernie Constance, Ron Milliner, Louise Bowerman, Aaron Hite, Matt Kimber, Leonie Cottrell, Michael Green, Luke Simpson, Paul Bennet, Brett Hodak, Brad Cox, Matt Charlesworth and Ben Dowton. Remember the shed is heated for your comfort and a huge bonfire will be outside, along with an abundance of good food to keep you warm. No bar will be operating so bring your own drinks and only cans please. Free camping is available so you don’t drink and drive, play it safe, bring your swag, caravan or tent, so you can swing into the wee small hours. Admission is just $25 for adults, $10 for children and $60 for a family of two adults and three children, includes barbecue and salads, a sumptuous supper and the concert. Phone Jenny Alcock on 6453 6244 or 0437 898 982, for more information or just turn up on the night.. Tickets available at the gate. See you there.
Fueled, assembled and ready to go.
TM
*Offer applies to MS 170 Chainsaw ends 31/08/12 or while stocks last.
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