Tatura Garden Club gathers for annual seminar

Mr Rickard used his speech to discuss creating beautiful gardens in dry climates, and exploring the history of gardens of Japan.

“I'm encouraging people to rethink their climate and look at plants through fresh eyes, so that we can improve our gardens,” he said.

“And I'm helping people to understand Japanese gardens - because you can look at a Japanese garden and just think its a pile of rocks, but there's a lot of history there.

“Japanese gardens can be replicated in this climate, but you need to understand the motivation behind them and rules they follow . . . the most important elements are rocks and gravel, and negative space, emptiness.

“In Japan they say a garden is not finished until you can't leave anything else out, whereas English gardens love to ram in with plants.”

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Mr Rickard said he tried to encourage gardeners to "shake things up" and look at a garden through different eyes.

“We grow up with English garden literature - and that's not the climate we live in,” he said.

“I want people to rethink the features of their climate, look at plants through different eyes and find beauty in what we can grow, instead of ugliness in what we can't.”

He said seeking plants for Shepparton's rough climate didn't just mean looking at native varieties, either.

“We forget Australia is a whole continent - some native plants from rainforest regions won't grow well here,” he said.

“But there are parts of the world that have climates really similar to here, like South Africa, California, Chile, southern Europe . . . other Mediterranean climates.

“Plants from those areas will grow really well here - look into climates similar to our own and choose plants that work for your lifestyle . . . try things like flowering cactuses, daffodils and lavender.”

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Tatura Garden Club president Cath Carter said gardeners came with a "vision" which was often challenged by guest speakers.

“I love the colours of perennials, but in shrubs, so when you drive up my drive(way) at any time of the year, it's going to look beautiful with different coloured foliage,” she said.

“In Shepparton, you need plants to thrive in the summer, and the winter, and the frost - with shocking winds.

“People grow up with certain views of gardening, and go home experimenting with different plants - they always take something away.”

Ms Carter said while her group had 68 official members, a Facebook group started during the COVID-19 pandemic had swelled to over 200 people.

“It's amazing to get together, our event was two days away when we were shut down,” Ms Carter said.

“We hold a seminar every year and usually get great guest speakers . . . we're only a little not-for-profit club but people come from all over for our seminars, they're very popular.

“We don't make money, but it's a great outlet for people.”

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Ms Carter said memberships were open to the young and old, with no pressure to attend every meeting.

“Most of our club are older and we're trying to push younger people to come,” she said.

“People don't have to attend all meetings but for $15 a year will get a newsletter, and you don't have to be a financial member to join the Facebook group, where people ask questions and seek gardening tips.”

Each month, members gather for a meal at the community centre and enjoy a supper, with a Christmas gathering and skipping the hot month of January until weather cools.

“It's a great club, it's a friendly club, a lot of our elderly members live on their own and it's a social outlet,” Ms Carter said.

“And if you miss six meetings but come to two it doesn't matter, it's all about gardening. And if you work all week but love gardening, we've broadened it so anyone can get involved.”

Ms Carter thanked the Tatura Gardening Club's sponsors for their assistance.

To join, head to the Tatura Garden Club Facebook page.