New additions in the Fairy Garden and a few early summer plants flowering in Sherwood Rd

The 2024 Grade four girls from IGGS have outdone themselves this year and have provided us with a great new addition for the Fairy garden. Five Story boxes have been installed and soon there will be a QR code to explain the story as you look at them.

I would like to thank FoEV volunteers Judith and Mike for helping me paint the boxes. Mike for helping me water-proof them and install them. Mick for the timber supports. Bronwyn for the paint. Carol for providing refreshments for the workers. Ellen for organizing the students to produce the boxes.

One of our Rose of the West Gums (Eucalyptus Macropcarpa) also known as The Blue Bash has flowered for the first time. Ours is just slightly back from footpath just down from the parking metre in Sherwood road. This eucalypt has the largest flower of the over 800 varieties of gum tree, it is a native from the south west of Western Australia. It has striking grey leaves elliptical in shape that grow directly on the stem of the plant.

An unidentified eucalypt but very beautiful tree just in front of the outbound waiting room is proving difficult to identify. My app is telling me it is red ironbark but it clearly isn't see comparison photos below:

Anyone with a different identification app want to give it a try and see if we can find out what it is. (My app says Coolgardie gum but that's not correct either - Pippa)

One last shrub that is also worth a look,is also in front of the outbound waiting room......

Please enjoy the gardens and help us keep them watered over summer.

Best wishes for the festive season or Xmas.

regards Steve Lake