Gardening with Native Plants is the first-ever event focused on native plants and gardens in the Blue Mountains.
The day brings together four local native plant nurseries, a range of local experts and our local gardeners, to celebrate the beauty of native plants and the potential of native gardens. We aim to inform and inspire Blue Mountains residents interested in planting a native garden, and those who have a native garden and want to know more. On the day we’ll have plenty of handouts and take-home resources to get you started and keep you going.
This event is funded by the Blue Mountains Conservation Society and there is interest in developing it as an annual event.
Native plant market
In the courtyard of the Community Centre in Lawson, a great range of plants will be available, suitable for every position and climates from lower to upper Mountains. Contributing nurseries are: Conservation Society; Wildplant Rescue Service; Glenbrook Native Nursery and Lithgow Community Nursery.
Info sessions
Speakers, many with deep local experience, will deliver a 20-30 min presentation with 15 mins for questions. Topics include how to get started with native gardens, what plants suit your local area, landscaping your native garden and choosing plants to attract birds and wildlife. We also look at Blue Mountains soils and the unique needs of some of our iconic plants such as the waratah.
Our speakers include authors Peter and Judy Smith, Sue Cunningham from Bush backyards, local legend Jill Dark and experienced local nursery specialist, Peter Mobbs. Don’t miss the Nursery Managers Forum where you can get answers to all those tricky questions about which plants are popular, easy or hard to grow, rare or gloriously abundant. Are wattles short-lived? Can you grow natives in a pot?
Check here in early October for the full list of speakers, topics and the program.