I come from a gardening and flower loving family. My grandmother had a lovely garden, but she also made and sold floral arrangements and wreaths. It was way back in the days when everyone would take (or send) a wreath to a funeral. I remember visiting Mammar and there would be dozens of wreaths lining the long passageway that ran almost the full length of the house. The bathroom would be full of buckets of greenery, and the bath full of beautiful blooms of all descriptions. My Uncle Ken, who worked away on the CRB (Country Roads Board) would often ring and ask if anyone had died that week, because he knew if someone had, he wouldn't be able to have a bath!
My Mum also loved her garden, also made wreaths, and grew plants. For years my Mum would spend all year growing plants from cuttings, division and seed, and then once a year at the Timboon Lions Club Trash & Treasure Sale, she would set up a huge stall and sell them all. People would come from miles around to buy her plants, and it got so popular that we had to rope it off and only start selling from a set time. As teenagers we all helped behind the stall, although our knowledge of the plants at that time wasn't great, I'm sure that Mum appreciated our help. All of the money that Mum raised was all donated back to Lions Club, and over the years she made thousands of dollars.
Mum grew plants right up until the year before she passed, donating them to her Church Fete.
And then there is me.........many many years ago I also grew lots and lots of plants. It was in the early years on the farm, and I used to sell them from home. I set up my small business 'Hilltop Herbs' and would open a few days a week and sell my plants. I would go to weekend markets, and would hope that I would sell them so that I wouldn't have to bring them all home!
Later on I started growing gums and wattles from seed to plant on our farm. Dad used to grow natives trees and sell them, so I decided to turn my propagation energy to doing the same.
I have always dug bits and pieces up from the garden and relocated them to expand my plant base, but in the last few years, since getting my hothouse, I have rediscovered my love for growing and potting up plants. Of course I grow all of our own vegetable plants.....tomatoes, capsicums, chillis, pumpkins etc etc, but more recently have been taking cuttings and dividing up plants. I do have one big problem though......I always tend to grow more plants than I can ever use myself.......which sometimes means that they end up dying in the pots. So to remedy this I have decided to introduce a small plants for sale table near the pathway in to the shop.
I will add to the table as plants become ready for sale, and take them away when the weather is extreme. So check it out if you are interested......you never know what might be there!
Special note: I will NOT be making wreaths.....lol!
Linda :)
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