I hope you're all ready for Christmas because its only a matter of days away.
Santa might come early for all of us gardeners with some summer rain if we are lucky.  I am sure you will all have some sort of garden goodies on your wish list, I know the man of the house has asked for a little table to put in the shadehouse to go with his tractor stools.  I have asked for a garden ornament that looks like a windmill/rotating flower.  I will have to post some photos if Santa comes through!

The Drynarias are all sending out lovely new fronds and the tree ferns and sprouting nicely too.  The Phalaeonopsis Orchids that I purchased at the sale after the Royal Show in September are still blooming beautifully, such great value, much better than a bunch of flowers that last a week if you're lucky.

The fern man has been busily potting up the b.habies purchased from Heatons for sale at the Annual Fern Sale in April.  He has also responded to an enquiry lodged via the website regarding the re-boarding of a lovely Staghorn.  
Below is a link to a great article about the benefits of gardening.
http://www.bbc.com/capital/story/20181210-gardening-could-be-the-hobby-that-helps-you-live-to-100?fbclid=IwAR0OidazI7ZPbuZMl3JAGR4WAhNeVkQ8hV0MLYX-MvdrxgjonWw4XypiEiQ

Wishing everyone a Very Merry Christmas and safe journey for anyone travelling over the Christmas period.

After some very late winter rain (minimal as it was) Spring has finally arrived with some warmer days, but still very cool nights.  Signs of growth are everywhere in the garden and the shadehouse.  Time to get out and trim off old fronds, get rid of the winter weeds and give your ferns a fertilise to help the new growth along.  Do it in the morning so the warmth of the day helps things along.  Watch out for the caterpillars and bugs feeding on the ferns, not to mention the slugs and snails that appear after a rain.
The Fern Society display at the Royal Adelaide Show this year is beautiful, it was great to be given our own area alongside the Bromeliads, Bonsai, Camellias and Orchids.  The public has shown a lot of interest in the stunning ferns from the gardens of Bob, Coralie, Julie & Lynn (apologies if I have missed anyone) and a special thanks to Coralie and Julie who put the display together it looks amazing.
The September meeting is our annual auction night and all proceeds go to the Fern Society.  Members are encouraged to bring all things garden related (and, yes, there are usually ferns in amongst other things) to donate for auction and bring along their moneybags to bid and buy from auctioneer extraordinaire Phil.  
Our first foray into the arrangement with Charlie Carp for members to buy at wholesale prices is happening at the moment with members orders due in by 17th September for delivery at the general meeting on 28th September.

Special news - It looks highly likely that we may have Tassell Ferns for sale at our Annual Fern Sale on Saturday 27th April 2019 which starts at 9am and runs until 2pm next year.  So be there early to grab something you won't see anywhere else in South Australia for sale, members can come in the night before and buy,
​ ANOTHER GOOD REASON TO JOIN THE FERN SOCIETY!.
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Winter in South Australia has been cold, but sadly for all gardeners and farmers, very dry.  I have been a bit slack with the blogging and the website, but today have added several months newsletters to the Members page. 

A new fern handbook is close to being available for members and will possibly be made available for sale to non-members at displays and talks given by the Fern Society.

Tonight we have our monthly meeting at Adelaide High School and we are looking forward to hearing from Nadia & Paul from Red Centre Enterprises.  I will post a blog about their talk over the weekend.

The display genus tonight is Fern of Your Choice which will make for an interesting and varied display.

The Fern Society is also looking at being one of  garden societies with a display at this years Royal Adelaide Show.  This is a new venture for the Royal Show Society to encourage the public to reinvest in the healthy past time of getting their hands dirty and absorbing some much needed Vitamin D into their systems.
​Keep an eye on the blog for updates regarding this.

The 'real' fern grower in the house is busy re-potting some ferns he received from Heaton's Fern Nursery in Queensland this week (always makes him happy when this happens!).

  Last night's meeting had many highlights.  The guest speaker, Penny, from the RAA helped us wind the clock back and remember events that occurred in South Australia in relation to motoring.  Do you remember when seat belts became compulsory in cars? It was 1971!
We were also very privileged to see the induction of a new Life Member.  Audrey Dennis was awarded Life Membership, this was in fact approved in 2017, but due to ill health we hadn't seen Audrey for many months.  She was surprised and delighted to receive recognition of her many years of service above and beyond since joining in 1983.  A photo of Audrey with Lyn, Denise and Peter, 3 of her fellow Life Members who were present is below.
The display genus was Davallia, Humata & Scyphularia which all belong to the same family.  The winner of the Bunnings voucher was Vanda who will judge the best plant next month - the genus being Microsorum & Polypodium. 
Some images of the display plants are also below.  More photos will be in the June Newsletter.

On Saturday 5th May a workshop was held at Coralie & Gordon's home to divide some large ferns and learn about the process.  20+ members were in attendance from Victor Harbor to Gawler and many places in between were there, and everyone went home with some fern divisions to pot. 
It was a great social and learning exercise enjoyed by everyone in attendance.  
Some images from the garden are below.  Thank you Coralie & Gordon for your hospitality.
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Well, it's live and members are signing in to the Members Only page which will have newsletters, genus growing notes and more on it as time goes by.

If you are keen to learn more about how to grow and care for your ferns become a member and have access to the page and come along to our meetings to ask questions and be involved in workshops.

If you have a question fill in the Contact Us form and I will get back to you as soon as possible.

Enjoy the rain today I am sure your ferns and gardens and rainwater tanks will be very happy.

​Jill

The fern sale was a great success.  The buyers were lined up out the front and 10am came and in they flooded.  All happily dropping their gold coin donation in the bucket and onwards into the main hall to grab their prized ferns.
The flow continued steadily for several hours and the checkout was kept very busy.  People left with a satisfied smile on their faces and their arms loaded up with the beautiful ferns grown here in Adelaide by the members of the Fern Society of South Australia.
Questions were asked of the growers and answered.  Growing notes handed out and Charlie Carp purchased to make sure their ferns continued to grow and flourish.  

Charlie Carp is the preferred fertiliser by many members of the Fern Society who have seen much improved growth after applying it.

Many lingered to partake of the delicious offerings from the kitchen, and to buy raffle tickets in the hope of winning a beautiful terrarium hand crafted by Tony, a cabbage stag, and a drop over greenhouse.

New members joined to learn more about the fern world and some others took forms to consider joining - we look forward to working and growing together.

The workers worked hard and their hard work is very much appreciated.  May your green fingers glow. 
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The always brilliant and amazing fern sale is about to happen again this year.

It's on next Saturday 28th April 2018 from 10am to 3pm.  Just a gold coin donation to come in and see a fantastic array of locally grown ferns and meet the growers who are more than happy to talk to you about how they grow their luscious ferns and what would work best for you in your shadehouse, verandah or pergola.  

Come along to Adelaide High School, bring some cash or your card - yes we will have an EFTPOS machine available.
Bring your own shopping bags or boxes (we will have some available, but its much better for the environment if we minimise and re-use!)

Have a cuppa and a scone or a cupcake.

Buy a raffle ticket or two.

Get there EARLY and JOIN the Fern Society and be allowed in BEFORE OPENING TIME to cruise the aisles and get first pick of the greenery!!!!

PSST - Rumor has it that there is a special MEMBER ONLY raffle happening too.