THE Rotary Club 0f Yea’s Garden Expo, is almost upon us, commencing Saturday and Sunday, September 19 and 20, from 9am to 3pm both days. This is perfect timing for gardeners, busy preparing their gardens for spring colour. The expo provides an opportunity to view a host of garden-related products at the Yea Saleyards site on Flat Lead Lane, just off the Whittlesea-Yea Road, a few kilometres on the south side of Yea. The site is flat, sealed and easily accessible. Dogs are welcome, provided they are kept on leads. The $12 entry fee for adults (or $10 online) includes free parking. The concession entry fee is $10 and children aged under 16 are free of charge. There are ample food options available throughout the day, including a gourmet barbecue, homemade soups and Devonshire teas in the kiosk, pizzas, an ice-cream van and a coffee van. All vendor sites are taken with exhibits including bulbs, seeds, seedlings, flowering plants, trees, garden tools and equipment, garden art and ornaments, compost, fertilisers and more. Locals Daryl Callander and Darren Gilbert will have their very popular garden art available to purchase or order. There is even a plant creche where purchases can be safely left until ready for pick up on departure. The popular speaker program remains. Saturday will feature Ron Litjens at 10am, Ashley Muir Garden Design at 11am, Lauren Anderson Garden Design at 12, Craig Castree at 1pm and Lauren Anderson at 2pm with a speakers panel. The Sunday speakers are Lauren Anderson at 10am, Craig Castree at 11am and Ashley Muir at 1pm. These will provide an opportunity for visitors to both rest and learn. This year there will be also free face painting for anyone on the Saturday, so bring your children. Club members have worked hard to pull this event together and improve on previous years. All the popular vendors are returning and there are a few new ones for gardeners to explore. The club would like to thank Murrindindi Shire Council for their ongoing financial support to enable this popular event to continue drawing visitors into our beautiful shire. New this year are two spring gardens open for viewing, at a cost of $10 which includes both gardens. They are located at The Grange, Killingworth Road and 2 North Street at the corner of Racecourse Road in Yea. Both gardens will have plenty of spring colour for the visitor to enjoy. Tickets for the gardens can be purchased online, at the Garden Expo gate or at each garden gate. To check out the vendors present or for more details of the speakers and open gardens, including a map please visit yearotary.org.au and/or keep up to date via Facebook at ‘Yea Garden Expo’. Tickets may be purchased at the gate or prebooked via trybooking.com/DLLKQ
