Gardening guru sowing seeds of wisdom in Western Downs

ABC Radio presenter and renowned horticulturalist Mike Wells is hosting a series of gardening workshops at Western Downs Libraries across the region in early September.

Mike has already had a great response to workshops held in Bell, Dalby, Jandowae and Tara, with more sessions planned across the region in the coming weeks.

Workshops will cover a range of gardening topics including potting mixes, fertilisers and watering tips for the dry season.

Western Downs Regional Council Spokesperson for Community and Cultural Development Councillor Kaye Maguire is optimistic about the opportunities the workshops present for community development.

“Spring has just begun, and these workshops are the perfect opportunity for members of the community to engage with each other to learn new skills and create beautiful spaces for everyone to enjoy,” she said.

“It’s great to see individuals taking the initiative to learn new skills and develop pre-existing hobbies and it’s a pleasure to welcome such an iconic expert to the region to teach our community members.”

Local resident, and Secretary of the Bell Bunya Community Centre Committee, Ruth Storey was overjoyed to see Bell locals enjoying an informative visit from the gardening guru.

“Being a small rural town, almost everyone has either a flower or a vegetable garden, so to have someone as experienced as Mike visit and discuss our gardens with us was a real treat,” she said.

“We have a Memorial Rose Garden and a community vegetable garden at the Community Centre, so it was important to us for Mike to come out and talk to everyone about how to take care of our plants during such dry times.

“Mike was very easy to listen to and incredibly knowledgeable, and he presented the course very well.”

When he’s not hosting gardening workshops, Mike can be found teaching horticulture at TAFE Queensland, writing his gardening column for the Toowoomba Chronicle and advising ABC Southern Queensland radio listeners on all things gardening.

Mike is in demand as a garden judge, a speaker for regional gardening clubs and interest groups and loves to help solve gardeners’ problems on ABC Southern Qld every second Saturday morning at 9am.

Event details:

Places are limited, so bookings are essential.

For more information and to register for a workshop, visit www.westerndownslibraries.com/gardening-workshops/ or call 1300 COUNCIL (1300 268 624).

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Media Contact: Jessica Howard | Communications, Marketing & Design Officer | 07 4679 4135