GREAT AUSTRALIAN RALLY - JANUARY 19TH, 2014

 On the 19th January 2014, all roads will be leading to the Mornington Racecourse for the Great Australian Rally. 

This event is sponsored by the RACV and last year $63,000 was raised for Peter Mac. 

The following cars from the Como Gardens Museum will be driven by family members and friends. 

1924 Vauxhall, type 30/98
1927 Bugatti,, type 35C
1936 Bentley, type 4 litre sports saloon
1936 Riley, type Kestrel
1936 Mercedes Benz, type 540K
1969 Aston Martin, type DBS vantage.

Also on display will be the just released E400 Mercedes Benz.

Visit the Great Australian Rally website for more information about this event.  http://greataustralianrally.com.au/
Also visit the British Classic Car Club website.

A LITTLE BACKGROUND OF THE CHANDLERS and FORTHCOMING OPEN GARDEN WEEKEND AT COMO

The "Lilydale Express" on Friday 19^th July 1901 published an article “Chandlers I have Met” written by M.A.C.  It is a delightful article on the family and it left me feeling privileged to have known the late John Chandler.

I have in my possession John’s autobiography which has given me a greater insight.  One of the many things mentioned in the article was about the plant Boronia, and I now quote “The flower season is a busy one for Mr Chandler (William) as maybe judged when it is known that 35,000 bunches of Boronia have to be marketed and dispatched to all principal towns of the state, but in this department he is ably assisted by the younger members of the family” unquote.

John Chandler regaled me with the stories of picking and bunching the Boronia up into posies, there was no electricity connected so lamps and candles were used as they worked into the night.  John told me the Boronias seeds planted at Como came from a relative holidaying in Western Australia, they are not native to Victoria.  The growing seasons for the plants ended when they became affected by a virus, but not before the Chandlers had bred new plants.

It was with great pleasure on visiting the second stage of the Botanical Gardens at Cranbourne that I saw planted one of the Chandlers Boronia, the name lives on - what a wonderful achievement.

I could talk about Como Gardens forever, why not came along to our next Open Weekend 19^th and 20^th of October;  we will have a lot of fun?  

Join the garden tours and hear stories of days gone by whilst supporting our SES and St John Ambulance.

....© 2013 Pat Hetrel, Como Gardens, The Basin, Victoria, Australia

UP. UP AND AWAY!

Well, someone has to do it!

It's a lot of hard work maintaining the grounds at Como Gardens, so occasionally George has to take "time out".   A quick trip to Townsville was the answer.

This is what he got up to (literally!) during his recent trip to Townsville.

Now he should be refreshed and ready to get down to the hard yakka in ensuring Como Gardens are neat and in full bloom, ready for the carloads of visitors to the Open Garden Weekend coming up on 19th and 20th October 2013.

Put that weekend in your diary.  Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th October.   

WHAT'S BIG, LONG AND EXCITING?

The Answer:

The long track Winton Historic race meeting on August 10^th & 11^th.  Winton Motor Raceway is a 3.0 km circuit in National configuration and a 2.03 km circuit in Club configuration located near Benalla, just off the Hume Highway.   http://www.wintonraceway.com.au/maps#sthash.k2cnp8p2.dpuf

It is the fourth year of this successful event and the first time George Hetrel has entered his 1927 Grand Prix Bugatti. The car has been well primed and given a good talking to;  don’t know who’s the most excited and rearing to go - George or the bug. 

Come and say hello, we are at the Penrite Teams garage. Looking forward to a chat with you.

JAPANESE GARDEN

The Japanese tea garden we are making is starting to take shape; we wish there was a thing as instant moss!

AUTUMN TIME AT COMO

It has been a beautiful Autumn if not a little dry, the cold nights helped turn the leaves into beautiful colours the best for many a long year.

We at Como are starting to put the garden to bed for a while.

PHILLIP ISLAND CLASSIC FESTIVAL

ALL BRITISH CLASSICS CAR CLUB

16th to 22nd March 2013

The RACV Fly The Flag Tour 

Contact:   Tony Pettigrew (03) 9739 1146.    An ABCCC Major Event. Touring Australia 

Itinerary:   Starts at York On Lilydale for trip to Shepparton, then on to Wagga Wagga for a two night stay. The tour then motors on to Wodonga, followed by two nights at Mansfield.    (Fully Booked).

George and Pat Hetrel of Como Gardens will be driving the Aston Martin DBS.

For those not taking part in the Tour, the club invite you to take your British classic car, with a folding chair, flag and refreshment pack to viewing point along the Tour’s route. The cavalcade of historic motoring can be watched.

BLUE LOTUS WATERGARDENS

The Family Day to be held on the 17th February will highlight a number of events which will appeal to all families and with special events for the children.

One spectacular event will be some examples from the Blue Lotus Watergardens, of waterlilies and lotus, including the world's largest waterlily - the Amazon Lily Pad.

Preparing for Family Day 2013

A lot of preparation is going into the Family Day at Como Gardens, to be held on the 17th February in the beautiful grounds at The Basin.

Many activities for children as well as adults will keep everyone entertained - whatever their interests may be.   For instance, the Working Display Vintage Car Museum; Blue Gardens Watergardens Display and Japanese Drumming will astound all visitors, while the Puppeteer and the Rainforest Walk and the Teddy Bears Picnic will attract children.     Sausage Sizzle and Devonshire Teas and refreshments will be available throughout the day.

Rainy Day Books in The Basin has already set up their window display highlighting the art of Ikebena.    Rainy Day Books will have their own stall again this year.

Horticulture Ferns and Orchids will also be for sale at the Como Gardens Family Day on the 17th February, 10 a.m. through to 4.30 p.m.

(All photographs covered by copyright - RP-B)

MAKE SURE YOU PUT THIS DATE IN YOUR DIARY

BRIDGE REPAIRS

Last September, the rains in the Dandenongs caused a great deal of damage to Como gardens infrastructure, especially of the Railway and Bridge.   This meant that Como Gardens had to cancel their Open Day and commence work on repairing the line and bridge in readiness for the New Year.

Much toil has gone into this work and these photos show some of the work undertaken.

This is the great result.

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT

George & Pat Hetrel of 'Como Gardens' regret to advise that, due to heavy winter rains, major erosion problems in the creeks area suffered serious damage. The worst affected area is at the second railway bridge crossing, which in its present form is unsafe for both pedestrian and train use.

These erosion and bridge structural repairs call for heavy equipment, which can only be which accessed to the sites in dry summer conditions, so in the interest of public safety we reluctantly must cancel our scheduled open garden weekend in October and look forward to resuming in April 2013.

                                                                                           Sincerely George & Pat

THE FORTHCOMING IKEBANA EXHIBITION - AUGUST 22ND -26TH

Spring is just around the corner,  the beautiful flower of Magnolia Cambellii is announcing this.

Pat is involved in Ikebana (Japanese flower arranging) and will be exhibiting at their annual exhibition. This will be held from August 22^nd until, and including, August 26^th. The venue kindly provided by Kazari, at 450 Malvern Road,  Parhran.

 It is a free exhibition, you will be warmly welcomed as our motto is “Friendship through Flowers”.

"ROB ROY" HISTORIC HILL CLIMB - AUGUT 21ST

Preparations are well in hand for George’s entry in the forth coming “Rob Roy” historic hill climb at Reynolds Rd Christmas Hills on 21^st August,  with his very collectable Bugatti type 35C.

This event attracts well over 70 entries and provides excellent spectator entertainment.

RHODODENDRON

The Vireya Rhododendron;  a beautiful warm coloured species to brighten up a winter's day.

Vireya are not strictly seasonal in their blooming, mostly late summer and autumn,   So we are just lucky this year with lovely show. Hope the blooms warm you up.

FEEDING THE BEES

Pat is feeding the bees syrup (50%Water 50%Sugar) just in case they are short of honey;  she might have robbed them of two much in the autumn.

It has been very wet and cold so they have not left the hive which they keep at a temperature about 35 Celsius,   So you can’t blame them.

Did you know in her life time a worker bee will travel about 1000 Kilometres in 21 days?

FEEDING THE GEESE

Breakfast time for the geese at Como Gardens: George Hetrel will also feed them again in the later afternoon.

The geese are looking very handsome and proud with their new feathers.  As Spring is just around the corner they need to look their very best.

A GARDEN IS ALWAYS EVOLVING

Whatever the season, gardens continue to evolve in their own special way.   Even in the midst of winter, things are undergoing change in readiness for Spring only a matter of a few months hence.

Como Gardens consists of not only a beautiful selection of different gardens - take for instance the Rain Forest; the Wet Lands; but add the attractions of a Vintage Car Museum and special Train Rides around the Gardens, and you have a variety of activities that will entertain young and old.

Open Days occur twice yearly in April and October.   Take time to add this date into your diary for a special visit to the "Dandenongs" and more specifically to Como Gardens:

The Spring Open Garden Weekend 2012

 will be held on the 20th and 21st October.