Rose enthusiasts need help at two public gardens

A GROUP of Bacchus Marsh gardeners is putting out a call for help in maintaining two local public rose gardens.

The Friends of Maddingley Park Rose Carers group has experienced a slow reduction in numbers and has now reached a point where new blood is needed.

Group member Elaine Greenhall is encouraging anyone with an interest in roses or a desire to do a bit of volunteer gardening to get in touch.

“We did have 17 volunteers but some people have moved out of the area and some people have passed on, and our numbers are dwindling,” Greenhall said.

“We’ve got the pruning season coming up in May, June, July and August, and we desperately need some new volunteers to come and assist us.

“We’re down to about six or seven people at the moment.”

The group looks after two rose gardens – the John Nieuwesteeg Garden near the Maddingley Park rotunda, which contains heritage roses, and the commemorative garden on the corner of Taverner and Grant streets, planted in 2005.

The Nieuwesteeg garden was established when noted Australian rose breeder John Nieuwesteeg retired from his business and donated more than 40 roses in 2011.

The commemorative garden pays tribute to Bacchus Marsh locals who have died.

The rose carers get together every Wednesday from 10am to noon.

“We do all the dead heading, the pruning, the weeding, all the maintaining of the gardens,” Greenhall said.

“We’re happy to have people with no experience come along because we can easily teach them exactly what to do.

“They just need to bring secateurs and gloves and they’re in business.”

Anyone interested in getting involved and helping out can simply turn up at the commemorative garden.

“We’ll be there, and if we’re not working there we’ll be at the rotunda garden which is just a hop, step and a jump away,” Greenhall said.

Alternatively, Greenhall can be contacted on 0400 052 857.