GLOUCESTER Garden Club members found “many gems of nature” in the forest garden of Bente and Mogens Siefert during the club’s recent monthly meeting.
Situated on Listening Hill to the east of Stroud, the property is one of 15 situated in a community-living arrangement among a natural forest setting.
Bente and Mogens showcased their work to preserve their own wildlife refuge while providing vegetable and flower gardens to complement their home and facilities.
“Bente is a member of FAWNA, which provides her with the knowledge and ability to care for sick or injured wildlife,” said the Garden Club’s Peter Hazell.
“And there are plenty of native animals, reptiles and birds among the forest trees and canopy.
“They had possums, mice and rats, bandicoots, wallabies, bowerbirds and many other birds, and the rarer land monitor lizard.”
While most of the property has been planted with native species, netting provides important cover to grow other plants and vegetables.
Beneath that netting, the couple has installed smaller enclosed structures for other plants.
The couple’s creativity and ingenuity is on display at the property, including in the form of an underground wine cellar which doubles as a safe escape from potential bushfires.
Around 30 Garden Club members attended the meeting at Stroud, down from the usual 50 or more.
The vegetable competition was won by Garth Rodrom with his trombone gramma, second was Nerida Rodrom with a Queensland Blue pumpkin and third a plate of figs from Sharyn Blanch’s garden.
The flower competition saw dahlia blooms take a three-way first shown by Dot Harris, Nerida Rodrom and Sharyn Blanch.
Bev Jackson won the lucky door prize and the membership draw was not claimed.
