Time to Romance your Sweetheart, and thanks to the support from Burnie City Council through their Community Grants, we’re able to bring you an unforgettable day at Emu Valley Rhododendron Gardens.

From the time I take the cuttings through to the stage that the plant is ready to find it’s new forever home here in the garden or at someone else’s garden, its anywhere from 3 to 5 years, and big leaf varieties are even longer! (I am referring to rhododendron cuttings for this example). Taking cuttings are easy, it’s the waiting game that’s the hardest part.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

Take the opportunity to have a romantic rendezvous at our Café on Valentines Day – February 14th. A specialty lunch with bubbles will be available.

On 1 March, we have a “The Garden Party”, another inaugural event. This is a garden focused, family event, with activities for both children and adults, sweet treats, delicious food for sale, live music and much more.

The weather was perfect the setting was serene, and the stalls were buzzing. From all accounts the mix of Jazz, sunshine, local beverages and homemade pizzas were a success, and a good time was had by all.

The garden is looking absolutely spectacular at the moment and it sure is a pleasure to work amongst every day. The echidnas are happily digging holes throughout the garden looking for their next snack, and a few of the cold blooded reptiles have been spotted sunning themselves around the place. With mild temperatures and increasing daylight, it provides the perfect backdrop for revitalising the garden, and now is the perfect time for some essential tasks to consider this season.

We all knew what an immense treasure the Garden was, and the grand vision that generations of contributors have worked towards. Our Garden is a reflection of our Communities in the Northwest, and a tribute of what can be achieved when dedicated individuals give their time to rally to purpose, larger than themselves.

“I congratulate all members on their outstanding contributions to the Garden. You demonstrate all that is best about our Tasmanian community as you work, maintain and operate this multi award-winning Garden.  On behalf of a grateful State, I thank you all. I am proud of you, and proud to continue my ongoing relationship with our Emu Valley Rhododendron Garden, as Patron."

Is there a blue Rhododendron? If the word “blue” means a definite blue, an authentic blue (free from any red contamination), then by definition there are no blue rhododendrons. Why is this so?

It all started with a trip to Japan in 2005 and a visit to the Kobe Friendship Garden and in the Chinese section Maurie spotted just the pavilion he was looking for. So, with a view to having something like that at Emu Valley, Maurie took numerous pictures, later shown to members on his return with the comment “This is our next project” much to the horror of our infrastructure committee at the time!

In 1976 Bob Malone started the rhododendron society and our next door neighbour invited us to the first meeting at the Forth Hotel. At the meetings we would talk about finding a spot where could display rhodos to the general public. Hilary said he had 30 acres. It was covered with silver wattles, manferns and blackberries. We decided it would be quite a nice spot to build a garden.

We joined the rhododendron society back about ’79 I think. In ’81 we walked down through the bush and onto the knoll where the big gazebo is and there was old Mr [Vincent] Pease, Maurie [Kupsch], Hilary [O’Rourke]. They said “we’re gonna build a garden here”. We said, “Oh, okay”. Didn’t dream it would ever come to what it is now.

For me, I’d say he was my hero. He was generally liked and respected. A gentleman. Astute and wise. Thoughtful caring and wise. A good judge of character. He soon worked out who was who and what was what.

His first hobby here on the farm after retiring was to grow Australian natives. As with the horses, it was the genealogy of the plants that interested him. Most of the eucalypts on this farm were planted by Dad in the 1980s. We have gum trees from all around Australia. Not long after that, he met Noel Sullivan and his interest moved to Rhododendrons and specifically the breeding and genealogy of the species.

Bob was instrumental in starting the Tasmanian branches of the Australian Rhododendron Society. He became National Council president at a mini-conference held in Burnie in late 1981. This was the same time that outgoing president Dr Chris Laurie (South Australia) planted “Golden Dream”, the very first rhododendron to be planted at Emu Valley Rhododendron Garden.

The decision of the NW branch to establish the Emu Valley Rhododendron Garden gladdened Noel’s heart. The Garden owes much to his vision, and the influence this had on others. As the original Curator, he created, with an endless stream of equally dedicated enthusiasts, a unique showcase in which to display a treasure trove of rhododendrons.

As part of its ongoing commitment to advocacy and accessibility for all people with disabilities, Multicap Tasmania is proud to announce its partnership with Emu Valley Rhododendron Gardens. This collaboration has resulted in the creation of three accessible videos, offering a virtual tour of the garden’s breathtaking beauty across different seasons.

The newsletter for February 1986 told members about the annual picnic day – a very special one because it was being held at the site of the Rhododendron Garden, and gave extensive directions on how to get there.