Oliver Lees
The Macedon Ranges’ very-own virtual spring garden show is back for its second year.
Hosted by Woodend resident Kylie Swain, the event has grown from the Macedon Ranges Plant, Cutting and Seed Swap and Giveaway Facebook group, which she founded in December, 2019.
“Back in the day, gardening was all about community,” Ms Swain said.
“People would swap things like pumpkins with tomatoes between neighbours. Obviously [due to COVID-19] that’s gone out the window.
“I thought it would be good to have a local swap page.
“It went from one person to something crazy, like a thousand people in the group in a single day.”
Now with more than 2400 members, Ms Swain said the group has become a vibrant community where people of all ages and levels of gardening experience exchange ideas and supplies.
“It’s something that has come from absolutely nothing into something that’s positive for everyone,” she said.
“We may be locked away in our houses but we can still show people our gardens.”
This year, members of Ms Swain’s Facebook group can enter their garden into one of more than 40 award categories in the spring garden show.
Categories include best iso garden transformation, bonsai, floral arrangement, bee garden and more.
Ms Swain said unlike other flower shows, entries in the spring garden show will be judged via popular vote, as anyone in the group can ‘like’ their favourite entries on each post.
Awards, all of which have been donated by the community, will be handed out to the entries with the most ‘likes’ within each category.
Entries for the prize categories will be held between October 17-20 and voting held between October 21-24.
To enter the spring garden show, search ‘ Macedon Ranges Plant, Cutting and Seed Swap and Giveaway’ on Facebook and request to join.
