“Dramatic” transformation in store for Geraldton’s Maitland Park botanical garden

Recent events, including funding, have made possible the further extension of the botanical garden in Maitland Park, which is being built by Friends of Geraldton Gardens Inc and the City of Greater Geraldton.

Friends of Geraldton Gardens are overseeing the works in conjunction with the City.

“We are looking for a suitable contractor for the earthworks and once that is done, we can plant out the native plants this year,” FroGGs chair Irene Ghannage said. “We hope to get the Chapman River representative garden done before summer arrives.”

Sourcing the local flora is a job in itself. If they all flower and drop seed, some representative plants may be hard to find and propagate.

In order to help out FroGGs, I offered — on behalf of the Geraldton community garden we created at 172 Fitzgerald Street — to give over some garden beds where these plants can be held until the Maitland Park extension is finished. People are welcome to come inside our complex off Cutler Street and wander through this garden.

The small demo garden that FroGGs created inside Maitland Park is looking great and the local plants are now starting to flower. In the Wheatbelt the floral boom is just starting and with the good season it will be sensational this year.

I have put up a photo of the verge at 172 Fitzgerald Street and the garden as it is now, and a before shot. You can see what can be done with grant money and some effort. So keep an eye on Maitland Park for the same sort of dramatic change.

If you know a willing earthmoving contractor, call me on 0428 230 029 or email stan8@wn.com.au.