With a special feature display of edible Australian natives, some very special guests, expert advice, and an array of market stalls, refreshments, and plant and book sales, the Pomonal Native Flower Show is the region's biggest gardening event of the year.
The Show, an annual celebration organised by the Australian Plant Society Grampians Group (APS GG), is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2024.
A speaker timetable has already been released, and sees Bundjalung Nation (NSW north coast) educator, musician, dancer and presenter on ABC's Gardening Australia Clarence Slockee giving the keynote address on how to grow bush foods in a simple container system, as well as revealing his top 10 edible native plants. Attendees will also see conservationist and horticulturalist Neil Marriott speaking on WAMA and plants endemic to the Grampians area, and Julie Weatherhead of Peppermint Ridge Farm and the Australian Plant Society giving an explainer on methods of cooking Australian native foods.
Show Organiser Jocelyn King says the APS are immensely excited to have secured this program of speakers, which slots each of the three across both days of the event. She foresees a particularly large showing for Slockee's keynote address at noon on Saturday.
"I anticipate the speakers' marquee (which seats 100) plus standing room will be filled with visitors keen to gain insight from such a high profile and knowledgeable speaker," she says. "We acknowledge how fortunate we are to have Clarence give his time to our annual event."
President of APS GG Fiona Lucas said that while February's Pomonal fires hit a significant number of the Society members' gardens "in the most devastating way," flowers for the Hall's feature display will be sourced from the gardens of those members who live across the length of the Eastern Grampians.
"It is because of the town's resilience and overall community support for this key event that we are able to proceed this year in the same venue," Lucas says.
In an example of the community's enduring support and solidarity, Pomonal Market will hold a two-day trade on the oval, running concurrently with the Show. Market Convenor Alison Bainbridge says the group are extended invitations to stallholders whose wares focus on 'bush foods' or anything related to Australian plants, one of which will be well-known local Phil Vaughan's native nursery and Karingal native nursery.
See more information on the Australian Plants Society (Victoria) website.
DATE: Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 Sep, 2024
TIME: 9am - 4pm daily
LOCATION: Pomonal Hall, 3360 Ararat-Halls Gap Rd, Pomonal Vic 3381
TICKETS: $5 entry at the gate, children free
SPEAKER TIMETABLE
Saturday 21 September
10.30am: Neil Marriott - WAMA and Plants Endemic to the Grampians
12.00pm: Clarence Slockee - How to Grow Bush Foods in Containers
2.00pm: Julie Weatherhead - Creating a Native Pantry: Growing and Cooking with Australian Native Foods
Sunday 22 September
10.30am: Neil Marriott - WAMA and Plants Endemic to the Grampians
12.00pm: Clarence Slockee - My Top 10 Favourite Edible Native Plants
2.00pm: Julie Weatherhead - Creating a Native Pantry: Growing and Cooking with Australian Native Foods
