What to Do: Congella Gardens
Presenter: Sue McDougall
Episode: 21 (15 September 2007)
Gardeners seem to be some of the most resourceful people in the world. At Congella the garden owners have turned a disused bird aviary into a dry house for their succulents.
The problem with growing cacti and succulents is they need to be kept dry in the winter as all the rain can cause them to rot. Using a dry house can keep the succulents and cacti dry.
Congella is the garden of Bob and Ilda Shorer, they started the garden about 28 years ago and one of the advantages of creating a garden and staying in one place, aside from the fact you save on moving costs, is that you get to enjoy the trees you planted as small ones as they establish themselves. The garden boasts one such tree the magnificent weeping conifer Cupressus coneibearyi. It is very slow to establish, but when it matures its one of the most outstanding trees to have in the garden.
You can enjoy this garden next weekend as part of the Amanda Young Open garden scheme. All gate proceeds go to the Foundation, which is a non-profit community organisation part dedicated to reducing deaths in WA from meningococcal disease.
Interview with Ilda Shorer
Sue: Why do you open your garden to the public?
Ilda: Well I want to show off. I don’t show off in other things but in the garden I do. The gardens everything to me I love people telling me how nice the garden is. But also I like people telling me things, because even though you may think you know everything you don’t. I’ve had people come here and tell me things I did not know. I was so happy to know it because then I could improve it. So not only do you show off but you also learn which is great.
Sue: How did you become involved in this scheme?
Ilda: Somebody approached me and asked if I would like to go in it and I said yes because it was going to help them as all the gate money goes to the Amanda Young Foundation. It’s a good cause and at the same time I get to show off my garden so it’s good for both of us.
Congella is located in Kalamunda on Orange Valley Road it is well worth a visit; you can enjoy a great garden and contribute to a very worthwhile cause at the same time.
The Place
Congella
39 Orange Valley Rd
Kalamunda WA 6076
Garden open Sat 22nd and 23rd September 2007
Episode: 21 (15 September 2007)
Gardeners seem to be some of the most resourceful people in the world. At Congella the garden owners have turned a disused bird aviary into a dry house for their succulents.
The problem with growing cacti and succulents is they need to be kept dry in the winter as all the rain can cause them to rot. Using a dry house can keep the succulents and cacti dry.
Congella is the garden of Bob and Ilda Shorer, they started the garden about 28 years ago and one of the advantages of creating a garden and staying in one place, aside from the fact you save on moving costs, is that you get to enjoy the trees you planted as small ones as they establish themselves. The garden boasts one such tree the magnificent weeping conifer Cupressus coneibearyi. It is very slow to establish, but when it matures its one of the most outstanding trees to have in the garden.
You can enjoy this garden next weekend as part of the Amanda Young Open garden scheme. All gate proceeds go to the Foundation, which is a non-profit community organisation part dedicated to reducing deaths in WA from meningococcal disease.
Interview with Ilda Shorer
Sue: Why do you open your garden to the public?
Ilda: Well I want to show off. I don’t show off in other things but in the garden I do. The gardens everything to me I love people telling me how nice the garden is. But also I like people telling me things, because even though you may think you know everything you don’t. I’ve had people come here and tell me things I did not know. I was so happy to know it because then I could improve it. So not only do you show off but you also learn which is great.
Sue: How did you become involved in this scheme?
Ilda: Somebody approached me and asked if I would like to go in it and I said yes because it was going to help them as all the gate money goes to the Amanda Young Foundation. It’s a good cause and at the same time I get to show off my garden so it’s good for both of us.
Congella is located in Kalamunda on Orange Valley Road it is well worth a visit; you can enjoy a great garden and contribute to a very worthwhile cause at the same time.
The Place
Congella
39 Orange Valley Rd
Kalamunda WA 6076
Garden open Sat 22nd and 23rd September 2007
AS SEEN ON 
