Club member Peter Brindon said that they were expecting “around 50” people to be in attendance, both from the local Garden Club and those from around the region. 

The club promised plenty of “birthday cake and good cheer”, along with a presentation by perennial specialist Chris Caddy to cap off the afternoon. 

According to Mr Brindon, the guest speaker would impart his knowledge on how to produce hardy perennials which can survive the bitter cold characteristic of the southern tablelands. 

“He's a specialist on perennials that thrive in this kind of climate,” Mr Brindon said. 

“He’s got a nursery over there [in Canowindra], and he’s gonna talk about the plants that thrive in this climate, rather than things that are strange [to the region]. 

“He’s got a big nursery over there and he’s a well-known grower of hardy perennials for cold climates.” 

The Yass Garden Club had its first meeting in 1982, and Mr Brindon said that the following years have held many special memories for the members involved, some of whom are still with the club today. 

“There are all sorts of interesting aspects of the Garden Club,” he said. 

“One of the things we do is we have visits to other Garden Clubs and other gardens of course. 

“So we’ve had some memorable visits around to various gardens that were either open especially for us or the gardens that are open and we go as a group.”

Mr Brindon explained that it is quite interesting to go on these trips with the club “because we can all compare our own experiences with plants we see there and the growing conditions and all the rest of it.” 

“There are lots of stunning gardens and there’s lots of good memories of going to people’s gardens, that’s certain."

He also remembers fondly some of the “exceptional” guest speakers the club gets to visit, much like Mr Caddy. 

Mr Brindon hopes that the party will be well attended, as the Yass club has extended invitations to “two or three” clubs in Goulburn, as well as the Boorowa and Gunning clubs. 

“We try and get the others to come and join our birthday celebrations, and our Garden Club belongs to an Australia-wide organisation of Garden Clubs … so you never know who’s gonna turn up.” 

The club has extended the invitation to its birthday party to all past and present members. It will celebrate with an extra special Friendship Day on Saturday the 12^th of August at St Clements Church Hall.

They invite attendees to “come and warm up with a soup and sandwich lunch”, and ask that guests arrive at 12 for a 12:30 start. 

For more information, contact Ros or Nola on 6226 1878 or 6226 2132, or contact the Yass Garden Club on Facebook.