Dear Diggers, I live at ground zero where the varroa mite was discovered. There are no bees here anymore. Some native blue-banded bees came for nectar from a particular tree whose name I do not know, but they have not come back. So, perhaps someone on the staff could write an article on how to hand-pollinate crops, e.g. tomatoes, zucchini, cucumbers. T his would help me and others in my situation to continue growing our own food.
– Lynne F.
Dear Lynne, our timely free members webinar on 2 March, Honey bees and varroa mite management, will help you build awareness and gain practical knowledge to protect our precious pollinators. Please also look out for hand pollinating tips in a future magazine.
Dear Diggers, I enjoy receiving your emails about what is on offer and tips. Fortunately for us, we have very good bore water plus three large tanks of rain water. We had the bore water tested decades ago and it was very pure. Most bore water that sprays onto the footpath leaves a yellow stain but ours doesn’t. Also, in about 15 years, we have only ever needed to use tap water once (the rain water tank holding just 300 litres ran out) until the rains came. Nevertheless, I have been planting dry-tolerant plants to preserve water.
When the weather gets cooler, I will go to the Diggers Shop in the Adelaide Botanic Gardens. I wish you many successes for 2026, which you deserve for all your hard work in providing The Diggers Club.
– Patricia.
Dear Patricia, well done on your water stewardship. Plant selection is also key, you have clearly adopted the Diggers method of choosing plants that suit your conditions. Long may you garden. RHS partner announcement Congratulations to green thumbs Sophie and Natasha on their rollicking rhubarb – planted in May and booming six months later.
Dear Diggers, my name is Hugo. I’m nine years old and I love gardening! I’m emailing you to ask when you’ll have Buddha’s hand back in stock. I also noticed in a Christmas magazine a few years ago there was a ‘Blue Java’ banana and I’ve been wanting to get one. Will you ever sell them again? I really love being a member of The Diggers Club and the availability of your shop is so good. Kind regards and have a very merry Christmas.
– Hugo
Dear Hugo, we really love having you as a member of Diggers too and will be in touch about the ‘Blue Java’ banana and Buddha’s Hand citrus. Keep on gardening in the meantime – we’re here to help on your lifelong growing journey.
Dear Diggers, I was captivated by reading Lorelie Merton’s article about dahlias in the summer edition. I too purchased my first one from Diggers at Heronswood. It was a white one, called ‘Formby Queen’. That soon followed by purchasing three ‘Cafe Au Lait’ at Diggers, which I had also fallen in love with. I suppose my next step will be to do a Florelie dahlia dividing workshop!
– Sue M.
Dear Diggers, Congratulations! What an incredible achievement. The loyalty and hard work of all concerned have paid exciting dividends. I have yet to come and do a tour of the gardens but have plans to travel down from North Queensland with my daughter in the New Year to do so. I have wanted to do this for years to see your lovely extensive gardens and thank you for making available all the beautiful plants for us to grow up here in Ravenshoe (the highest town in Queensland). I am slowly redesigning my gardens. Again lovely news on your achievement.
– Lyndy K.
Dear Diggers, congratulations! This is momentous indeed – a huge honour. My husband and I have just returned to Queensland from a dream holiday during which we spent two weeks driving around regional Victoria visiting many of the beautiful and iconic gardens. One bucket list item was to visit all three Diggers gardens, which we achieved! We particularly loved Cloudehill. To do so was a privilege, and I am still, two weeks later, optimistically planting out the many plants I acquired.
These gardens and the many other private and public gardens in the Dandenong Ranges, Mornington Peninsula and the Macedon region, along with the very special Cruden Farm, have inspired us to keep on working in, and on, our own little patch. We are grateful for the foresight of the early gardeners who created these special places and highly respect those who have continued to develop, maintain, care for and, especially, share these very special places. Well done and keep on ‘Digging’!
– Laurel S.
Thank you Lyndy and Laurel and to the many other supportive members who expressed their delight at our RHS partner garden announcement. It’s an exciting achievement worth celebrating together!