St Michael’s receives Garden Club gift

Club president Sandra Cooke said members chose to donate a relatively new variety of lilly pilly to St Michael’s - the cherry bomb variety.

Mrs Cooke and fellow club member Mary Clayton presented the shrub to the school on Monday.

A dense variety, it produces intense cherry red flushes of new growth that will fade to a rich deep green as it matures.

Small, white, fluffy flowers appear in summer and autumn that grow into clusters of deep pink, edible berries.

“We chose it because it is a native and would not grow too big, and we felt it would be suitable for the school,” Mrs Cooke said.

“While we were at the school we were given a tour of their fruit and vegetable gardens, and we were very pleased.

“It was a really lovely morning with the school.”

The garden is tended to by students, and includes vegetables, citrus fruits and a range of herbs.