Guests are welcome at our activities.

Meetings

We hold evening meetings on the 2nd Friday of each month February to November. 

Next meeting: at Beatrice Taylor Hall 14th November 2025 7.30pm for 8:00pm.

Gary Harris 'Plant & Insect Interactions in our bushland and backyards. How closely both rely on each other.'

AND Election of 2026 APS NSG Committee

See detailed notice further down the page.

Group Outings and Activities

Usually held at a weekend, these outings visit  local gardens, reserves or other places of interest or sometimes there may be work to be done!

Next North Shore Group Activity: Sunday November 16th – Excursion to Castle Hill Showground Metro Station Precinct Garden. 

The inspiration for this visit to Castle Hill Showground Metro Station came from an ABC TV Gardening Australia segment back in March this year. You can watch the 6 minute film clip at https://www.abc.net.au/gardening/how-to/training-plants/105077042

If you have not yet had the experience of travelling on the Metro system, then this is a good introduction to that!

This garden is different from what we have come to expect in public places where sadly often we see mainly a gazillion Lomandras. It is an experimental trial garden where 100 different native species are planted in unique plant mixes that provide a trial to learn what is successful for use at other public places including Metro stations. It is growing well and looking great.

The plan is to meet at Thornleigh Railway station and catch the regular train to Epping. Here we change platforms for the Metro heading to Tallawong but we will alight at Castle Hill Showground Metro station. The garden is right there - up the escalator! A walk around may take less than an hour and could be followed by a café visit. You will be amazed at the rapid new high rise housing development going on in the station surrounds. There will be a big demand for attractive open spaces for the
new residents to relax in.

As you have gathered, this is a walk that is not going to exhaust you in any way! Its lack of difficulty may be appreciated if it is a hotter day as can happen in November.

Please inform of your intention to attend in case you need to be contacted re any changes, eg extreme weather or Public transport outages that can not be known till closer to the day. Hope you will join us, you are very welcome!

There is plenty of parking at both stations if you would prefer to drive.

When: Sunday 16th November 9am.

Meeting Place: Thornleigh Railway station west side, immediately across the road from a café called “Monday Morning” at No 86 The Esplanade.

Bring: Your Opal card, weather protection- hat, sunscreen rain gear?, water.

Contact person: Sue Fredrickson ph 0401362921 email paulandsuefreddo@bigpond.com

Walks & Talks

Walks and Talks are open to the public. See their own page, here.

Propagation, Plant Sales, The Knoll Garden and Bushcare

The Propagation group meets on alternate Wednesdays, weather permitting. Native plants are available for sale (cash only) and growing advice is provided. This activity is carried out at the Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden, St Ives in the white shade house located behind the Wildflower Garden Visitors Centre. See the NSG entries on the calendar on the APS NSW Activities page for propagation, plant sales and advice of dates. Contact Tania Lamble on 0415043671 for details..

Volunteers also maintain the Knoll Garden at the Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden, St Ives. Please contact Wendy Grimm on 0419323035  for details.

A Ku-ring-gai Council-run Bushcare group in which members participate is also active in the Garden on non-propagation Wednesdays. Contact KMC (bushcare@krg.nsw.gov.au) for details.

Next Evening Meeting

Next meeting Friday 14th November 2025 7.30pm for 8.00pm at Beatrice Taylor Hall, Hornsby.

Gary Harris 'Plant & Insect Interactions in our bushland and backyards. How closely both rely on each other.'

Gary has a strong interest in our local fauna & flora, and especially in invertebrates since joining The Society for Insect Studies. He has now been involved in a number of bush regeneration groups in the Northern Beaches for over thirty years.

We will also be electing the 2026 APS NSG Committee.

Plants for sale (cash or card), library & supper.

ALL Welcome

The Beatrice Taylor Hall is behind Wallarobba Arts and Cultural Centre at 25 Edgeworth David Avenue, Hornsby. There will be plant sales after the meeting (cash only, please bring change) and refreshments. The NSG Botanical library is also available for members to browse and borrow items.