Barrow & Bench Mitre 10

29/10/2026

COMPETITION TIME : We have 2 tickets to our Bush Foods Garden event to be held on Friday 6th November to giveaway. All you need to do is tell us in comments below what your favourite Aussie bush food is and why you want to learn more about bush food gardening at Barrow & Bench. Competition closes midday Tuesday 3rd of November. One winner will be selected by our garden team (and receive 2 tickets). They will be notified by DM later that day. Prize is valued at $80

Mike and Gayle Quarmby are one of our favourite growers and esteemed native edible garden experts. They will be talking all things native edible plants, how to grow and care for them and how to use them in everyday cooking. During the evening Mike will show you how to prepare a simple and delicious stir-fry of saltbush, warragal greens and quandongs (yum – that is my favourite bush food). There will be time for a Q&A during the evening as well as 30 minutes of exclusive shopping at the end of the talk where guests will receive 20% off plants purchased on the evening. Light refreshments will be served. Tickets are $40 … and if you want to book your own ticket there are still seats available via the trybooking link in our Instagram bio (or via our website). This very special event is Friday 6th November 6.45pm for a 7pm start and concludes at 9pm

All guests will receive a garden care package of the best kind thanks to our amazing suppliers.

The winner will receive 2 tickets to our garden event. Tickets cannot be refunded or exchanged for cash.

Good luck … don’t forget to tell us why you want to learn more about bush food gardening, and especially what your favourite bush food is 💙

28/10/2026

OPEN GARDEN : If you love an open garden as well as a drive to w**e country, then a visit to The Heritage Garden at Sevenhill (near Clare) might be just the thing you need to put on this coming weekends list.

This very special garden will be open as part of Open Gardens South Australia and is full of inspiration, fabulous trees, a beautiful labyrinth and wonderful perennial beds.

I have it on very good authority (that of Brett, our Garden Centre Manager, frequent visitor to the garden, and very good friend of Kay) that with all the spring rains the garden is looking absolutely magic. Visitors will be treated to a gorgeous display of over 2000 heritage and old world roses, as well as delphinium, foxgloves, aquilegia, poppies and many more climate compatible plants.

There will be live music by Tamarisque, beautiful food and coffee by local Clare cafe, Cafe 1871, plants for sale, and so much more.

All proceeds from the open day will go to the RFDS.

Details are:
Sunday, 1 November 2026
10:00am – 4:30pm
$10 for adults, children under 18 are free,
Open Garden SA members and confessions $8.
The Heritage Garden, 12 McCord Lane, Gillentown, via Sevenhill. Look for the signs on Horrocks Highway at the Sevenhill Pub and Clare Visitor Information Centre.

I know how much Kay will enjoy welcoming you to her beautiful garden.

Images were taken several weeks ago and are thanks to Brett.

27/10/2026

LIONS FRUIT CAKES : these eagerly anticipated cakes have arrived and in very good news the $21 (1.5kg) cake is joined by smaller 400gm Gluten free cake for $13.

Full proceeds from these fabulous and much loved cakes is returned to the Lion’s Club. If you are a devotee of these cakes do pop in and grab yours soon. Only 24 GF cakes delivered and we sold 6 this afternoon.

Thanks of course to the happy helpers 🐾🐾

Open 7 days. See you in store soon.

22/10/2026

THURSDAY : treats in the garden centre today included divine African Violets, potted flowering sunflowers (literally happiness in a pot) new seasons hydrangea, Granny’s Bonnet, Lewisia, fabulous advanced mandevilla in pink and in red, rusty poppies and the most stunning hand crafted climbing frames which I did a very poor job of photographing for you, but simply have to share anyway.

Christmas goodies continuing to light up our life, and if you get to the end you’ll find a little indoor plant rebellion …. What do you think?. Should we take over the tool shop.

Open 7 days. See you in store soon.

20/10/2026

GARDEN NIGHT : If you are interested in growing and using bush foods in your garden and your kitchen then we’d love you to join us at our next Garden Evening on Friday 6th November. Esteemed bush food experts and growers, Mike and Gayle Quarmby will be presenting. What they don’t know about growing Australian bush foods in Adelaide isn’t worth knowing. Tickets are $40 and available at the link in our Instagram bio.

Our garden nights are fun and informative evenings. Light snacks will be available (as well as a tasting of a Quandong, warrigal greens and saltbush stir fry - which I can’t wait to try). You’ll receive a bush food garden care gift thanks to our friends Live the joy of the garden! 🍃 and NeutrogAustralia as well as 20% off plants purchased on the evening. We hope you can join us.

And just quietly, can you tell I am standing beside my own Quandong tree which I grew from seed and planted out about 10 years ago and which has some fruit … my garden really is too wet for this tree but I love having it as part of my plant story.

19/10/2026

FERTILISERS : if you’re like me you could possibly also open your own garden shop with the amount of plant care products in your garden shed. Before you duck in and purchase more rose fertiliser (and yes, now is an awesome time to fertilise) why not check your shed first. Roses won’t mind in the least if you throw them some tomato, fruit or citrus food. It’s the higher potassium level that you’re looking for … it’s what helps plants flower (and to hold fruit). And it’s really very useful for plants like roses who produce an abundance of blooms.

My personal favourite fertiliser for roses is TroForte - I use it across almost all of my garden (including roses and fruit trees and even natives). The reasons I particularly like it - it’s a twice year feed only, it contains oodles of good soil bacteria as well of course as a balanced feed, and importantly it is not golden retriever attracting (ie it does not smell).

Let this be your reminder, if you’ve not yet done your spring feed, the next few days before the expected rain is a super time to do it.

Open 7 days. See you in store soon.

15/10/2026

YETI : new in store Friday 16th October and we cannot wait.

14/10/2026

CHRISTMAS FINIALS : two pallets unpacked today with more to come tomorrow and I am so excited to show you these beautiful Christmas finials. Fabulous for dressing up your entertaining area or for hanging in the branches of undercut trees. Kenny of course enjoys being part of our store marketing as much we enjoy showing you what’s new in store.

Open 7 days. See you in store soon.

09/10/2026

2027 CALENDAR BLOOPERS … taking lovely images of gorgeous plants and what’s looking fabulous in store is certainly less stressful than taking pictures of the B&B hounds for our 2027 calendar, but I know how many of you look out for the calendar and how quickly it’s snapped up once it’s in the store, so it had to be done. This is the 5th year the B&B dogs have featured and that’s because so many of you tell us how much you enjoy seeing them in the garden.

And just quietly, I so enjoy bringing a small part of our business, albeit the four legged part, into your homes each year. And I love that these three bring smiles to your kitchens or offices, and I hope it might remind you that family businesses are different and do matter.

Some of this lot will be off to the printer next week and I am hoping the 2027 edition will be on the front counter in the store by the end of the month. Our print run is 1000. Do look out for it and snaffle one quick smart if you fancy.

#2027

08/10/2026

GARDEN EVENT : join us for this very special garden evening here at the store when Bush Food growers and experts, Mike and Gayle Quarmby, will be talking all things Australian bush foods. How to grow and care for native edible plants in your own garden; what pests and diseases to look out for, and importantly how native ingredients can be enjoyed in everyday cooking. As part of the demonstration Mike will prepare a delicious stir fry of saltbush, Warrigal greens and Quandongs.

Friday 6th November
6.45pm for a 7pm start (ends 9pm)
$40 per person
bookings here https://www.trybooking.com/au/event/1650846?qr=true&qr=true

or via the link in Instagram bio or

Guests will receive a garden care package, and will enjoy 30 minutes of exclusive shopping time after the presentation, including access to a fantastic range of bush foods grown by Mike and Gayle as well as with 20% off all plants purchased on the evening.

Light refreshments will be served.

If you’ve been to our garden events before you will know how fabulously fun and informative these evenings are. This one is a step away from the flower events we’ve had in the past, but I know it will be just as wonderful. You can expect to be immersed in a supportive and sharing garden community, and feel comfortable asking questions and spending time learning. We hope you can join us. Of course, if you have any questions do reach out here via Instagram or when you are next in the store.

Step away from the everday and enjoy an evening with aussie bush food expert growers, Mike and Gayle Quarmby. Mike and Gayle, one of our very favourite...