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GREAT PUBLIC GARDENS TO VISIT THIS SUMMER
January 2019
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EDITOR’S LETTER
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PHOTOS JENNIFER SOO, ISTOCK
ne of the things tory does is spark a sense of urgency in the reader. Suddenly, there’s no time to be lost in planting, pruning, feeding, dividing or whatever the topic of the story was. That’s how I felt reading Arno King’s story on growing lotus. First was the snippet that lotuses are not related to waterlilies. Who knew? Then the revelation that not only are lotuses very beautiful, they’re easy to grow, they’re suitable for my climate, and they’re happy in pots – a vital piece of information, as I am not in the market for pond building! And I was particularly taken with the detail that in pots, it needs a substrate of garden soil, not potting mix, which may have had something to do with the sense of urgency, as I’ve been trying to ‘hide’ an overflow of garden mix in beds all over the place, so my garden now resembles a ride at Coney Island, with all the up down, up down terrain… Anyway, by the end of the story, I was thinking, why aren’t I growing some lotuses? Get me a pot, get me some plants, let’s get this thing happening…! I also found sustenance in the English lavender story (page 14), even though there’s no chance of growing it at my place, and the ‘war on waste’ story is chock-a-block with ideas and inspiration. But my favourite story this month is Tim Entwisle’s piece on Fibonacci numbers, and the way they pop up in plant structures, as well as manmade structures, where we respond intuitively to the numbers in the sequence. You know that thing about planting in threes or fives? That’s all about Fibonacci. Your hugely enjoyable maths lesson is on page 46. Me, I’m off to research large pots for lotuses, and I hope this issue prompts you to do something to get your own gardening year off to a cracking start.
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JANUARY 2019 3
LET’S DO LUNCH
Join us in Sydney fr a special
READER LUNCH Bring in the birds, bees and butterflies!
T
his year’s lunch promises to be every bit as fun and informative as the last one, but on a special theme: gardening for wildlife. How can you provide habitat and food for bees, birds and butterflies? Enjoy inspirational talks and demonstrations from Gardening Australia presenters Costa Georgiadis and Sophie Thomson, as well as our horticultural editor Phil Dudman, and AB Bishop, a regular contributor to the magazine and author of the book Habitat. Don’t miss out – book your tickets now to secure your seat at this special event.
WHERE & WHEN
VENUE Le Montage, 38 Frazer St, Lilyfield, NSW DATE Tuesday, February 5, 11.30am for 12.30pm lunch and talks, and finish at 3–4pm COST $99* includes sparkling wine on arrival, and three-course lunch with wine and beverages TRANSPORT parking on site, or 10-minute walk from Leichhardt North light rail station ENQUIRIES Alora Edwards (02) 9901 6101 * booking fee may apply
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JANUARY 2019
CONTENTS 41 For all your top jobs in the garden this month, turn to page 58
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COVER STORIES 14 English lavender 18 Let there be lotus: easy-grow plants for pots & ponds 28 Gardenerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s war on waste: how to reduce, reuse and recycle 37 Tips for terriďŹ c compost 41 10 great public gardens to visit this summer 66 Heel cuttings step-by-step 71 How to prune a pawpaw
he lotus lower is revered in cultures across the world, and is a beautiful, easy-care water plant suitable for many parts of Australia. For growing advice, turn to page 18. Photo: iStock
74 Perennial greens for the patch
COMPETITIONS + EVENTS + OFFERS 4 Join us for a reader lunch in Sydney with special guests Costa and Sophie 56 Subscribe for your chance to win a Hoselink Water Wise Starter Kit and sprinkler, worth $56.40 81 Win 1 of 4 Neta 15m Retractable Hose Reels, valued at $129.99 each 84 Solve the crossword this month and go in the draw to win 1 of 2 Fiskars tool packs, worth $670 each
G A R D E N I N G AU S T R A L I A
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JANUARY 18
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37 FEATURES 14 English beauty How and where to grow English lavender, with its gorgeous sprays of fragrant purple blooms 18 Walking on water Discover the delights of lotus plants, how they differ from waterlilies and what they require to thrive
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24 The shape of things A small Sydney coastal block with quirky features, including a swale 28 Waste not, want not Great ways to do your bit to reduce the amount of plastic and other waste going into our environment 37 Compost – make it great Expert advice and practical tips for creating your own top compost 41 Great public gardens to see this summer Our guide to visiting some of the country’s best green spaces 46 Nature by numbers How the Fibonacci sequence of numbers occurs naturally in many plants and can be used in design 50 The gardener’s bucket list: Lambley Gardens & Nursery 96 Annual index 2018
REGULARS 8 Marketplace Products, plants, books 12 Calendar What’s on in January 54 At home with Jackie The smells of summer that captivate Jackie French 58 Action planner What to do in your garden in January 69 In the patch • Plant brussels sprouts • Pick watermelon • Step-by-step for pruning pawpaw • Grow mint in pots • Need a helping hand? • Guide to growing perennial greens for a reliable summer harvest 76 Backyard visitors 78 Mailbox Your letters, photos, questions 83 TV & radio guide Your ABC 84 Crossword 87 The directory 98 The big picture
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PLANTS
This month’s pick of the bunch at garden centres, online and in bookshops
The glorious ballerina tutu-like flowers of the eucalypts and their near relatives the bloodwoods (Corymbia spp.) are iconic Australian plants that give a sense of place to our gardens. Most eucalypts and bloodwoods are grown from seed, so the flowers’ timing, colour and size varies. The grafted forms produce the best flowers. Appearing again now in nurseries, Corymbia ‘Summer Red’ is grafted from a selected form of Albany red-flowering gum (Corymbia ficifolia),
which grows 3–5m tall and up to 4m wide. It has a slightly weeping habit and big, glossy, dark green gum leaves with a light green reverse. New growth is reddish and appears in the warmer months. Mass terminal displays of hot pink to red flowers, each 2cm across, appear some time between November and March, with spot flowering at other times. It prefers a position in full sun with extra watering during the warm months until the plant is established. plantrite.com.au
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Hakeas are small, evergreen flowering Australian trees that suit home gardens. Many forms grow to 5m tall and wide, and their nectar-filled flowers attract birds in late winter and spring. This new range of Western Australian hakeas are grafted onto phytophthoraresistant rootstock to ensure longevity. They feature bottlebrush-like blooms that are 10–15cm long, and prefer a spot with
full sun and well-drained soil. The range includes Hakea ‘Intensity’ (above) with vibrant pink blooms, red pokers (H. bucculenta) (below left), featuring very fine leaves and reddish-pink flowers, and grass-leaf hakea (H. francisiana) (below), which produces beautiful pink flowers. Not currently available in Western Australia or Tasmania. botanixplantsupply.com.au
MARKETPLACE
The rare white form of the pink Chinese foxglove, white Chinese foxglove (Rehmannia elata alba), likes a moist, well-drained spot with light shade. It grows about 30cm tall and 50cm wide in an acid to neutral soil, and flowers from summer to late autumn. Once established, it will tolerate fairly dry conditions. lynnsrareplants.com.au
TEXT DERYN THORPE
Gisele is a series of improved phlox bred for heat tolerance, with large flower clusters and a branched growth habit, making it ideal for beds, containers and landscape planting. Available in light pink, white, hot pink and purple, it grows 25–30cm tall and 35–45cm wide in a sunny to semi-shade position, flowering through summer, autumn and spring. ballaustralia.com
Podophyllum ‘Spotty Dotty’ is an unusual herbaceous perennial with huge hexagonal, umbrella-like foliage up to 40cm wide that grows on stems to 60cm in early spring. Leaves are spotted with chocolate-maroon markings that change to dark green with age. In spring, pendulous blood-red flowers up to 5cm long hang in umbels beneath the foliage. Flowers are sometimes followed by green apple-like ornamental fruit. Plants need a moist, shady position and rich soil, and grow 40–45cm tall and 45–60cm wide. antiqueperennials.com
Agapanthus may be common but few plants are as tough, waterwise and beautiful in full flower, especially when mass planted in a garden bed. Agapanthus ‘Indigo Dreams’ is a new sterile herbaceous variety with prolific deep indigo-purple flowers. Plant in a position with full sun. Foliage grows to about 30–40cm tall and 40–50cm wide with flower spikes that reach about 1m tall. antiqueperennials.com G A R D E N I N G AU S T R A L I A
JANUARY 2019 9
The Antique Brass Planter from Satara is made from brass-coated steel and is a contemporary style designed for indoor plants. The round planter is 28cm wide and 28cm deep and sits in a stand that is either 42cm or 52cm tall. There is also a range of round and square planters available in white or black in varying heights. satara.com.au
EDITOR Jenny Baldwin HORTICULTURAL EDITOR Phil Dudman ART DIRECTOR Rachel Henderson CHIEF SUBEDITOR Kate Barber SUBEDITOR Gina Hetherington EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Carole Gridley HORTICULTURAL CONSULTANT Deryn Thorpe ABC TV HOST Costa Georgiadis PRESENTERS Josh Byrne, Tino Carnevale, Jerry Coleby-Williams, Jane Edmanson, Millie Ross, Clarence Slockee, Sophie Thomson CONTRIBUTORS Steve Ball, AB Bishop, Marianne Cannon, Leonard Cronin, Tim Entwisle, Jackie French, Robert Frith/Acorn Photo, Judy Horton, Arno King, Michael McCoy, Cheryl Orsini, Wendy Pritchard, Martyn Robinson, Jennifer Stackhouse, Karen Shaw, Angus Stewart, Elizabeth Swane, Brent Wilson NATIONAL ADVERTISING MANAGER Anabel Tweedale, atweedale@nextmedia.com.au Phone (02) 9901 6371
ACCOUNT MANAGER Annya Azzopardi, aazzopardi@nextmedia.com.au Phone (02) 9901 6320 PRODUCTION MANAGER Peter Ryman PRODUCTION AND DIGITAL SERVICES MANAGER Jonathan Bishop
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DIRECTORIES ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Alora Edwards, aedwards@nextmedia.com.au Phone (02) 9901 6101
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER ABC TV Gill Lomas SERIES PRODUCER ABC TV Chris Paterson MANAGER PUBLISHING AND LICENSING, ABC COMMERCIAL Lisa Hunter BRAND MANAGER ABC MAGAZINES Jenni Powell SUBSCRIPTION SALES AND ENQUIRIES 1300 361 146, gardeningaustralia.com.au EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES yoursay@gardeningaustralia.com.au Phone (02) 9901 6325 NEXT MEDIA PTY LTD Locked Bag 5555, St Leonards NSW 1590 Phone (02) 9901 6100 EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN David Gardiner MANAGING DIRECTOR Hamish Bayliss COMPANY SECRETARY Bruce Duncan PUBLISHER Carole Jones ISSN: 1325-1465 ABC Gardening Australia magazine is published by nextmedia Pty Ltd (ACN 128 805 970) under licence from the publisher, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), and is subject to copyright in its entirety. ‘ABC’ and the ‘Wave’ and ‘Gardening Australia’ trademarks are used under licence from the ABC. The contents may not be reproduced in any form, either in whole or part, without written permission from the publisher. All rights reserved in material accepted for publication unless specified otherwise. All letters and other material forwarded to the magazine will be assumed intended for publication unless clearly labelled not for publication. nextmedia and the publisher do not accept responsibility for damage to, or loss of, submitted material. Opinions expressed in ABC Gardening Australia magazine are those of the contributors and not necessarily those of nextmedia or the publisher. No responsibility is accepted for unsolicited material. No liability is accepted by nextmedia, the publisher, nor the authors for any information contained herein. All endeavours are made to ensure accuracy and veracity of all content and advice herein, but neither ABC Gardening Australia magazine nor its publisher or contributors is responsible for damage or harm, of whatever description, resulting from persons undertaking any advice or using any product mentioned or advertised in ABC Gardening Australia magazine or its website. PRIVACY POLICY We value the integrity of your personal information. If you provide personal information through your participation in any competitions, surveys or offers featured in this issue of ABC Gardening Australia magazine, this will be used to provide the products or services that you have requested and to improve the content of our magazines. Your details may be provided to third parties who assist us in this purpose. In the event of organisations providing prizes or offers to our readers, we may pass your details on to them. From time to time, we may use the information you provide us to inform you of other products, services and events our company has to offer. We may also give your information to other organisations, which may use it to inform you about their products, services and events, unless you tell us not to do so. You are welcome to access the information we hold about you by getting in touch with our privacy officer, who can be contacted at nextmedia, Locked Bag 5555, St Leonards, NSW 1590.
The stainless steel Garden Hook from CutAbove Tools is ideal for planting, cultivating garden beds, loosening soil and removing weeds. When attached to a Clip-on Handle, available in short (29.5cm) or long (extends to 1.1m) sizes, it makes pruning and harvesting easier, as you can use the hook to bring the branches closer. The handles can also be fitted to other stainless steel hand tools in the range. cutabovetools.com.au
With a distressed teal exterior and a yellow interior for brighter illumination, the Riad Solar Lantern creates an exotic patterned light for outdoor gatherings. Made from pressed metal, it has a small handle so it can be hung or placed on tabletops. For full evening illumination, place the lantern in direct sunlight during the day. Powered by an integrated solar panel, the lantern illuminates for up to eight hours on a fully charged battery. smartlivinghg.com.au
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SHEL HE F
BOOKS
THE FARM COMMUNITY
AUSTRALIAN DREAMSCAPES: THE ART OF PLANTING IN GARDENS INSPIRED BY NATURE
Claire Takacs Hardie Grant Books Renowned photographer Claire Takacs’ exquisite photos profiling 22 gardens in diverse Australian landscapes are a mesmerising display of light-filled vibrant colours and textures in settings ranging from lush and green to semi-arid. Stories written by the gardens’ owners or designers are interwoven among the images and outline their motivation, struggles and triumphs in creating beautiful, abundant and biodiverse gardens. The focus is on more naturalistic approaches to design and planting, creating visually appealing gardens that are in sync with their environs and without excessive use of resources, such as water.
PHOTO MARTIN CANNON TEXT DERYN THORPE, MARIANNE CANNON, CAROLE GRIDLEY
THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO AUSTRALIAN BIRDS
DIGGERS: 40 YEARS OF THE BEST GARDEN IDEAS
he Diggers Club As part of The Diggers Club’s 40th anniversary celebration, this book combines their best gardening ideas, plants, seed preservation projects, a bit of history, future plans and stories about gardeners sharing their passion and expertise amassed over the years since The Diggers Club was founded by Clive and Penny Blazey in 1978. Included in the 160 pages is a large section entitled All About Tomatoes, as well as the Diggers’ seed and perennial catalogues.
George Adams Viking Australia A must for bird lovers and anyone interested in wildife, this is a comprehensive and contemporary guide. Included are all wild birds recorded on the mainland, in Tasmania and on offshore continental islands and oceans. Each entry comprises several images taken in the wild, with clear and concise information on common and scientific names, size, description, behaviour, preferred habitat, feeding habits, voice, status and breeding details.
Emma & Tom Lane Hardie Grant Books Buying and moving to a small farm, the authors swapped fast-paced jobs and big-city lives for a rural environment, a simpler life and a greater connection with community. Based on their principles of ‘grow, cook, share, connect’, they created The Farm at Byron Bay, which is principally a working farm and a community of small businesses, including a restaurant. The authors’ story, and stories of people in their community, are interspersed with illustrations. Tips for living more sustainably, in urban or rural environments, are also included, as are step-by-step projects and recipes.
ROOT NURTURE GROW: THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO PROPAGATING AND SHARING HOUSEPLANTS
Rose Ray & Caro Langton Quadrille Propagating is an easy and less expensive way to enjoy and expand an indoor plant collection. This book is a useful reference for both experienced and novice growers, with instructions on how to take cuttings, cultivate runners and offsets, divide plants at the roots and grow brand new root systems in the air. Also included is advice on recycling, reducing waste and pruning methods that produce no waste, and recipes for homemade rooting medium. The authors encourage giving or swapping newly grown plants with friends and family, and offer tips and ideas for DIY projects to better display your house plants.
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Your guide to garden shows and events around the country this month
VICTORIA Until Mar 31st Moonlight Cinema Tues–Sun 7pm (films starts approx. 8.45pm). Central Lawn, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Melbourne Gardens, Birdwood Ave, South Yarra. $20. Advanced screenings, new releases, family films and cult classics. Food, drinks and alcohol available, or bring your own. Program, tickets and information at moonlight.com.au Dec 27th–Apr 22nd Blue Lotus Water Garden 10am–5pm. 2628 Warburton Hwy, Yarra Junction. (03) 5967 2061. $18. Lotus flowers and tropical blooms spread over more than 5ha of landscaped grounds. Lakes, fountains, and plant exhibits to see, including the must-see Amazon waterlily.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA All month Kings Park Guided Walks Daily 10–11.30am, noon–1.30pm, 2–3.30pm. Meet opposite Aspects of Kings Park Gallery Shop, Kings Park and Botanic Garden, Fraser Ave, Kings Park. (08) 9480 3600. Free. Wander among Western Australia’s native flora on ‘Treasures of the Botanic Garden’, or discover Kings Park’s history, memorials, monuments and exotic trees on the ‘Stories of People and Plants’ guided walk.
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NEW SOUTH WALES All month Clyde River Berry Farm 10am–5pm. Lot 22, River Rd, Mogood. (02) 4478 1057. $2. Pick your own strawberries, blueberries and blackberries. Check website for directions. clyderiverberryfarm.com.au 4th Garden Night-life 8–9.30pm. Woolloomooloo Gate, the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, Mrs Macquaries Rd, Sydney. (02) 9231 8111. $39. Tour the garden looking for brush-tailed possums, microbats, flying foxes, tawny frogmouths and the elusive powerful owl. 8th Greenwell Point Kids Fishing Workshop 10am–2pm. Greenwell Point Rd, Greenwell Point. 0438 245 190. $40. Fishing lessons for 8–14-year-olds. Kids take home rod, reel, tackle box and more. Must book. Also other locations. 12th–29th Mayfield Garden Summer Festival 9am–3pm. Mayfield Garden, 530 Mayfield Rd, Oberon. (02) 6336 3131. $25. Beautiful garden, rowboats on the lake, seasonal farm-to-table menu, scavenger hunt, plants for sale.
QUEENSLAND 18th–20th Ginger Flower and Food Festival 9am–5pm. The Ginger Factory, 50 Pioneer Rd, Yandina. (07) 5447 8431. Free. Showcasing a range of ornamental gingers and heliconias, which will be available for sale.
TASMANIA Every Saturday Harvest Launceston Farmers’ Market 8.30am–12.30pm. 71 Cimitiere St, Launceston. 0417 352 780. Free. About 70 stalls include seasonal produce and local meats. 11th–13th Cygnet Folk Festival Various venues in Cygnet. 0457 566 556. Various ticket prices. Celebration of folk and world music, dance, food and culture. Songwriting competition. Camp sites. cygnetfolkfestival.org 12th–13th Lilium, Rose and Summer Flowers Show Sat 1–5pm, Sun 10am–3.45pm. Claremont Memorial Hall, cnr Main Rd & Bilton St, Claremont. 0429 811 968. $2. Liliums, roses, summer flowers, trade table and children’s exhibits.
tell us about your event Email shows@gardeningaustralia.com.au
PHOTO ISTOCK
Post to Shows, Gardening Australia, nextmedia, Locked Bag 5555, St Leonards NSW 1590 Include the date, event name, opening times, address, phone number, entry fee and description. Deadline for April issue: January 14, 2019
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PLANTS
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G A R D E N I N G AU S T R A L I A
English
BEAUTY Valued for its perfume and oil, as well as those glorious shades of blue, English lavender illuminates the summer garden, says JENNIFER STACKHOUSE
D
uring a summer family holiday to Tasmania when my children, Rowan and Eleanor, were in primary school, I was bowled over by the flowers. So, apparently, were the kids. While we were all wandering along Arthur Circus, a historic precinct in Battery Point in Hobart, they were transfixed by one of the gardens and started pulling on my hands. No, they didn’t want to head back, they wanted to give me gardening advice. “Mum,” they said, pointing to lavender, “you need to grow this at home – it is so beautiful.” They had to be stopped from picking the flowers. Like me, they loved everything lavender had to offer, from its beauty to its fragrance, and all the bees. At that stage, home was at Kurrajong in the Blue Mountains, north-west of Sydney. Even there, away from the coast, English lavender isn’t the easiest of plants to grow, so instead I planted winter- and spring-flowering lavenders, including French lavender (Lavandula dentata) and varieties of Italian lavender (L. stoechas), as they cope well with humid conditions. Their display was lovely but never quite captured the fragrance and beauty of the English lavender we admired on that lovely Tassie holiday. It wasn’t until we moved to Tasmania that I was able to carry out the kids’ gardening advice. We now have a lovely English lavender hedge that grows in
front of a low picket fence. In summer, it is vibrant with stems of lavender-blue flowers that are fragrant and filled with busy bees. European honeybees and bumblebees forage among the flowers, which are also a favourite of butterflies and other insects. When the flowers have all finished, we clip the hedge to remove the spent stems. In winter, it is a neatly clipped grey hedge that turns grey-green with spring growth. As well as using lavender as a hedge, or planting it to soften a fence or wall or to edge a path, it also looks beautiful in a cottage garden, especially when it’s combined with roses and iris.
GROWING TIPS English lavender (L. angustifolia) needs a combination of sunshine, well-drained soil and low humidity to thrive. It is native to the Mediterranean region so it detests poor drainage and humidity. Wet and humid summers inevitably lead to root rot, dieback and rapid decline. English lavender grows well across southern Australia where the summers are dry, and in elevated regions, including the Southern Highlands of New South Wales. In less than optimum climates, grow English lavender in a terracotta pot with generous drainage holes in the base, using well-drained potting mix. Place the container in a spot with good air circulation and plenty of sunshine.
Although lavender is fairly unfussy about soil type, adding a handful of lime before planting into acidic soils can assist growth. Use an inorganic mulch of gravel around lavender and keep it free of weeds. The final factor for a healthy lavender bush is careful pruning. Lavenders do not respond to hard pruning. A light trimming and shaping after flowering in late summer or early autumn keeps plants vigorous and youthful. Never prune back to old wood as it will not reshoot. Even with the best care, lavender is not a forever plant. As the bush ages, it gradually declines, developing hard, grey wood that may become gnarled, so be ruthless and remove straggly plants. Replant with young, vigorous specimens, which will quickly grow to replace their predecessors. Lavender grows readily from semi-hardwood cuttings taken in autumn or soft tip cuttings taken in spring, so you can grow your own replacements. 16 J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 9
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English lavender is a neat shrub that grows 60–90cm high and up to 1.2m wide. Its flower spires of tiny flowers are shimmering lavender blue. Varieties include dwarf forms and those with pink flowers and nearly every blue and purple. ‘Munstead’ is a dwarf variety that’s often grown to edge a garden bed or a low wall, or as part of a traditional knot garden. It has a naturally compact habit and grows to about 30–60cm high. This is a plant with pedigree that was introduced by esteemed English garden designer, horticulturist and writer Gertrude Jekyll in 1916. ‘Loddon Blue’ is another compact variety grown for its deep purple-blue flowers. It reaches about 50cm tall. ‘Rosea’ has pink flowers on a bush 60–90cm high.
LAVENDER FARMS As well as being very popular among home gardeners, lavender is also grown commercially for the production of its
perfume and oil, and even as an edible plant. There are several large, commercial lavender farms in southern Australia (see box, right) and these are the places where you can truly appreciate the beauty of lavender on a grand scale, if you visit in summer before the harvest begins. Australia’s oldest commercial lavender farm is Bridestowe Lavender Estate in north-east Tasmania. The business was established in 1921 by London perfumer CK Denny, who brought seeds here from the southern French Alps. He viewed the climate of north-east Tasmania as similar to that of Provence, which is the ultimate lavender-growing region in France. Peak viewing for English lavender in flower is early to mid January, although lavender farms are often open year-round and may feature other species that flower in winter and spring. Check when the harvest is planned so you can time your visit to see the best flowers. GA
PHOTOS ISTOCK, LEIGH CLAPP, GAP PHOTOS, BRIDESTOWE LAVENDER ESTATE
PLANTS
at a glance common name English lavender botanic name Lavandula angustifolia plant type evergreen shrub
60â&#x20AC;&#x201C;90cm 1â&#x20AC;&#x201C;1.2m full sun year-round summer
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT A perfect cottage garden plant; light trimming after lowering keeps lavender healthy; containers provide perfect drainage; burgundy sanguisorba bobbles contrast beautifully with lavender; bee having a feast.
suitable
Where to see lavender Balingup Lavender Farm 157 Nannup Rd, Balingup, Western Australia. 0455 435 347, lavenderbalingup.com.au Bridestowe Lavender Estate 296 Gillespies Rd, Nabowla, Tasmania. (03) 6352 8182, bridestowelavender.com.au Crystal Brook Lavender Farm 257 Tyrl Tyrl Rd, Laggan, New South Wales. (02) 4843 3333, lavenderatlaggan.com.au
Lavandula Swiss Italian Farm 350 Hepburn-Newstead Rd, Shepherds Flat, Victoria. (03) 5476 4393, lavandula.com.au Lyndoch Lavender Farm Cnr Hoffnungsthal and Tweedies Gully Rds, Lyndoch, South Australia. (08) 8524 4538, lyndochlavenderfarm.com.au Port Arthur Lavender 6555 Port Arthur Hwy, Port Arthur, Tasmania. (03) 6250 3058; portarthurlavender.com.au
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Walking on These symbols of spiritual enlightenment ofer an architectural beauty and heavenly fragrance that few plants can match. ARNO KING explains how to grow lotuses in ponds and pots 18 J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 9
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PLANTS
PHOTO BLUE LOTUS WATER GARDEN
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egarded as the most iconic flower in the world, the lotus is renowned as a symbol of spiritual enlightenment, divine perfection and beauty, realisation of inner potential, purity, immortality and rebirth. Some lotuses are native to Australia and are featured widely in advertising for our tropical north, and all plant parts are edible. Yet despite their popularity in literature, imagery and perfumery, many Australians confuse lotuses with waterlilies, and fewer people grow them in their gardens. I hope to convert you! Everyone has room for at least one lotus plant in their garden or on a terrace. Lotuses and waterlilies grow in water, worship the sun and have large, round leaves, but the resemblance ends there,
for lotuses are quite unrelated to waterlilies, and taxonomically they are more closely aligned to members of the protea family, in the order of Proteales.
enchanting qualities Scholars have long noted how these plants, which are found along the still margins of lakes and ponds, grow with their roots in the stinking mud, and rise above the water to the light, producing beautifully perfumed flowers. I love the architectural qualities of the leaves. They are a pale bluish-green, resemble green, upturned umbrellas and sway in the lightest breeze or clatter in the rain. Children are fascinated by the way water droplets roll around on them like beads of mercury.
Flowers appear during the warmer months, and there is profuse production of flowers as the plant surges into growth. This is cause for celebration in many cultures. Each flower lasts 2–3 days, closing each night. The acclaimed perfume changes throughout the day. In the morning it has spicy overtones of cinnamon and is loved by tiny beetles, but by the afternoon it is pure lotus, an exquisite perfume with hints of rose, which is alluring to both humans and bees. Flowers vary immensely and many cultivars are grown in Australia. A mass of lotus blooms (Nelumbo ‘Perry Slocum’) standing tall above dinner plate-sized leaves.
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at a glance common names sacred lotus, American lotus botanic names Nelumbo nucifera, N. lutea plant type aquatic herbaceous perennial
15cm–1.5m 30cm–3m full sun spring, as growth emerges summer and autumn
suitable
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT Pink petals of Nelumbo ‘Red River’ darken to red on the edges; beautiful double-lowered N. ‘Roseum Plena’; N. ‘Xiao Bi Tai’ suits small pots; the petals of N. ‘Paleface’ have darker tips; the pretty N. ‘Pink Bowl’. 20 J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 9
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die down for only 1–2 months (some varieties maintain one or two leaves). However, in cooler climates in southern parts of Australia, the plant may remain dormant for many months. In the tropics, plants die down but may retain a few floating leaves before surging into growth with the warming weather.
growing tips Lotuses grow well in lakes and ponds, but also in pots that are filled with water, with a substrate at their base. After working for many years in South-East Asia, I’m a sucker for growing lotuses in pots, and always keep my eyes peeled for large pots – 80cm x 80cm or larger, with drainage holes that can be readily plugged. There is a wonderful range of small and medium-sized lotus cultivars that thrive in these pots. There are also tiny lotus cultivars, called rice bowl lotuses, which do well in much smaller pots. In a pot or pond, lotuses need a substrate to grow on – garden soil, particularly a clay loam, is ideal. Potting mixes or
PHOTOS ARNO KING, KIM WOODS RABBIDGE
These are principally cultivars of the sacred lotus (Nelumbo nucifera), but a few cultivars of American lotus (N. lutea) are also grown. Flowers range in colour from the purist white through to cream, yellow, apricot, pink and the deepest crimson red. There are also cultivars with bicoloured petals. I love the white cultivars with pink tips, or flowers combining pale yellows and apricots. Flowers may be single, semi-double or double, with some appearing to have hundreds of petals. The blooms vary in character, as some have pointed or pinched petal tips while others bear broad and rounded petals. As the weather cools, plant growth slows and the leaves start to die off. In my Brisbane garden, the plants grow and flower well into winter, and they
Lotuses have a wide natural distribution, from warm temperate climates to equatorial zones, so it is important to grow climatically appropriate plants. Speak to local growers about the best cultivars to grow in your area. Here are some of my favourite cultivars, all of which do well in pots. ‘Momo Botan’ A small cultivar with double crimson-pink flowers (warm temperate to tropical areas) ‘Paleface’ A large cultivar with white, crimson-tipped blooms (warm temperate to subtropical areas) ‘Pink Bowl’ A small cultivar with semi-double, soft pink flowers in profusion (warm temperate to subtropical areas) ‘Red River’ A medium-sized native from Townsville, with rich pink, single flowers (warm temperate to tropical areas) ‘Xiao Bi Tai’ (also known as ‘Little White Dragon’ and ‘Bowl Lotus White’) A tiny cultivar with small leaves but medium-sized double white flowers in profusion. Suited to small containers, and evergreen in my subtropical climate (warm temperate to tropical areas)
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TOP CULTIVARS
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FROM LEFT he large, bluish-green lotus leaves look like upturned umbrellas; a beautiful lotus bud about to burst into bloom.
EATING LOTUS
the growing season and then carefully place the potted plant in your pond or pot, which will be filled with water and have a substrate layer at its base. Place the potted plant in a depression, level with the surrounding substrate, so the stolons can head off horizontally and root into the surrounding substrate. If you obtain bare-rooted plants, be extremely careful and do not cover the growing tips with soil or damage them in any way. Your plants may be a little slow at first, but once they become established, they will grow vigorously. Lotus plants are very responsive to food. If they are fed with small quantities twice monthly, they flower profusely and produce rich bluish-green leaves. Plants seem to prefer organic fertilisers, and pelletised chicken manure is popular with growers. Wrap a handful of pellets
You may have already eaten lotus ‘roots’ if you enjoy Asian cuisine. These are not true roots but the swollen stems or stolons of the temperate forms. Sliced into discs, they have distinctive round holes. They are crisp, slightly sweet and fragrant, and are often deep-fried, stir-fried, pickled, stuffed or served floating in soups. The thin, stringy stolons of the tropical types are often steamed and served in salads or soups, particularly in Vietnam. Lotus seeds are used in a range of recipes, including moon cakes, noodles and lotus paste. The flower petals may be used as a garnish or a tea, and leaves are used for wrapping and steaming food and as plates. 22 J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 9
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in a sheet of newspaper or paper towel, plunge it into the substrate and cover. You will see the response within days. I have also had great success spraying the leaves with diluted fish emulsion. While beads of water don’t penetrate the leaves, fish emulsion is absorbed when sprayed lightly. Plants in ponds require less regular feeding than those in pots. GA
where toBUY Ring ahead to check opening times and availability of plants. Austral Watergardens (02) 9985 7370 australwatergardens.com.au Blue Lotus Water Garden (03) 5967 2061 bluelotusfarm.com.au Suncoast Water Gardens (07) 5494 8234 suncoastaustralia.com Wallis Creek Watergarden (02) 4938 0230 walliscreekwatergarden.com.au Water Garden Paradise (02) 9727 2622 watergardenparadise.com.au
PHOTOS ISTOCK, AUSCAPE/UNIVERSAL IMAGES GROUP
landscape soils are not suitable as they foul the water. I try to have at least 20cm soil depth, but this can be reduced for smaller cultivars. I also put a few tiny fish – generally paradise fish – in each pot to avoid mosquitoes. Lotus plants grow from white stolons (horizontal stems) that weave their way across the substrate surface and are anchored by roots growing at their nodes (leaf joints). In more temperate varieties, these stolons become swollen tubers that survive the winter cold, and resemble a string of sausages. Tropical forms, however, including our own native lotus, generally remain as slender stolons. The stolons and new growth are quite brittle and they are readily damaged when transplanting. To minimise damage, it is best to purchase vigorous potted plants directly from the nursery at the start of
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Passion for Life
GARDENS
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This coastal garden in Sydney’s eastern suburbs contains cute and quirky ideas for a small space, as well as a rather unusual landscaping feature words WENDY PRITCHARD photography BRENT WILSON
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pot containing gold-painted toy dinosaurs at the front door says it all: here lives a young family, and one that isn’t afraid to do things their way. Owned by Patrick Franklyn and his wife Dawn Piebenga, this relatively small garden in Sydney’s eastern suburbs has everything the family needs: chickens, a fairy garden, herbs and vegetables, a trampoline and even a balance beam. The children, Finn, 10, and Maaike, 7, have plenty of space to play on the robust, durable lawn. But this isn’t your run-of-the-mill flat lawn. This lawn has a swale – a shallow channel with gently sloping sides – that runs in a graceful sweeping curve across the width of the backyard. Dug out by hand, with the help of builders, shovels and wheelbarrows, it is now maintained by Patrick, who uses a cordless whipper snipper to keep it in shape. A qualified landscape architect, Patrick says the inspiration for the swale came from the work of American minimalist sculptor Richard Serra. “I’ve always admired the way he can push a curve of steel into a space,” he says. “Doing 24 J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 9
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it with earth was comparatively easy. Basically, there is a ‘curve’ and an ‘egg’ – both 3D forms that ‘make’ the entire space. They transform the small space into something that can appear to stretch outwards both to its boundary and to the sky. I also find it a massive over-spend and sort of extravagant to build retaining walls when earth – formed, shaped, and sculpted – often does the job.” Perhaps another factor here is that Patrick won a World Masters in sand sculpting in 2002 and, as he says, one thing you learn from carving sand is… how to carve earth! To emphasise the curve and add height, Patrick has topped the swale with a box hedge, which is also used elsewhere in the garden. The swale separates the garden into two distinct areas – the upper area with a chicken coop, trampoline and garden bed, and the lower lawn area. RIGHT It’s a mixture of hard and soft lines in the backyard, where mirrors and pots lank the deining feature – a curved swale topped with buxus – while painted dinosaurs in pots (above) stake out the front door.
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GARDENS
OTHER IDEAS A series of mirrors collected from council clean-ups are strategically mounted on the timber paling fence. Positioned in such a way as to bring light into the garden and to trick the eye into thinking the garden is bigger than it actually is, they’re a cheap and elegant solution for a small backyard. On the northern side of the property is a no-fuss garden, screened at the fence line by Viburnum odoratissimum, and planted out with rue (Ruta graveolens), cherry pie (Heliotropium arborescens), crinum lily, curry plant (Helichrysum italicum), and a lemon tree. A side garden creates a seamless flow from the interior of the house to the exterior. The minimalist space is paved with a concrete slab, and has a couple of key features – a timber log displaying shells collected from the nearby beach, and grey and black cylindrical pots planted with no-nonsense succulents, placed in groups so as not to clutter the space. But the real wow factor comes from a huge jade plant (Crassula ovata) in a retro cast cement pot, bought online for the 26 J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 9
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princely sum of $25. The pot was dragged through the house on a piece of carpet before being carefully positioned and painted black to match the other pots. A pair of vintage Australian-designed black wire chairs complete the space. All of the pots are round, which is deliberate. Patrick explains, “The round pots work with the triangular courtyard, the curved buxus hedge and triangular garden wedge at the back to minimise the sharp edges and give maximum ‘tolerance’ of different space shapes.” This attention to the way the elements work together creates a garden that is, in Patrick’s words, a mixture of calm, simple, messy and something of a respite from the hustle and bustle of the busy beachside area nearby. For the kids, it’s all about the chickens and trampoline; for the grown-ups, it’s a place to rest, relax and create. GA RIGHT All the pots are deliberately round and painted black to allow the plants to shine. Pictured, left to right, are a medley of succulents, a large jade plant, a smaller jade plant, and yellow stonecrop (Sedum spp.).
TOP TO BOTTOM he garden has proved perfect for Finn and Maaike, with the balance beam, the trampoline, and what their dad calls “mini delights to roll down or climb up”; spare vertical space is used for little succulents in recycled cans; Patrick says their inward-looking, “kind of messy” style of garden suits their needs, and is small enough to not get out of control.
ABOVE, LEFT TO RIGHT he strategically placed mirrors were all salvaged from council clean-ups, and the balance beam is enjoyed by garden users of all ages, from Finn (pictured) to the adults, and even the chooks.
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E want not The most recent instalment of the ABCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s War on Waste campaign focused attention on plastics and the damage they do to our environment. ELIZABETH SWANE brings you a host of ways to reduce, re-use and recycle plastic and other garden waste
WHAT
CLOCKWISE FROM MAIN Plastic bottle planters; re-using a bag to grow plants; most pots can be recycled; store labels for future reference.
Gardeners can use a lot of these bags, so it’s great that they can be recycled. Check REDcycle (redcycle.net.au) or Planet Ark’s Recycling Near You (recyclingnearyou. com.au) for locations of REDcycle bins, which are used to collect clean soft plastics for recycling.
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PHOTOS ISTOCK, GAP PHOTOS/MAXINE ADCOCK, GAP PHOTOS/JULIA BOULTON
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collection and recycling systems vary from council to council, and it’s not a reliable way to ensure your pots will have another life. Ask your council if it has a designated collection point for plastic plant pots.
SOFT PLASTIC POTTING MIX & MULCH BAGS
Re-use bags to line the sides (not the ase) of outdoor pots as a layer of insulation against heat and water loss, especially through porous unglazed pots. Line hanging baskets with used bags to insulate the potting mix and reduce moisture loss. Poke a few holes in the base for drainage. Grow a crop of potatoes, herbs or tomatoes in a used bag. Buy potting mix or mulch in bulk from landscape suppliers instead of bagged products, and have it delivered or collect it. If it’s too much, split it with neighbours.
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Contact local schools, community gardens or garden clubs to ask if they can re-use pots, or offer them on sites such as The Freecycle Network (freecycle.org) rather than putting them into your council recycling bin. Cut the base out of pots and sink them halfway into the ground to form a collar around young seedlings as a barrier against snails or scratching chooks. Instead of throwing plant labels away, secure them with garden twine on a low outer branch of your plant, as a reminder of its needs, or store them in a file or garden diary for reference.
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When you purchase new plants for the garden, what should you do with the plastic pot and label after putting your plant in the ground? The good news is that all nursery pots with the recycling number 5 on the bottom, and most plant labels, are recyclable. Some nurseries offer collection points where you can return clean pots to be ground up and recycled by the plastic manufacturers into new pots. You can put them in your recycling bin, however
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he ABC’s War on Waste program created a buzz around reducing household waste and plastics. But there are things we can do in the garden, as well, where all is not as green as it seems! Gardeners go through a fair whack of plastic pots and labels, bags of mix, and so on, and it’s good to know what can be recycled, and how to do it. Here are a swag of ideas and inspiration to help you recycle or re-use garden pots, potting mix bags, tools, kitchen scraps and other everyday items, as well as loads of practical information and resources.
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CARDBOARD
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Heavy-duty cardboard packing oxes can be used as a weed suppressant to smother weeds or repurpose grassed areas into garden beds. Place a single cardboard layer over the area, overlapping the edges by 5cm, then wet it down and cover with a 50mm layer of straw mulch. Without light, the weeds will die. Re-use cardboard toilet rolls as degradable seedling pots. Poke a little newspaper or paper towel in the base, fill with potting mix, then stand in a container or group and tie together with twine for stability. Dampen mix before sowing seeds. Plant out when seedlings are 5–10cm high.
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GARDEN TOOLS
RIGHT Cardboard boxes can be lattened, laid over weeds and topped with mulch (inset), as a way to deal with large areas of annual weeds and weed seeds.
Reader tips
We’ve received some terrific recycling ideas from our readers. We hope these inspire you to come up with other ways of re-using everyday items, rather than throwing them in the bin.
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Cheaply manufactured garden tools won’t last long and can end up as expensive landfill waste. To avoid this, invest in good quality, well made, durable garden tools and pruning equipment, which will last for generations. A 40-year-old pair of good quality secateurs from my apprentice nursery days is still going strong. Good quality tools and pruning equipment have replaceable parts, such as blades or handles, and they can be sharpened. Maintain tools by cleaning and oiling after use, and sharpen blades using a stone or recommended sharpening tool.
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WHAT
If you have more cardboard than will fit in your council recycling bin, ask your local council for the location of collection points, or search on Planet Ark’s Recycling Near You website (recyclingnearyou.com.au) for convenient drop-off locations.
Give young couples or new home owners a ift of quality secateurs, a good garden fork or a sturdy digging spade for their garden. Search garage sales for sturdy second-hand garden equipment that you can re-use. When downsizing, donate your excess garden tools to a school garden or community garden.
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FROM TOP LEFT Give unwanted tools to a school garden so the children can use them; toilet rolls make great containers for seedlings, and they break down in the ground.
Mark Walker from Duns Creek, NSW has re-used PET plastic bottle caps as pot feet under small and medium-sized patio pots to elevate the pots, which improves drainage. He says they’re surprisingly strong and durable. What a great idea! They could also go under indoor plants, inside the decorative container, to raise them up a few centimetres so the roots don’t become waterlogged.
investing in a better world
PHOTOS ISTOCK, GAP PHOTOS/SARAH CUTTLE, ROBERT FRITH/ACORN PHOTO
Julie Mellor from Young, NSW has turned waste into art, creating these striking, shiny spheres. They were made by wiring ring-pull can lids to wire hanging basket frames, and they are seen here hanging from her beautiful Chinese pistachio tree. Michael Scarborough from Fairy Hill, NSW has used 2L sauce bottles with squeeze sauce bottle tops as containers for liquid fertilisers so he can pour out the right amount without it spilling. He uses different-coloured tops to identify different products. No more drips! Make sure you label the containers.
providing investment portfolios and financial advice for over 30 years ethicalinvestments.com.au 03 9853 0995 Ethical Investment Services Pty Ltd ABN 38 004 531 800
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FERTILISERS & SPRAYS
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Recycling kitchen scraps via composting or a worm farm is the most effective way to reduce up to half your household waste, which would otherwise end up in landfill. Composting not only helps to improve our environment, it also creates a valuable resource from waste to use in our gardens. The type of compost bin or worm farm you choose will depend on your site and your preference. See our detailed guide to compost on page 37.
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Purchase liquid fertiliser s concentrates, and mix with water into a watering can, reusable hose-end sprayer or reusable quality spray bottle. Wash and re-use sprayers, using a separate, clearly labelled container for herbicide sprays. Use organic or organic-based controls over chemical sprays. Buy granular fertiliser in large sizes and re-use the plastic drums or buckets (including the lids) as containers for kitchen waste that is destined for the compost, or use them to store smaller items. Repurpose a fertiliser bucket by punching a hole in the lid and using it as a garden twine dispenser. Grow a diverse range of flowers and plants in your garden to attract beneficial insects and encourage predators. Consider using good bugs for pest control. Learn to observe your garden to identify any potential pests and diseases early, and manually remove as soon as they appear.
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Locate your compost bin in an open, sunny o partly shaded position. Worm farms need a dry, shaded spot to keep the worms happy. If you don’t have room to recycle scraps, connect with neighbours who have compost bins, worm farms or chooks and share your organic waste, or find someone local on the ShareWaste website (sharewaste.com).
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Liquid fertilisers act quickly and are taken up by the roots and foliage of plants. It’s best to avoid single-use or ready-to-use plastic trigger-spray packs as much as possible, as they are more expensive and wasteful if they can’t be refilled. Instead, purchase concentrates and dilute them in good quality reusable sprayers. Look for the Plastics Identification Code on the bottom of fertiliser containers to see if they can be recycled. Bottles with the numbers 2 and 5 can go into the kerbside recycling bin in most council areas, but it’s always best to check with your local council to be sure. Give the bottles a rinse first. Dispose of used chemical containers or older unlabelled chemicals appropriately through your local council chemical collection points.
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP Spray bottles can be re-used for liquids such as fertiliser and pest sprays, but need to be clearly labelled; tyres are fun for kids, or can be i lled with plants; turn kitchen scraps into rich compost; attract beneicial insects to help manage garden pests.
PRACTICAL
LANDSCAPE & GARDEN PRODUCTS You can easily make a difference to the environment by using products made from recycled materials when landscaping your garden and decorating your outdoor space.
more
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Look for stepping pads made from ecycled rubber tyres. Choose eco-friendly decking materials that are made from recycled wood and waste products and don’t require any painting, staining or oiling. Check out garden edging that is made from recycled plastic. Buy durable outdoor rugs that are made from recycled plastics, which are readily available. Save yourself the trouble of recycling plastic pots by using biodegradable pots made from paper, cardboard or coir. Purchase premium quality hoses, and consider upgrading to long-lasting brass fittings for taps and hose fittings when the old plastic ones break. Consider purchasing a robotic, solar-powered lawn mower.
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PHOTOS ISTOCK, GAP PHOTOS, AUSCAPE/UNIVERSAL IMAGES GROUP
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WHAT
REC YCLING Plastic drink bottles These make ideal mini greenhouses for cuttings or seedlings. Cut off tops or bottom then place over the pot (above). Broken pots Arrange small pieces (above) on the surface of potting mix to create a decorative moisture-holding mulch in planters Prunings Re-use off-cuts from pruning deciduous trees or bambo to make a teepee (right) for climbi plants such as beans or peas. Polystyrene boxes Use to make worm farms or mini greenhouses for raising seedlings (below), or break up and use it to fill the base of a large display pot to reduce the potting mix needed to fill it. Cover with old shadecloth or geofabric, then fill with potting mix.
Bathtub Convert an old bathtub into a worm farm, or fill it with potting mix or garden soil and use it to grow vegies or flowers (right). Plastic sauce bottles Transform a 2L plastic sauce bottle into a handy garden scoop by cutting out the base into a scoop shape (leave the cap on). Fish tank Grow edible water plants such as water chestnut or watercress in an unused fish tank. Plastic bread tags Use these to secure pest exclusion bags on fruit. Containers Almost any container can be repurposed as a plant pot (below). Drill a few drainage holes in the base before filling with potting mix GA
Resources Planet Ark’s Recycling Near You, recyclingnearyou.com.au Soft plastic recycling, redcycle.net.au ABC War on Waste: abc.net.au/ ourfocus/waronwaste Australasian Biological Control, goodbugs.org.au The Garden Clubs of Australia, gardenclubs.org.au ShareWaste, sharewaste.com The Freecycle Network, freecycle.org
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PRACTICAL
STEP-BY-STEP
TURN SOMETHING OLD INTO SOMETHING NEW 1
Salvage an old pallet, and create this slim-line shelving. This is a neat way to store and display small pots and tools. 1 FIND a warehouse or transport depot that has lightweight pine pallets destined for the scrap heap. You need 1 x pallet, 3 x deck boards sourced from another pallet, galvanised coach or batten screws, small nails, hessian or black plastic, and a selection of potted plants. 2 STAND the pallet up against a wall, then measure and cut the spare deck boards to cover the holes in the blocks
across the frame. Nail or screw them securely in place to create shelves, then turn the pallet upside down. 3 PAINT exposed surfaces with one or two coats of exterior acrylic paint. 4 LINE the inside of the shelves with hessian or black plastic, and use the small nails to secure it in position. 5 ATTACH your pallet frame firmly to a wall using the coach or batten screws. Add nails to hang tools. If you’re not confident with this step, ask a carpenter or handy friend for help. Arrange your plants and tools, then admire your work!
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Recycle your kitchen scraps at home!
www.tumbleweed.com.au
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Worm Blanket
Worm Farm & Compost Conditioner
PRACTICAL
COMPOST make it great
The single best way to reduce your waste and give something back to the soil in the process, is to make compost. ELIZABETH SWANE explains how to do it
T
he best way to dispose of your organic waste is to compost it. Companies have been busy developing composting systems to suit even the tiniest space, so there is no excuse to continue throwing food and other organics into the garbage bin. Here are a number of different ways to compost.
PHOTO GAP PHOTOS/JOHN SWITHINBANK
HOT COMPOSTING With the potential to convert your waste into compost in just 6–8 weeks, this is one of the quickest methods. In a hot compost pile, optimum temperatures of 40–60°C are maintained within the pile for several weeks, which is also enough to break down weed seeds and disease pathogens. The heat is generated by microbes breaking down the materials. To create this level of heat, you need to have a cubic metre or more of organic materials. These are piled up and moistened in layers all in one go in a compost bay or on open ground. To monitor the heat, which builds up quickly, use a compost thermometer. Maintain the temperature by turning and aerating the pile with a garden fork when the temperature drops below 45°C. This also helps to move materials on the outer edges into the centre where they are more likely to break down. You may need to turn the heap two or three times over its life, so give it some muscle! G A R D E N I N G AU S T R A L I A
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PRACTICAL
COLD COMPOSTING This is typically the method that most people practise at home. Materials are constantly added as they become available. It doesn’t generate the heat of a hot compost system, so it takes longer and it won’t break down most seeds and pathogens. Therefore, avoid adding weed seeds or diseased plants. An open compost bin is ideal for containing the materials and they are cheap to build from recycled timber or chicken wire and metal fencing posts (star pickets). Vermin can be an issue, and if so, don’t add kitchen scraps to the pile. Put these into a trench or benchtop system (see Other Methods) or add them to a worm farm. Turning the heap regularly will speed up the breakdown. Plastic compost bins with an open base are a tidy option and easy to install as you just need to sit them on the ground. Investing in a corkscrew-style compost turner is worthwhile as aerating the contents inside the bin with a garden fork is awkward. Keep it by the bin and give it a twirl once a week. Once the bin is full, the materials will take 3–6 months to
4 steps to
TOP COMPOST
1 GET YOUR BLEND RIGHT Compost piles need a balance of high nitrogen (greens) and high carbon (brown) materials to break down efficiently. Greens include kitchen scraps, fresh lawn clippings, weeds, garden trimmings, coffee grounds, tea leaves and cow, sheep, horse, goat or poultry manure (never add dog or cat droppings). Brown materials include straw, dry leaves, dry
lawn clippings, wood chips, wood shavings and shredded cardboard or paper. Generally, a brown to green ratio of 4:1 (by volume) is recommended. To maintain a good balance, add some browns every time you add your greens. 2 CHOP UP MATERIALS Chopping or chipping materials into small pieces increases their surface area, so it’s easier for microbes to break them down.
3 AERATE YOUR PILE The microbes that break down organic matter need air. When your heap starts to slump, turn over the pile with a garden fork to aerate it. You can also insert a long piece of PVC pipe with holes drilled in the side to help draw air deep into the pile. 4 MANAGE MOISTURE Microbes need moisture, too, but not too much. To test whether your compost needs
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extra water, squeeze a handful. It should feel just moist not dripping wet. Covering the pile with cardboard or a hessian sack will help hold moisture in, too. If you have days of heavy rain, it’s worth covering with a tarp to stop it getting too wet. A compost pile with a lot of green material may also be too wet. If that’s the case, mix through some additional brown materials to regain balance.
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break down. Having two or more bins allows you to continue piling in materials while the other batches are decomposing. Bin sizes start at 150L (for smaller gardens), 220L (family of four), or 400L (round or flat-pack). Some feature a handy flap so you can dig out compost at the base as it breaks down.
Celebrating
20 YeArs YEARS
OTHER METHODS Compost tumblers can be rotated, which makes aerating easy. Sealed containers hold the heat, speeding up the breakdown process. All materials must be added in one go. Trench composting is done directly in-ground, where worms and microbes break down materials. Dig a trench 30–40cm deep where you want to enrich soil, drop in your organic materials, then cover with soil. The materials are buried deeply, so you can plant straightaway. Visit abc.net. au/gardening/factsheets/compost-trench/10213610 to see Tino Carnevale creating a compost trench. Benchtop compost bins are an option for recycling food scraps indoors. As scraps are added, they are sprinkled with a special mix of bacteria and fungi which break down materials without producing unpleasant odours. A liquid by-product can be diluted and used as fertiliser and the microbe-rich solids buried in the garden. GA
Sprinkler
Waters a LARGE area up to 15 metre diameter. Average flow rate of 10 LPM. 5HPRYDEOH ͤOWHU IRU GDP RU ULYHU ZDWHU XVH Able to run multiple sprinklers from the same tap. PRESSURE P.S.I
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PHOTOS CRAIG WALL, ISTOCK, PHIL DUDMAN, ROBERT FRITH/ACORN PHOTO, MAZE PRODUCTS
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT Benchtop compost bins are handy for food scraps that may attract vermin outside; aerating compost in a sealed tumbler is easy, and breakdown is fast; open compost bins are cheap to build so you can have multiple bins at various stages.
Waters a SMALL area up to 8 metre diameter. Average flow rate of 4 LPM. Purpose shaped base for roof cooling. 5HPRYDEOH ͤOWHU IRU GDP RU ULYHU ZDWHU XVH Able to run multiple sprinklers from the same tap. SIZE OF DISC USED
1.25MM DISC
1.5MM DISC
1.75MM DISC
2.0MM DISC
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WATERING DIAMETER
1.5M TO 3.0M
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4.5M TO 6.0M
EFFECTIVE UP TO 8M
APPROX. LITRES/MIN
2.5
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Available from AGnVET, AIRR, Bunnings, CRT, Dahlsens, Elders, Home Hardware, Landmark, Mitre 10, Plants Plus, Pursehouse Rural, Thrifty Link, Total Eden, True Value and Tuckers. Or ask your local Hardware or Rural Retail Store.
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Robin and Scott McLay – Passionate Home Gardeners
Have an interesting garden? Share your grow story
@RockyPointAU
It started with a love of gardening from their grandparents and continued with growing cuttings in glass jars at boarding school. For the last 10 years Robin and Scott have grown a very special acreage garden where every plant has its place. Robin says “It’s where we go to relax, I pick flowers for our house and Scott harvests fruit and vegies to eat” and in every season they delight in what their garden shows off. With Winnie the dog by his side Scott declares “We don’t plant anything without using Rocky Point’s Active 8 and Rocky Point Lucerne Mulch is another favourite for the Roses and the vegie garden”. For the last 10 years they’ve owned Brookfield Garden Centre in Brisbane. While exploring the rest of their garden and hearing their grow story we were convinced the garden centre was a great plan to support their passion. This is Robin and Scott’s grow story.
However you grow, keep growing with Rocky Point.
SPECIAL PLACES
Great
PUBLIC GARDENS to see this summer
With their green expanses, unusual trees, climate-controlled hothouses, plant pavilions, special collections and beautifully curated displays, Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s public gardens are an obvious place to stop and stretch the legs or spend a chunk of hours during a roadtrip or summer holiday. KAREN SHAW stops of at some of the best illustrations CHERYL ORSINI
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Adelaide Botanic Garden, SA What’s not to love about this peaceful 50ha oasis located in the heart of the city? It is beautifully laid out and there is lots to see. Stroll through the Amazon Waterlily Pavilion, which houses a favourite of mine – the world’s largest waterlily, Victoria amazonica from South America, with its floating leaves that look like giant dinner plates and measure up to 2m in diameter. Water plants shine in the gardens in summer. The pink sacred lotus will be in full, splendid bloom. There’s nothing more beautiful than a pond of these graceful flowers, which evokes memories of trips to Asia. One visit here and you could be transported to sipping cocktails in the tropics. botanicgardens.sa.gov.au, (08) 8222 9311
Olive Pink Botanic Garden, NT There’s something unique about this wonderful collection of arid plants, which were so adored by the garden’s founder, Olive Pink. Gazetted in 1952, today this 16ha garden in Alice Springs stays true to its purpose of giving visitors a site to learn about desert species. Don’t expect lush and green, but what is so good about this place is how it feels like everything is planted in just the right spot. Regulars enjoy keeping an eye on the resident western bowerbird’s collection of all sorts of things, including bones and shells. Start early and beat the heat. opbg.com.au, (08) 8952 2154
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Cairns Botanic Gardens, Qld Tropical plants are the heroes here, and there are impressive collections of orchids, bamboos and fruit trees as well as spectacular butterflies. But what’s even better is taking the walking trails through neighbouring Mount Whitfield Conservation Park. For out-of-town adventurers, the Red Arrow circuit walk rambles through eucalypt forests and peaks with fabulous views over Cairns. Get up early to share the track with local wildlife such as brush turkeys and curlews. The wet season is the best time to visit this tropical paradise because this is when all the plants really come to life. I enjoy getting up early to see these landscapes at their spectacular best. cairns.qld.gov.au/cbg, (07) 4032 6650
PLACES Kings Park and Botanic Garden, WA An institution for family outings, this is a kids’ paradise with terrific playgrounds throughout the garden, and awesome displays of natives. A truly remarkable specimen worth seeing is the giant boab (Adansonia gregorii), which has been named Gija Jumulu. Weighing in at 36 tonnes, with a trunk 2.5m in diameter, it was transported more than 3200km from Warmun in the Kimberley by truck a decade ago. The tree is now growing well in the heart of the garden and locals love how it has adapted to its new home and landscape. About 750 years old, it gives city folk a taste of how life feels in the bush, and gives us all a reality check about the longevity and importance of our plants. bgpa.wa.gov.au, (08) 9480 3600
Ju Raku En Japanese Garden, Toowoomba, Qld This garden, for me, is like a work of art. Aptly named (Ju Raku En roughly means ‘to enjoy peace and tranquillity in a public place’), the garden is situated in the grounds of the University of Southern Queensland. It’s so tranquil and peaceful. Designed by Professor Kinsaku Nakane, of Kyoto, it features many elements such as carefully placed rocks, a dry garden of raked gravel and clipped plants. The designer’s sage advice, to view a Japanese garden “with a detached gaze, without preconceptions and in a state of total receptivity” is also very appealing. For me, this is the essence of what visiting gardens is all about. usq.edu.au/about-usq/locations/ Toowoomba, (07) 4631 2627
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Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Cranbourne Gardens, Vic This garden is a surprise package. Featuring clever design, there’s much to enjoy as paths link an unfolding narrative that explores our nation’s wild landscapes. The real hero of this garden for me is the eucalypt. Nothing says Aussie summer like this iconic tree, and there are plenty to get to know, scattered throughout this vast garden. For an intense experience, take the Eucalypt Walk – smell the pungent peppermints, keep your eyes peeled for scribbly patterns on the tree trunks, and be sure to feel the textured bark. You’ll come away with a new appreciation of this species. rbg.vic.gov.au/visit-cranbourne, (03) 5990 2200
Wendy’s Secret Garden, NSW It’s easy to forget you’re in busy Sydney when roaming through this pleasurable garden in Lavender Bay, which has been created by Wendy Whiteley with passion, love and skill. Meander the myriad pathways, showcasing an eclectic mix of plants, many of which are mass-planted. Don’t forget to look up and see the intricate and delicate tree foliage against the sky. Take time to really bathe in nature here. Friendly kookaburras even stand to attention for photographs, and their happy laugh always brings a smile. I love catching glimpses of iconic Sydney landmarks from the higher vantage points. The interesting pieces of sculpture adds an extra layer of creativity to this garden. wendyssecretgarden.org.au, info@wendyssecretgarden.org.au 44 J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 9
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Wollongong Botanic Garden, NSW For decades, this garden has been a great oasis for families and garden lovers, but Wollongong residents have been holding it as a closely guarded secret. Get lost exploring the many well-thought-out collections and beautifully planted gardens. What I love most is that you can take a tour through the landscape. Daytime tours, nocturnal ramblings and tours that help you feel like you’re stepping back in time often fill quickly. Bring your sense of adventure to see the night-time activity of resident tawny frogmouths going about their business. Another much-loved tour featuring Sir Joseph Banks brings local history to life. wollongong.nsw.gov. au/botanicgarden, (02) 4227 7667
SPECIAL PLACES
more gardens to visit SOUTH AUSTRALIA Pangarinda Botanic Garden coorong. sa.gov.au/pangarinda, 0409 282 477 Australian Arid Lands Botanic Garden aalbg.sa.gov.au, (08) 8641 9116
WESTERN AUSTRALIA Araluen Botanic Park araluen botanicpark.com.au, (08) 9234 2200
NORTHERN TERRITORY Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, Tas With a 200-year history, this garden has a fond place in my heart. It’s where Gardening Australia regularly films its TV show. Once called Pete’s Patch, the Tasmanian Community Food Garden is a great place to see organic production at its best. There’s always something fruiting or ready to pick. Smaller than I imagined from the TV, it boasts great take-home ideas. I love visiting because it reminds me of the importance of growing organic produce. It’s so inspiring. I just want to go home and get out my garden fork. From January, look out for the impressive range of heritage tomatoes, which look so good you want to taste them. gardens.rtbg.tas.gov.au, (03) 6166 0451
Alice Springs Desert Park alicespringsdesertpark.com.au, (08) 8951 8788 George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens nt.gov.au/leisure/parks-reserves, (08) 8999 4418
QUEENSLAND Roma Street Parkland visitbrisbane.com.au/roma-streetparkland-and-spring-hill, (07) 3403 8888 Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha brisbane.qld.gov.au/ facilities-recreation, (07) 3403 2535 Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens goldcoast.qld.gov.au/thegoldcoast/botanical -gardens-24658.html, (07) 5581 6984
NEW SOUTH WALES The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au, (02) 9231 8111 The Blue Mountains Botanic Garden Mount Tomah bluemountainsbotanic garden.com.au, (02) 4567 3000 The Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan australianbotanicgarden. com.au, (02) 4634 7900
ACT Australian National Botanic Gardens anbg.gov.au/gardens, (02) 6250 9588
VICTORIA The National Arboretum, ACT I love trees. On occasion, I even like to hug them because it makes me feel better. While this extraordinary collection may not be on your radar, it should be. Highlights include the 2604-strong plantation of cork oaks, some of which are a century old. As well as 31 threatened species, the arboretum grows trees from Armenia, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, to name a few. Before visiting, though, check the website for fire warnings. nationalarboretum.act.gov.au, (02) 6207 8484
Cactus Country cactuscountry.com.au, 0427 745 271 Blue Lotus Water Garden (opens Dec 27), bluelotusfarm.com.au, (03) 5967 2061 Geelong Botanic Gardens friendsgbg.org.au, (03) 5272 4379
TASMANIA Inverawe Native Gardens inverawe.com.au, (03) 6267 2020
CURIOSITIES
Nature by numbers W
hat’s the connection between swirling spirals of seed in a sunflower head, the off-kilter symmetry of pine cones, and our fondness for odd-numbered plantings? Maybe none, as it turns out, but we can track our obsession to finding one back to at least the 13th century, to accountant and mathematician Leonardo of Pisa. Fibonacci (as he was nicknamed a few centuries later) loved a good conundrum, including the number of rabbits you might expect from a single breeding pair. As we know in Australia, it doesn’t take long for a few bunnies to become a plague, but our friend from Pisa was interested in the detail of what happens next. By Fibonacci’s reckoning, the first couple of rabbits will beget two more pairs, followed by 3, 5, 8, 13, 21 and so on. The ‘so on’ is the sum of the two previous numbers: the series starts
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with one breeding pair so the next number is also one (zero + one), then two (one + one), and we are off! These are called Fibonacci numbers, and they seem to pop up all the time in nature, architecture and art. As does the golden ratio, also known as the divine proportion or phi, which is what you get when you divide a Fibonacci number by the one before it (see overpage). Look at the seeds in a sunflower head or the scales on a pine cone and you will see they are arranged in rows that spiral out from the middle or apex. There is a clockwise spiral and an anticlockwise spiral. If you count the number of spirals in each direction it is often a Fibonacci number. The number of spirals in the opposite direction is usually the Fibonacci number before or after the other one. You can also find Fibonacci numbers, or rough approximations to them, in a rosette succulent such as an agave,
aloe or echeveria, or in a head of Romanesco broccoli. If you count the number of spirals, more often than not it will be a number from that series. The reason for the pattern is rather prosaic. The most competitive and efficient place for a new leaf is to be offset by 137.5 or 222.5 degrees to the last leaf, rather than directly adjacent or opposite. This results in as many leaves as possible accessing full sunlight. Over time, this offset creates spirals of leaves, and in the most efficient packing there is often a Fibonacci number of them. In architecture, the design of the Acropolis of Athens or the Parthenon in Rome are sometimes said to be indebted to the golden ratio. In the case of the Acropolis, the dimensions don’t quite match up and I gather there is no evidence the original design took that proportion into account. Whereas Renaissance buildings, such as the
PHOTO ALAMY
The Fibonacci sequence is a mathematical pattern that seems to crop up frequently in nature, as well as in architecture and garden design. TIM ENTWISLE studies the figures
CURIOSITIES
THE GOLDEN RATIO Divide any Fibonacci number by the one before it and you get an approximation of the golden ratio, 1.6180339887498948420…, a number that continues on forever with no discernible pattern. (This is called an ‘irrational number’.) The quotient oscillates above and below this number as you progress along the series, and the larger the pair of Fibonacci numbers, the closer the approximation. So, for example, 55 divided by 34 is 1.617647…, an accurate representation of the golden ratio to two or three decimal places.
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like three and five when planting groups of trees. However, two and eight are in the sequence and a coppice of two or eight trees is unlikely to form a pleasing outcome. On the other hand, a mix of shrubs that reach 8m mixed with some that reach 5m – both Fibonacci numbers – is a planning tool used by some landscapers. The golden ratio is sometimes used in gardening as well. A rectangular bed with proportions approaching 1:1.6, say 5m wide and 8m long, will look ‘about right’ to most people. Of course, if you have a long, narrow garden or a curvy space you’ll have to either break it up into little golden ratio units or create something with a different aesthetic. The Fibonacci number and the golden ratio may well provide for an intrinsically beautiful object or collection of objects, but in most cases other practicalities and other equally attractive proportions prevail. In nature, Leonardo of Pisa’s calculations didn’t actually work in the rabbit burrow – he failed to allow for more than two offspring for a start – and they are only a rough approximation in flower and plant geometry. Still, the mathematics remains a beautiful thing. GA
Close enough?
The majority of sunflower heads have 34, 55 or 89 seed spirals in one direction, all of which are Fibonacci numbers (0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89…). Almost 20 per cent, though, have something in between, with some matching numbers from series starting with different numbers, such as Lucas (2, 1, 3, 4, 7, 11, 18, 29, 47, 76, 123…), named after Édouard Lucas, who coined the name Fibonacci numbers, F4 (3, 1, 4, 5, 9, 14, 23, 37, 60, 97…) and double Fibonacci (0, 2, 2, 4, 6, 10, 16, 26, 42, 68…). A few other variations have been noted, such as a Fibonacci number plus or minus one, but that stretches the analogy too far. It is sometimes stated that the number of petals in a flower or flower head is also a Fibonacci number, again citing sunflower as an exemplar. Yet, in a study of 1000 sunflower flower heads, just over a third had 21 and the rest anything between 12 and 31.
PHOTOS ISTOCK
Laurentian Library in Florence and the Notre-Dame de Paris, do have design elements based on the golden ratio, as have some Renaissance gardens. In design generally, an odd number of something is considered more attractive than an even number if we want a relaxed and informal feel. In small gardens, this means we tend to use Fibonacci numbers
Growing Australian gardens for over 70 years. At Tesselaar we only send plants that are garden worthy, plants that we have trialled and tested to ensure they meet our high standards and yours. We are so sure of our products, we offer a full money back guarantee on everything we sell. We search far and wide to ďŹ nd the best plants for your garden, then we package them with care so they arrive safely at your door, no matter where you live in Australia. We send seven seasonal, full colour, free catalogues each year. We also offer additional online specials and limited release rare plants. Our friendly staff are always happy to help out with your garden questions. All our products are accompanied by detailed growing instructions and tips to help you along your way to creating the most beautiful garden for your home.
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TRAVEL
The spectacular display of flowers and foliage at Lambley includes carefully selected rare plants from around the world, writes AB BISHOP
A
the bucket list the 16ha old potato farm in 1991, restoring a dilapidated farmhouse and developing a garden using discerning combinations of frost- and drought-hardy plant varieties. Adjacent to the house, a woodland garden surrounding a tree-dotted lawn showcases hellebores, irises and bluebells. In the walled front garden, a mature maple, daphnes and abundant gladioli, salvias, roses and lilies signal the seasons with dynamic displays. “I love the coming and going of foliage and flowers; I don’t want a static garden,” says David, who maintained his very first garden at eight years of age. LEFT Lambley owner David Glenn in the woodland garden, where guided guests can delight in the seasonal displays of granny’s bonnets (Aquilegia spp.), hellebores (Helleborus spp.) and bluebells (Hyacinthoides spp.).
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PHOTOS DERYN THORPE, AB BISHOP, LAMBLEY GARDENS & NURSERY
pproaching Lambley Gardens & Nursery, you may question your navigation skills – all around you are flat paddocks, curious cows and sheep, with nary a world-class garden to be seen. Finally, a sign indicates your successful arrival, and so begins your understanding of why this garden in regional Victoria is so revered. Entrance is via a long, gravel driveway flanked by an avenue of flowering cherries (Prunus serrulata ‘Mt Fuji’) underplanted with agapanthus. There’s still little hint of the visual feast beyond dense European privet hedges (Ligustrum vulgare) that defend against blasting winds, define various garden rooms, and provide a simple backdrop for what is essentially a series of exquisite living paintings. Lambley was devised, designed and created by plantsman David Glenn and artist Criss Canning. They purchased
LAMBLEY GARDENS & NURSERY
in Ascot, Victoria
CLOCKWISE FROM MAIN A pergola covered with trumpet vine (Campsis radicans), framed by wigwams of Clematis ‘Golden Tiara’; blue Echinops bannaticus contrasts with yellow Achillea ‘Coronation Gold’; the organic vegie patch; beehives with blue Rosmarinus oicinalis ‘Mozart’ in the foreground.
To develop a beautiful and sustainable garden, David has collected seed legally from countries with a similar climate to Lambley’s. Plants from as far afield as southern Europe, Morocco, Greece, Syria, Turkey, Palestine, Israel, Afghanistan, Kurdistan, California, Arizona, Mexico, Chile, South Africa and China (among others) are trialled for five years in surrounding paddocks to ascertain their worthiness for inclusion in the display gardens. “They should be long-flowering, easily grown, with appealing proportions,” says David. Throughout the year, thousands of judiciously selected beauties flaunt their seasonal glory. Winter visitors delight in sweet and cheery daffodils, aconites and snowdrops, while spring brings lilacs, clematis and so many tulips you’ll think you’ve fallen into a rainbow. G ARDENING AUS TR ALIA
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TRAVEL CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT Olives provide a uniform structure against the ever-changing foliage and lower combinations in the garden; a mass planting of the beautiful red-lowering Tulipa eichleri; a view through an arbor reveals a border brimming with lowers.
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WHILE YOU ARE THERE Ballarat Botanical Gardens Enjoy a picnic on the lawn at this 40ha cool-climate garden located along Lake Wendouree’s western edge, about a 20-minute drive from Lambley Gardens. Seasonal displays feature year-round in the large, contemporary conservatory. ballaratbotanicalgardens.com.au
Talbot Farmers’ Market
NEED TO KNOW Lambley Gardens & Nursery is located at 395 Lesters Road, Ascot, Victoria. The garden is open from 9am to 5pm every day except Christmas Day. Guided group tours are available by arrangement; groups coming through by themselves should flag their visit beforehand. Note, there is no cafe onsite, but urn hot water is available on request for BYO tea and coffee. For more details, visit lambley.com.au
On the third Sunday of every month, the streets of this picturesque, historic gold mining town, about 20 minutes north of Lambley, close to traffic, and it transforms into a lively market with more than 80 stalls. Enter the Barrow Raffle, purchase seedlings, chooks or a goat, or stock up on artisan cheese, seasonal fruit and vegies, bread, gourmet oils and other produce. talbotfarmersmarket.org.au
The Amazing Mill Markets The whole family will love exploring Ballarat’s wondrous maze of antiques, vintage furniture and clothes, home furnishings, books, jewellery, coins, posters, and records. millmarkets.com.au/ballarat
PHOTOS AB BISHOP, LAMBLEY GARDENS & NURSERY
Summer and autumn showcase myriad botanical possibilities of what gardeners can achieve in a hot, dry summer climate with frosty winters and blustery winds. No more excuses for shabby gardens! Meandering, camera at the ready, you discover the large organic vegetable and flower-cutting garden, with elements purposefully echoing Monet’s garden at Giverny (see the February issue for more on that). It inspires with its orderliness and mass plantings. A rarely irrigated ‘dry garden’ is a masterclass in plant positioning and contrast. Within what is essentially a 20m x 50m flower bed, mature olive trees become silvery exclamation marks juxtaposed against a cacophony of colour. Native birds dart everywhere. Inspired visitors may purchase seed, bulbs or seedlings of Lambley’s ornamental and produce plants onsite or via mail order. Two of the many plants David has bred that are popular worldwide are Agastache ‘Sweet Lili’ (named after his granddaughter) and Euphorbia x martinii ‘Ascot Rainbow’, which was recognised with an Award of Garden Merit from the UK’s Royal Horticultural Society in 2015. I challenge anybody to walk away empty-handed! GA
AT HOME WITH JACKIE
The sweet
scents of summer JACKIE FRENCH reflects on all the enticing aromas that waft through the windows of her home in the hot summer months
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ummer is the scent of hot soil, ripe tomatoes and gently fermenting peaches. But it also has some of the coolest scents of all. Heat makes scented volatile oils evaporate. Suddenly, the whole house is filled with perfume. My study fills with rose and spice from the ‘Souvenir de la Malmaison’ rose growing up the pergola, or a whiff of curry bush with the aroma of the best vindaloo, though don’t try eating its leaves as they’ll be bitter rather than tasting of curry. Just let the scent stimulate your tastebuds as you devour a hot curry that will cool you down as you perspire lightly in response to the chilli and spices. Then there is the scent of ripening watermelons and rockmelons. We only grow the mini ones as they are the only ones sure to mature in our short growing season. Melons are one of
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the few fruits that really do become more delicious chilled. We grow them on the highest, sunniest part of the hill, which means their scent floats into our bedroom and we wake up craving slices of melon (there are many worse ways to begin breakfast). Melons are a surprisingly suitable crop to grow in a drought – I’ve seen self-sown ones grow on sand banks. Watermelons were domesticated in the Kalahari Desert because they grow in arid climates, contain so much sweet liquid and provide their own spill-proof container for long journeys. The living room is filled with the smell of lemon – not from the lemon trees or the lemon-scented gum, which is a nice, small, neat backyard tree with a magical haze of lemon about it, especially before and immediately after rain. Our lemon scent comes from the lemon verbena on the bank – a graceful, narrow-leafed
shrub. It loses its leaves during winter in cooler areas but can keep them nearly all winter in subtropical regions. It grows up to 2m high and even wider but can be kept well trimmed. It prefers full sun, though it tolerates semi-shade in hot areas. In very cold areas it needs to be protected from heavy frost for the first year, but after that it is sturdier and will survive anything from a blanket of snow to a four-year drought. Our bush is about 30 years old and the trunk is wonderfully twisted and aged looking. Lemon verbena tea is probably my favourite herbal tea to drink. I often use it as a base for all sorts of other teas, adding a few peppermint leaves or other flavourings. The leaves can also be added to equal parts of ordinary tea leaves for a lemon-scented tea, and it can be drunk black or with milk and sugar, or frozen in iceblocks to add to cool drinks on hot days. And the kitchen? It smells lemony, too – the genuine kind, as the summer lemons are turned into the best lemon cordial in the world (see recipe, right). Make a big batch and drink it with many iceblocks, a sprig of mint, and often. And the world will feel cool again, no matter what the temperature outside. GA
Melons are one of the few fruits that really do become more delicious chilled
WORLD’S BEST LEMON CORDIAL
I was given this recipe by an elderly neighbour. I drank three glasses and would have drunk more if I hadn’t already looked greedy. It’s fruity, not too sweet and is the most refreshing drink I know on a hot summer’s day. 2 cups lemon juice 3 cups sugar 6 cups water 6 tsp citric acid 6 tsp tartaric acid 1. Place everything in a saucepan and boil for five minutes. 2. Bottle while still hot, then seal and keep in a cool place for up to three weeks. Throw out the cordial if it ferments or turns cloudy 3. Splash a few table into a glass and add and cold water (or s water). Or make a bi jug, or two or three. It’ll all be drunk.
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J AN
UA
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monh in he
ARDEN
More than 50 jobs to do in your action planner
YOUR PLANNER
I t’s time to...
Fork over mulch layers to prevent them developing a water-repellent crust Add colour to the summer garden with a crepe myrtle (left). Look for one of the new Indian Summer varieties, which are mildew resistant. Pick flowers for vases in the early morning, plunging them immediately into a bucket of cool water to help them last Plant columbine seedlings in moist, well-drained soil in a semi-shaded spot
TOP JOB
TEXT JUDY HORTON PHOTOS ISTOCK
KEEP YOUR GARDEN ALIVE WHILE YOU’RE ON HOLIDAYS
Keep birdbaths (above) topped up with fresh water and clean out any algae or fallen leaves, sticks and flowers Stay indoors in the middle of hot days and garden in the morning or evening Trim topiaries, and tie in new shoots on climbers growing on frames or trellises Feed the lawn with either a slowrelease or organic-based food as these will be less likely to burn the grass Pinch out any flowers that form on coleus (Plectranthus scutellarioides) and they will continue to produce their beautiful and colourful leaves Deadhead agapanthus (right) to prevent their seeds spreading into bushland
Heading off on a summer holiday? No-one wants to come home to dead plants, so make a plan to ensure the garden (and house plants) survive your absence. If you don’t have a garden carer or house-sitter who can come in regularly while you’re away, there are many other things you can do. Potted plants are at the most risk of drying out, so move as many as you can into the shade and group them closely together, or sink their bases into the soil in a shaded garden bed. Punch a couple of holes in the lids of empty PET bottles, fill with water and freeze. Just before you leave, up-end one or two frozen bottles around the sides of pots or vulnerable plants. As the water melts, it will slowly seep in. Mow the lawn before you go and weed it as much as possible. If you’re away longer than a week or so, arrange for a friend or mowing service to run over it again to keep it tidy. Give your garden beds a thorough soaking and cover them with a fresh layer of mulch (above) after you’ve watered. Think about installing
automatic water timers, but see if you can arrange for someone to check them while you’re away. Tie ribbons around the stems of plants that have recently been planted, to signify that they need closer attention to watering. To help indoor plants survive your absence, cover the bottom of the bath with some old towels and sit all your house plants on top (above). Water the pots well and run water in the bath until the towels are saturated. Then pull out the plug, so the plants are left sitting on the moist towels.
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J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 9 59
TOP JOB
MAKE SOME GARDENING RESOLUTIONS
Add lemony plants to your garden Citrus is the best-known source of lemon flavouring and fragrance, but there are many other lemony plants to consider growing in your garden. If space is tight, how about a pot of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis, above). This is a member of the mint family and is evergreen in warm climates but will die down in areas that have cold winters. The native lemon-scented tea-tree Leptospermum petersonii will grow into a small tree to about 5m but can be clipped to make a tangy-smelling hedge. Lemon myrtle (Backhousia citriodora) is an
upright-growing tree from coastal Queensland that has clusters of small, creamy-white summer blooms. It’s said to be the greatest natural source of citral oil, which is also called lemonal. If you don’t have enough room for a tree, try the shrubby lemon verbena (Aloysia citriodora, above) with its 2m-tall sprays topped with mauve-white flowers. The blooms are so attractive to pollinators that the plant is sometimes christened ‘beebrush’. It can get untidy and needs to be clipped often which means, fortunately, that you get to enjoy the lovely lemon fragrance at the same time. As an added bonus, leaves from any of these lemony plants can also be steeped to make a soothing, lemon-flavoured tea. 60 J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 9
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While you’re making New Year’s resolutions for yourself, why don’t you make some for your garden, too? Here are a few suggestions: Resolve to grow something from seed for the flower or vegie garden Sharpen your secateurs (right) and place them near the door so you use them every time you go outside Attract pollinators by planting yellow- and blue-flowering plants Re-pot anything that’s been in a container for more than five years Visit some inspiring open gardens close to home, or plan a trip to see some further afield Give the kids a vegie plot of their own to grow a few edibles Plant more drought-tolerant natives Aim to spend at least 15 minutes working in the garden every day
Top tip
Pot up a few herbs (below) and place them close to the kitchen Start an open compost bin (see page 37) for kitchen waste Keep your garden plans simple for the best chance of success!
Help pollinate corn by shaking the pollen from the tassels at the top of the plant onto the silky ends of the developing cobs.
YOUR PLANNER
Do it now
Recycle your discarded cut Christmas tree by ‘planting’ it in the garden and using it as a support for a bird feeder Pinch back pelargoniums, and inspect them for fungal diseases, such as rust Start building up and preparing beds for autumn bulb plantings Sow seeds of winter- and springflowering annuals, such as poppies and pansies, into pots and place in a cool spot Install a fountain (left); the sound of running water can help you feel cooler on hot summer days Pull out weeds, remove and bin any flowers and seeds, and throw the weed bodies into the compost Add a touch of purple to the garden by planting maroon-leafed forms of berberis, smoke bush or Chinese fringe flower (Loropetalum chinense)
Grasshoppers
Watch out
PHOTOS ISTOCK, CRAIG WALL, ROBERT FRITH/ACORN PHOTO
These insects don’t discriminate – they’ll munch their way through just about any plant and are hard to catch. Try going on a grasshopper hunt in the early morning, while they’re still a bit sleepy. Set up grasshopper traps near target plants by floating pieces of yellow plastic (they seem to be attracted to the colour) in shallow containers of water. Encourage birds in your garden, and let chooks roam free to gobble up any they find.
Mist-spray any plants located on verandahs and porches to keep up their humidity levels on scorching hot days Trim fuchsias lightly, saving some of the pieces for propagating new plants Check and adjust water timers (below) to suit the weather and temperature
sow & plant… basil beans beetroot brussels sprouts capsicum/chilli carrot caulilower cucumber eggplant leek lettuce melon okra pumpkin radish rocket spring onion squash/zucchini sweetcorn sweet potato tomato
IN JANUARY
O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O
KEY tropical
O
subtropical
O
arid/semi-arid
O
warm temperate O cold temperate
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YOUR PLANNER
Edible garden
Pest alert
De-scale your garden
Many scale insects breed in summer, and this is a good time, while the young ones are moving about, to get on top of scale problems. Small numbers of scale pests can be scrubbed off with an old toothbrush dipped in soapy water, but larger infestations may need to be treated with a specific scale product or a horticultural oil. Once the scale insects have gone, any sooty mould will gradually disappear.
Lily caterpillars These black caterpillars with white and yellow markings attack strappy-leafed plants such as agapanthus, crinum, hippeastrum, clivia and other lily relatives in the warm months. Tiny grubs start grazing on the top surface of the leaves but eventually eat their way down to devour the entire clump. They feed at night, so go out after dark with a torch to pick off and squash the grubs. If the problem is severe, spray with an organic caterpillar control. 62 J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 9
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Put in new crops of sweetcorn and mini squash, and keep them growing with regular liquid feeding Store almost-ripe lemons in sawdust or dry sand where they will keep for many weeks Give citrus trees an application of trace element mixture, following the packet directions Pick up fallen fruit and seal it in a plastic bag to prevent spread of disease and pests such as fruit fly Look out for and say thanks to any helpful ladybirds eating powdery mildew from the leaves of cucurbit relatives, such as pumpkins Harvest zucchini (above) when they are just past finger length as that’s when they’re at their best
Lift sweet potato shoots so they don’t put down roots everywhere Bag developing figs to keep the birds and other pests away (right) Rig up supports for heavily laden branches of peaches, plums and any other summer fruit Plant cape gooseberries for an easy crop that will happily self-seed
TOP JOB
Garden & Lawn
Sprinklers 2
PHOTOS ISTOCK, NATURE PRODUCTION/AUSCAPE, ALAMY
CARE FOR ROSES
Most roses take a bit of a rest in summer after their major spring efforts, but they’ll still be producing some flowers. By picking these regularly to enjoy indoors, you’ll prevent the formation of unwanted rosehips that take energy from the plant and delay repeat flowering. In mid to late summer, give long-blooming roses an all-over prune, removing dead or diseased sections and cutting back the remaining healthy growth by about one-third. This helps you get on top of common fungal problems, such as black spot (left) and stimulates lots of fresh new growth on which blooms will form. After pruning, fertilise, water well and mulch to prepare your roses for a beautiful autumn display. Sap-sucking mites thrive in hot, dry summer conditions and they love attacking roses. Two-spotted mites (left) suck the goodness out from the undersides of the leaves, causing discolouration, spotting and, in severe cases, the formation of a film of fine webbing over the leaves. Major mite attacks can be controlled by commercially available predatory mites but, if you get in early, you can try treating with an insecticidal soap or a rose spray that’s registered for mite control. Watering over and under the leaves can also discourage mites but may lead to more fungal problems.
Our sprinklers are suitable for small, medium or large garden or lawn areas. Find the right watering solution with Neta. Covered by a 2 year No Break Guarantee. Available at
www.netagarden.com.au
YOUR PLANNER
In he tropics
Gather and chop up fallen or stormdamaged material and add it to compost Check potted plants growing under cover to see if they require watering Sprout seeds, such as mung beans, alfalfa or chick peas, on the kitchen windowsill, and add them to salads Replace any plants that have been washed out by summer rains Feed avocados after harvest with organic-based citrus or rose food and sprinkle some gypsum to replace calcium that’s been leached out of the soil Set the blades very high when mowing lawns so the longer grass protects the soil during downpours Hunt for caterpillars every few days to make sure precious plants aren’t being demolished by these chomping insects Remove ripe fruit from makrut and prune the tree after harvest Sow climbing snake beans (below) next to a support such as a trellis Put indoor plants out in the rain to wash their leaves clean, but bring them back in before the sun comes out and the foliage gets burnt
TOP JOB TIDY THE GARDEN SHED How long is it since you tidied your shed? The start of a new year is a good time to give a shed a fresh start. Begin by totally emptying the shed and making some hard decisions about what you really do and don’t need. Old tools can be re-purposed or given away to a local community garden. Do you have old tins of paint, oil and out-of-date garden chemicals? Check with your local council as most provide special arrangements for disposal.
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The next step is to freshen up the shed. Sweep out and clean the interior, patch any holes, wash walls, lubricate door hinges and repaint if you need to. Install new shelving and hanging racks for tools. When it’s time to re-stock, start by putting the things you use most often next to the entrance. Store chemicals on a high shelf or in a locked cupboard out of the reach of children. Place fertilisers away from sources of moisture such as damp walls.
Care for your living Christmas tree
Once the festivities are over, a bit of TLC will ensure your potted Christmas tree is still alive next year. Initially, move the tree outside into a shady spot, then gradually re-acclimatise it to more sun over coming weeks. Re-pot the tree, if needed. Give the plant a post-Christmas treat by applying some slow-release fertiliser, liquid seaweed and soil wetter. Trim lightly if required, but avoid cutting back into bare wood. Water whenever the mix starts to dry out, and turn the pot every couple of weeks so that the plant gets light on all sides.
Harvest your rainwater
Take action
Ivy and climbing fig will both turn into monsters if you let them mature, so prune them often to keep them in their restrained juvenile stage.
Drought is an ever-present threat in Australia, and gardeners are particularly aware of its effects. Rainwater harvesting, which means collecting and storing rainwater, is a growing industry with more than five million tanks now spread around all states. Most state governments are legislating or offering incentives for the inclusion of water storage tanks in new and some existing homes and buildings. The old iconic corrugated iron tank propped up on tree trunks has been superseded by a sophisticated range of water storage options. These range from massive steel storage containers to slim-line polyethylene tanks that come in a galaxy of colours and fit snugly under the overhanging eaves, to soft bladders that can hold up to about 20,000L and are designed to go under the house or deck. They are all used to gather rainwater from the roof and direct it into the tank.
Modern gutter protection systems keep gutters clean of debris and enable easy water collection. There are a number of websites that outline the pluses and minuses of the various options. Don’t forget, too, there are some simple things you can do in the garden to make the most of any rainwater. Dig drains to carry water to parts of the garden where it’s most needed. Create swales (water-gathering depressions) on sloping ground, or cut and fill to create terraces so you can capture and store moisture in the soil that would otherwise run off.
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J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 9 65
YOUR PLANNER
STEP-BY-STEP
TAKE HEEL CUTTINGS OF DAPHNE Summer is the perfect time to propagate daphne. TINO CARNEVALE demonstrates how to take heel cuttings and pot them up 1 LOOK for plant material at the tips of the branches that is healthy and free of pests or disease. This is new spring growth that has hardened off a little. It’s often called ‘semi-ripe’ – it’s firm at the base but still a little soft at the tips. Choose a side shoot and, holding it firmly at the base, carefully pull it down so that it comes away with a ‘heel’ or sliver of bark from the main stem.
2 REMOVE all the lower leaves, keeping just one or two pairs at the top. If any of the remaining leaves are large, you can trim them in half. This will help to reduce moisture loss from the cutting. 3 TRIM OFF any rough edges from the heel with a sharp knife then use secateurs to shorten the length to about 15mm long. 4 DIP the heel into honey. This simple step helps to protect the cut surface from any harmful bacteria. 5 FILL a small pot with moist propagation mix. Use a pencil or stick to make a hole in
the centre, and insert the cutting. Gently water it in. Move the pot to the shade, then cover it with a cut-off plastic bottle to create a mini-greenhouse. The cover will help to stop the cutting drying out. Check on the mix every couple of days to see if it needs more water. It should take about two months for roots to form and for new growth to start appearing at the top. Give the rooted cutting a little fertiliser and pot it on to a larger container when it outgrows the current one. As the cutting grows, gradually move it into a brighter position to harden it off in preparation for planting.
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PHOTOS FIONA WALSH, ISTOCK
4
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Ready to roll Other plants to strike this way Heel cuttings are used to propagate plants that are sometimes difďŹ cult or slow to root. The sliver of bark and woody stem at the base helps to protect the cutting from rot, contains useful growth hormones and helps prevent sap from se away into t plants, suc Rosemar Californi Common Viburnum Camellia Lavende
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Passion for Life
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G A R D E N I N G AU S T R A L I A
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PHOTOS ISTOCK, PHOTOGRAPHY BY NATSKY
IN THE
PATCH
Horticultural editor and devoted food grower PHIL DUDMAN shows you what to plant, pick and tend in the edible garden this month
G A R D E N I N G AU S T R A L I A
J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 9 69
IN THE PATCH
PLANT it NOW BRUSSELS SPROUTS It feels strange to be thinking about sowing and planting such a quintessential cool-season crop when temperatures are soaring, but that’s just what you need to do. Most varieties of brussels sprouts require 5–7 months of growing time to produce a good crop. Seed can be sown as early as mid-December with the aim of getting seedlings in the ground by late January or February. This isn’t a crop that can be grown anywhere. These little gems of the cabbage family are pretty much restricted to temperate areas and places that have cold winters – in fact, a good frost brings on the best flavour. Sow into moistened seed-raising mix in punnets and keep in a cool, bright spot. If you leave your run too late, look for established seedlings at your local garden centre. Prick out seedlings shortly after germination and pot them up individually in small containers of potting mix with a little slow-release fertiliser added. Find a spot that gets a few hours of morning sun to grow them on until you’re ready to plant out. Often the greatest challenge is finding a space to put them in the ground when the patch is full of tomatoes, zucchinis and other summer vegies. What a great reason to build another bed!
PICK it NOW
WATERMELON
The only thing better than a sweet and juicy watermelon in summer is chomping into one that you’ve grown yourself. You don’t want to pick them too early though. Cutting open a melon that hasn’t quite ripened will surely dampen your spirits… speaking from personal experience. So how do you tell when a melon is ready to be plucked from the vine? There are a few indicators. The first is that the little curly tendril on the stem closest to the fruit should be completely brown and dried up. Pick up the fruit when it gets to this stage and give it a thump with the palm of your hand. If it makes a hollow sound, it’s definitely ready for picking. The skin of the melon offers another clue. The colour will become dull and the underside that’s been lying on the ground will take on a slightly yellow hue.
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STEP-BY-STEP
HOW TO PRUNE PAWPAW
PHOTOS ISTOCK, PHOTOGRAPHY BY NATSKY
Cutting back established pawpaw trees when they become too tall encourages multiple trunks that produce fruit at a more reachable height. PHIL DUDMAN demonstrates how this is done
2
1 PRUNE the tall, heavy trunk in small, easy-to-handle sections. Make the first cut on the underside of the trunk (or opposite side if it’s perfectly vertical). Use a ladder or pole saw to increase your reach. 2 FOLLOW UP by making a top cut slightly higher than the undercut. The pruned section will snap and fall cleanly directly below as you cut. If you need to protect plants below, stop cutting before the snap, break it off by hand and then place it where you want it.
3 CONTINUE working your way down the stem, cutting off small sections. 4 MAKE your final cut fairly low down on the trunk – as low as knee height. New fruiting shoots will form from the section of trunk that is below the cut. 5 COVER the exposed cut with an old tin, ice-cream container or cut-off 2L milk container. This helps to keep rain from going into the hollow stem. The cut will eventually callus over the hole, after which the cover can be removed. G A R D E N I N G AU S T R A L I A
J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 9 71
IN THE PATCH
CROPS IN POTS
MINT
benefits from being in full sun, so you can move your pot around to capture optimal seasonal conditions. A 30cm pot is just right for growing mint as it provides enough space for the roots to develop, and it’s not too big and heavy to move around. Mint loves compost so add some to your potting mix – a 50:50 blend is good – and toss in a couple of handfuls of coir peat to hold moisture.
PHOTOS GAP PHOTOS/MARTIN HUGHES-JONES, PHIL DUDMAN
There are good reasons for growing mint in a container, even if you have plenty of spare ground. For one, most mints are quite invasive, with stems that travel far and wide, dropping roots wherever they go. Plant one in the garden and before you know it you have enough mint to supply the local greengrocer on a regular basis. Another reason is position. Mint prefers a bit of shade during the hotter months, but when the weather cools down it
Moisture management is a key to keeping potted mint productive. It hates drying out and normally needs watering daily in summer. A saucer under the pot to catch run-off is of great benefit in hot weather. The plant will soak up the excess moisture during the day, but don’t leave it sitting in water in cool weather or the roots may rot. Feeding with liquid fertiliser every 1–2 weeks will keep plants healthy and encourage lots of fresh growth. The only real downside to all this rapid development is that the plants quickly fill their container, which means they’ll need re-potting. Simply take out the plant, cut the stems back hard, chop off the bottom half of the root ball and plant it back in the same pot with fresh mix. If it’s particularly crowded, divide it up into smaller chunks. It sounds brutal, but mint can handle it, and it bounces back beautifully. If you can’t live without your mint, it pays to have a second pot on the go to provide you with fresh leaves while the other recovers from its surgical procedure.
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helping HAND
For every kind of gardener
Tips for tackling this month’s problems
SHELTER YOUR VEGIES If you’re getting fried in the hot summer sun, spare a thought for your vegies! While most summer favourites like plenty of light, when temperatures get above 30°C, full sun is a bit full on. Everything wilts, lettuces lay flat and turn to mush, and tomatoes and capsicums are severely scalded. Erecting temporary shade structures over heat-sensitive crops eases the impact of direct sun while cooling surrounding air and reducing moisture loss. Frames can be a simple tunnel of wire mesh over a row of lettuces or a combination of timber stakes, bamboo poles and poly pipe over an entire bed. Cover with shadecloth, orchard netting or pest-exclusion netting. The shade rating should be no more than 30 per cent, or plants can become weak and leggy. For tomato plants, remove the cover when conditions aren’t extreme to maintain air circulation and reduce fungal issues.
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FRUIT TREE COVER Sensitive young fruit trees can be severely damaged by leaf and stem scald, so drive in a couple of stakes nearby and be prepared to cover trees with cloth when temperatures soar. Established trees that have developed a leafy canopy are generally okay and should recover from minor heat damage.
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Perenial
GREENS
To guarantee a steady supply of fresh leaves for the kitchen through summer, PHIL DUDMAN suggests growing these beauties, which won’t wilt in the heat
1. BRAZILIAN SPINACH (Alternanthera sissoo) Small, round, crinkled leaves have a mild flavour and crunch when raw. Great in salads or cooked dishes. Plants form low, compact mound and make an attractive border. Good in pots, if kept moist, and easy to propagate from cuttings. Dies back in winter in warm temperate areas, but normally reshoots in spring. Year-round harvest in tropics and subtropics. 30cm 60cm full sun, semi-shade 2. AIBIKA (Abelmoschus manihot syn. Hibiscus manihot) Also called hibiscus spinach. Widely grown in South-East Asia. It prefers tropics and subtropics but can be treated as a summer annual in cooler areas. Regular trimming, feeding and watering produces abundance of young leafy shoots, which are the best to eat. Leaves are mucilaginous, so have a slightly slimy feel in the mouth. 1–3m 1–2m full sun, semi-shade 74 J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 9
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3. KANGKONG (Ipomoea aquatica) This fast-growing creeper, also known as Chinese water spinach, loves being wet. Can be invasive so best in big pots. Block drainage holes and fill water to just above soil level. Fertilise regularly for lots of shoots and leaves. Excellent in stir-fries. Grows all year in tropics. Dies back in winter elsewhere, but normally reshoots. 0.4m 2m full sun, semi-shade, shade 4. OKINAWA SPINACH (Gynura crepioides) An attractive low-growing, mat-forming perennial native to Indonesia. Leaves are deep green on top and purple underneath, and are succulent with a mild flavour. Use young leaves and stems raw in salads and smoothies. Larger, older leaves are best cooked but can be slimy if overcooked. In cold areas, grow in a container and move to a protected spot in winter. 0.7m 1.5m full sun, semi-shade 5. MALABAR OR CEYLON SPINACH (Basella alba, green-stemmed, and B. rubra, red-stemmed) Attractive, fast-growing vine with edible leaves and stems. New shoots are best to eat and resemble silverbeet flavour when lightly steamed. Mucilaginous when overcooked, so toss in at end of recipes. Perennial in tropics; warm-season annual elsewhere. Collect seed for sowing the following spring. Provide solid support frame to climb, and cut back when too big. 2m 1–2m full sun, semi-shade
6. LEBANESE CRESS (Apium nodiflorum) Stems and leaves are edible, tasting like a cross between watercress and parsley. Great in salads, sandwiches and soups. Attractive, spreading, fern-like plant but can be invasive so grow in a pot or saucer. Grows readily from divisions. Hard to kill but give it some shade in hot weather, and feed and water well for greater production. Plants die back in winter in cooler areas. 0.25m 1m full sun, semi-shade 7. WARRIGAL GREENS (Tetragonia tetragonioides) This native groundcover, also called New Zealand spinach or Botany Bay greens, was the first Aussie bush tucker cultivated and eaten abroad. Fleshy leaves are high in oxalic acid* and are best steamed or blanched before eating or cooking further. Demands good drainage and is tolerant of drought and light frost. Suited to warm temperate, arid and subtropical areas. 0.5m 0.5–2m full sun, semi-shade, shade 8. SURINAM SPINACH (Talinum triangulare) Bright green, fleshy leaves and pink, edible flowers. Raw leaves have crunchy texture and slightly tangy taste. High in oxalic acid* so limit intake, particularly raw. Handles wet and dry conditions. Great in pots, especially in cool areas, where it needs some winter protection. Strikes easily from cuttings and self-seeds readily, so thin out unwanted plants and don’t allow it to escape. 50–70cm 50cm full sun, semi-shade
PHOTOS ALAMY, ISTOCK, GREEN HARVEST, PHIL DUDMAN
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he heat of summer can be tough on leafy vegetables such as Asian greens, lettuce, and silverbeet, particularly in the north, where tropical downpours and humidity cause all sorts of disease problems. To get through these trying periods, it pays to grow some heat-hardy perennial greens. These plants produce a bounty of nutritious leaves in the warmer months with minimal effort, so you’ll never be without greens to add to salads, smoothies, soups, casseroles, stir-fries, pies and quiches.
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PLANTS 9. CRANBERRY HIBISCUS (Hibiscus acetosella) Deep burgundy, lobed leaves and pretty pink hibiscus flowers make this fast-growing shrub an attractive choice for gardens. Native to tropical areas, it is sensitive to cold but can be grown as a warm-season annual south of the subtropics. Responds well to regular pruning when watered and fed well. The leaves retain their colour when cooked. They have a slightly sour taste, are mucilaginous, and high in oxalic acid* so it’s best to only use them sparingly. 1–2m 1–1.5m full sun, semi-shade 10. MUSHROOM PLANT (Rungia klossii) As the name of this perennial suggests stems taste a little They make a great and stir-fries. The p Papua New Guinea for growing in mos will tolerate light fro easily from cuttings be used to create a border. Tolerates d and is well suited to in containers. 50–70cm 60 full sun, s *Plants that are hig best eaten cooked t People who suffer from kidney disor gout and rheumatoid arthritis shoul avoid or limit intake of these plants.
where toBUY 9
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Green Harvest 1800 681 014, greenharvest.com Daleys Fruit Tree Nursery daleysfruit.com.au The Diggers Club (03) 5984 7900, diggers.com.au Mudbrick Cottage Herb Farm (07) 5530 3253, herbcottage.com
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GUESTS & PESTS Wattlebirds are welcome in the garden, with their playful nature and pollination skills, says LEONARD CRONIN
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his time of year wouldn’t be the same without our wattlebirds. These playful and friendly honeyeaters often keep me company by the pool. Bold as brass, unfazed by my presence, a family of four fly to their perch on a nearby branch and take turns swooping over the water, snatching a drink or catching insects. The young have well and truly fledged by now but hang out with their parents, perhaps improving their insect-hawking skills or learning a few new feeding tricks. When not sallying after flying food, they feast on our lone banksia or grove of grevilleas, swinging off branches, hanging upside down and chasing other birds from their favourite food trees. Raising a brood is not easy. Wattlebirds have to fend off pallid cuckoos and Pacific
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koels who try to sneak into an unattended nest to lay their own egg, while predators such as falcons, ravens, snakes and cats are always looking for an opportunity to snatch eggs or nestlings. Despite these pressures, wattlebirds survive by breeding two or three times a year when conditions are suitable, giving them a good chance of raising at least two young – enough to maintain a viable population. We have little wattlebirds in our garden, but many of you will be familiar with the larger, noisier and more aggressive red wattlebird, distinguished by small, red, fleshy wattles on each side of the neck. As with other honeyeaters, they feed mostly on nectar, obtained predominantly from banksias, grevilleas, callistemons and eucalypts. Probing deep into flowers, their long tongue is tipped with bristles
that soak up the nectar like a sponge. Wattlebirds are in fact more efficient pollinators of long-tubed grevillea flowers than honeybees. Wattlebirds occur naturally in heaths, forests and woodlands, and despite the clearing of vast areas for forestry, agriculture and human habitation, have managed to survive by moving into urban areas. They find food and shelter in parks and gardens. By planting nectar-producing trees and shrubs, providing clean water and keeping pets under control, you’ll have wattlebirds seek out your garden, helping to keep bugs at bay and fertilising flowers while providing entertainment. That’s definitely a win-win situation.
Len gardens in the Northern Rivers, New South Wales
BACKYARD VISITORS
a sticky end
Some flowers will go to extreme lengths to become pollinated, says MARTYN ROBINSON
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PHOTOS ALAMY, ISTOCK
ummer is the season to see waterlilies and lotuses. They’re gorgeous plants but they do employ some rather underhanded tricks to get themselves pollinated. On a waterlily’s first day of flowering, the receptive female stigmas in the centre are surrounded by a ‘fence’ of as-yet-immature male anthers on the end of stalks called stamens. The pollinating insect finds this centre hard to escape as the stamens bend inward, making the insect fall back in. The centre is full of a clear liquid with properties a bit like detergent so the insect sinks to the bottom and any pollen on it does as well, pollinating the flower. While some insects manage to climb out, many of them drown. At the end of the day, the flower closes on the drowned or trapped pollinators, and when it opens the next day its pollen is ready for insects to carry to other flowers. By now, the anthers have folded over the lethal centre parts so it is safe for insects to visit and then fly off to pollinate another flower where, sadly, they might meet a less-than-pretty death. Lotuses also imprison some of their pollinators. On the first day, the blooms partially open and scent is released. The stigmas are sticky and ready to receive pollen but the anthers are as yet inactive. Insects, especially flower-feeding beetles, climb into the flowers to feed but can’t easily get out. When night falls, the flower closes and traps them inside. It then raises its temperature so the insects continue to climb all over the inside of the flower – if their body temperature drops too low they will just sleep. Meanwhile, any pollen from other lotuses they’ve visited sticks to the stigmas. The next day, the flower produces pollen and opens completely so the insects can feed and fly off, hopefully to get trapped in another newly opened lotus. GA
Martyn gardens mainly on Sydney’s Northern Beaches
ǁĂƩůĞďŝƌĚ Anthochaera spp.
WHAT ON EARTH?
Have you found something interesting in your garden? Send us a photo and Martyn will ID it. Email yoursay@gardeningaustralia.com.au with ‘Creature’ in the subject line. G A R D E N I N G AU S T R A L I A
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IS THERE ANYTHING OTHER THAN GRASS THAT I CAN USE TO KEEP DOWN DRY, DUSTY, SANDY SOIL ON MY VERGE? Ann Purcell, Ettalong, NSW
DERYN THORPE SAYS There are a number of good turf alternatives you could consider for this situation. Creeping boobialla (Myoporum parvifolium, above right) is an extremely tough native plant that copes well with hot, dry, exposed conditions. A low, dense spreader that suppresses weeds, it features very fine, green leaves (there is also a purple-leafed form) and white or pink flowers that are attractive to birds and butterflies. Equally tough in dry, sandy soils is Eremophila glabra ‘Roseworthy’, with its small bright-green leaves and pretty orange-red blooms that the birds love. ‘Blue Horizon’ is another low-growing, dense form of E. glabra and features 78 J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 9
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attractive blue-green foliage with yellow tubular blooms in winter. There are a few prostrate grevilleas worth considering, and Grevillea ‘Poorinda Royal Mantle’ (above left) is probably the best of these. It’s a very dense groundcover with attractive toothed leaves, coppery-red new growth and red toothbrush flowers in spring. Adenanthos cuneatus ‘Coral Carpet’ is another native to check out. Its foliage is beautifully textured, and is reminiscent of coral. The new growth starts out red and then fades to green along the many stems, creating a remarkably colourful effect. Do keep in mind, while these spreading alternatives are drought-hardy and pretty, they grow a little taller than your average strip of mown grass and only take minimal foot traffic. Good old turf is always the most reliable plant choice where people need to walk regularly, or, for a no-mowing option, you could create a permanent pathway of pavers or large stepping pads and surround them with one or more of the groundcovers suggested. Also, while many councils are happy to have lawn substitutes on verges, most have regulations concerning the height of plants, and adequate and safe access for pedestrians, so follow this up with your local council before making any decisions.
I have two ‘Silver Princess’ gums. Is the pale pink colour rare? I grew the trees from seed. Robyn Boynton, Ardlethan, NSW
ANGUS STEWART SAYS Eucalyptus caesia ‘Silver Princess’ is a naturally occurring form of a Western Australian species found in the inland areas of south-west Western Australia. It has much larger flowers than other forms of this species. It is normally propagated by seed, as that is the most economical way to propagate it commercially. This does, however, lead to some genetic variability in the resulting seedlings, and your lovely pink form is the sort of variation that typically results. It is unlikely to come true to that type if you grow it from seed, but it could be propagated by grafting.
write and win!
Fairy garden My grandson Jayden found a huge piece of bark in the local park. He used it to plant some succulents then gave it to me, and I have made it into a fairy garden. Joan Irlam, Wynn Vale, SA
Got something to say? Share your thoughts, ask a question, slip us a tip and show us your best shots. The pick of the crop each month wins a six-month subscription to ABC Gardening Australia magazine (current subscriptions will be extended).
yoursay@gardeningaustralia.com.au (letters) experts@gardeningaustralia.com.au (questions) Your Say, Gardening Australia, nextmedia, Locked Bag 5555, St Leonards NSW 1590 FACEBOOK facebook.com/ABCGardeningAustraliamagazine INSTAGRAM @gardeningaustraliamag #gardeningaustraliamag
I BOUGHT THIS ARGYRANTHEMUM MORE THAN A MONTH AGO BUT IT’S NOT GROWING AND THE NEW FLOWERS LOOK DRY AND UNHEALTHY. I AM WATERING EVERY DAY AND USING FERTILISER EVERY 1–2 WEEKS. WHAT AM I DOING WRONG?
Len Marshall from Hoppers Crossing in Victoria has won a six-month subscription for this photo of his seasonal pot (below). He created it after being inspired by a September story. What a lovely display!
Dana Marenco, via Facebook
PHIL DUDMAN SAYS This looks like it may be a spent flower that has started to rot. Best thing to do is go over the plant and pick off any material that looks like what you are holding. This type of regular maintenance will keep your plant looking clean and healthy, and stimulate the formation of fresh flower buds. Fortunately, it looks like you will have plenty of good-looking flowers and buds left behind. Many modern argyranthemum varieties are quite compact, so it’s not surprising that it doesn’t look like it has grown much in the last month, and plants After reading your often need that time to settle in. You could step back excellent ‘Seasonal Pot’ from watering now. Aim for twice a week for the next article in the September two weeks, then once a week. Once established, it issue, I took your advice only needs watering in particularly dry conditions. and updated our front pot. When you water, aim the water at the ground and Len Marshall, try to keep moisture off the foliage and flower buds. Hoppers Crossing, Vic I suspect you are using a liquid fertiliser. You could reduce your applications to once every 2–3 weeks.
PHOTOS ALAMY, ISTOCK
Pretty pot
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Your Insta posts
Clockwise from below a_life_of_green snapped a rainbow lorikeet perched above her yellow kangaroo paw, while d.a.joy shared this macro shot of a red flowering gum about to burst into bloom. bridgyjb says this is her favourite spot in her North Central Victoria garden right now, with these ranunculi and snapdragon beauties, while garden_with_lee has harvested some pretty purple crops.
his bush grows wild next to a walkway to the beach near my home. he lowers keep well in a vase and look very pretty too. We would love to grow it in our garden. Please can you identify it, and is it a native? Christel Fritze, Dundowran Beach, Qld
PHIL DUDMAN SAYS This plant with pretty pink flowers enclosed by green-veined white bracts is commonly called white shrimp plant or squirrel’s tail (Justicia betonica). It is native to southern Africa and the Indian subcontinent. Unfortunately, it seeds readily and has become a serious and widespread weed in coastal districts north of northern New South Wales, so we don’t recommend growing it.
I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MY HIBISCUS. WHAT IS IT AND HOW CAN I TREAT IT? Carol Jensen, via Facebook
Snails love eating mail in my letterbox. Here’s how to cut them off at the pass! You need about ½ cup of finely crushed eggshells. To make these, wash 2–3 dozen eggshells on the inside to remove traces of egg white, then allow them to dry in the oven while it’s still hot after baking. Put the eggshells into a sturdy snap-lock bag and whack with a rolling pin to finely crush them. A mortar and pestle will work, too. Coat a flat piece of cardboard with a strong clear adhesive and apply your crushed eggshells to the glue, making sure to add extra shell grit as you go, until it is completely covered. Then stick the cardboard to the underside of the letterbox, avoiding the drainage holes. That’s it, job done. Bye-bye snails! Karen Buchanan, via email 80 J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 9
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This damage is caused by a microscopic insect called erinose mite. Some hibiscus are more susceptible to attack than others. The best thing to do is prune off and destroy all infected growth then spray new foliage with a miticide such as wettable sulfur. These mites, which are sap-sucking insects, are most interested in the fresh, young, sappy foliage, so be prepared to spray new growth when it appears, to minimise damage.
PHOTOS ISTOCK
Take the snail out of mail
PHIL DUDMAN SAYS
EASY & SAFE WATERING
Neta’s new Retractable Hose Reel comes with a 15m or 25m hose, 12mm ittings and an 8-pattern spray gun. Features include reliable coiling, safe auto-retract, and the option to stop the hose anywhere. It 1 of 4 comes with a three-year no-break guarantee and is available at Mitre 10 or Home Timber & Hardware. each worth
win
RETRACTABLE HOSE REELS
COMPETITION OPEN TO AUSTRALIAN RESIDENTS ONLY. STARTS 10/12/18 AT 00:01 (AEDT) AND CLOSES 13/1/19 AT 23:59 (AEDT). ENTRIES JUDGED ON 14/1/19 AT 2PM AT NEXTMEDIA LEVEL 6, 207 PACIFIC HWY, ST LEONARDS NSW 2065. TOTAL PRIZE POOL VALUE $519.96 (INC GST). THE JUDGES’ DECISION IS FINAL AND NO CORRESPONDENCE WILL BE ENTERED INTO. FULL TERMS & CONDITIONS AT GARDENINGAUSTRALIA.COM.AU. PRIZES SENT TO THE POSTAL ADDRESS PROVIDED ON THE ENTRY FORM.
$129.99
Nature child
My almost two-year-old loves picking flowers so, needless to say, our pansy garden is quite bare! Cassandra Dunn, Strathpine, Qld
We have four Neta 15m Retractable Hose Reels to give away, worth $129.99 each. To enter, tell us in 25 words or less what you think about when watering the garden. Write your name, street address, contact number and entry on the back of an envelope and send by January 13 to Neta Hose Reel, Gardening Australia, nextmedia, Locked Bag 5555, St Leonards NSW 1590, or email comp@gardeningaustralia. com.au with ‘Hose reel’ in the subject line.
My star jasmine has stopped flowering in the last couple of years. My husband has been pruning it into a neat hedge. It looks great, but I miss the flowers and the aroma of their sweet smell on a hot summer’s night. The plant keeps bearing new growth of leaves only. Our neighbours’ star jasmine has been flowering profusely each year, although it has never been pruned. Please tell me what I am doing wrong. Christina Byron, via email
DERYN THORPE SAYS I think you have already realised that the continual pruning of your jasmine is preventing it from flowering. The best time to prune a star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) is right after flowering, which usually occurs from mid-spring though to summer. Prune in early autumn to tidy up the plant and stimulate new growth so you get lots of those beautiful perfumed flowers in the following spring and summer.
I keep digging up these fungus-like growths in my vegie atch. What are they? anne Fowler, Harcourt, Vic
MARTYN ROBINSON SAYS This is called cup fungus, and it has relatives that are usually found on the surface. Due to its unusual way of life, and the fact that relatively few fungus specialists in Australia have had anything to do with fungi that weren’t important agriculturally, this species has been named twice. It was named Hydnoplicata convoluta in 1896, then forgotten about before being re-named Peziza whitei in 1954. Its original name was recently reinstated. As a result, information is available under both names. It should not cause any problems in the garden, other than surprising you when you dig it up. I wouldn’t recommend eating it though! G A R D E N I N G AU S T R A L I A
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backyard retreat
My ‘she shed’ is my oasis of calm. Lovingly converted from a commercial gazebo, my backyard retreat among the gum trees has colourful vintage glass windows and an arrogant pink witch weather vane astride the roof, matching the pink front door. Inside, succulents are my hero pieces, while garden paraphernalia, foraged finds and salvaged family pieces are displayed alongside whimsical mementos and memories of my life experiences. Inside my shed, I pot, rearrange, dream, read, entertain, and plan for my next little project. This summer will see us attempting to finish the entry decking and a recycled brick path connecting the pretty vintage gate to the house. I can’t wait to join the kangaroos that visit our garden and get started. Denise Brown, Donvale, Vic
I love my
We’re receiving great pics and s some to about your she ries Here are two ‘s ds. he that are decked sheds’ and loved by wo out We’ll feature m men. an over coming m y more onths.
SHED
Tell us about
YOUR SHED…
place for reflection
Thought I would send you this pic of my ‘she shed’, which is a new addition to my garden. I am quite proud of my shed, as I painted and lined it myself. At the end of a long day working in my garden, I pull up a chair at its entrance, sit and reflect. Joanne Talay, Brookield, Qld 82 J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 9
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Do you have a special shed? Rose-covered, rustic or ramshackle... or perhaps a Shed of Good Intentions that has turned into a Shed of Shame? Whether your shed is high-end or humble, we would love to see it. Send us a high-resolution photo and tell us, in 100 words or less, what makes your shed special. We’ll publish our favourites in future issues of the magazine. Email yoursay@gardeningaustralia. com.au with ‘My Shed’ in the subject line, or post to My Shed, Gardening Australia, nextmedia, Locked Bag 5555, St Leonards NSW 1590. Include your name, street address, email and daytime phone number.
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WELCOME TO A NEW YEAR OF GARDENING!
THIS INFORMATION IS CORRECT AT THE TIME OF PRINTING BUT IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. PHOTO POPPY JACKSON
It’s Christmas and we are excited about family time, holiday projects and summer gardening. We’re also looking forward to an amazing 2019, as Gardening Australia celebrates its 30th year of bringing gorgeous gardens, inspiring people and great ideas to gardeners right across the country. We have some super-exciting plans in store in our 90-minute Birthday Special, including looking back at the way we were – embarrassing hair styles included – as well as how the Aussie garden has evolved, some standout plants from over the decades, and a few unforgettable TV moments. We’ll also show you exactly how an episode of Gardening Australia is made (above), and meet up with past presenters. And, of course, it wouldn’t be a birthday episode without a party and cake! So much to look forward to in the New Year. In the meantime, if you missed the Christmas special (see below), catch up on ABC iview, and we’ll see you when the show resumes on Friday, February 1.
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Statewide; ABC Radio Adelaide; 639 ABC North & West; 1485 ABC Eyre Peninsula & West Coast; ABC South East SA; 1062 ABC Riverland; 999 ABC Broken Hill
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Meet our 2018 Gardener of the Year. Also, Costa and Millie build a cubby planted with climbers, Tino shows how to keep plants alive during the holidays, Sophie frames succulents, Jerry makes the most of summer rain, Clarence visits author and artist Norman Lindsay’s garden, Jane suggests Aussie Christmas trees, Josh makes seed bonbons, and a craftswoman creates creatures from seed pods. Visit iview.abc.net.au to watch previous episodes of Gardening Australia
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take a break!
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WIN
36 across C
across 1. Vegetation producing a coarse, springy lawn (7,5) 7. Plant with sword-shaped leaves (4) (Picture A) 10. A rhizome (9) 11. The North American shrub Rhododendron canadense (7) (Picture B) 13. Berrigan or â&#x20AC;Ś bush (3) 14. Gets back together (8) 15. Covered in blackberries, etc (7) 16. Reaping implement (6) 17. Creeping grass native to east Africa and widely used for lawns (6) 19. Inferior; tasteless (colloq.) (4) 21. Perhaps the ďŹ rst gardener (4) 24. Plant of the genus Euphorbia whose juice was once used as a purgative (6) 25. Mushroom or mould, for example (6) 84 J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 9
G A R D E N I N G AU S T R A L I A
29. Relating to plants or the study of plants (7) 30. Perennial herb that yields a sedative (8) 31. Sash worn with a kimono (3) 33. European oak yielding elastic wood used in cabinetry (7) 34. The North American plant Lindera benzoin (9) 35. The holm oak (4) 36. Adonis annua or â&#x20AC;Ś (9-3) (Picture C)
down 1. Tough protective covering of a tree (4) 2. Ornate, ďŹ&#x201A;orid (7) 3. Bitter, aniseed-ďŹ&#x201A;avoured liqueur (8) 4. The principal city of northern Portugal (6) 5. Tidies or smooths with a long-handled garden tool (5)
6. Multi-stemmed, woody plants (6) 8. Having outgrown available space (4-5) 9. Protected; dubious (5) 12. Genus of wood sorrel and soursob (6) 16. Descends, slumps (5) 18. Genus of the elms (5) 20. Peach or apricot, for example (5,4) 22. To-do list (6) 23. Protein or carbohydrate, for example (8) 26. Mexican and south-western US plant yielding a rubber substitute (7) 27. Kind of whisky (6) 28. The last syllable of a word (6) 29. Tree under which the Buddha became enlightened (5) 30. View, prospect (5) 32. ClariďŹ ed butter (4)
CROSSWORD COMPILED BY STEVE BALL PHOTOS ISTOCK
108 SOLUTION NEXT MONTH
11 across B
SEE OPPOSITE
a Fiskars tool pack
1 of 2 Fiskars tool packs each worth
$670
help is at hand he Fiskars PowerGear X range, which includes the seven tools in this prize pack, has been designed to make gardening easier. Its patented technology delivers up to three times more cutting power than comparable tools, with no extra efort from the user.
how to enter
We have two Fiskars PowerGear X prize packs to give away, each worth $670. Included in each pack are the medium Pruner Bypass, large Pruner Bypass, Hedge Shear, small Lopper Bypass, large Lopper Bypass, Tree Pruner and Telescopic Tree Pruner. To enter, unscramble the highlighted letters in the crossword (opposite) and email your answer by January 6 to comp@gardeningaustralia.com.au. Put ‘Handy tools’ in the subject line and include your name, street address, email address and daytime phone number.
WINNERS
Neta hose ittings pack (Oct 18) C Bridge, Banks, ACT; J Butler, Warragul, Vic; D Hewison, Mosman Park, WA; C Hrubos, Frankston South, Vic; D Sanders, Ingle Farm, SA. Gardena watering pack (Oct 18) D Carey, Edwardstown, SA; L Cornege, Arana Hills, Qld; J Jesser, Balgowlah, NSW; M Kowalski, Graceville, Qld; R Larmen, Armadale, WA; K Snowden, Woodrising, NSW.
solution C O D D L E D A P O S T L E S
A R R O T S U R K A N D E L I O I G P O N D O N P R N Y A M P A C I D L N O L L E N E A T S U M A N S A I N O C U T O A E U N S P U R G O S S
December 2018 crossword F C L S P E A R M I N N O M A N U C L E I D E U L L E S O T R P A D A G N T A L C P E G D A N D R I N G H O Y T Y M A R S H F E E O U N T O S T A
N T U U S S H O C U K S R A M A M O R N I D A
December’s unscrambled word: raindrop G A R D E N I N G AU S T R A L I A
J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 9 85
107
CROSSWORD COMPETITION TERMS AND CONDITIONS: OPEN TO AUSTRALIAN RESIDENTS ONLY. COMPETITION OPENS 10/12/2018 AT 00:01 (AEDT) AND CLOSES 6/1/2019 AT 23:59 (AEDT). TWO LUCKY WINNERS WILL EACH RECEIVE A FISKARS POWERGEAR X TOOL PACK, WORTH $670 EACH. TOTAL PRIZE VALUE IS $1340. WINNERS DRAWN ON 7/1/2019 AT 14:00 (AEDT) AT 207 PACIFIC HIGHWAY, ST LEONARDS NSW 2065. WINNERS NOTIFIED BY TELEPHONE AND IN WRITING. PERMIT NUMBERS NSW LTPM/17/010349, ACT TP 16/02544. FULL TERMS AND CONDITIONS AVAILABLE AT GARDENINGAUSTRALIA.COM.AU. PRIVACY POLICY AVAILABLE AT NEXTMEDIA.COM.AU. PROMOTER IS NEXTMEDIA PTY LTD; ABN 84 128 805 970; 207 PACIFIC HIGHWAY, ST LEONARDS NSW 2065.
N I W
SUBSCRIBE FOR YOUR CHANCE TO SHARE IN
$
17,700 WORTH OF
L ux u r y W a t c h e s
Over 100 years Oris has been making watches in Switzerland. Their watches are purely mechanical and are marked out by their distinctive design as well as the red rotor, the symbol of Oris mechanicals.
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BOE TUPQ TFDPOE 5IF Oris Atelier Skeleton UJNFQJFDF JT B CFBVUJGVM NBTUFSQJFDF 5IF FYUSB MBSHF DBTF PQFOJOH QFSNJUT BO FYDFMMFOU WJFX PG UIF TLFMFUPO NPWFNFOU Ĺ&#x160; B GBTDJOBUJOH PQFOJOH JOUP UIF XPSME PG NFDIBOJDT BOE UIF GBDJOH JT CSJMMJBOUMZ FOSJDIFE XJUI EJBNPOET
SUBSCRIBE ONLINE ANYTIME AT OR PHONE 1300 361 146 FOR THE COST OF A LOCAL CALL $PNQFUJUJPO PQFO UP "VT /; SFTJEFOUT XIP GVMĹŁ M UIF FOUSZ FMJHJCJMJUZ SFRVJSFNFOUT $PNQFUJUJPO PQFOT BU BOE DMPTFT BU QSJ[FT WBMVFE GSPN UP FBDI 5PUBM QSJ[F QPPM JT JOD (45 1SJ[F ESBX 0OF FOUSZ QFS FMJHJCMF QSPEVDU QVSDIBTF EFĹŁ OFE JO GVMM UFSNT 1SJ[F ESBX "&45 BU QSPNPUFSĹ?T BEESFTT 8JOOFST OPUJĹŁ FE WJB &NBJM BOE QVCMJTIFE BU NZNBHB[JOFT DPN BV 1SPNPUFS JT OFYUNFEJB 1BDJĹŁ D )JHIXBZ -FWFM #VJMEJOH " 4U -FPOBSET /48 "VUIPSJTFE VOEFS /48 1FSNJU /P -514 "$5 1FSNJU /P 51 BOE 4" 1FSNJU /P 5 'PS GVMM UFSNT BOE DPOEJUJPOT SFGFS UP NZNBHB[JOFT DPN BV
directory To advertise please phone 02 9901 6101 Email: aedwards@nextmedia.com.au
GIFT GUIDE
Too busy Gardening to worry about sunscreen?
Sloggers Premium Clogs
Too hot in long sleeves?
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BETTER THAN SUNSCREEN…COOLER THAN LONG SLEEVES Try new IceRays UV protective and cooling armsleeves, now being worn by professional gardeners and landscapers. Made from a hi-tech moisture activated cooling fabric. Comfortable, with no tight bands and no seams, they cool you off as you warm up, they come in many great colours and are the only sleeves on the market that have been tested by the Australian government UV testing body ARANSA to be 50+.
SHOP ONLINE
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Clever self watering systems Indoor and Balcony ! Ideal for potted plants ! Perfect watering 24/7 ! No timer/power required ! Better plant growth
MADE IN AUSTRIA
Ph: 1300 137 881
Great Christmas Gift Idea!
Outdoor and Greenhouse DRIP SYSTEM
GROW UP TO 6 Different Fruits on One Tree!
FRUIT SALAD TREES GROUND OR POTS All Climates
3 Tree Types ! Ideal for outdoor & greenhouse ! Perfect watering 24/7 ! No timer/power required ! Better plant growth
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Ř STONE FRUITS Ř CITRUS FRUITS Ř MULTI APPLES
ORDER ONLINE FruitSaladTrees.com
Dispatch ALL YEAR
sales@fruitsaladtrees.com (02)65858115 or1800FRUITS
G A R D E N I N G AU S T R A L I A
J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 9 87
GIFT GUIDE ©
High Quality & Hand Crafted Wind Shop Online. Great gifts.
Genuine French Enamel House Numbers
T L IF IL G GT EEPIN S. FRAP MA R X W
in C imes us ra ia
FREE Delivery on orders over $100 Ph Carol on (03) 5523 3410
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PRONGS MAKE DIGGING TASKS EASIER EASY ON YOUR BACK EASY ON YOUR POCKET MAKES AN IDEAL GIFT FOR ANY GARDENER – 5 MODELS $10 Of All Models In Dec & Jan – Buy Online – Prompt Delivery
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Prongs are all steel single tine digging tools designed for all sorts of digging jobs big or small. Suitable for Ladies and Gentlemen of all ages Lady Prong | General Prong | Son of Prong | Long Prong | Weeder Prong Visit website to see Prongs in action videos. No matter the digging task there is a Prong for any gardener
Plenty of videos to see on website!
Go online to www.prong.com.au Credit card phone sales welcome. 0417 627 097
Australis Water Purifiers Hydrate yourself the natural way! Terracotta, Ceramic and Porcelain Water Purifiers Australis water puriiers use a ceramic 3 stage ilter candle to remove and block 99% of chemicals, harmful bacteria and toxins from your water. ** Fluoride removal ilters available
Enter the code ‘GardenAust’ to get
5%
of
CANOPY ASSESSMENT TOOL Built by ecologists, powered by passion
й ŽǀĞƌ ŝƐ ĂŶ ĞŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚĂů ƉŚŽŶĞ ĂƉƉ ƚŚĂƚ ƵƐĞƐ ĞdžŝƐƟ ŶŐ ĞĐŽůŽŐŝĐĂů ƚĞĐŚŶŝƋƵĞƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĂƐƐĞƐƐŵĞŶƚ ŽĨ ǀĞŐĞƚĂƟ ŽŶ ĐŽǀĞƌ͘ The app is a simple and reliable canopy measurement tool, designed to assess the ƐƚƌƵĐƚƵƌĞ ĂŶĚͬŽƌ ŵŽŶŝƚŽƌ ƚŚĞ ŚĞĂůƚŚ ŽĨ ĂŶ ĞĐŽƐLJƐƚĞŵ Žƌ ǀĞŐĞƚĂƟ ŽŶ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚLJ͘
RRP from $185. Available from selected health food stores or buy online. Contact: (03) 9088 3131 or (02) 4872 1431 auspurifiers.com.au
88 J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 9
G A R D E N I N G AU S T R A L I A
%Cover can be used by environmental professionals, students and amateurs, and is as simple as following four easy steps:
1. Take a picture 2. ĞƚĞĐƟ ŽŶ 3. Analyse 4. Record/upload dŽ ĮŶĚ ŽƵƚ ŵŽƌĞ ŽŶ й ŽǀĞƌ ĂŶĚ ŝƚƐ ĨĞĂƚƵƌĞƐ ĂŶĚ ďĞŶĞĮ ƚƐ͕ ŐŽ ƚŽ͗
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GARDEN MARKET THE WORLDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S EASIEST LOADING TRIMMER HEAD
FRUSTRATION-FREE FRU TRAT O FREE TRIMMING TRI MI G * Reloads in seconds * Fits all petrol machines * All itting parts included * Quick and easy to assemble * Simply insert line - No winding
Quality range of tools for the gardener www.cutabovetools.com.au Mob: 0403 128 500 Ph/Fax: 02 9871 8841
Great Christmas Gift Idea! Ph: 1300 137 881
www.sureload.com.au
To advertise please contact (02) 9901 6101
SWAGMAN BATTERY POWERED SPRAYERS
TM
Make spraying a breeze for that special gardener in your life! Six models to choose from Find us at: www.swagmansprayer.com.au ph: 02 4970 5842
A revolution in glass cleaning
Great Christmas Gift Idea! P
Ph: 1300 137 881
www.aquablade.com.au
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J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 9 89
GARDEN MARKET
Your own indoor garden Gain light space and transform your home in one easy step with no fuss or mess! It fits inside your existing window frame
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25'(5 21/,1( 25 &$//
Aust Wide Free call...
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Kitchens · Bathrooms · Laundries · Living Rooms
Professional Gardening Tools Australia-wide delivery!
Felco Pruners & Loppers FOR THE SERIOUS GARDENER Felco 4-$74, Felco 2/8/9/11-$90 Felco 6-$83, Felco 7/10-$108 Felco 12-$104, Felco 100-$108 Felco 220-$240, Felco 231-$240 Full Felco range + spares in stock
Grass & Edging Shears
Telescopic handles Grass - $65; Edging - $65
High Limb Chain Saw
CHIPPER SHREDDER 650
Hand operated high limb chain saw. 1.2m blade on 6m ropes with throw weight. Made in USA. $80
Dramm Watering Products HE660
Professional US made watering products including wands, valves, nozzles and guns. 61cm classic Over 150 tree & gardening books wand + 400PL head pictured $38
Barnel Telescopic Pole Saws XE560
Ideal for high branches and palm fronds. 460mm Samurai steel blades. 3 sizes: 1.8-5m $300; 2.3-6.3m $360; 2.3-7.5m $500
Large selection of hedge shears, loppers and saws! Tel: 02 9417 7751 Fax:02 9417 7426
Over 1800 products at
www.forestrytools.com.au
90 J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 9
or call for our 2019 catalogue
G A R D E N I N G AU S T R A L I A
PO Box 870 Willoughby NSW 2068
www.deutschermowers.com.au Made in Australia
Ph 03 5339 5708
FINEST NURSERIES MAPLE SPRINGS NURSERY AND JAPANESE GARDENS Specialist growers of Japanese Maples. 250 grafted varieties. Cool Climate Trees & Shrubs, Conifers, Ornamentals & Bonsai (Open 7 days) (Gory’u Japanese Gardens Open by appt only)
GUIDED GARDEN TOURS OPEN BY APPT
WALLIS CREEK WATERGARDEN
85 Baaners Lane Little Hartley, 2790 Blue Mts NSW Ph: 02 6355 2140 | Mob: 0414 879 082 Email: maplesone@bigpond.com
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Retail nursery & Online Shop Find us at www.walliscreekwatergarden.com.au and follow us on facebook
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FREE
DAFFODIL & SPRING BULB CATALOGUES to help you create your Romantic Spring Garden. With over 220 stunning daffodils, all pictured in full colour, you’ll discover an amazing array of traditional and spectacular types selected for garden performance also RARE, hard to find, locally bred and new releases plus regular Spring flowering bulb favourites.
Name:
ga0119
YES, I’d love to have a garden filled with daffodils & Spring flowering bulbs. Please send me the FREE Hancock’s 2019 Daffodil and Bulb Catalogues.
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Address:
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........................................................................ P/code: ................ J.N. Hancock & Co. 2 Jacksons Hill Road, Menzies Creek VIC 3159 Phone: (03) 9754 3328 :HE ZZZ GDႇRGLOEXOEV FRP DX
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J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 9 91
GARDEN & BEYOND
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For more tips and tricks from ABC Gardening Australia magazine, sign up to our e-newsletter Visit:
IO N MM
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For a full colour brochure call Tour Director Stan Klan, Toowoomba
A ERGAU P
gardeningaustralia. com.au
LAWN BLEND MICROBIAL ROCK MINERAL FERTILISER Simple, easy-to-use Rock Mineral and fertiliser blend giving a tougher, more resilient lawns and turf. Reduces watering, spraying and aerating.Will not burn. Ideal for new and existing lawns
r Safe fo n all law types
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J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 9 93
CLASSIFIEDS Bulbs Van Diemen Quality Bulbs
Cacti & Succulents
NARROMINE IRIS FARM
Perennialle Plants Nursery
Excellent collection.
Over 1500 different tall bearded,
Specialising in frost and dry
Spuria and Louisianna (water) iris.
tolerant perennials by mail order
Some Canna Lilies, and Daylilies.
www.perennialle.com.au
Geranium cuttings 20 for
0427 077 798
40 named varieties, separately Specialty bulb growers. Time to think about bulbs. Order your tulips, iris, liliums etc here. Send for your free catalogue to: 363 Table Cape Road,
labelled for only $45. Post Free. Quality plants, good varieties, wide range of types and colours,
$30 (our choice) Plus Postage.
including some echeverias.
Free colour iris catalogue.
Roses
Postage is $12.50 NSW and
Ladybird Roses
Sorry mail order only. Prompt delivery. 18 page list
$15 interstate. Ph: 02 6889 1885
www.ladybirdroses.com.au
available on request. Wynyard, TAS 7325 Ph: (03) 6442 2012 Fax: (03) 6442 2582
Direct Debit now available. Order and payment to:
or email: melroberts@bigpond.com
Mildura Succulent Supplies
Web: www.narromineirisfarm.com
PO Box 756, Mildura VIC 3502 Email: manager@vdqbulbs.com.au
or M: 0408 350 384
Road, Narromine NSW 2821.
Frangipanis & Brugs Plus Dessert Roses, Angel’s
Payment by Credit card/cheque/ money order/direct deposit
TULIPS WITH A DIFFERENCE
Australia’s biggest and
Autumn/Spring/Summer
best selection. We mail order
e: sales@ladybirdroses.com.au
Seeds Australian Wildflower Seeds Nindethana Seed Service P/L PO Box 2121, Albany WA 6331.
trumpets and rare Sanseveria’s. Free Colour Bulb Catalogue. Quality
Ph: 03 5904 3332
Or post ‘Villa Nova’ 471 Tomingley
Ph: 03 5024 6653
www.vdqbulbs.com.au
Mail order roses and rare plants
Perennials
Ph: (08) 9844 3533
Including Both climbing & Shrub
Fax: (08) 9844 3573
Hydrangea’s, Ornamental Grasses,
www.nindethana.net.au
Clematis, Epimediums, Iris,
Largest selection of native seed.
Irises
Asarum, Campanula, Gentiana,
Small packets to bulk quantities
SUNSHINE IRIS NURSERY
Geraniums, Asters,
Australia Wide! Ph: (07) 4097 0065 Flowering Bulbs www.sacredgardenfrangipanis.com.au
Tulips, Dutch Iris, Daffodils, Alstromeria, Hyacinths, Liliums, Hippeastrums, Daylilies, Gladiolus, Over 600 varieties of bearded Rhubarb, Asparagus… 294 Chambers Road, Boyup Brook
Oriental Poppies, Lily of Valley,
Violets
Penstemon, Salvia, Bletilla,
Ladybird Roses
Ligularia, Rockery Phlox,
SCENTED SWEET VIOLETS
iris and daylilies, including rare vintage iris. Posts to all states in Australia.
WA 6244 Ph/Fax: (08) 9767 3069
www.ladybirdroses.com.au
www.sunshineiris.com.au
Shop Online at
Email: lyn@wabulbs.com
Call Mandy 0429857085
www.lynnsrareplants.com.au
Single & Double Parma Violets
www.wabulbs.com
Margie 0422672112
Ph. (02) 4784 3101
Ph: 03 5904 3332
94 J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 9
G A R D E N I N G AU S T R A L I A
Attaches to a standard rill cordless d
cut & keep index
January to December 2018
This and previous indexes are also available at gardeningaustralia.com.au PLANTS (edible & ornamental)
Acacia cognata cultivars Acmena smithii ‘Cherry Surprise’ African violet Agave attenuata Aibika Air plant (Tillandsia spp.) Almond Apples, triploid Avocado Banksia integrifolia ‘Sentinel’ Banksias, compact Basil Bay tree Beans in pots Black sapote Blueberry Bottlebrush: (Callistemon spp.) ‘Great Balls of Fire’ lemon (C. pallidus) Broccoli Bromeliad, imperial Bulbs, warm-climate Bush foods Caladium Calibrachoa x hybrida Cape primrose Carrot, history of Carrots in pots Celery Cherry (Prunus avium) Chillies in pots Clematis Coastal daisy bush Coastal rosemary Coriander Corkscrew albuca (Albuca spiralis) Corn Cornflower Crabapple Cucumber in pots Culinary leaves, trees with Curry leaf tree Cushion bush Daphne Devil’s ivy Disease-resistant vegies
96 J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 9
Aug
p20
Feb Jun Apr Feb Jul Mar Aug Aug Feb Jun Sep Mar Oct Jan May
p45 p32 p23 p50 p22 p57 p63 p63 p45 p12 p76 p60 p80 p58 p58
Aug Feb Feb Jul Jul Mar May Dec Nov Oct Aug Sep Jan Aug Nov Jul Feb Aug Aug
p34 p43 p42 p56 p16 p20 p60 p18 p20 p28 p52 p79 p57 p62 p73 p38 p45 p36 p57
Feb Nov Apr May Dec Mar Mar Feb Jul Feb Nov
p18 p70 p18 p16 p72 p60 p61 p47 p12 p22 p76
Echinacea purpurea Emu bush: Eremophila spp. E. ‘Kalbarri Carpet’ Feijoa Fennel Fig Fijian fire plant (Acalypha spp.) Firespike Fruit trees, dwarf Ginger Gout plant Grasses, ornamental Grevillea ‘Winpara Gold’ Griselinia Gums, flowering Herbs for shady spots Hop goodenia Hydrangea Iris, winter Kale Kangaroo paw King fern Lemon myrtle Leptospermum ‘Pink Cascade’ Lettuce & chicory Lillypilly Lime Loquat Loropetalum ‘Plum Gorgeous’ Macho fern (Nephrolepis biserrata) Magnolia, deciduous Makrut Mango Melons Midginberry Mint Mistletoe cactus (Rhipsalis spp.) Monstera deliciosa Mountain pepper Murraya paniculata Native elderberry Native fuchsia (Correa reflexa) Native raspberry
G A R D E N I N G AU S T R A L I A
Jan
p18
Sep Feb Aug Apr Feb
p26 p44 p35 p58 p59
Aug Feb Jun Oct Aug Dec Feb Jan Jan Jan Feb Dec Jul May Oct Sep Mar
p36 p20 p58 p78 p18 p22 p44 p20 p14 p60 p46 p14 p18 p57 p20 p30 p61
Feb Jun Aug Jun Sep
p43 p56 p37 p55 p60
Aug
p34
Apr Aug Mar Sep Aug Feb Mar
p26 p14 p61 p80 p62 p47 p52
Mar Jan May Aug May
p26 p22 p62 p35 p62
Feb May
p45 p62
Natives for tricky spots Native wintercress Orange Pansy Passionfruit Pear Petrea Petunia Phlox Photinia ‘Red Robin’ Pigface Pineapple Plectranthus Plumbago Queen of hearts (Homalomena rubescens) Rangoon creeper (Quisqualis indica) Rhubarb Rondeletia amoena Roses: health issues in how to buy Salad greens Saltbush Scarlet runner bean Sea parsley Silk tassel bush Silverbeet Solanaceae, sow your Southern beech Spiny-headed mat-rush Sprouts & microgreens Stream lily Succulents, mini Sweet peas Sweet potato Sweet viburnum Telopea ‘Braidwood Brilliant’ Tomatoes: cold-climate how to plant Tulips, species (wild) Tulip tree Warrigal greens Water ribbon Wax plant Zanzibar gem Zucchini
Feb May Mar Jun Aug Jul Oct Nov Feb Aug May Dec May Aug
p42 p63 p58 p16 p63 p58 p26 p20 p14 p36 p61 p74 p12 p37
May
p18
May Apr Nov
p44 p57 p28
Nov May Jun May Nov May Jul Feb Aug Apr May Jun Feb Jun Sep Dec Aug
p64 p26 p56 p61 p74 p60 p20 p60 p58 p20 p63 p28 p46 p30 p21 p70 p35
Feb
p42
Jul Oct Mar Nov May May Jun Aug Oct
p52 p78 p14 p26 p61 p61 p18 p24 p82
ANNUAL INDEX
KNOW-HOW/PRACTICAL Anti-transpirants Jul Barbecues for small spaces Jan Biosecurity across borders Dec Bites & stings in the garden Dec Can’t garden for a year Oct Citrus solutions Jul Clematis, how to prune Jul Crop rotation Nov Crops in pots: beans Oct carrots Sep chillies Nov cucumber Dec Curiosities: fruit or vegetable? Sep watering in the heat Nov Cuttings, grow plants from Dec Edging, different types of Sep Fairy garden, make a Dec Fertiliser dos & don’ts Mar Flower border, beef up the Aug Foliage, vases of Jun Foliar feeding Feb Food, how to grow your own (Gardening Australia team) Apr Food share & crop swap Sep Fruit, how to dry Feb Grapevine, six uses for a Jan Hedges in a hurry Aug Kids and gardening (Costa) Oct Lawn: essential guide to Mar how to rejuvenate Oct Orchard, how to set up an May Potted garden, create a Jun Reader lunch Q&A May Rooftop/balcony gardening Jun Sheds: small Nov types of Oct Soils, problems in urban Apr Spring garden tidy-up Oct Step-by-step: blend vegie potting mix Dec divide bromeliad Sep divide kangaroo paw Oct grow pineapple from top Dec grow spring onions Oct how to pick lettuce Sep make a succulent wreath Dec pamper brassicas Jun plant a pot for spring Sep plant a pot for summer Dec plant a pot of hot flowers Nov plant eremophila Sep plant French shallots Jul
p41 p32 p50 p46 p62 p42 p38 p48 p80 p79 p73 p72 p58 p50 p64 p43 p63 p41 p48 p50 p48 p35 p54 p62 p52 p33 p38 p34 p74 p32 p42 p39 p36 p42 p44 p60 p51 p73 p72 p24 p77 p81 p78 p34 p73 p34 p28 p24 p28 p73
propagate by layering propagate succulents prune espaliered apple repair lawn re-pot fruit tree sow and transplant sweet peas sow asian greens sow capsicum seed strike geranium The seasonal pot: spring lavender summer, for semi-shade Trees: signs of disease in ways to accidentally kill Tricky fruits, how to grow Tricky vegies, how to grow Weeds, A–Z guide Winter, cosy nook for
Feb Dec May Mar Jun
p70 p66 p75 p72 p62
Sep Nov Aug Apr
p24 p72 p60 p69
Sep Dec
p32 p28
Apr Nov Aug Jul Jan Jul
p52 p52 p62 p62 p44 p31
Feb
p33
Nov Oct
p54 p58
Dec Sep
p54 p50
Sep Nov Oct Oct
p84 p78 p84 p54
Jul Jan Mar Aug
p75 p73 p75 p74
Jun Feb May Jun Apr Mar Oct
p75 p74 p76 p74 p75 p74 p85
WILDLIFE
p46
Australian king parrot Australian magpie Bandy-bandy snake Bees, intelligence of Creatures: living in bromeliads that hibernate Lounge lizards Masked lapwing Native bush rat pollinating banksias Noisy friarbird Pacific black duck Pied currawong Plant-eating creatures Swamp wallaby Wildlife in sheds
p36
INSECTS, PESTS & DISEASES
GARDENS, PEOPLE & DESIGN Antonia McCaskie’s subtropical garden, Brisbane (Qld) Aug Brenton Roberts’ garden, Mount Lofty Ranges (SA) Apr Carl Linnaeus’ legacy, Uppsala, Sweden Jan Carnival of Flowers, Toowoomba (Qld) Aug Carol Ride’s large native and exotic garden, Melbourne (Vic) Oct Clea Cregan’s tiny garden, Melbourne (Vic) Jun Deryn Thorpe’s cottage-style garden, Perth (WA) May Gardener of the Year finalists Nov Gardening Australia magazine reader lunch, Sydney Apr Helen Henningham’s ‘Chetwynd’ garden, Brisbane (Qld) Jul Jane Edmanson’s favourite trees Feb Jurlique Farm (SA) Mar Liz & Robin Reid’s sensory garden, Melbourne (Vic) Apr Marg Fairhall’s popular suburban garden, Devonport (Tas) Sep Peter Nixon’s seaside garden, Forresters Beach (NSW) Jan Produce & Fuel nursery’s potted garden, Sydney (NSW) Jun Sandra McMahon’s ‘Woodcote’ garden, inspired by Edna Walling, Melbourne (Vic) Feb Steve Falcioni’s rooftop garden, Sydney (NSW) Jun
Tamil Feasts (Vic) The gardener’s bucket list: Ayrlies Garden, NZ Longwood Gardens, US Majorelle Garden, Morocco The Patio Festival, Spain
p26
p38 p32 p22 p20 p30 p12
Borers Christmas beetle Common jezebel butterfly Fiery skimmer dragonfly Golden orb weaver Insects with unusual digestive functions Mites Native earthworms Pustulated pyrgomorph grasshopper Snout moth caterpillar
May Dec Jul Jan Apr
p77 p78 p74 p72 p74
Feb Dec Nov
p75 p79 p79
Sep Aug
p85 p75
Mar Jul May Jan Aug Feb May Jun Apr May
p62 p64 p64 p62 p64 p64 p66 p64 p64 p49
Mar
p50
Jun
p48
p24
RECIPES p38 p28 p28 p36 p25 p42 p24 p36
Almonds Broccoli Bush foods Celery Coriander Figs Kale Lime Rhubarb Rosehips Seasonal cake: fig, grape & ricotta gluten-free beetroot, chocolate & coconut with avocado chocolate icing
G A R D E N I N G AU S T R A L I A
J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 9 97
he big picture A
couple of weeks back I sauntered into a nursery, and just metres through the gate, stumbled into my past. I’d picked up on a flower perfume, and if I had to make a graphic representation of the scene it’d be of a timeline stretching behind me, highlighted with several moments in which I’d previously encountered that elusive scent. While it didn’t zoom in on a particular memory, this fraction-of-a-second experience was awash with feel-goodness – of happier, cosier, safer times. As this precious, transient moment then flittered off into the ether, it left in its wake a clarified conviction that one of the superpowers of gardens is that they can provide a rich, multi-sensory portal into our past. It’s not just floral perfumes that have this power. Scents from foliage are equally transporting – ask any OS-travelling Aussie who happens across a eucalypt. The somewhat acrid exudate from Euphorbia characias is likewise history-loaded for me, along with the volatile oils that hover around cistuses, lavenders and rosemary. The direct pleasure of the perfume is almost irrelevant. It’s the power of the associated memories. Even soil can do it for me. There’s a rich, peaty smell that lingers around some gardens that throws me back into a vague place in my past, and sends my memory googling for further detail – for images and locations. All I can identify with any certainty is that wherever or whenever I was most acquainted with that smell, I was deeply happy. What more should I want to know?
Taste can be equally powerful. I remember only a few details of the first time I tasted tarragon, but it now grows right outside our kitchen door, and when it again passes over my tastebuds, having infused a roast chicken, I’m not sure if I’m more in the present or back in 1991. Parsley is too commonly present in my past to take me anywhere in particular, but when chervil is sampled afresh in my vegetable garden, my whole chervil-history can be pinpointed in time and location. And then, of course, there’s sound. Many gardening Instagrammers post videos with birdsong, either deliberately or incidentally, in the background. When you’ve previously encountered that soundscape, however subconsciously, hearing it again on a device can be almost disturbingly disembodying. I particularly remember returning, a little reluctantly, to England one May. It was hot, and in some wakeful moment at about 4am I opened my old sash-window and climbed back into bed. My visually recreated memory of the moment is of lilac and wisteria scent oozing through the window with viscous liquidity, blended with the equally liquid, pre-dawn song of a lone blackbird. My visceral response was so loaded with r and wonderful feelings of times past th it almost hurt. In a good way. I’m never quite sure, upon entering my garden or anyone else’s, whether the balance is going to tip in favour of unearthing my past, harvesting my present or cultivating my future. GA Michael blogs at thegardenist.com.au
PHOTOS ISTOCK
Birdsong and parsley are just two of the familiar scents, sounds or flavours that can suddenly catapult MICHAEL McCOY into times past
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