Our Gardens Winter 2013

Our Gardens The Quarterly Magazine of The Garden Clubs of Australia ABN 74 058 867 744

Issue 57 ISSN 1832-4738

Winter Winter 2013

Issue 57 | Winter 2013

Contents 4

In touch 3 3 21 26 30

A word from the President Contacts for GCA and Our Gardens Comment Zone and club News Noticeboard and Diary Dates

Gardens – Town And Country 6 Wildwood at Bilpin, NSW 10 Hillview near Boonah, Queensland 16 Stangate an historic camellia garden in South Australia

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Plants and Gardening 4 8 12 12 14 15 25

Exotic tulips at Burnside, Victoria Banksias for the east coast The essential vegetable patch How to beat curly-leaf The importance of plant selection The Macleay Laurel, a tree from the sub-tropics Seasonal tips

Design 10

17 The Black Rose of Lithgow 24 Bowls of ceramic flowers

Parks and public gardens 18 Wagga Wagga Botanical Garden, NSW 15

Travel 20 Huntington Estate, California

And also 16

22 The 2013 Photo Competition details 23 Profile of a great rosarian, David Ruston 31 Books, New Products and Gleanings

Our Gardens The Quarterly Magazine of The Garden Clubs of Australia ABN 74 058 867 744

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OUR GARDENS

Issue 57 ISSN 1832-4738

Winter Winter 2013

Front cover: The Maple Walk at Wildwood, Bilpin NSW Photo:

Nick Wood

Story:

Pages 6-7

The opinions and descriptions expressed by authors, contributors or advertisers in this journal do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Committee of The Garden Clubs of Australia Inc. The Garden Clubs of Australia Inc does not accept responsibility for any advice, guidance or treatment recommended by any author, contributor or advertiser in this journal.

Magazine of The Garden Clubs of Australia Inc.

A Word from the President We all elect to take certain actions from time to time.

Gardeners may elect to plant more trees, bulbs, perennials or perhaps lay pavers, build a dry-stone wall or buy more pots.

After due consideration we may elect to spend our day pruning, mulching or removing under-achieving plants because they look out of place, haven’t flowered or are just not happy in that position, or all of the above. Some may elect to mow the lawn right now because that’s an overdue task and rain is forecast for the next few days.

We may as a last resort elect to do some weeding which we had meant to do last week – but other things needed to be done – mainly because we are having trouble finding the vegie patch. We can elect to invite some friends over to take time-off with a ‘cuppa’ to admire the hard-won results of our recent work and to appreciate what an improvement this made to the garden.

in the presentation of the Anne Williams Clark award to one of your club’s long serving and deserving members.

Unless you have recently been lost in the overgrown vegie patch you may be aware this is an election year to decide who governs Australia. Of course there is a big difference between GCA elections and Federal elections. A GCA election only occurs if there is a resolution to consider or when there are more candidates than vacancies on the Committee.

Unlike the government elections, the GCA elections are not compulsory but since all affiliates are entitled to nominate a delegate to vote at the AGM they should exercise this right. For that reason many affiliates are planning to send delegates to Ballarat in Victoria for the GCA National Convention and AGM to be held in September 2013. The Friends of Ballarat Botanical Gardens and their friends have elected to be there to welcome you.

See you at the elections.

Clubs can elect to invite GCA committee members to attend their special functions such as a club’s anniversary or to assist Our Gardens Team

Deadline next issue 01/06/13

Editor Patricia Prior Articles

28 Bilwara Ave, Bilgola Plateau NSW 2107 Ph: 02 9973 1247 email: priors@iinet.net.au

Assistant Editor Carolyn Dawes Club news, diary dates

9 Lachlan Street, Macquarie ACT 2614 Ph: 02 6251 5779 email: carolyn.dawes@bigpond.com

Barry Redshaw Advertising

37 View Street, Lawson NSW 2783 Ph: 02 4759 2168 email: advertising@gardenclubs.org

Proofing

Caroline Stanton and Sandra Elliott, Horticultural Consultant

Design

Pro Artwork 23 Irene Crescent, Soldiers Point NSW 2317 Ph: 02 4984 7941 email: dan@proart.net.au

Subscriptions Enquiries, Ph: 02 6251 5779 or 02 4782 4344, E:subscriptions@gardenclubs.org.au An annual subscription to Our Gardens posted to your door costs just $18.00 for four issues including postage. Download a subscription form www.gardenclubs.org.au or simply send your name, postal and email address with a cheque payable The Garden Clubs of Australia to: Subscriptions Officer, John Sowden, PO Box 7073, LEURA, NSW 2780 Photographs and material submitted should have a stamped, self-addressed envelope if return required. Manuscripts to be typed (or emailed).

No article or part thereof may be reprinted or reproduced by any means without the express approval of the publisher, The Garden Clubs of Australia Inc.

The Garden Clubs of Australia Inc ‘Friendship through Gardens’ Founder President Mrs Margaret Davis MBE • President Mr Ken Bradley • Honorary Secretary Mr John Graham PO Box 185 Galston NSW 2159 Ph: 02 9653 1864 Email: galstongardens@gmail.com • Honorary Treasurer Mr John Sowden PO Box 7073 Leura NSW 2780 Ph: 02 4782 4344 Email: jandesowden5@bigpond.com • Director of Zones Mrs Glenys Bruun 92 Petrie Creek Road Nambour QLD 4560 Ph: 07 5441 2692 Email: gbruun2@bigpond.com • Membership Secretary Mrs Rowena Margetts PO Box 301 Petrie QLD 4502 Ph: 07 3285 6862 Email: rowenamargetts@bigpond.com • Sales Co-ordinator Mrs Jeanette Chown 11 Olga Close Bossley Park NSW 2176 Ph/Fax: 02 9609 4865 Email: phillchown@bigpond.com • Webmaster Mr Dennis Parker Email: webmaster@gardenclubs.org.au www.gardenclubs.org.au Aims and Objectives ~ To encourage friendship through gardening ~ To further a knowledge of all aspects of gardening and floral art ~ To aid in the protection and conservation of natural resources ~ To cooperate with kindred organisations having similar aims

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Plants and Gardening

Tulipa aucheriana

Dutch hybrids

The tulip

an elegant émigré from Central Asia Text David Glen Photos Patrick Hockey

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Whilst the Dutch have made tulips their own you could hardly imagine a less suitable place to grow these precious bulbs than in wet and cold Holland, for the ancestral homelands of these heart-stoppingly beautiful flowers are the hot sunny hills and mountains of the Central Asia states of Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. From there, an aeon ago, they spread westwards and now the genus stretches from Spain and North Africa to north-western China and Kashmir.

are quite happy left in the garden for many years where they increase and flower freely.

It wasn’t the Dutch who first cultivated tulips but the Ottomans in Istanbul. It was from there that bulbs were taken to Belgium in the late 16th century and then on to the Netherlands. Holland now produces three billion tulip bulbs a year and exports one billion, many to Australia, for commercial cut flower production.

A favourite species is Tulipa clusiana, the Lady tulip, with exquisitely shaped white flowers stained reddish pink on the outside. It hails from Kashmir, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran but was brought into cultivation in the west centuries ago and has naturalised in southern Europe.

Central Victoria has a much more suitable climate for growing these bulbs and, unlike in Holland where tulip bulbs have to be lifted and replanted every year, they

Like all of its kind it needs a well drained position, which gets full sun during winter and early spring, and then a good dry summer rest period. I have it growing

OUR GARDENS

One group of the copper-orange flowered Tulipa whittallii, a native of south western Turkey, has been flourishing in the same spot in my garden for twenty years. From an original planting of half a dozen bulbs it now numbers in the hundreds. In our dry climate garden this tulip flowers at the same time as the limegreen flowered spurge, Euphorbia myrsinites, with which it shares a similar rocky habitat in Turkey.

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Summer colour in the cottage garden

Tulipa kauffmaniana

Tulipa sprengeri

Tulipa whittallii

Dutch hybrids

Tulipa clusiana

under a carpet of drought tolerant thyme, Thymus longicaulis ssp. chaubadii, which is a native of Crete.

The smallest of all tulips is Tulipa aucheriana, a species which is endemic to a couple of areas in Iran; one site is near Teheran and the other near Isfahan. Threatened in the wild, it has fortunately settled happily in my garden and increases well. Its flower stem is no more than 5 cm tall and the mauve-pink flower is about the size of a 10 cent coin. I grow it in a small rock garden, under a blue-metal mulch, where it gets a good summer baking.

Altogether I grow around thirty tulip species. The first to flower is Tulipa kauffmaniana, the Water Lily Tulip from Uzbekistan which begins to bloom in August and the last to flower is Tulipa sprengeri, from northern Turkey, which doesn’t get going until November.

The majority of tulip species flower in September which is also the time the Dutch hybrid tulips are at their best. These wonders of the horticultural world, the culmination of four hundred years of

The ancestral homelands of these heart-stoppingly beautiful flowers are the hot sunny hills and mountains of the Central Asia assiduous breeding by generations of Dutch growers, are displayed in the traditional way here at Lambley.

Every April we plant 6,000 tulip bulbs in the vegetable garden. They are planted in blocks of 500 of each variety separated by a 40 cm wide band of small flowered, mixed ranunculus. The ranunculus start to bloom in October, just as the tulips are going over, and carry the bedding display on into November when all the bulbs are dug to make way for summer annuals.

Born in the English East Midlands, David Glenn comes from a family of gardeners and nurserymen. He emigrated to Australia fifty years ago and has spent most of those years working in horticulture. Twenty years ago he and his wife, artist Criss Canning, bought the historic Ascot property Burnside 20km north of Ballarat, which now enjoys an international reputation. For David’s regular gardening blog visit: www.lambley.com.au A visit to Lambley Nursery is included in the programme for the GCA Convention in Ballarat which can be downloaded from the GCA website.

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Gardens – Town & Country

Wildwood Bilpin NSW

Text Jennifer Stackhouse photos Nick Wood and Sue Tapping

The pond area

Five years ago Wayne and Sue Tapping had a revelation in a private garden they were visiting in the UK. Could they turn their private garden back home in Bilpin in the Blue Mountains of NSW into an open garden like the one they were visiting?

There were lots of council hoops to jump through and all the paraphernalia that garden visitors expect such as garden maps, signs, a toilet, disabled access and a good coffee to be provided. As well, no matter how lovely the garden, many tasks have to be completed to get to a point where and an entry charge can be made.

Wayne and Sue enjoy hard work and working together, which is lucky as they found themselves toiling over new pathways, resurfacing existing ones and planting even more areas of the garden to make sure that there were no dull spots to disappoint visitors.

Their barn had a verandah and kitchen, which became the café, while the area downstairs was fitted out as a shop and nursery. The verandah has a panoramic view towards the lake, one of the garden’s water features. It is also the place to enjoy a bird’s eye view of autumn colour and see all the local bird life as Wayne, who enjoys chatting to the garden visitors, expertly makes a latte or cappuccino.

Wildwood is aptly named as the garden grows among 6

OUR GARDENS

the tall eucalypts and sassafras that make up the native vegetation of this mountainous region. The sheltering trees are now the proud protectors of glorious cool climate plants, which provide colour and interest all year round.

In autumn, Wildwood is full of firey-toned deciduous trees including collections of maples, crabapples and cherries which all colour dramatically. At ground level, autumn means drifts of Japanese windflowers Anemone x hybrida in both white and pink along with a magnificent display of roses. Down on the lake, the waterlilies bloom and the koi carp add their flashes of orange to the scene.

In winter the garden is studded with camellias and from late winter to spring the garden is a cloud of blossom from the ornamental cherry walk and crabapples. Sue, who is a plant collector at heart, has amassed 600 named camellia varieties, which produce flowers from March to October. There are also hellebores, masses of clivias and other dainty flowers to enjoy as winter moves towards spring.

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Alcantarea imperialis ‘Rubra’

Waterlilies on the pond

Natural area

Fountain and autumn colour

Wayne and Sue Tapping

A highlight for many visitors is a waterfall and cascading pools hidden deep in the garden As spring gives way to summer and even Bilpin begins to get warm, the hydrangeas take centre stage under the deep shady greens of the trees while out on the sunny walks, it’s all roses and perennials.

A highlight for many visitors is a waterfall and cascading pools hidden deep in the garden. But the waterfall isn’t the only discovery visitors make along the way – there are many quirky sculptures to find including a magnificent sandstone sofa crafted from a single five tonne block by a local stonemason. Getting that into the garden before the opening required heavy lifting and lots of preparation.

Wildwood at 29 Powells Road, Bilpin NSW is 90 minutes west from Sydney and is open to visitors Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 10am to 4pm from March to June and August to December.

Admission is $8 (concession $6). Garden groups are very welcome by appointment and tea and coffee can be supplied if required.

Group bookings, Ph: 02 0417 042 460. For details see www. wildwoodgarden.com.au Jennifer is a well known garden writer and comes from a keen family of gardeners. She blogs regularly at www.gardendrum.com

The sandstone sofa

Cherry Tree Walk with helebores

PERENNIALS Rare plants, Trilliums, Paris, Arisaemas, Saxifragas, Primulas, Podophyllums, Epimediums & many more. www.lynnsrareplants.com.au or for list send large SAE to PO Box 7040, Leura, NSW 2780.

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Plants and Gardening

B. spinulosa ‘Birthday candles’

Coastal banksia with lorikeet

B. ericafolia

East coast banksias Text and photos Ian Peden

As an east coast gardener I have been envious of the Western Australians’ multitude of banksias, particularly those that are in every florist’s native flower arrangement: the stunning red flower heads of Banksia coccinea, the dramatic shape and two-tone colour of B. prionotes or the flowers and fantastic fruit cone of B.menziesii.

However, the east coast has the distinction of having four banksias in the first plant collection that Banks and Solander gathered after landing on the shore at Botany Bay in 1770.

In his wonderful book The Banksia Book (third edition 1996) Alex George identified 76 species naturally occurring in Australia and 60 of those were in WA. Dryandras, all in WA, have now been reclassified as banksias, raising the total to around 173.

I have had a go at growing Western Australian species but they would go from being wonderfully healthy to dead - stone dead. I decided to call it quits and concentrate on the banksias that are great additions in east coast gardens. Of course varying habitat and climatic conditions will still be factors in the choice of plants.

Di and I live on the mid north coast of NSW near Wallis Lakes in an area that has probably the widest choice of species. Our soil is shallow loam over a clay base so it can be difficult for those species requiring very good drainage but raised beds help to overcome this problem.

One of the most widespread of the banksia species is the Coastal Banksia, B.integrifolia of which we have many on the property. The profuse lemon-yellow flower cones are a magnet for many bird species and the silvery white underside of the leaves make a stunning sight blowing in the wind on a moonlit night. They can be left to grow into a medium sized tree or pruned to keep to a compact small tree. If you don’t have space for the tree, a prostrate cultivar ‘Roller Coaster’ is ideal for rockeries and sloping sites.

The Hairpin Banksia B.spinulosa, in its various forms, is found in a wide range of habitats from near Melbourne

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OUR GARDENS

Magazine of The Garden Clubs of Australia Inc.

Your invitation to

GARDENS WEEKEND 26/27 October 2013 B. robur

Explore ten beautiful spring gardens in and around Bathurst, from formal town gardens to historic and large country gardens.

• An ideal coach trip for garden clubs or other garden enthusiasts, over one or two days, but book your accommodation early.

• We can assist with a group itinerary and a tour guide if required.

• Lots of plants for sale at our plant stall.

Tickets $15 on sale at Bathurst Information Centre and all gardens to north Queensland and gives gardeners a choice of subspecies from their region. The fine foliage and profuse flowering of upright flower spikes with the distinctive hooked pistils make it an ideal specimen shrub. Many compact cultivars such as ‘Birthday Candles’, ‘Honey Pots’ and ‘Cherry Candles’ have been developed that are ideal for rockeries and pots.

Although the Heath Banksia B.ericafolia and its subspecies B.macrantha have relatively restricted ranges on the coast of NSW, they are extensively used in gardens. The large bright orange flower spike make them particularly striking and if lightly pruned, keep to a compact shape. The cultivar cross with B.spinulosa ‘Giant Candles’ has particularly large flower spikes.

These are likely to be the species that are adaptable to most habitats on the east coast but I have had success with the Hinchinbrook Banksia B. plagiocarpa which in nature, as the name suggests, is found on Hinchibrook Island and the adjacent mainland. The Swamp Banksia B.robur and Silver Banksia B. marginata are also ones to try and if you are not in a hurry B.serrata and B.aemula add wonderful form with their gnarled trunks and rough bark, the latter also being the inspiration for May Gibbs’ ‘Bad Banksia Men’.

Ian is a member of The Palms Garden Club and produces the club’s newsletter. His garden features natives which provide a major food source for dozens of bird species. He also enjoys growing orchids and bromeliads and the vegetable garden and fruit and nut orchard provide the ingredients for Di’s renowned jams and marmalades.

For further information contact Anne Llewellyn 02 6331 4117 annesgarden@bigpond.com

St Mary’s Open Garden Penola Participating in

Open Gardens Australia

‘Roses in Stone’ Stroll the gardens of St Mary’s Vineyard, taking in the roses, drystone walls, garden art and limestone sculpture.

Food, drink and produce available from the Limestone Coast Farmers and Makers Market.

Saturday 9th & Sunday 10th of November 2013.

10 am to 4:30 pm Admission: $8.00 per Adult, Children Free.

Bookings for bus tours would be appreciated.

For further information please contact the winery St Mary’s Vineyard V&A Lane Penola. SA, 5277 Phone: 08 87366070 Fax: 08 87366045 stmaryswines@bigpond.com www.stmaryswines.com

9

Gardens – Town & Country Garden vista

Hillview

near Boonah, Queensland Text and photos Val Eacott

Daylily ‘Happy Hooligan’

Potted colour

Our two-acre garden Hillview is situated 3.5 kms from the town of Boonah on the Mt French Road and approximately 80 kms south west of Brisbane on the Scenic Rim. Very little rain falls so it is essential to have available water.

The garden as it is today has been a project for over sixteen years and is never-ending. My thoughts go back to how little garden was here when we began compared with the colourful oasis that it is now. The main gardening area is around the house and the outside area has been planted with frangipanis propagated from cuttings. A favourite spot of mine is ‘Conifer Corner’.

The 12 foot deep dam towards the back provides water for the garden. I water by hand so that I can see if there is a problem with any of my plants (aphids, thrips, caterpillars etc.) or if any weeds need pulling out.

A lovely mauve Wisteria Tree Bolusanthus speciosus stands behind the dam and is a picture in OctoberNovember. The very rough attractive trunk is a showpiece in itself.

We rarely get frost here which is great for winter gardening as we require no cover for protection. My husband, Richard, has collected local rocks which we have used to make gardens of various shapes and sizes, including a large pond with running water and a number of smaller ponds. Louisana Iris of various 10

OUR GARDENS

Conifer Corner’ Photo Glenys Bruun

Wisteria Tree

colours are grown in pots and placed in the large pond with water lilies in many colours to adorn the pond.

Seating is placed around the ponds so that we can relax and watch the birdlife enjoying our garden. Lewins Rail water birds came this year and nested on the edge of the dam.

Annuals are planted each year and a hedge at the back gives protection against wind. Daylilies are a feature and Neal Mead of Meads Daylily Gardens at Acacia Ridge in Brisbane named one ‘Val Eacott’, after me.

That was very exciting and the last few years have seen the number of plants grow to around 350. The sizes, shapes and colours of the flowers are quite fascinating.

I propagate African Violets, which are a love of mine, by leaf cuttings and they have a specially lit glass enclosure under the house. Begonias, succulents, cacti and zygo cactus are in a shady area under the patio.

The bush house and undercover area house the many potted plants with pots of annual colour scattered around and about an adjoining area with many garden ornaments tucked here and there.

I find my garden so rewarding and peaceful and love being in touch with nature. I keep in mind the motto ‘Gardening is not an act of Completion, it’s an act of Creation’.

Val Eacott is a member of Laidley Garden Club, Queensland.

Magazine of The Garden Clubs of Australia Inc.

Growers and hybridisers of quality Australian-bred Louisiana Iris Manager, Heather Pryor, is happy to share her passion for Louisiana Irises, Daylilies and cottage garden plants by speaking at garden clubs.

Please visit our ‘paperless’ catalogue by inspecting our website. Our complete range of Louisiana and other beardless irises are available online. Our website includes cultural information and hundreds of colour photographs. Order Forms are freely available via email, on request.

IRIS HAVEN

P.O. Box 6070 Baulkham Hills Business Centre NSW 2154 Tel (02) 8883 5953 Fax (02) 8883 5954 Email:irishaven@pip.com.au Website: www.irishaven.com.au

Geranium Cottage

Retail Specialist Pelargonium/Geranium Nursery and Café

The Dale Family invites you to visit their nursery and café set in the gardens of their heritage cottage.

Discover the joys of pelargoniums, zonal and ivy geraniums, scented leaf geraniums and interesting species.

Learn how to use them in landscaping and how to grow them in pots, baskets and window boxes.

Wide range of plants and pots available for sale.

Special prices for group bookings and bus tours.

Open every day 9am - 4pm.

828 Old Northern Rd, Middle Dural NSW 2158 Tel (02) 9652 0475 Fax (02) 9652 0479 www.geraniumcottage.com.au

1 - 10 November 2013 & 31 October - 9 November 2014 Come and experience some of the most stunning gardens and events at the Powerco Taranaki Garden Spectacular.

Wander through 50 beautiful inspiring gardens and enjoy our unique, lush environment.

Programme available in July call 0800 746 363 or visit www.gardenfestnz.co.nz to subscribe CORE FUNDERS

EVENT PARTNER

GRANTS

MEDIA SPONSORS

SPONSORS

11

Plants & Gardening

The Essential Vegie Patch Text and photos Margaret Carr

Sweet corn showing silks

Butternut pumpkin and tomatoes

Over the 34 years my husband and I have been here in the lower Blue Mountains west of Sydney, the garden of our 700 square metre block has changed and evolved as our family grew but has always had a vegetable patch which now covers an area of about 12 square metres.

Unpredictable weather conditions create a challenge to manage ‘fresh from garden to plate’. Sandy soil, low in nutrient, means compost heaps are vital. Crop rotation is spread amongst six raised beds to grow tomatoes, corn, beans, cucumber, zucchini, lettuce, rocket and radish intermingled with basil, parsley, rosemary, thyme and many other beneficial herbs.

Not all crops are a success but that is just a reason to try again next season.

Watering is managed with rain water from tanks with a 5,000 litre capacity. Two-litre juice bottles filled with a little sand and a long dripper are placed beside plants and filled with water to drip deep into the soil. For fertilisers we soak comfrey leaves in a bucket of water for four weeks or so and, in another bucket, leave a stocking filled with Dynamic Lifter, weeds and potash to brew for the same amount

Scarlet runner beans and Dragon Tongue bush beans

Early tomatoes with home-made drippers

of time. Sticky yellow boards control white fly and other predators along with male and female fruit fly traps.

Oranges, mandarins, grapefruit and lime trees provide shelter and fresh fruit for juice and jam in season. Passionfruit rambles over a fence and rhubarb and strawberries grow happily, mulched with compost rich with worms. An electric shredder provides mulch from prunings mixed with lawn clipping and all the other goodies. Seed is saved and dried from plants allowed to go to seed and is grown on in a green house in readiness for the season to follow. Many native and exotics spread around the garden encourage native birds The garden is a labour of love, a constant source of interest and exercise and a joy to share with family and neighbours. Knowledge is gained and friendship enjoyed at the local garden club meetings and through garden rambles.

Margaret is a happy member of Lower Blue Mountains Garden Club and her very helpful husband built the raised garden beds.

A home-made recipe to beat curly leaf From Alan Gent A sure-fire way of beating the dreaded curly leaf on stone fruits is so simple that I still find it hard to believe.

In spite of religiously spraying before bud burst my few trees still managed to cop it until someone mentioned hanging a few lumps of the Marshmallow plant in the tree but this wasn’t effective. So I snuck a handful of marshmallow foliage into the kitchen and loaded it into the wife’s machine that turns everything into liquid pulp. I added some water, turned it on and then strained it – in all it made about one litre.

I gave the trees one spray and waited. In a few weeks the leaves dried up and turned black and

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OUR GARDENS

new fresh green growth began. I left the old black leaves on it and the tree took off and grew like hell and we picked a bumper crop of apricots.

Alan is an 87 year old keen gardener who grows fruit trees in his garden at Sheffield, Tasmania and wants to spread the word about this easy cure. His email address is awgent16@hotmail.com Editor’s note: Marshmallow plant Althea officinalis is used by herbalists in tea infusions etc. and is derived from the Greek word altho meaning cure.

Magazine of The Garden Clubs of Australia Inc.

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Cruise Coach No. of nights stay

Plants & Gardening Plant breeding and selection has resulted in considerable improvement of a whole range of native plants, however it is particularly important for gardeners to be discerning when they choose a new plant. A good example is the many kangaroo paw varieties now available to gardeners. For instance, the many dwarf varieties available look absolutely spectacular as flowering pot plants and should be used as short term displays in the same way as annuals such as petunias as they do not make long-lived garden plants due to their breeding.

Corymbia sp. ‘Summer Beauty’

Choosing plants wisely

By Angus Stewart

The last twenty years has seen an explosion of new Australian plant varieties entering the nursery industry. Not every variety ends up being successful, so it is sometimes difficult for gardeners to be able to evaluate what to try in their gardens.

A ‘Bush Pioneer’

Anigozanthos ‘Bush Pearl’ makes an outstanding rockery or pot plant that flowers virtually all year round, but tends to only last a year or two in most garden situations. On the other hand, A. ‘Bush Pioneer’, like most of the taller kangaroo paws, adapts to most Australian soil types and climatic conditions, but the trade-off is that it flowers in spring and summer only.

Flowering gums are another case where plant breeding and selection is making an enormous difference to garden performance.

The red flowering gum Corymbia (formerly Eucalyptus) ficifolia has long captured the imagination of Australian gardeners, and is one of the most popular street trees in southern Australia. Various flower colour variations and growth forms have been selected by nurseries and are being grafted onto rootstocks such as Corymbia maculata spotted gum. Compact varieties in bright reds and oranges are proving particularly popular in places like Melbourne where they thrive. For example, the varieties ‘Baby Red’ and ‘Baby Orange’ grow to around 5 metres but may be taller in shady conditions.

Gardeners in the more humid climates of coastal areas north of Sydney tend to struggle with the various varieties of red flowering gum whether they are grafted or not. The extra humidity of places like Brisbane and Sydney provides an ideal environment for fungal leaf diseases which often result in leaf drop as well as unsightly leaf spots on the remaining foliage.

A plant breeder called Stan Henry has spent several decades up in Queensland hybridising the red flowering gum with the swamp bloodwood Corymbia ptychocarpa from northern Australia. The resulting hybrids have been released as the ‘Summer’ series with a beautiful pink called ‘Summer Beauty’ complementing its sister variety ‘Summer Red’. Both varieties perform well in Sydney and Brisbane when they are grafted onto a compatible rootstock. I have seen some problems with these varieties when the graft unions have apparently failed due to genetic incompatibility. Telltale signs of this problem are where suckering shoots are observed coming from below the graft union.

The above plants illustrate a couple of great examples of how appropriate breeding and selection work is helping to domesticate some of our iconic wildflowers and making them much more accessible to Australian gardeners.

A.’Bush Pearl’

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OUR GARDENS

Horticulturist Angus Stewart’s new book 500 Plants details many of the outstanding new Australian plant varieties now available. It is linked to Angus’s new website www.gardeningwithangus.com.au so that the information in the book can be kept up to date and extended for readers.

Magazine of The Garden Clubs of Australia Inc.

Stylidium schoenoides, Fitzgerald River National Park, WA. October 2009. Cow Faces would be a better common name.

Plants & Gardening

A handsome native tree from the sub-tropics Text and photos Jeff Howes ©

The common Macleay Laurel or Queensland Laurel Anopterus macleayanusis is found in sub-tropical areas of south-eastern Queensland and north-eastern NSW. It is a shrub or tree to about 6 to 8 metres with a spreading open crown to about 4 metres when growing in its high, constantly moist natural situation. It is smaller in cultivation. It has large, glossy, dark green toothed leaves to 30 cms and 5 cms wide.

I have two plants growing in a position that gets morning sun and afternoon shade. Ideally, they need constant soil moisture to grow at their best, however my plants are growing quite well under a large 80 year-old English oak in a raised bed which has a good covering of leaf litter. They only need supplementary watering in extended dry periods during summer. Attractive fragrant white terminal flowers are produced from mid-spring to early summer.

Propagation is easy from seed (I have even seen them for sale on EBay).

I occasionally prune branches back by about a one third to maintain it as an informal hedge.

It is a pity these plants are not more widely sold as they make a great feature plant in the right position or even an attractive pot plant suitable for indoors.

The species was first formally described in 1859 by botanist Ferdinand von Mueller who was born at Rostock, Germany in 1825. He studied pharmacy and took his Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Kiel in 1847. Dr Mueller received honours from many of the ruling Royal Houses of Europe; he was made a Baron by the King of Wurtemberg in 1871 and knighted by Queen Victoria.

He came to Australia in 1848 for health reasons. He was Victorian Government Botanist from 1853, and for a time Director of the Botanic Gardens. His botanical publications are very extensive, and include Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae published over the period 1858-1882.

An indefatigable worker, Mueller’s correspondence regularly reached 3000 letters a year and he published over 800 papers and major works on Australian botany.

He was largely responsible for the international recognition given to Australian scientific endeavours. Much of his work has never been superseded and is a measure of his lasting contribution to botany. He had little private life, his time, energy and finance being devoted to his work.

He never married though engaged to Euphemia Henderson in 1863 and Rebecca Nordt in 1865. Survived by a sister, he died on 10 October 1896 in South Yarra, Melbourne.

A keen grower of native plants in his garden at Westleigh in Sydney, Jeff is a regular contributor to Our Gardens.

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Gardens – Town & Country

Stangate House and Garden Text and photos Kevin Bowden

Japonica Walk

Nestled in the Adelaide Hills of South Australia, less than 30 minutes drive from the CBD and a ‘stone’s throw’ from the Freeway, can be found an ‘International Camellia Garden of Excellence’.

The land on which Stangate House at Aldgate now stands was originally granted to Robert Thomas (the printer of the 1836 proclamation of South Australia) and passed by family inheritance to Florence Gwenyth Thomas in 1924. She married Raymond Cornish and in 1940 and they built the house and set about establishing an ‘English garden’. The house was named after Stangate, London where the Reverend Cornish had been stationed Five years before her death in 1971, Gwenyth gave the property to the National Trust of South Australia to preserve it rather than have it sold for housing.

The Mt Lofty Branch of the National Trust SA manages the self-funding property with revenue from function hiring and open days. The house (three main and two catering rooms) has shuttered windows, open fire places, Jarrah floors and ‘Morris’ drapes and can accommodate 60 people The garden has three lawns suitable for large functions.

Standing majestically is the heritage listed English Oak which is about 140 years old, has a trunk circumference of 6.18 m, a height of 26 m and a canopy spread of 39 m. Many of the deciduous trees planted by Gwenyth remain and provide a colourful 16

OUR GARDENS

autumn display whilst the main feature, the camellias, bloom from autumn (C. sasanqua) through winter and into spring (C. japonica and C. reticulata). There is an under-planting of hellebores, irises, cyclamen, hydrangea, bluebells, grape hyacinths, jonquils, daffodils and azaleas. The wisteria and laburnum archways are eye-catching when in full bloom.

The Camellia Society Adelaide Hills (CSAH) was invited to develop a Camellia Garden and work started in 1977 clearing an overgrown garden to plant some 400 japonicas, 70 reticulata hybrids, 20 non-reticulata hybrids and pot up 140 varieties. Two steep banks were reinforced with 45 tons of stone to form two terraces: the upper lawn area and ‘miniature’ (small blooms) camellia bed and the lower lawn and azalea bank.

Stangate Camellia Garden was officially opened in 1982.

The next major development in1996 with the removal of aged pine trees was the ‘Leawood Bed’. Sasanqua camellias, including an espaliered fence line of alternate pink and white camellias, were planted.

The bed also features four 120 year-old camellias transplanted from the ‘freeway-doomed’ Leawood Garden first established in 1841 as ‘Stevenson’s Garden’. These hardy camellias survived being

Magazine of The Garden Clubs of Australia Inc.

Design

‘Stangate Ruby’- a seedling from the garden which CSAH formally registered

The Lithgow Black Rose Text Kerry Klemens, image courtesy Lithgow City Council

Stangate House

chainsaw ‘pruned’, bull-dozed and left six weeks prior to replanting.

The garden beds display the various camellia forms – slow growing, ground hugging, tall, short, dense/sparse foliage and hedging (as an alternative to the English Box). The north facing hedgerow of camellias (mainly unnamed seedlings) illustrates ‘camellia hardiness’ as they do not receive supplementary watering.

This ‘Camellia Garden of Excellence’ (awarded 2012 at the International Camellia Conference, Chuxiong, China), is one of only three in Australia. It is a testament to many long, hard hours of work over the years by a band of dedicated group of volunteers.

The Garden is open each Tuesday 9.30 am to 3.30 pm, by appointment and on the CSAH Sunday Open Days.

It is also available for hire. Contact details: Ph: (08) 82784031, E: kandabowden@gmail.com Kevin Bowden is Historian, Combined Garden Committee member of CSAH (NTSA and CSAH) and Correspondent of Camellia News. He also makes a 25 k round trip each Tuesday to work as a volunteer in the garden.

Lithgow in NSW is the birthplace of the iron and steel industry in Australia dating back to the first smelting of iron at Rutherford’s Iron and Steel Works in 1876. Blacksmith apprentices in those times had to demonstrate their skills by creating an iron rose. Using simple tools in the grimy sweltering workshops of the Lithgow foundries they crafted a delicate piece of art, often a single iron rose, sometimes a spray of iron roses.

Apprentices were said to have given their Black Roses to their sweethearts as presents. Later they were worn on gentlemen’s lapels but, because they were too heavy, became ornaments. They were also said to have been used to decorate coffins of men who died at the iron works.

Many of these iron roses were made but only a handful remain; some are still in the community, and three are on display in the Museum at Eskbank House, Lithgow.

The Black Rose is a significant part of Lithgow’s rich industrial heritage and our 10 year old Lithgow Garden Club decided to make it our new logo to honour those men and boys who worked long ago in the grimy, smoke-filled foundries in Lithgow’s hot summers and bitterly cold winters crafting iron roses of exquisite beauty. The launch was held at the Lithgow Garden Club with over 70 members and special guests, Wendy Hawkes representing Lithgow City Council, Barry Redshaw, Zone Coordinator for the Blue Mountain’s and former ZC, Warren Boorman.

Kerry is Social Secretary of Lithgow Garden Club, NSW

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Parks and public gardens

Wagga Wagga’s Botanic Garden Text Charles Lee and Gary Croker, photos Bill Toal

Wagga Wagga in NSW was first occupied as a village around 1849. In 1875 three blocks of land totalling 274 acres on a hill near the town were designated for public recreation and, in 1887, declared a Public Park. This area was to be the beginning of the Botanic Gardens, much loved in Wagga Wagga today.

The water feature

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OUR GARDENS

Magazine of The Garden Clubs of Australia Inc.

Entrance gates

The Gardens in spring

The Kunming Pavilion

The Gardens in autumn

A beautification programme began on the hill precinct in 1951 and by 1960 more than 17,000 trees and shrubs, including eucalypts, wattles and exotics had been planted in the soil conservation furrows.

The following year Council advised that a Botanic Garden would be established on Willans Hill and site preparations began in 1962. By October of the same year, more than 600 plant species were planted. Public access to the gardens commenced in 1963 with an official opening of nine hectares in 1968.

Earlier in 1960 the Council moved some animals from central Wagga to a spot which is now adjacent to the formal gardens. Several upgrades to the Zoo occurred over the years, in particular the walk-in aviary, where more than 300 birds and animals live in open and quite natural habitats. Peacocks and other birds roam freely throughout the Zoo and Gardens.

A major feature is the Rose Garden. David Jones Department Store in Wagga donated more than 800 named rose bushes which formed the David Jones Memorial Rose Garden. This garden is very popular with visitors over the warmer months.

In 1982 a model railway was constructed. Now a major tourist attraction it does not detract from the open garden feel as most of the more than two kilometres of track roams through the ‘forest region’ of the Gardens.

A $1.5 million expansion was planned in 1984 as part of the 1988 bi-centenary projects sponsored by the Federal Government. This included the Camellia Garden, the Cacti Garden, The Tree Chapel, and the

The Camellia Garden

Shakespearian Garden all linked to the main gardens with a wheelchair-friendly footbridge over the tracks.

The Camellia Garden was established by the Quota Club of Wagga Wagga, the Hume Branch of the Camellia Society, a number of private citizens and the Wagga City Council in an area well protected by established native trees. Wagga Wagga’s sister city in China, Kunming, generously provided a Chinese City Entrance Gate, a Pavilion, and a Marble Chinese Lantern. Artisans from Kunming came out to construct the gifts using their ancient tools and materials and both the Chinese Ambassador to Australia, Mr Zhang Zai, and the then Governor of NSW, Sir James Rowland, officially opened this Garden.

Many subsequent plantings of camellias have taken place over the years by the various mayors of Kunming and botanical academics from China. In the mid to late 1990s a further section was added to the Camellia Garden taking the total number of camellias to over 300.

A central road loop through the Botanic Gardens is the ‘Tom Wood Drive’, fittingly named after the man whose vision for the Botanic Gardens in Wagga Wagga we all share today.

Gary Croker is President of the Friends of Wagga Wagga Botanic Gardens, Charles Lee is Publicity Officer and Bill Toal is a member. whose wife Irene is Secretary. The Friends raise funds to assist the Gardens and the Zoo as well as contributing ideas for projects for the future redevelopment of the Gardens to Wagga City Council.

The Gardens are at Willans Hill, Macleay Street. For details visit visitors@waggawagga.nsw.gov.au

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Travel

The Huntington Botanical Gardens, California Text Margot Lambert, photos David Lambert North Vista Lawn and Camellia Gardens

Conservatory

Henry Huntington, a railroad and real estate developer, purchased a ranch in 1903 in San Marino, near Pasadena and built a home, Huntington, and library and art gallery on the property. He visited nurseries and plant collectors and imported plants from many parts of the world amassing a rare and exotic collection and experimented with their cultivation in Southern California.

The Botanical Gardens, part of the Estate, now cover 120 acres of the 207 acre grounds. More than 14,000 different varieties of plants grow in the dozen ‘theme’ gardens. These gardens include the Desert Garden, Rose Garden, Japanese Garden, Chinese Garden and Australian Garden.

The Desert Garden has a spectacular ten-acre display of mature cacti and succulents. There are more than 5,000 species of succulents and desert plants in 60 landscaped beds in this century-old garden – the world’s largest collections of these plants.

A greenhouse houses 3,000 vulnerable succulents that might not survive in the outdoor conditions.

There are more than 1,200 cultivars in the Rose Garden. This is a ‘Collection’ garden and the 4,000 plantings are arranged historically to trace the development of the rose over 2,000 years, beginning with the early Egyptian civilisation.

The Camellia collection is recognised by the International Camellia Society as an ‘International Camellia Garden of Excellence’. The camellias in the North Vista Camellia Garden are planted with other shade-loving plants such as azaleas, ferns, dogwoods and fuchsias. Rows of 17th and 18th statues from mythology are also displayed here.

Rose Garden

Australian plants. Some of these are acacias, kangaroo paws, melaleucas, bottle brushes and wax flowers.

Historic architecture is a feature in both the Chinese and Japanese Gardens. In the Japanese garden there is a koi-filled stream and a serene Zen garden. Fountains and statues throughout the Gardens were collected in Italy.

Research at the Huntington includes a program to protect and propagate endangered plant species. An interactive Science Centre encourages families to engage in the exploration of plants and the Conservatory for Botanical Science has an extensive tropical plant collection.

A large staff and over 100 volunteers maintain this botanical collection which complements the Huntington Research and Cultural Centre. This Centre includes a library of rare books and manuscripts, and the art collection founded by Huntington.

A collection of photos of the gardens are on the web at landscapevoice.com/the-huntington-botanical-gardens.

Margo and David are members of St Matthews Peakhurst Garden Club and David is Assistant Treasurer, GCA Committee.

Our Year-round calendar Go to the home page of the GCA website and click on ShowTime for the where and when of gardening shows and festivals held in Australia and overseas.

If you know of any suitable additions please contact the compiler, Felicity Paton-Boxall, by emailing details to her at gcashowtime@bigpond.com

The Australian garden features eucalyptus trees as well as other

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OUR GARDENS

Japanese Garden Bridge

Magazine of The Garden Clubs of Australia Inc.

Patricia Prior Editor

Comment

Cities and suburbs need ‘urban forests’ to help provide better air quality, cooler environments and shade and protection from the sun. National Tree Day is planned this year for Sunday 28 July and Schools Tree Day for Friday 26 July. Go to www.plantlifebalance.com.au for more about this community project.

From readers

A hardy, reliable, easy care and beautiful trio of plants from Jill Whitford

Nepeta sp.

Chrysocephalum apiculatum Yellow buttons and Bachyscome sp.

‘In North East Victoria the summers are hot and dry and winters cold and frosty. I love this trio of perennial plants which are as tough as nails, drought and frost hardy, flowering for nine months a year and needing little maintenance. A quick trim after flowering, repeated in late winter and they’re off to a flying start again to provide us with more beauty, a living mulch and food for the bees. They are useful fillers with well behaved, spreading habits and will be with you for years. Brachyscome sp. daisy – beautiful mauve flowers by the million and ferny foliage, makes a wonderful ground cover, spreads to a respectable distance, then may take root and grow a bit further’.

Jill Whitford, member of Yackandandah Garden Club, Victoria

A night-flowerer from Angela Karpin

‘I have had this Moon Flower for about seven years and took this photo mid-January this year when four flowers opened. So far the one cutting I took has shown no sign of flowering’.

The computer swallowed grandma

Angela Karpin, member of the GCA Committee and Gordon GC on Sydney’s North Shore.

The computer swallowed Grandma, Yes, honestly it’s true!

She pressed control and enter And disappeared from view.

Snake in the grass from Dot Crane

It devoured her completely, The thought just makes me squirm.

She must have caught a virus Or been eaten by a worm.

‘I heard birds squealing after some rain in late January and found this python or carpet snake full of its last meal – birds or frogs perhaps? We had six nests of turtles at Wurtulla late January. Foxes got to the first hatching but some of the 50 got to water’.

I’ve searched through the recycle bin And files of every kind; I’ve even used the Internet, But nothing did I find.

So, if inside your Inbox, My Grandma you should see, Please ‘Copy’, ‘Scan’ and ‘Paste’ her, And send her back to me.

From Maitland & Coalfields District Orchid Society Bulletin. Vol. 21 No. 1

Dot Crane, Life Member of Gympie GC and a member of Nambour GC, takes an active interest in conservation of the flora and fauna

Digesting Our Gardens from Hazel King, Berry GC, NSW

‘Pat, I very much enjoy reading the articles. The magazine arrives, I open it and read the contents either over lunch or dinner the same day. Perhaps I need a weekly edition; I am closing my ears to your comment!!!’

Hazel King, Berry Garden Club and writer of Seasonal Tips

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The Garden Clubs of Australia’s

Annual Photo Competition Entry forms are now available from our website www.gardenclubs.org.au, by email (ghoad@internode.on.net), or by writing to George Hoad, 52 Alfred Road, KILLABAKH, NSW, 2429 enclosing a stamped addressed envelope for return of the entry form. Closing date: 23 August, 2013.

There are a number of categories. Prizes will again be provided by the GCA and sponsors Organic Crop Protectants, Seasol International, Yates, Bunnings, Neutrog and Open Gardens Australia. If you enjoy photography and are a member of an affiliated club or a subscriber to Our Gardens, do take part.

The 2012 Competition The winners and finalists were announced in issue 55 and these photos have been chosen at random from last year’s competition. More photos will be included in later issues and displayed on our website.

Alison McKerlie, Port Augusta GC

Beryl French, Port Augusta GC

Beverley Dwyer, Chincilla Hort Club

Alison Wood, Bridgetown GC

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Boyce Hensel, Culcairn GC

Felicity Paton-Boxall, MacMasters Beach GC

Gaye Ellis, Scamander GC

Gill Fitzgerald, Aust. Rhdodendron Society

Jan Fragiacomo, Wollongong GC

Jeannette lee, Adamstown Kotara GC

OUR GARDENS

Magazine of The Garden Clubs of Australia Inc.

Marie Anne Baster, Springdale GC

David at Ayres House, an historic mansion in Adelaide. Photo John Zwar An outdoor sculptural arrangement of Coco plumrosa with centerpiece of dried artichokes. This arrangement lasted for three years in David’s garden.

Photo John Zwar

PROFILE An occasional profile of an influential figure in Australian gardening

David Ruston oa

a distinguished rosarian David is known throughout the rose world, and, much of the horticultural and floricultural world, for his genius and generosity with everything associated with flowers, especially roses.

He and his twin brother John were born in Renmark, South Australia in 1930 remaining close friends until John’s death. David studied Arts at Adelaide University for a year before returning in 1948 to the family fruit property as he preferred horticulture to city life. At this time he joined his first rose society, the Rose Society of Victoria, and began exhibiting roses at shows.

Pruning and weeding the property by day, at night by lantern light he planted roses in the irrigation channels. When florists began to come for cut flowers he started a floristry business in an old shed on the property and this led to his selling budwood to rose nurseries and to his hobby becoming a business.

was president of the World Federation of Rose Societies from 1991 to 1994.

For many years David has lectured and demonstrated flower arranging. His comments, amusing asides and magnificent displays inspired by the still-life flower paintings of the old Flemish, Dutch and French artists made him a much sought-after keynote speaker both here and internationally.

His awards include the T.A. Stewart Memorial award 1966, the Australian Rose award 1982, the World Federation of Rose Societies Silver Pin 1988 and Gold Medal 2004, the Dean Ross Memorial award 1997 and the prestigious rose award, the Dean Hole Medal in 1994 from the Royal National Rose Society. In 2009 at the World Federation of Rose Societies in Vancouver he received its highest award, President Emetrius, which can be held by only two living rosarians at any one time.

Highly respected by his peers he has generously used his knowledge, skills and creativity to support

His enthusiasm to impart his specialist knowledge without obligation has been the hallmark of his life and has greatly enriched the many gardeners he came in contact with as a member of the Renmark Garden Club and as Zone Coordinator for the Riverland Zone – recognised with Life Memberships by both organizations. In 2010 a sculpture depicting his life in flowers was unveiled in Renmark as a fitting tribute to his achievements.

local, national and international communities and organizations. In 1984 David received an Order of Australia for Services to Horticulture and has been honoured with life memberships by rose societies here and in America and India. He became the inaugural president of Heritage Roses in Australia in 1986 and

Editor: This information is based on an article by Kelvin Trimper and extracts from David’s latest book A Life with Roses, Rosenberg Publishing 2011, which is liberally illustrated with his magnificent flower arrangements and garden sculptures. Since David’s retirement Rustons Roses continues in the hands of his niece Anne Ruston and her husband Richard Fewster.

After his father’s death in 1970 David bought eight acres from the family which, over a period of time, increased to 27 acres. He went on to develop the largest private collection of 4,000 different varieties of roses in the southern hemisphere which in 2008 was recognized as the National Collection of Rose.

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Design

Stylish washroom whimsies Text and photos Jeannette Lee Sunflower bowl photo Jeannette Lee

Poppy bowl photo Jeannette Lee Pitcher plant urinal photo courtesy Dobbies

On a recent trip to Aberdeen, Scotland, my husband and I were met at the airport by our Scottish friend who immediately whisked us away to have lunch at ‘Dobbies’, a local garden centre which opened in March 2010.

In addition to the spacious plant nursery there was a restaurant, farm food hall, bakery, gifts and furniture. I was particularly taken with the artistic eye to detail shown throughout the store, nowhere more so than the washrooms!

Orchid urinal photo courtesy Dobbies

‘A whimsical marriage between beauty and functionality’ The basins in the ladies’ washroom were a treat with four gorgeous blooms sitting side by side along the vanity bench. I had my camera in my backpack so out it came and I photographed two of them – a golden sunflower and a bright orange poppy.

One of the nurserymen assured me that the urinals were worth a photo too so I tried to persuade my husband to take the camera into the mens’ washroom. ‘Not a chance!’ was his firm reply. On our return to Australia I wrote to the manager of Dobbies Garden Centre and he was more than happy to email me photos.

The artist responsible for these stylish botanical pieces is San Francisco-based Clark Sorensen who describes them as ‘a whimsical marriage between beauty and functionality’. A visit to the artist’s website is well worth a look and I would recommend a visit to this nursery to anyone holidaying in Scotland.

Jeannette Lee, a keen a gardener, is Zone Coordinator for Hunter South, NSW and a life member of Adamstown Kotara GC, the garden club she founded 20 years ago.

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OUR GARDENS

Magazine of The Garden Clubs of Australia Inc.

Jack in the Pulpit urinal photo courtesy Dobbies

Plants & Gardening

Seasonal tips for the winter garden Text Hazel King

Photo Lynne Treble, Nelson Bay GC. One of the entries in the 2012 Photo Competition

The past summer brought fire, floods and storms causing distress to residents in many parts of Australia. Gardeners have taken stock of their properties, cleared away damaged structures and plants, and are now looking to replacements. For some, it is an opportunity to change garden design and plant choice.

Deciduous shrubs and trees require careful examination, particularly trees. The removal of damaged or structurally weak branches is best carried out when the branches are bare. Distressed plants may be affected by pests and/or disease. Some plants will have ‘lost their footing’ through excess soil moisture and leaves weighed down due to constant rain. Perhaps staking might be successful for shrubs and small trees but the roots of larger specimens may, in most cases, be damaged beyond repair.

Transplant deciduous trees and shrubs and prepare new ground prior to the move by digging thoroughly and adding aged compost. Rake up leaves, distribute on gardens and around trees or alternatively place in compost area or bags and store for future use. Replace lost specimens with bare-rooted plants, which are always available in nurseries in winter.

In the majority of areas winter and spring flowering bulbs will have been planted, however it is not too late to position cold climate bulbs if gardening in tropical areas. Prune roses, remove any diseased affected leaves from the ground, spray plant for insect and disease control. White louse scale can be a major problem for some roses.

Vegetable gardens require constant attention and caterpillars are always a problem and are ‘masters of disguise’. After harvesting a crop, dig in manure and compost in preparation for the following crop.

Catalogues advertising summer and autumn bulbs and perennials make very exciting reading in winter months; choose carefully those suitable to your climate.

Check the appropriate month to plant seeds of spring and summer flowering annuals and vegetables. Keep the seed tray in a sheltered position; a sheet of plastic protects seedlings in their initial stage.

Orchids are popular plants but require bush or glass house protection in some areas. However, many cymbidiums are adaptable and can be grown in pots, positioned outside in protected areas during summer, gradually introduced to light in autumn to initiate flowering, and brought inside once the first flower on the spike opens. Remove stems following flowering, fertilise with an appropriate product and, if necessary, remove plant to a larger pot; this is only required if the plant covers the entire surface.

Winter is a great time to get a feeling for structure, both man-made and natural. Not many gardens are open to visit in winter temperate and cold climate areas but botanic gardens are open all year and fortunately more local botanic gardens have been established or are being planned. Take advantage of the opportunity to see what grows well in your area. As well as a source of pleasure they protect biodiversity.

Hazel King MAIH is a member of Berry GC, NSW and is a very experienced gardener and teacher. She is our regular writer of Seasonal Tips.

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Zone News and updates We warmly welcome the following clubs who have joined since the AGM in September 2012.

George Town Garden Club George Town TAS 7253, TAS North & North East Zone Manjimup Community Garden Manjimup WA 6258, WA Southern Zone Midcoast Garden Friends Laurieton NSW 2443, Lower North Coast NSW Zone Paterson Allyn Garden Group Gresford NSW 2311, Hunter South NSW Zone Permaculture Townsville Atkinvale QLD 4814, Townsville-Bowen, QLD Zone Whistle Stop Heritage & Community Garden Stanthorpe Qld 4380, Granite Belt, QLD Zone

Zone Picnic Illawarra, NSW

Carolyn Dawes Assistant Editor

SA Zone Rally The rally was hosted by the Whyalla Garden Club last October and was attended by Glenys Bruun, Director of Zones and Rowena Margetts, GCA Membership Secretary, and members representing Rocky River, Port Pirie, Port Augusta and Whyalla. Glenys spoke about her involvement as Director of Zones and about the Our Gardens magazine. She encouraged members to contribute articles to the magazine and to consider entering the forthcoming photo competition.

After the rally Glenys and Rowena visited the members of the Port Pirie Garden Club for a dinner and visited the garden of Val Parker which was featured in Our Gardens magazine in 2001. Val is a member of the Port Pirie Garden Club and has tended her garden for sixty years. They also visited three open gardens in Adelaide one of which was hosted by the Tea Tree Gully Garden Club. Their South Australian experience was one of very welcoming people and wonderful gardens.

Pam Towers and Ken Bradley taken near the Wongawilli coal mine.

Beryl Crabb, Zone Coordinator Mid North and Yorke Zone, Roy Crabb and Rowena Margetts on the SA trip Val Parker and the Our Gardens 2001 magazine

Zone Coordinator appointments Two new zone coordinators were confirmed at the November Committee Meeting of the GCA. This annual event is hosted in turn by the clubs within the zone and was hosted by the Dapto Garden Club in the Wongawilli Community Hall last October. President of Dapto GC, Pam Towers, welcomed members and guests and Pilar Helmers, Lady Mayoress, opened proceedings and gave a brief history of Wongawilli. Ken Bradley, President of the GCA, followed with a short address and introduced Pat Prior, Editor of Our Gardens magazine to the 150 in attendance.

After two interesting guest speakers members were able to visit the garden of Vivian and Michael Hand or alternatively visit the nearby Wongawilli Mine and learn about the mine’s operation.

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OUR GARDENS

Iris Bennett, President of the Townsville Garden Club, has replaced the late Gordon Neilson in Townsville/ Bowen (QLD) Zone and John Jonkers has replaced Briony Coulter in the Flinders & Eyre (SA) Zone.

John has held many positions in the Port Pirie Garden Club over the twenty years he has been a member. We warmly welcome them both to these positions and thank Briony for five years of service in the Flinders & Eyre (SA) Zone.

Carolyn Dawes Assistant Editor

Magazine of The Garden Clubs of Australia Inc.

CLUB AND ZONE NEWS

Making a difference In 2007, inspired by the Ian Potter Foundation Children’s Garden in the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne, a group of parents persuaded the Albury City Council to approve a project to create a children’s garden in the Albury Botanic Gardens.

Costa telling stories to the children

Albury Horticultural Society Members, Wendy Hogan and Anne Maginnity

The Albury Horticultural Society and the Friends of the Albury Botanic Gardens were two of the enthusiastic groups who supported the project. The Albury Horticultural Society hosted the GCA National Convention in Albury that year and donated their share of the profits from the convention to the construction of the garden.

The brief was to create a place where children could enjoy learning about growing, harvesting and the environment in a safe, creative and fun way while fostering their imagination and sense of wonder. The finished garden includes fairytale-themed structures including dinosaurs and a Goblin’s Cave and a hands-on wetland display built with a $17,000 grant from the Murray Catchment Management Authority. It is pleasing to see that the Wollemi pine planted during the GCA convention has also been included in the children’s garden and is flourishing.

The garden was officially opened on 5 December 2012 with the flamboyant ABC Gardening Australia host, Costa Georgiadis, as the guest presenter. Costa described the garden as ‘having a real soul and at the cutting edge of environmental education’.

It was wonderful to see the delight that the children expressed exploring the garden and the different spaces designed for their enjoyment.

Anne Maginnity and Wendy Hogan are members of the Albury Horticultural Society and were on the GCA Convention committee for the 2007 Convention in Albury.

Vale: Doris Killian 1920 - 2012 Doris was a member of St Ives Branch in Sydney when she was seconded to the Federal Committee by Founder President Margaret Davis in 1969, only a year after the GCA changed from individual membership to membership by affiliated clubs.

She served as Vice President and Tour Organiser during her years on this Committee. She was exceptionally hard-working and was an ardent promoter of ‘friendship through gardens’.

Whilst living at St Ives she was Zone Coordinator for the North Shore until, in 1979, the family moved to Avoca and she became Zone Coordinator for the Central Coast – forming 26 clubs over this whole time.

Doris was a skilful and generous gardener whose propagated

cuttings helped fund-raise for many community groups on the Central Coast.

In 1997 to honour her on-going efforts in furthering the aims and objectives of The Garden Clubs of Australia, the GCA Committee established an annual Doris Killian Award to be given for ‘outstanding service by an individual to the community’.

As Doris was certainly an individual who gave outstanding service to the community the award named for her is an appropriate memorial. She died 19th December 2012, aged 92 years.

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Deadline 1 June 2013. Please send items and images for Club News to Carolyn Dawes.

9 Lachlan Street, Macquarie ACT 2614 or Email: Carolyn.dawes@bigpond.com

CLUB AND ZONE NEWS

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Yarrawonga and District Garden Club, Vic celebrated their 50th Anniversary in 2012 at their Annual Spring Flower Show which was held at the Uniting Church Hall in Yarrawonga. President of the GCA, Ken Bradley, was in attendance and cut the anniversary cake in the company of Patrick Boxshall (President, Yarrawonga GC) and Mrs Alex Monk (Moira Shire Councillor).

Elaine Price, Secretary (Photo 1) L-R Ken Bradley, Patrick Boxshall and Mrs Alex Monk.

Photo: Les Garbutt

Bowral Garden Club, NSW is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year and a special luncheon to mark this event was held in April at the historic Milton Park, Bowral. This elegant 19th Century mansion is surrounded by beautiful gardens – a perfect setting for a garden club party. Landscape designers Charlotte and Chris Webb, the Club’s Patrons, gave the first talk of the year in February on ‘Anglo-Italian gardens in Tuscany’.

Other speakers for the year include Dr Holly Kerr Forsyth, Michael Bligh, Stuart Read, Angus Stewart and Tony Sheffield.

As part of their commitment to the local community, the Bowral Garden Club has entered a float in the Tulip Time parade for the last three years. Not only is it great fun, but participation by members helps to develop the spirit of friendship within the club. The members are enjoying a very happy and successful anniversary year which will conclude with a garden party to be held in one of the member’s gardens later in the year.

Meg Probyn, President (Photo 2) Members decorating hats for the Tulip Time Parade

Pictured are the trophy winners for 2012 from Moruya & District Garden Club, NSW at their end of year Christmas Party with Club President Glenda Scott.

Lynne Hart, Publicity Officer (Photo 3) L-R Ida Graham, Annette Goodworth, Lynne Vilskerts, Glenda Scott (President) and Lynne Hart

Members of Armidale Garden Club, NSW recently 28

OUR GARDENS

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celebrated the 50th anniversary of the club. The day began with a tour of three private historical gardens in Armidale and finished with a luncheon at National Trust’s Saumarez House. At the luncheon the President, Mrs Joan Monty, welcomed members and guests who included the inaugural President, Mr Don Roberts, and long time supporter of the club, Mrs Carmel Raue. One of the original members, Mrs Beth Williams, spoke of the club’s history and three members, Mrs Margaret Smith, Mrs Audrey Peters and Mr Ray Monty were awarded Life Membership.

Tricia Moore, Secretary (Photo 4) Beth Williams, Armidale GC

Members of Harbord Diggers Garden Club, NSW, joined with members of Fairlight Garden Club, NSW for a short break to western NSW. They enjoyed beautiful gardens and wheat fields as far as the eye could see.

They experienced snow falling in Orange which caused much excitement for gardeners from the Northern Beaches of Sydney. They were very appreciative of the wonderful hospitality given to them by members of the garden clubs affiliated with the GCA in the area. They were treated to wonderful morning teas and lunches served ‘country style’ on lovely garden terraces in these country gardens.

Barbara Glover, Secretary Harbord Diggers Garden Club (Photo 5) Snow falling in Orange

Port Macquarie Garden Club, NSW celebrated their 50th Anniversary in November 2012.

The President of the GCA, Ken Bradley and Director of Zones, Glenys Bruun were invited guests.

Ken presented a 50th Anniversary Certificate to the President, Roy Gardner and Glenys presented the Ann Williams Clark Medallion to Barbara Ison who is a Life Member of the club in recognition of her outstanding work over many years.

(Photo 6) L-R Barbara Ison (medallion recipient) and Fran Parker (Life Member). Photo: Glenys Bruun

Magazine of The Garden Clubs of Australia Inc.

CLUB AND ZONE NEWS

Deadline 1 June 2013. Please send items and images for Club News to Carolyn Dawes.

9 Lachlan Street, Macquarie ACT 2614 or Email: Carolyn.dawes@bigpond.com

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The Camellia Society Adelaide Hills, SA held its 31st Annual Opening of historic Stangate House and surrounding gardens in spring 2012. It was a spectacular season for camellias in the garden and the rhododendrons also flowered brilliantly. The deciduous trees made an early start whilst the Pacific Coast irises (Californian) were about three weeks later than usual due to some late cold snaps. The laburnum arch flowered on time and was a sight to see. The long-time serving treasurer of the CSAH (1971-2012), Lola Bennier, handed over ‘the books’ and retired.

At 91 years of age, Lola is a good advertisement for the adage ‘gardening keeps you young’.

Kevin Bowden, Publicity Officer (Photo 7) Laburnum arch flowering in the garden at Stangate House

Peachester & District Horticultural Society, Qld presented the Ann Williams Clark medallion to its long serving inaugural member, Margaret Ferris. During her 35 year membership with the club, Margaret has held various executive positions on the committee and as the club patron chairs the Annual General Meetings. Her main area of expertise is floral art and she has won many awards, including international, in this field. She is President of the Floral Art Society of Queensland and is Judges Chairman. She shares her wealth of knowledge of all plants with the members of the club and her abundant garden supplies many arrangements to decorate the hall and stage for Friendship Days and Flower Shows.

Pam Innes, Secretary (Photo 8) L-R John Innes (President) presenting the medallion to Margaret Ferris

Caboolture Garden Club, Qld members David and Betty Mowbray opened their garden for club members and Glenys Bruun (GCA Director of Zones) and Rowena Margetts (GCA Membership Secretary) were in attendance and assisted with the event (Photo 9) L-R Glenys Bruun, David Mowbray and Rowena Margetts

Keith Floral Art and Garden Club, SA had a weekend of celebrations to mark the group’s 50th birthday. Melbourne Floral Designer and Sculptor, Wona Bae, was the star attraction and demonstrated eight designs to those attending a celebratory cocktail party. She then became the instructor for a day-long workshop which attracted 35 floral artists from South Australia and western Victoria. In the early 1960s, Ruth Dodd gave floral art lessons for 24 pupils in Keith through the Murray Bridge Adult Education Centre. These lessons provided the impetus for the formation in 1962 of the Keith club. Foundation members, Ruth Dodd, now of Bordertown and Coral Simon, who is also the club patroness, were presented with corsages in recognition of their long association with the group.

Adair Dunsford, Publicity Officer (Photo 10) Floral Designer, Wona Bae demonstrating floral design

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Entries to be sent to the Assistant Editor by 1June 2013 for Spring Issue.

Entries later than three months from publication can only be included if space is available.

DIARY DATES MAY 3-5 TAS. Hobart Horticultural Society, Chrysanthemum & Floral Art Show, Hobart Town Hall, 50 Macquarie Street.

Ph 03 6272 3629.

4-5 NSW. Hallidays Point Garden Club. Nine Open Gardens.

10am-4pm. Ph 02 6559 2320 E: bjlyndon@bigpond.net.au for map and brochure.

12 QLD. Queensland Herb Society, Annual Herb Awareness Day, Albion Peace Hall, 102 McDonald Road, Windsor.

9am-4pm. Ph 07 5426 8299. E: qhs@live.com.au 17-19 NSW. Orchid Society of NSW, ‘Orchids Out West’, Hawkesbury Racecourse, Racecourse Rd. Clarendon (opposite RAAF Richmond Air Base).

23-25 NSW. Zygocactus & Hoya Show, Bass Hill Plaza Shopping Centre, 753 Hume Highway, Bass Hill. Ph 02 4655 2540 30-1June NSW. Maitland Orchid Society, Orchid Show, Thornton Marketplace, Thornton.

JUNE 5-6 QLD. Leafmore Garden Society, 7th Biennial Winter Garden School, Toowoomba City Golf Club. Wed 8am-3.30pm, Thurs 9am-3.30pm. Ph 07 4635 5232 12 NSW. Harbord Diggers G C, ‘7th Gardeners Gathering’, Harbord Diggers Club, 80 Evans St. Freshwater.

9.30am-2.30pm. Cost $5. Ph 02 9949 9777 13-15 NSW. NSW Floral Art Association, 40th Birthday Celebrations at West Tamworth Leagues Club.

Ph 02 6777 0977 E: margaret7@ipstarmail.com.au JULY 6-7, 13-14 NSW. Illawarra Grevillea Park Bulli, Open Days. www.grevilleapark.org

20 NSW. Highlands Garden Society, Bowral, Winter Seminar.

Uniting Church Hall, Cnr. Bendooley and Boolwey Sts. Bowral. 10.30am-2.30pm. $25 incl. lunch.

Ph 02 4861 4090 25-27 NSW. Maitland Orchid Society, Orchid Show, Cessnock Marketplace, Cessnock.

AUGUST 10-11 SA. Camellias South Australia, Annual Camellia Show, Carrick Hill, 46 Carrick Hill Drive, Springfield.

Sat 12noon-4.30pm, Sun 10am-4.30pm.

Ph 08 8295 6563 or 0419 815 035 16-18 NSW. St Ives Orchid Fair and Show, St Ives Showground, Mona Vale Road, St Ives. Entry $5.

(Phone for bus party rates) Ph 02 9451 9144 SEPTEMBER 1,8,15,22 SA. Camellia Society Adelaide Hills, Open Days at Stangate House, Euston Rd. Aldgate. 12noon-4pm.

Entry $4. Ph 0408 081 124 or www.stangatehouse.org.au 5-7 NSW. Maitland Orchid Society, Orchid Show, Thornton Marketplace, Thornton.

7-8, 14-15 NSW. Illawarra Grevillea Park Bulli, Open Days. www.grevilleapark.org 14-15 ACT. Horticultural Society of Canberra, Spring Bulb and Camellia Show, Lancaster Hall, Wesley Centre, National Circuit, Forrest. Sat noon-5pm, Sun 11.30am-3.45 15-18 VIC. GCA’s Biennial National Convention, Ballarat.

Hosted by Friends of the Ballarat Botanical Gardens.

Ph 0419 891 913 or E: info@fbbg.org.au

NOTICEBOARD

The Garden Clubs of Australia

AGM and Luncheon Tuesday 17 September 2013 The notice of the AGM to be held at the Ballarat & District Trotting Club during the GCA’s Biennial National Convention in Ballarat, will be sent to all affiliated clubs in June. The convention is to be hosted

by Friends of the Ballarat Botanical Gardens and for information regarding the Convention 03 5342 9354 or email: info@fbbg.org.au GCA Annual Awards Nomination forms from Margaret Watts, 42 Spencer Rd., Killara NSW 2071.

Email: awards@gardenclubs.org.au or www.gardenclubs.org.au

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OUR GARDENS

National Convention

2013

15 - 18 Sept 2013 Hosted by the Friends of the Ballarat Botanical Gardens Admire and experience the beautiful historic Ballarat Botanical Gardens.

Visit some wonderful attractions of Ballarat and its districts. Enjoy the fellowship of gardening friends - both new and old.

Enquiries: info@fbbg.org.au www.fbbg.org.au

Magazine of The Garden Clubs of Australia Inc.

Books 500 Plants

A Celebration of Wattle

by Angus Stewart published by Allen and Unwin RRP $35

by Maria Hitchcock paperback, 250 colour plates from Rosenberg Publishing RRP $29.95

A comprehensive reference book of outstanding new Australian plant varieties now available to Australian gardeners

This revised version includes the fascinating connection with Hiroshima.

Yates Month

by Month

Medicinal Plants in Australia, Volume 4 An Antipodean Apothecary

Published by HarperCollins, RRP $29.99

by Cheryll Williams hardcover , 1000 colour plates from Rosenberg Publishing, RRP $89.95

A practical and easy-tofollow guide with colour photographs.

An appreciation of the medicinal history of Australia’s flora, its unique contributions to everyday life, and its extraordinary future potential.

PRODUCTS Hampers Gift Hampers for Gardeners can be purchased as a ready-made gift or one that you can put together yourself from Lynn’s Rare Plants mail order nursery.

Go to www.lynnsrareplants.com.au or phone 02 4784 3014.

SMILE LINES I was at an ATM yesterday when a little old lady asked if I could help her check her balance. Not being one to disappoint I gave her a big push, but she fell over.

Did you know that statistically, six out of seven dwarves are not Happy?

A mate of mine recently seemed to be addicted to brake fluid, but when I asked him, he said he could stop any time.

From Monthly Bulletin of the Ku-ring-gai Orchid Society, January 2013.

Pest-free lawns If insect pests have damaged your lawns by attacking the grass leaves or chewing the roots there is a new hose-on and preventative called Complete Lawn Insect Control from Yates.

A. 500mL container covers 150 square metres.

To repair dead or worn patches check out Yates Easy Patch which combines hardy, fastgerminating lawn seed with easy-to-wet coco fibre peat. Added soil wetter helps get water into the patch area and slow release fertiliser feeds the growing grass.

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What’s new from Yates Easy Patch Lawn Repair

Curl grub

Did you know that these days most lawn seed is purchased to fix holes in lawns?

This is why Yates has developed the new four-in-one, Easy Patch Lawn Repair solution for bare or worn sections of lawn.

Whether it’s insect damage, dog wee, grass disease or kids’ football scars in the lawn, Yates Easy Patch will quickly fill unsightly holes and prevent weed invasion.

Easy Patch contains a versatile, hardy blend of lawn seed that germinates in a wide range of conditions and grows rapidly to fill bare areas. Added slow release fertiliser supports the grass seedlings and encourages surrounding running grasses to move back and eventually take over.

Easy Patch is simple to use – lightly cultivate the soil, sprinkle the Easy Patch blend, and water. Coir peat holds moisture around the germinating seed, and added soil wetter ensures the patch stays moist.

Easy Patch comes in a 650g shaker pack that holds enough seed/coir/wetting agent/fertiliser blend to repair ten 30cmx30cm patches.

Yates Easy See Spray Dye With Yates new Easy See Spray Dye you can see exactly where you’ve been spraying.

Simply mix the blue spray dye into any product you’re preparing – herbicides, lawn insecticides etc. - and shake to blend it through the solution.

Easy See Spray Dye can be applied to lawns or leaves to highlight sprayed areas.

This means that you can see where and what you’ve covered, and you’re not wasting spray by reapplying over the same area or, even worse, missing areas.

The biodegradable blue dye then gradually fades away (usually over a few days).

Lawn beetle

Yates Complete Lawn Insect Control At almost any time of year the lawn can be damaged by insect pests. Some pests chew grass leaves, while others sneakily hide underground and attack the grass roots.

It can be difficult diagnosing exactly which pest is causing problems for your lawn, but now the new Yates Complete Lawn Insect Control will take care of most lawn insect pests (such as armyworm, black beetle adults and their curl grub larvae, other scarab beetles, cutworms, billbugs and stem weevils) with one easy, hose-on application.

Yates Complete Lawn Insect Control combines two effective insecticides that work together to kill both leaf-eating and root-munching insect pests in lawns. As a bonus, the systemic action of one of the insecticides means it moves into the grass plants where it can continue providing protection for months.

Yates Complete Lawn Insect Control is available in a convenient 500mL hose-on container that can treat 150 m² of lawn.

Easy See Spray Dye comes in a handy self-dosing bottle, so there’s no need for a measuring cup. And, with a single 500mL bottle making up to 83 litres of spray, it goes a long way.

Yates Easy See Spray Dye label carries a QR code that links to further information and a brief video about the product.

www.yates.com.au Celebrating 125 years in the Australian garden