Florez Nursery

Crimson King

2012-01-28T09:22:00.004+11:00

There is something very sexy about Dahlias which have near black petals at their heart. In the garden they are all looking fantastic at the moment but be on the lookout for snails which tend to hide under the lush foliage and sneak out to have a feast when you are not around.
Cue music:The Lark Ascending by Ralph Vaughan Williams. I like the version played by King Crimson

Green Day

2012-01-26T22:16:00.003+11:00

NuMex Joe E. Parker Chilli Pepper, (Capsicum annuum)

I had only ever heard of Colonel Tom Parker and now I am growing the Joe E.version.
This is the number one green chilli grown in Mexico and the United States. It is called a premier cultivar because the plant exhibits strong main stem growth, uniform branching and a high yield. When cut in half it only has two cavities which makes for easy removal of the seeds and pith. I like the heat strength which is mild to warm, complementing tomatoes, red onion, mint and cucumber. I used this combination in a salad with Australian green lentils from Victoria. Apparently we are not allowed to use the traditional French name for green lentils, La lentille verte du Puy, because of the naming rights applying to a certain region of origin (like wine is). Green lentils are from Le Puy en Velay in Central France. Once you have tried them you will fall in love with the nutty taste and their versatility. Here is a nice "froggy' chef showing how it is done.

Palmarosa Grass

2012-01-21T08:16:00.002+11:00

Palmarosa Grass, Cymbopogon martini

This is another ornamental grass which comes into its own over summer. Related to Lemon grass it grows to about the same height of about a metre though it forms a more narrow and graceful clump and the flower heads are more interesting as they resemble barbed-wire encircling thin stems standing erect above the lovely foliage. Propagation is usually from seed, which is how I grew it ,but clumps could perhaps be divided during the warmer months. This is something I have yet to try.
Over winter growth slows and the whole plant develops a bronze or rusty red tinge. Though sub-tropical in origin, it has good cold tolerance and could be grown as far south as Melbourne. As for most ornamental grasses, maintenance is to cut it back in spring to allow for new growth to appear as the weather warms up. Palmarosa grass releases a warm rose geranium scent when the leaves are crushed and oil extracted from the plant is used in the perfume industry as shown in this video.

Miscanthus x giganteus

2012-01-18T10:42:00.005+11:00

Behind the Banana trees and bamboo, in that section of the garden known as "the jungle" I have a planting of Miscanthus x giganteus. In the late afternoon it is the perfect place to relax to listen to the "music" of rustling leaves and birdsong.

The silvery pink flowers shine in the sun and you know that summer is peaking.

Miscanthus x giganteus

This grass is native to Japan and is a sterile hybrid between the species M sinensis and M. sacchariflorus. It dies down in winter and is often slow to return but makes rapid growth once the days become long and warm. It is more widely known in both Europe and the U. S. as a commercial energy crop for the production of electricity and biofuel. It is one of the so called C4 (carbon fixation) plants of note as it has greater photosynthetic and water efficiency, and lower fertilizer requirements than most other plants. I am not aware of it being grown commercially in Australia but that may have something to do with the risk tall grass crops have as a fire hazard given our recent bushfire history.
Miscanthus x giganteus is a terrific ornamental grass for tropical style or informal gardens. It can be grown by dividing plants in spring as shown in this video. This may require Herculean effort however so just don't ask me to supply you with a plant.

Nepeta govaniana

2012-01-16T08:02:00.002+11:00

Yellow Catmint, Nepeta govaniana

I hadn't done my homework on this perennial before planting it. I thought that if it is a "catmint" it will like a hot open position and will not be too concerned about getting a drink over summer. Wrong on both counts. It is native to the Himalayas from Pakistan to Uttarkhand growing at an altitude of 3000 metres so it really should be in a cool shaded position and probably in a cooler climate. I am not really convinced that it is particularly garden worthy as the flowers are fairly small and insignificant . The leaves have since burnt off but that is entirely my fault .The plant forms a small loose open clump to about 60cm. Score out of ten? I give it a five but maybe if I move it next autumn it may improve its rating.

Chestnut-breasted Finch

2012-01-14T18:59:00.004+11:00

Chestnut-breasted Finch or "Barleybird",Lonchura castaneothorax

Today was one on those drizzly cool days after a night of some rain. It was a perfect opportunity to pull out summer weeds while the soil was friable and easy to work. While I was working, a pair of these Finches arrived to eat grass seed nearby. It was my first sighting of this bird, well a pair actually, but I have since read that it is fairly common on the east coast of Australia. They are quite striking in appearance but I would dispute the colour description as they are more caramel coloured than chestnut.
Chestnut-breasted_Mannikin94.ogg

Red Leaf Philodendron

2012-01-13T19:49:00.003+11:00

Philodendron x 'Red Leaf'

Most of the Philodendrons which are used as indoor plants or warm climate garden specimens originate in tropical South America. I have this one in a pot on a sheltered patio and am always amazed by the red colouring of the new leaves. As the leaves age they go a deeper metallic purplish red. The original "Red Leaf Philodendron" was a hybrid species of domesticum x erubescens, the so called "blushing philodendron". It was bred by a Mr Manda and hence bore the name x mandaianum. It was released in the United States in 1936 for use as an indoor plant. I suppose back then if you had the plant in your lounge room you may have just had the 78rpm recording of Cheek to Cheek playing on your Gramophone. It was a hit song from the movie Top Hat starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. However the definitive version of the song came much later in 1956 courtesy of Ella and Louis. Heaven, I'm in heaven....

Edwardian Stripes

2012-01-11T21:22:00.003+11:00

I like the stripes of summer especially in Petunias like the one pictured here. The stripe was the height of fashion during the Edwardian period; that first decade of the 20th century. It represented a jaunty casting off of all the stuffy Victorian gloom. The Australian artist Emanuel Phillips-Fox captured this in his sun drenched summer painting The Arbour from 1910. The boldly striped dress of a woman seated in a wicker chair is as vibrant as the boy in his red sailor suit who is ready to leap out of the scene and chase his hoop. The joys of summer.....

The Arbour 1910
Emanuel Phillips-Fox (1865-1915)

The height of fashion for men: the striped trousers with matching tie of the morning suit.

Heliotropium europaeum

2012-01-07T10:45:00.002+11:00

Heliotropium europaeum

This is the first time I have come across this weed growing near the coast. It is normally found in southern inland New South Wales, northern Victoria and the southern parts of South Australia growing mainly in the summer months on fallow ground or amongst pasture grasses. It is a significant weed because it is poisonous to sheep and cattle, with leaf samples indicating the presence of pyrrolizidine alkaloids ( helitrine, lasiocarpine and 3 others). Grazing and consumption of the plant causes liver damage which may not manifest itself until the second year. Damage to the liver by the alkaloids leads to an abnormally high uptake of copper from the pasture. When the animals are stressed by say, sudden cold, droving or fright, the copper is suddenly released and they develop the haemolytic crisis of chronic copper poisoning; dropping dead due to kidney failure. Cattle are more susceptible than sheep. Nasty weed indeed.

Bright Spark

2012-01-07T10:41:00.003+11:00

Marigold 'Sparky' Tagetes patula

It really is Marigold week as I notice them in bloom in lots of gardens at the moment. I have a low planter filled with 'Sparky' and its rich mahogany red colour is incredibly bright.

A gift of seeds

2012-01-07T10:25:00.008+11:00

Marigold 'Sweet Cream' in the 'Jap' Pumpkin patch

Marigold 'Safari' yellow as edging amongst leeks

Last year a kind reader of this blog sent me seeds of these Marigolds as a thank you for sending her some other seeds. They are from the American company 2Bseeds which is an enterprise of the Busch family in Golden Valley, Minneapolis in the State of Minnesota. Their seeds are foil packed with a zip-lock which always comes in handy for ease of storage and less likelihood of spillage. However what I like about their seed packets and their web site is that they give all the technical information on sowing, germination and aftercare which is normally only provided for professional growers. For example the Marigolds are recommended to be grown at a pH of 6.2 to 6.5 as a pH of less than 6.00 may induce iron, manganese or sodium toxicity in the plants. Symptoms are exhibited on the lower leaves and include yellowing or burning of leaf edges. Marigolds can therefore be used as an indicator plant for acid soils.
Why can't Australian seed companies give us a better product with more useful information? With the Aussie dollar the way it is ,it makes more sense to buy seed from an American company which sells a quality product while supporting their own out of work citizens by providing free vegetable seed to those eligible.

Cricket Whites

2012-01-06T20:12:00.009+11:00

Dahlias in the Turmeric bed

While Clarke and Ponting have become local heroes of the Second Test, Australia v India, at the Sydney Cricket Ground, spare a thought for poor Sachin Tendulkar who was expected to deliver his 100th international century and may just go home to find effigies of himself being burnt in the street, such is the passion Indians have for the game.
So here are some white flowers in the spice garden for the great Tendulkar.

Coriander/Cilantro

The flowers are very attractive to bees and beneficial insects. It is worth waiting for the seed to go brown before removing the plants. Seed scattered around these plants will germinate as soon as the autumn rains begin.

Leucanthemum x superbum 'Chiffon'

A terrific Shasta daisy with petals which are crimped at the edges. Flowering on tall stems.

Echinacea purpurea 'White Swan'

What always amazes me about Echinacea is that they go completely dormant and underground over winter and then before you know it they are back in flower again so quickly. The white flowering form is a bit lower growing and more compact so is able to stand up to strong wind more easily.

Elderberry ,Sambucus nigra

Lovely flat plates of flowers at this time of year . As the flowers drop off the whole umbel turns a vibrant dark burgundy red.

White flowering Borage, Borago officinalis alba

The cycle of flowering, seeding and regrowing in a different spot continues all year for both the blue and this less common white flowering form of the wonderful Borage.Just the thing to bring a bit of courage to the Indian Cricket team.

Biodiversity at work

2012-01-05T21:05:00.008+11:00

Red-browed Finch
Photo:S G Lane Collection
Australian Museum

Flocks red-browed finches have been hard at work lately making the most of the summer weedy grasses which have been producing lots of ripe seed. I often complain about weeds in the garden because they look untidy and then remember that they provide food for a diverse range of animals, birds and insects.

A patch of barnyard grass (Echinochloa sp), summer grass (Digitaria sp) and Millet (Setaria italica)

neochmia-temporalis.mp3 (audio/mpeg Object)

Chicory blue

2012-01-05T09:48:00.003+11:00

Chicory, Cichorium intybus

If you allow your winter salad green mix to go to seed, you can be rewarded by a tall 2 metre bush of chicory.The delightful shade of blue of this plant is a highlight of the summer garden, though as a garden escapee, it often seen on roadside verges as well.Flowers usually appear in the morning and close as soon as the sun becomes too hot. On cloudy days the flowers remain open for longer. This is a bit of a garden survivor as it produces a long tap-root which remains deep in the soil and regrows from the base if not all of it is removed. It is native to temperate Asia and Europe.

Gold Nugget Pumpkin

2012-01-05T09:45:00.002+11:00

Pumpkin variety 'Gold Nugget' is always called a "space saver" and indeed it produces an abundant supply of fruit in about a metre square. I planted this one in October and picked a couple within six weeks of planting. I will leave these on the vine, lay off the watering and enjoy their rich orange colour as a highlight of the vegetable garden.

cool as

2012-01-03T06:34:00.003+11:00

An old man at my local Saturday morning street market always brings along vegetable seedlings to sell . They are usually grown in ordinary garden soil and potted up at the last minute into milk cartons. This season I decided to grow his cucumbers and the resulting plants have produced an abundant crop of the variety pictured above. Growing amongst the fruit are some "mules", a misshapen green type as shown below. A case of open pollination at work and the importance of seed saving of unusual vegetable varieties.

Golden Leaves

2012-01-02T08:52:00.006+11:00

Der Kuss (The Kiss) 1907-1908
Gustav Klimt (1862-1918)
Osterreichiseme Galerie, Vienna

The ultimate chill out concert by the Vienna Philharmonic on New Year's Day (Das Neujahrskonzert der Wiener Philharmoniker) which always features the calming music of the Strauss family composers, was this year dedicated to the Austrian artist Gustav Klimt as a way of celebrating his 150th birthday in 2012. Klimt used gold leaf extensively during his "golden years" being influenced by the Byzantine period of art. The painting from that period The Kiss is the most famous work and yesterday's concert included a ballet work performed in front of it.
I have always liked golden leaved plants but they can be tricky to incorporate into a garden as they can look harsh and turn brown when grown in full sun. However for dull or shady garden places they bring light and vibrancy and are indispensable as a contrast to darker foliaged plants which tend to disappear and lose impact in such spots. Here are a couple of examples of

golden leaves.

The golden leafed Geraniums (Pelargoniums) do well under deciduous trees as they enjoy the winter sunshine and summer shade. They are able to cope with the often drier conditions brought about by tree roots as they seek out moisture. They can also easily be grown in pots and moved about to different places in the garden to add brightness where necessary.

More shade lovers here including the dwarf golden bamboo Pleioblastus viridistriatus, the variegated Viburnum tinus showing some small pink buds and below, the large leafed Acanthus mollis 'Hollard's Gold'. The golden bamboo is a runner but rarely reaches more than 40 cm tall. It needs a cut back in late winter to ground level to make way for the new leaves to emerge in spring. The Viburnum is slow but is quite delicate in appearance and a better choice than the strident Aucuba japonica 'Variegata'. The golden Acanthus is a favourite because the leaves change colour as they mature, and with the seasons, from bright yellow to lime green. The other shrub to look out for, which I have featured in an earlier post. is Berberis thunbergii 'Aurea' which you can't beat for amazing golden colour. For more golden leaves just look for a tag which says 'aurea' or 'aureus' after the botanical name, the old Latin term for golden, when next you visit a garden centre.

Happy New Year

2011-12-31T08:48:00.002+11:00

A floral carpet for you in 2012

I will be shufflin' into the new year with LMFAO..........

Anthricus sylvestris 'Ravenswing'

2011-12-30T21:48:00.003+11:00

The Raven 1935
Directed by Lew Landers
Universal Pictures

A week of too much Christmas ham got me thinking about the hammiest actors of all time. The obvious choice in this era would be Jon Hamm of Mad Men fame who "acts" like a ken doll come to life and who appears every bit the stunned mullet when presenting at an awards ceremony. However it is hard to go past the great Bela Lugosi for hammy acting especially in The Raven , a film which provides the tenuous link to the plant of this post.

Feathery black foliage of Anthricus sylvestris 'Ravenswing'
with white striped Iris japonica 'Variegata'

and with Carex elata Bowles' Golden grass

The common name for this plant is black 'cow parsley' and it is really more suited to a shady cool English woodland garden but I am giving it a go in full shade and keeping it well watered. It remains to be seen whether I can get it to flower so I can collect some seed so as to grow more of it. It would look terrific if mass planted beside some pale foliaged plants like the ones above for it could easily disappear in the landscape without something to highlight its seductive dark leaves.

Mothra has landed

2011-12-29T23:05:00.003+11:00

Staghorn fern, Platycerium superbum

Looking like a giant moth, the newly emerging fronds of this fern will eventually divide and turn into streamer like lobes as it matures . I will have to take more photos of it over the coming months. It is found naturally on trees in the rainforests of northern New South Wales and tropical Queensland but makes a spectacular garden specimen when given lots of room. It can be grown on a wooden garden fence or retaining wall as is this one. Mothra, we love you....

Impatiens 'Congo Cockatoo'

2011-12-28T21:28:00.002+11:00

Impatiens niamniamensis 'Congo Cockatoo'

This is one of the perennial small shrub Impatiens from central Africa which grows very well in full shade as long as the soil is moist. It lets you know very quickly when lacking water by drooping rapidly. Though the flowers are vibrant and resemble a parrot's beak they remain fairly hidden amongst the foliage. To take the photo I had to cut a couple of leaves off to reveal them.
Solution would be to grow it on an embankment or in a container above eye level so you can admire the flowers. Apart from the watering requirements, it is fairly hardy and goes through a cold winter tolerating a light frost.

That oleander in Mildred Pierce

2011-12-27T21:49:00.002+11:00

It has to be red

The HBO Mini-Series Mildred Pierce was one of the better shows on the box this year and on a par with the home grown production The Slap. However Mildrid Pierce gets the award for the best sets featuring plants and gardens. The final episode 5 has Monty played by Aussie Guy Pearce doing a bit of interior decorating and gardening. Included in one scene was a beautiful potted Oleander in pale pink as a conservatory plant. Would have preferred to see a red one though which would have been more in keeping with that cad Monty and what he does to poor Mildred............

Holidaying in Middle-earth

2011-12-26T08:59:00.009+11:00

Ballantine Books NY
Cover painting: Bilbo comes to the Huts of the Raftelves
by J.R.R. Tolkien

It is not often that you get a book/movie/plant tie-in but such is the case with The Hobbit. Some very fine succulent plant cultivars of Crassula ovata, which have been in the Nursery trade for years were named after it. I have to confess to never having read Tolkien and even worse to have not seen The Lord of Rings movies, but now, one hundred pages in, I am hooked ,even if it is the kind of book which you need to read on a dark stormy night and not on a sunny day at the beach.

The Crassula plant cultivars 'Gollum', 'Hobbit' and 'Fingers' are mainly distinguished by their leaf shapes. 'Gollum' has tubular trumpet shaped leaves with suction cup tips. 'Fingers' leaves come to a tapered point and 'Hobbit' leaves are more open and spathulate. Variation in leaf shape can occur from plant to plant which can lead to some confusing naming. All form small shrubs to about 40 cm and will grow in full sun or shade. In sun and hot positions leaves will often reveal red tips or attractive yellow and gold edges. Frost will burn the leaves but plants recover well and produce new growth over summer. They make excellent container plants and are popular as hardy bonsai as they form aged "tree" trunks over time and are undemanding as to watering.

Crassula ovata 'Hobbit'

Crassula ovata 'Hobbit' in sun

what is a hobbit? They are inclined to be fat in the stomach; they dress in bright colours (chiefly green and yellow); wear no shoes, because their feet grow naturally leathery soles and thick warm brown hair like the stuff on their heads (which is curly); have long clever brown fingers, good-natured faces, and laugh deep fruit laughs........

Crassula ovata 'Gollum'

Deep down here by the dark water lived old Gollum, a small slimy creature.I don't know where he came from, nor who or what he was. He was Gollum-------as dark as darkness, except for two big round pale eyes in his thin face.

Crassula ovata 'Fingers'

Gollum was looking out of his pale lamp-like eyes for blind fish, which he grabbed with his long fingers as quick as thinking.....

Official Hobbit Trailer Released!

Merry Christmas everyone

2011-12-25T08:11:00.003+11:00

Nativity with St. Francis and St. Lawrence
Caravaggio (1573-1610)
1609
(Paintings whereabouts unknown)

It's a family affair

2011-12-22T08:21:00.008+11:00

Poinsettia, Euphorbia pulcherrima

What to do with a Christmas Poinsettia after the festive season is over. Well you can plant them in the garden if you live in a warm climate but you may be disappointed with the resulting plant. Bred for indoor use and treated with dwarfing hormones they lack the vigour to make a successful transition to the garden. The plant pictured above has lost half of its growth but is putting on a reasonable show of spring flowers.
I grow many other members of this interesting plant family Euphorbiaceae:

including the white Euphorbia marginata, the orange Euphorbia 'Firesticks and the red Euphorbia cotinifolia.

Despite their reputation for having toxic sap which is usually seen as a milky juice when the stems are cut, members of the Euphorbia family are amongst the hardiest and most easy care plants of the gardening world. Given their tropical origins however they are not very frost hardy but are certainly drought hardy and you are more likely to lose a specimen from over watering and subsequent rotting of the plant. A family affair with lots of winners........

Christmas Star

2011-12-21T21:25:00.002+11:00

This Dahlia is languishing in a pot and has yet to find a place in the garden, however it has decided to flower and it would look perfect on the top of the Christmas tree .

Barleria obtusa 'Purple Gem'

2011-12-21T20:47:00.004+11:00

Barleria obtusa 'Purple Gem'

Despite it being a cool summer so far, it is time to get some inspiration for tropical style gardening and this small shrub would make a colourful addition to a warm frost free garden. Growing to only about a metre, it is an ideal balcony container plant or if used as a garden specimen amongst Bromeliads or perennials. In cooler districts it could be grown as a pot plant and over-wintered in a dry spot or indoors. The foliage is an eye-catching combination of grey and pale green with new leaves emerging purple with hot pink flashes. The clusters of small pink flowers are striped with darker markings and are quite dazzling.

Erigeron 'Los Angeles Pink'

2011-12-17T08:45:00.002+11:00

Erigeron karvinskianus 'L A Pink' Seaside daisy

I have been looking for weed suppressing ground-cover plants to grow and the seaside daisy fits the bill despite its reputation of being with you for evermore once you have planted it, as It will find a way of coming up in the cracks of paving and in walls. English garden writer Anne Wareham devoted a small chapter to it in her book The Bad Tempered Gardener and called it 'one of those furnishing plants that we all should have unless you're stark modern and clean'. The Los Angeles pink form has slightly larger flowers than the type and they are more of a soft pink than white like the species. It is also allegedly more well behaved and does not set seed but this remains to be seen.I like plants which can be cut back with a Ryobi almost to ground level and are off and growing before you know it. This is one of them. It is hardy across a range of climates preferring semi shade in hot districts and sun in cool climates.

Jamaican Fiddlewood tree

2011-12-16T21:25:00.004+11:00

Fiddlewood, Citharexylum spinosum

I used to plant this quick growing tree for screening purposes and then regretted having done so as the space turned out to be too small for it...... a common problem in city gardens. It easily reaches 12 metres after a couple of years especially if it receives plenty of water and the soil is reasonably fertile. The summer born flowers are sweet though not particularly spectacular but the foliage is something worth talking about as it goes through a stage when the entire tree turns a vibrant orange, usually during November. If you want a real colour show in your garden plant one next to a Jacaranda, an Illawarra Flame tree and grow a Bougainvillea 'Magnifica Trailii' through them or close by. I have seen this orange, mauve, red and magenta combo in an old Sydney garden and it is quite a sight.

Gardening in Sydney 1953:A chemical romance

2011-12-11T18:39:00.006+11:00

F R Green "Daily Mirror" Gardening expert
Cover photo flowers by Mrs Z Tregenna
of 'Jane Ann Florists', Double Bay, Sydney

"You can play golf and have a garden too......." only a Sydneysider could use those words as the chapter heading on growing perennials. With the tone thus set of gardening as a bit of a chore which keeps you away from doing something more interesting, how best to manage your quarter acre block in the suburbs? F R Green's advice, like many other garden writers of the time, was to go and talk to someone at a "scientific technical service department" in a city garden store to have all your pest and disease problems solved and then carry the purchased "deadly weapon" home on the tram. DDT, the organochlorine insecticide was already well established as a "cure all" but 1953, when this book was published, saw the release of new products to help gardeners. One was the German manufactured insecticide E605 or Parathion (E = entwichlungsummer) which is closely related to the nerve agent Sarin. Though proving the Germans have a sense of humour it was called schwiegermuttergift or mother-in-law poison.
The soil fumigant chloropicrin was recommended to control soil nematodes or eelworms. This had become well known as a chemical warfare weapon in 1917 through its use by the Germans on the Italian front ,though it was first synthesized by Scottish chemist John Stenhouse way back in 1848.
Monsanto also released the soil conditioner Krilium as an aid to improving soil tilth and aeration and reducing compaction. The perfect product for vegetable growers when sowing seeds directly into the soil. Krilium was made from highly water absorbent non toxic polyacrylimide. However unpolymerized acrylamide is a neurotoxin and a percentage remains after synthesizing. Current data suggests that the "evidence of acrylamide posing a cancer risk has been strengthened'

1953 advertising from Monsanto Chemicals

(Australia) Limited

Texan beauty

2011-12-07T18:21:00.003+11:00

Yucca pallida

Not Jerry Hall but equally as alluring is this Yucca from the Blackland Prairies of north central Texas. I am not sure how long I have had the plant as it has not changed size for years but suddenly it has decided to flower. It is one of the stemless non spiky Yuccas with lovely pale blue leaves and delightful pendant mint green flowers with white margins. I am hoping for seed when it has finished flowering . Seeds are apparently small matt black with a rough surface and measure a mere 4-6 x 2-3 mm.

Blooming on the rubbish pile

2011-12-04T08:37:00.002+11:00

Californian tree poppy Romneya coulteri

Every nursery has a rubbish pile where plants are dumped because they have remained unsold or have outgrown their pots and can't be potted on. The more tenacious plants often gain a foothold and if weather conditions are right they will start to grow despite being tipped sideways or on their head. One such plant for me has been the Californian tree poppy which is known for its drought tolerance and suckering habit. It really prefers a drier climate and lighter soil than I can offer it and would be more a home in a garden in South Australia where summers tend to be hot and dry. When well grown, It forms a shrub to about 1.5 metres with glaucous blue leaves and a display of "poached egg" style flowers in late spring. The tissue paper quality of the flowers is delightful even though they only last a few days.

Lush

2011-11-29T07:36:00.002+11:00

Lemon grass and Canna 'Intrigue'

It has been a terrific start to summer with regular rainfall turning everything so lush...........

an Haworthia

2011-11-25T21:12:00.005+11:00

flower detail

Haworthias are an interesting genus of small succulents from South Africa and some of the miniature species which have glassy "window" type leaves make interesting pot plants, ideally suited to growing in a bonsai type container and displayed on a table top. The window type leaves are an adaptation to their environment. If surrounded by larger plants, such as grasses which may limit their growth potential; maximum sunlight is able to penetrate into the inside layer of the plants skin and thus produce more food for the plant. Haworthias also have contractile roots which draw the plants back into the soil during extended dry spells.They are not commonly available but specialist succulent nurseries always have some of these fascinating and very collectible plants for sale.

Nerium oleander 'Monvis'

2011-11-16T21:45:00.005+11:00

The Oleanders introduced to the garden world in the late 1980's and early 90's by the Monrovia Nursery Company of Azusa, California are noted for their exceptional flower production and almost neon, iridescent fluorescent flowers. They were also selected for their suitability for growing in smaller gardens and many only reach a couple of metres in height making them ideal for use as hedges or for screening, while not growing into the tree like specimens often seen in older gardens. In Australia, the label 'Monrovia Red' has been attached to plants of this type or they are sold under the trade marked name of 'Ruby Embers' which has the namesake 'Ruby Lace' in the U.S. Confused? just look out for the Monrovia name and you will be certain it will be a terrific plant.

Aechmea nudicaulis var.

2011-11-14T07:23:00.002+11:00

Golden leafed form of Aechmea nudicaulis

Just coming into flower this Bromeliad is quite impressive.I grow it in a spot which gets sun for most of the day with other heat loving plants such as a Croton and Crassula 'Hummel's Sunset'

Nicotiana sylvestris, night scented tobacco

2011-11-12T08:01:00.005+11:00

Towering into the evening sky, the night scented tobacco is certainly a statement maker in the garden with its large lime coloured leaves and elegant drooping white flowers. I grew this from seed planted months ago . The seed incidentally is like dust so you end up with a pot of crowded tiny plants which are difficult to separate into individuals for potting on. The seedlings also sulk in a pot with leaves turning yellow and looking very unhealthy indeed. Once planted in the garden, growth is fairly rapid with the lower leaves forming a rosette over the ground while upper leaves clasp the developing flower stem. What I love about about the leaves however is their ability to trap and kill insects. The leaves are very hairy and sticky and laden with nicotine so passing bugs don't stand a chance. Is this the perfect plant to grow in a vegetable garden? I think so.

Poppies

2011-11-11T07:07:00.002+11:00

Spring flowering poppies at the community garden are a reminder that it is Remembrance Day.

Going Bananas

2011-11-07T07:51:00.003+11:00

At last the price of bananas has come down. Cause for celebration, so here is a French style banana planting, as the centre piece to a circular bed, surrounded by Cannas and bedding Begonias.
For home grown Banana enthusiasts it is time to fertilize and remove excess suckers from around the remaining central plants.

Big and Mossy

2011-10-30T08:51:00.003+11:00

Le jardin public Fernand Chapsal est l'un des principaux espaces vert de la ville de Saintes dans le department francais de la Clarente-Maritime
This rock mimics mountain scenery and wild untamed nature, the perfect contrast in a formal garden setting. I always think formal gardens need abstract organic shapes to make them come alive.

Deep Purple

2011-10-22T08:25:00.002+11:00

Iris x germanica Flag Iris

I have been reading a book about colour in the garden written by the late Christopher Lloyd. Some of the really intense flower colours are shown in the flag Iris which are out at the moment.

Brownea macrophylla

2011-10-16T09:53:00.005+11:00

Brownea macrophylla in flower now
(All photos courtesy B. Maslen)

It is always amazing to see flowers which emerge from a tree trunk. It seems to be a characteristic of tropical trees, perhaps as a way of ensuring pollination from ground dwelling animals or low flying insects which are unable to navigate to the tall rainforest canopy. Brownea species are from Venezuela and Colombia and have been introduced to other wet tropical regions of the world adding exceptional ornamental value to parks and gardens.

Emerging new foliage hanging like a handkerchief

Brownea macrophylla growing amongst palm trees in Far North Queensland

Bougainvillea Pergola

2011-10-12T18:04:00.003+11:00

Quite a bit of work is involved in training a Bougainvillea to grow up and over a structure. As the plant gets older its thorns get longer and more hook shaped making it difficult to work with. New growth wants to grow skywards and these can snap off if left too long to train or tie down. Cross beams on this structure have been widely spaced so that flowering side branches can hang downwards or be seen with the sun shining through the bracts. It makes for a delightful and inviting entrance to the house.

Salvia somalensis

2011-10-10T08:22:00.004+11:00

Cal Madow Forest, northern Somalia

Salvia somalensis is found in forest clearings in this region

Salvia somalensis

Somalia is probably the most dangerous place in the world, as kidnapping and piracy originating from there seems to be always in the news. It is also a nature conservation hot spot as little has been able be done to help conserve the 3000 plant species and new, yet identified, plant species likely to occur there.
Seed from this Somalian Salvia was collected by the Huntington Botanical Garden of San Marino, California in 1973 . I have had it in the garden for about a year and already it is a large robust shrub of about 1.5 metres. I find the flowers a little disappointing as they are a bit floppy and not a strong enough blue to really stand out and be seen from a distance. However the most interesting aspect of this plant is the leaves . When crushed they leave a slightly sticky residue on the hands smelly strongly of camphor and menthol. I am sure it would work wonders if the leaves were steeped in hot water and used to clear a stuffy head. It would be interesting to know whether this plant has played a role in traditional medicine of Somalia.

Heterocentron roseum, Pearl Flower

2011-10-08T18:23:00.003+11:00

Heterocentron roseum, Mexican Pearl Flower

This sprawling untidy shrub could be described as old fashioned in this age where the hedge and clipped shrubs rule supreme. I picked it up at a garden show last year as I had not seen it available through the commercial nursery scene for some time. It never makes the most attractive container plant when small, as at certain times of the year, the foliage takes on a bronze or reddish tone making it look even less appealing and in need of some plant food. However the flowers which are just starting to appear now are very appealing and resemble miniature Tibouchina flowers to which this plant is related. It needs a warm garden spot but is otherwise trouble free and easy care. Pruning my help maintain its unruly habit of growth.

Vriesea phillipo-coburgii, Vagabond plant

2011-10-08T18:22:00.006+11:00

Vriesea phillipo-coburgii

Every September I go to the local Bromeliad Society show and usually come away with a few new plants to try. Often I will buy the same one from the previous year without releasing it. Such was the case with this species. I think I was attracted to the clean lines and lovely apple green foliage. This species is actually a sun hardy variety and will turn lime green or acid yellow depending on how much sun it is given. I like the common name of "vagabond" plant because it sounds like a character from a movie starring Johnny Depp. I think the name refers to the way it behaves in its native South East Brazil where it takes advantage of host trees and hitches a ride to whatever plant comes along. I find it a bit slow to increase and though the plant I bought last year is now at least 30 cm across, it is only now sending out a few new "pups' which will grow to be new plants. I might just try one in the sun to watch the colour change. Sun hardy Bromeliads are best moved to higher light positions during the cooler months of spring so they can adapt to the changing sun intensity without burning the leaves when summer arrives.

Phlomis fruticosa, Jerusalem sage

2011-10-08T18:21:00.002+11:00

Phlomis fruticosa Jerusalem sage

Here is a new word for you: verticillate. It refers to the way flowers are grouped in whorls along the stems such as how they appear in this Phlomis. This is a real seaside plant from the Mediterranean. The tough furry leaves are able to withstand salt wind and the supple stems are able to bend down in the strongest gales without breaking. This species has been a popular garden plant for a number of years particularly during the recent drought years. It grows to about a metre high and across and is best pruned after flowering to maintain a good shape. Other species of Phlomis, which are not as readily available here, have pink or white flowers and are worth seeking out if you are looking for tough reliable garden plants which are long flowering.

Salvia "Wendy's Wish"

2011-10-08T18:20:00.001+11:00

Salvia 'Wendy's Wish'

This is a delightful Salvia I planted in the garden last year and apart from a brief rest in mid winter it has not stopped flowering . I like the maroon fluted flowers with the attendant caramel coloured calyx. The story behind the name is that it was found in the garden of Wendy Smith of Victoria, growing near a plant of Salvia mexicana 'Lolly'. Wendy made it available to the nursery industry with a percentage of plant sales going to the charitable organisation the Make-a Wish Foundation following its release in 2008. It grows to about 60 cm tall and is very hardy.

Asparagus densiflorus 'Myersii'

2011-10-08T18:18:00.004+11:00

Asparagus densiflorus 'Myersii' , Foxtail fern

The ornamental Asparagus plants are amongst our worst weeds and areas of coastal bushland have these plants forming dense stands of prickly stems and tenacious roots. Birds are attracted to the red fruits which spreads them further.
Fortunately this variety is an almost a sterile hybrid as it rarely seed and is fairly slow to increase.The arching leaves are very decorative and can form a cylinder or brush up to a metre long. It is a decorative plant to grow in shade under trees, though it requires some fertilizer to maintain good leaf colour. As a container plant it quickly exhausts the soil and stops growing or, like its cousins, tries to break out of the pot with its tough root system. It is not readily available as propagation is by division and you definitely need a sharp axe to divide a plant. Cut stems make for interesting indoor decoration or when mixed with flowers.

Cerastium tomentosum, "Snow in Summer"

2011-10-08T18:16:00.003+11:00

Cerastium tomentosum

In the garden world it is often easy to overlook a plant which has been around for years while concentrating on the search for the latest and greatest. A friend pointed out this plant to me recently as being really useful ground cover as no weeds are able to penetrate the thick carpet it forms . I have always though it browns off a bit in mid summer making it look unappealing and then realized its native habitat is in alpine areas of Italy so it actually does a pretty good job at adapting to a range of climates and growing conditions. The tiny white flowers are just starting to appear and are delicate and very similar to Gypsophila. Definitely worth a second look.....so fade to grey this summer.

Artemisia x 'Powis Castle' & Rhoeo

2011-10-08T18:05:00.006+11:00

Silver Artemisia 'Powis Castle' with purple Rhoeo "Moses-in-the-Cradle"

Artemisia 'Powis Castle' has been around for quite a few years and I find it an indispensable low mounding easy care shrub for a sunny position in average soil. In late August I cut it back hard almost to ground level so it looks like bare sticks and within a month new foliage has appeared and it is off and running at record speed. Originally I planted the semi tropical ground cover Rhoeo as an edge planting . It looked quite good for awhile but the Rhoeo succumbed to wet cold weather and rotted from the base. Rhoeo is a very popular landscaping plant as it has brightly coloured leaves and an intriguing boat or cradle shaped flower,hence the common name. It forms a carpet of colour in often difficult sites or low maintenance gardens. However it is frost tender and does not like cold wet winters.It needs a hot spot in western sun and mixes well with succulents and cacti and other drought hardy perennials.

Anthemis tinctoria x

2011-10-08T17:38:00.005+11:00

Anthemis tinctoria (Ox-eye daisy or Dyer's chamomile)

This is a terrific ground cover with soft grey ferny foliage and upright daisy flowers on tall stems which are long enough to make it a good cut flower.It is in full flower at the moment and covering a good square metre of ground as a weed suppressing mat. Putting an exact cultivar name to this one has proved difficult for me as the three forms with their pale creamy flowers are markedly similar. These are Anthemis x 'Sauce Hollandaise' , A. x 'Susanah Mitchell' and A. x Mrs E.C. Buxton'. The original species has canary yellow flowers and is very bright. They all like well drained average garden soil in sun or part shade and can take a good cut back with a spade to keep them in check when they get a bit unruly. Alternatively side shoots with roots attached can be replanted if the whole plant is looking a little burnt out. It is hardy across a range of climates and very quick growing.

Geranium maderense

2011-10-08T17:31:00.006+11:00

Geranium maderense , Madeira Geranium

This is one of my favourite plants and not often seen in the commercial nursery scene. It is a short lived perennial but generous self-seeder in a semi shaded spot in the garden. I planted this one in autumn and was surprised how quickly it became established and started to flower. The bright magenta, pink veined flowers form a panicle-like inflorescence on the top of a metre high stem.The flower stalks themselves are covered with glistening purple hairs. In its native habitat it grows in rock crevices so at the base of the plant the leaf stalks arch downwards to add extra support to the main stem. The leaves are much lobed, palm like and a rich green colour. All Geraniums are remarkably hardy plants with low water and fertilizer requirements. They are also ideal for planting under trees if given a top dressing of compost from time to time.

Gazania "Tiger Eye"

2011-10-08T17:29:00.002+11:00

Gazania 'Tiger Eye'

Gazanias are at their best during spring and this one has rich burnt orange flowers with a darker eye zone. The leaves are also attractive as they have a white margin to the edge of the leaf. This variety is a clump forming one and is slow to increase. It would make an ideal container plant as it has low water and fertilizer requirements.

Greek Sage "Faskomilo"

2011-10-04T21:35:00.004+11:00

Salvia fruticosa x Greek Sage

For years I have been trying to grow the herb Sage, Salvia officinalis, without much success. The climate here is just too warm and humid and though the plant grows rapidly for a season or two, it turns up its toes as soon as February arrives. Greek sage is proving to be a much hardier plant with intensely aromatic leaves and beautiful lavender blue flowers covering the plant at the moment. Dried bunches of it are sold in my local greengrocer as Faskomilo or mountain tea. It is the kind of herbal tea which can be sweetened with honey and reputedly sharpens the memory and brings about a sense of well-being.
Salvia fruticosa was previously known as Salvia trilobata as the older leaves have two tiny "ears" or lobes at the base of the leaf. This form lacks the lobes so is probably a hybrid with a wild form of garden sage. It is found growing throughout the eastern Mediterranean including southern Italy, the Canary Islands and North Africa. It prefers dry rocky or poor soil or average garden soil with sharp drainage. Propagation is from seed or soft wood cuttings in spring. Leaves can be dried or used fresh in cooking, best sparingly as the flavour is strong.

Bunya Nut Harvest

2011-09-25T12:35:00.004+10:00

Bunya Nuts from the tree Araucaria bidwilli

Local tree growing in a park

A friend has just given me some Bunya nuts which I have not eaten for years as they are not the sort of thing you find at the local supermarket. The process of cooking them involves boiling them in their shell for 30 minutes and then leaving them to cool for 4 hours after which time the shell can be removed with ease. They have a flavour not unlike chestnuts and can be used in both sweet and savoury dishes. They are apparently gluten free and high in complex carbohydrates according to Vic Cherikoff writing in his book Uniquely Australian: A Wildfood Cookbook. He gives a selection of interesting recipes using bunya nuts including one with crocodile steak....mmm

It is unfortunate that the tree is so tall and with such prickly leaves, it is unsuitable for city gardens or parks.The cones containing the nuts are so large (30 cm) round they could be deadly if one were to be hit on the head as they drop to the ground

Drawings by Betty Maloney of leaves and cone of Auracaria bidwilli (right) and A. cunninghamii (left)

Glenlyon Drive in Ashgrove, Brisbane lined with Bunya Pines

The most famous avenue of Bunya Pines is in the Brisbane suburb of Ashgrove . These trees marked the driveway to Glen Lyon estate, the farm of Scottish businessman Alexander Stewart who built a house there in 1876. The trees remained after the property was subdivided in 1918 and the house became the home of the Marist Fathers' Monastery from 1930.
I am not sure how popular the trees are with local residents who have to deal with the falling leaves and cones.

Monet's Nasturtiums at Giverny

2011-08-24T21:35:00.002+10:00

"One had to pick one's way along the main walk to avoid treading on the freely trailing Nasturtiums" Jean-Marie Toulgouant

"I perhaps owe having become a painter to flowers", said Monet in 1924 "My garden is slow work, pursued with love and I do not deny that I am proud of it. Forty years ago, when I established myself here, there was nothing but a farmhouse and a poor orchard.....I bought the house and little by little enlarged and organised it ....I dug, planted, weeded myself; and in the evenings the children watered."

Grevillea 'Royal Mantle'

2011-08-03T17:43:00.002+10:00

Grevillea 'Royal Mantle'

Planted as a grafted standard, this Grevillea has exceptional vigor and produces masses of flowers throughout winter and spring.

Hakea bucculenta

2011-08-01T21:26:00.002+10:00

Hakea bucculenta

I came across this spectacular shrub at the Illawarra Grevillea Park on the weekend.The park was having one of their open days and every time I go there I always see native plants which I have never come across before or ones which are not well known in cultivation. This red flowering Hakea is from the Geraldton region of Western Australia. The Latin name bucca refers to the seed pods which resemble fat cheeks. If you have a garden with very well drained sandy soil or a site with sloping ground where water can rapidly drain away, it would be worth trying to grow this beauty in a home garden situation.Flowering normally occurs during the winter months

Late for the Sky

2011-07-31T18:21:00.004+10:00

The days are finally getting longer and warmer. On a late afternoon walk near the lake everything turns to blue just before it gets dark.

Bark like satin

2011-07-28T18:12:00.003+10:00

Largerstroemia indica Crepe Myrtle

One of trees which really shines in the winter sunlight is the Crepe Myrtle. The satin smooth bark reflects light onto the surrounding garden and contrasts well with the sombre green clipped star jasmine planted underneath.

Carex testacea & friends

2011-07-26T17:26:00.005+10:00

Alstroemeria aurea dwarf cultivar

Carex testacea Orange Sedge
with Cape Daisy (Osteospermum ecklonis 'Nuanza' Copper Purple

The New Zealand native sedges/grasses which are shaded brown usually get politely called bronze, orange or tan coloured and can be an acquired taste if you are not used to seeing them planted as garden ornamentals. The reaction when first seeing them is that they must be dead and indeed can look so if planted in groups on bare ground or just surrounded by mulch. Perhaps they evolved this colour so as to appear unpalatable to grazing animals. When used in a garden they make a terrific foliage contrast with silver leaved or purple plants as well as with warm coloured flowers with orange tones. I like to use them with the bright Cape daisies or the richly coloured dwarf Alstroemeria aurea, pictured above, which is just coming into flower.
The other New Zealand Carex species to look out for in this colour range include Carex buchananii (Leatherleaf sedge), Carex comans 'Bronze" and Carex petriei. The latter takes on a wonderful soft pink tone at certain times of the year. All are frost hardy and suitable for container growing and deserve a place in both large and small gardens.

Doryanthes palmeri, Spear Lily

2011-07-23T09:57:00.008+10:00

Sir Arthur Palmer 1819-1898
Queensland Premier 1870 -1874

Doryanthes palmeri named in his honour.

The giant spear lily is just starting to flower with its enormous flower spike (a panicle technically) snaking skywards up to 5 metres.This species is found on cliffs and rocky hillsides above 600 metres, from Mt Warning in northern New South Wales to Mt Mistake in Queensland. I prefer this species to the more common, especially around Sydney, Doryanthes excelsa , the Gymea Lily, with its more upright flower stem. Doryanthes palmeri has adapted well to cultivation and will grow as far south as Melbourne being tolerant of frost. It adds a lot of drama to a garden with its robust clump forming habit and long leaves even when not in flower. It needs a spot in rocky well drained soil preferable on a slope. Propagation is usually from seed but seed grown plants will take up to ten years to flower. If collecting seed you need to wait at least six months after flowering has finished for seed to be mature. I have never attempted to divide a clump which is another way of getting new plants but I imagine it would be a bit like trying to divide a clump of Strelitzia ,Bird of Paradise. You could do all that work only to find it fails to flourish after planting. This plant may be difficult to source in the nursery trade.

Doryanthes palmeri

Grevillea 'Scarlet Sprite'

2011-07-21T09:25:00.003+10:00

Grevillea rosmarinifolia 'Scarlet Sprite'

This compact metre high Grevillea has been a favourite of mine for many years. It is just starting to flower and I probably should have waited a couple of weeks before taking a photo of it . The only down side to this sharp leafed Grevillea is that it can cause some skin irritation or rash if you come in contact with the foliage. I give this one a light pruning constantly, as it is growing, so as to enhance the shape. If mass planted it would make an excellent retreat for small nectar feeding birds which would be protected from predators put off by the prickly leaves.Trouble free to grow and not really requiring special treatment one established other than a light prune from time to time and a handful of fertilizer in summer.

Grevillea 'Fireworks'

2011-07-20T09:58:00.002+10:00

Grevillea 'Fireworks'

This is a terrific small growing (1metre) Grevillea which I planted about eight months ago and it is just coming into flower. It is one bred by Bywong Nursery which is situated about 30 km north east of Canberra in the settlement of Bywong. It is a hybrid between Gevillea rosmarinifolia 'Scarlet Sprite' and Grevillea alpina. What I like about it is the compact growth habit making it an ideal low hedge plant as well as the brightness and quantity of flowers which explode in all direction from the top of the bush.The leaves are also soft with no spines or prickles. This Grevillea is protected by plant breeders rights PBR.

Camellia Time

2011-07-16T17:25:00.016+10:00

Camellia 'Henry E Huntington'

The main Camellia Show of the year is on this weekend presented by Camellias Illawarra Incorporated in conjunction with Camellias Australia Inc. Despite the gale force winds of late, it has been a good year for Camellias and there are many more blooms out than usual. These are some of my favourites from the Show.

Camellia 'Grape Soda'

Rare yellow species Camellia nitidissima

Camellia 'Eryldene Excelsis' Variegated

Camellia 'Margaret Davis'

Camellia 'Okan'

Small flowered Camellia 'Maroon and Gold'

Camellia S.P. Dunn

Camellia 'Winters Own'

Camellia 'Black Magic'

Camellia 'Surusumi'

Last flowers on tree dahlias

2011-07-14T21:22:00.007+10:00

Dahlia imperialis, Tree Dahlia

Despite the horrendous gale force winds of late, the tree dahlias still have a few flowers hanging from the top of the plants. I have been waiting for them to finish so that I can cut down the giant stems and start taking some cuttings. Cuttings usually consist of stem pieces cut into lengths with two ridges or nodes remaining. These are placed length ways just below the surface of the ground and when the weather warms up, shoots appear from the nodes and a new plant is off and running in no time. I usually place lots of cuttings in a Styrofoam boxes, cover them up with potting mix and forget about them. These get potted into large pots just after the shoots appear and roots have formed.

Agave desmettiana 'El Miradore Gold'

2011-07-12T21:22:00.004+10:00

Agave desmettiana 'El Miradore Gold'

During the recent long years of drought this Agave from Mexico became very popular adding a striking focal point and great form to large and small gardens alike. It is also frost tolerant so has a broader appeal and can be used by gardeners away from the coast. These pants are only a couple of years old and have reached 1 metre across in that time and have started to form "pups" around the base. They were rescued as throw away plants because the owner did not like the fact that the ends of the leaves have quite long thorns on them. Planted under the eaves of the house, they receive no water except when the rain blows in that direction. I imagine the roots of this Agave have gone off in all directions underground in search of water anyway.
I also like to plant Agaves amongst floppy perennial plants or grasses as they help give structure to a soft and light planting scheme.

Getting so big-headed

2011-07-10T17:32:00.002+10:00

Broccoli, Brassica olerarcea (Cymosa group var italica)

This year I decided to space my Broccoli plants a little further apart in the veggie plot and as a result the 'flower' heads have grown to an enormous size. I already have a fridge full and have been eating it almost every night so these will go into making some soup which at least can be frozen for later use. Broccolli was apparently "civilized" by the Italians in the 17th century having found its way there from the eastern Mediterranean , Cyprus and Crete. It slowly became more well known in the northern parts of Europe where it was initially called Italian asparagus.
The other variety of Broccoli I grow is a sprouting variety, 'Purple Sprouting' ,which does not form a central head but has plentiful side shoots which can be picked over a longer period. The stems are tender enough to eat as well as the florets . It is often sold now as a bunch under the name of 'broccolini'. The 'Romanesco' Broccoli is one of the most decorative types to grow and certainly the most colourful. The heads are bright lime green with the floret buds arranged in spirals like a minaret. I have yet to grow this type though the seed is readily available. Next year perhaps.

The citrus glut

2011-07-09T17:04:00.003+10:00

A good year for Mandarins

Right now you can buy Navel oranges for about 50 cents a kilo such is the plentiful supply of citrus fruits this year. I have a similar "problem" with backyard grown Mandarins. They are perfect and sweet and the ground is littered with fallen fruit. No special fertilizer given to the tree,but it had a fantastic supply of good steady rain over the growing season Likewise the lemon tree which also has a terrific crop this winter. The lemon tree would completely fail all garden magazine "how to grow the perfect lemon" advice. I decided not to fertilize it at all because I am tired of getting a crop of those humongous lemons which weigh the branches to the ground. This season I have plenty of juicy small fruit .......perfect really. The leaves however would surely send a citrus expert into a state of shock as they all pale yellow. And then there is the bark which is covered in scale. Just don't tell anyone.............

My Snowdrops are disappearing

2011-07-07T20:45:00.006+10:00

Snowdrops all but covered by an Iresine

The problem with growing bulbs which go dormant for part of the year is that after they do their disappearing act you are often left with a big gap where weeds or some other plant is only too willing to take advantage of the empty space. So this is what has happened to the spot where my clumps of Snowdrops are normally flourishing. Fortunately they are such tough bulbs they are not adverse to being lifted and being moved even when in flower. I'll just add that to the list of garden jobs to be done on these way too brief days of winter when I'd rather be loungin' in front of the fire and reading a book.
I think the best place for Snowdrops is on the edge of a lawn area. The turf doesn't need constant mowing at this time of year and the Snowdrops are tough enough to push their way through the grass, and by the time they have finished flowering, the lawn is ready for mowing again. Snowdrops are hardy over a range of climates and are a delightful addition to the winter garden scene.

Pre-Raphaelites @ Art Gallery NSW

2011-07-05T20:30:00.007+10:00

Espaliered trees in the Bower Garden
Dante Gabriel Rossetti

D.G.Rossetti (1828-1882)

The Rose leaf (Portrait of Jane Morris) 1870
D.G.Rossetti

A major exhibition of artworks by the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood has just opened at the Art Gallery of New South Wales on loan from Birmingham City Art Gallery and Museum:

The poetry of drawing :: Art Gallery NSW

The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood ,founded in 1848, lasted only five years but its style, popularity and influence on art and design has remained consistent in the ensuing years.Their inspiration, helped along by one John Ruskin, was found in medieval simplicity and purity which they considered had been lost in the pagan luxury of High Renaissance art courtesy of Raphael. The proclaimed leader of the group was Dante Gabriel Rossetti who portrayed women rebelling against Victorian convention and showed them with unpinned hair and unstructured medieval gowns flowing with lyrical freedom. His main squeeze was one Elizabeth Siddal, a melancholic consumptive who died of a laudanum overdose soon after they were married.
Gardens ,trees, and flowers especially thorn laden roses or poisonous foxgloves are an integral part of Pre Raphaelite artworks. The works themselves often avoid pictorial focus such as on the human figure, so the eye is able to wander over the often brilliantly coloured flowers and blades of grass shown in microscopic detail. Ophelia (1852) and The Blind Girl (1856) by John Everett Millais spring to mind as good examples of this exquisite detailing in their landscape painting.
I look forward to checking out this exhibition soon.

Penstemon 'Pink Cloud'

2011-07-03T11:46:00.002+10:00

Penstemon 'Pink Cloud'

This is one of the large flowered summer blooming Penstemons which I have growing amongst some roses. I cut this one back yesterday and took lots of cuttings from the pruned stems. Penstemons often produce new roots at the nodes of the side shoots along the flowering stems. This makes it a very easy plant to propagate and cuttings will strike readily at any time of year. The larger flowering Penstemons are best replaced after a couple of years if they become to woody or straggly.

Penstemon 'Blackbird'

2011-07-02T09:20:00.002+10:00

Penstemon 'Blackbird'

Penstemons are good plants for beginner gardeners as they are very hardy and undemanding as to their requirements . As long as the soil is well drained and they are given the occasional cutback of spent flowers, they will thrive across a range of climates. Here on the warm coast Penstemon 'Blackbird' thinks it is an English summer day and it is flowering better now than in January. This one was bred by professional gardener Ron Sidwell (1909-1993) of Evesham, Worcestshire in the UK around 1960, and is notable for the fine narrow stems which bend over under the weight of the rich dark maroon purple bell flowers. Each flower has a fine white stripe in its throat. The name Penstemon is derived from the Greek pente meaning five and stemon , stamen.

"el mas picante de los picantes"

2011-06-30T21:30:00.002+10:00

"the hottest of the hot"

A friend from the community garden gave me some seed of the chilli variety rocotos (Capsicum pubescens) . It is possibly a rocoto longo which is native to the Canary Islands. It is pictured on the plate at 2 o'clock and is dark red and oval shaped. At this time of the year, the chilli plants drop a lot of leaves but the fruit continues to ripen. I want to save seed from these ones and start off new plants in spring. July is my month for browsing the seed catalogues and dreaming about what to grow next summer.

On the verandah

2011-06-28T08:11:00.002+10:00

Begonia flowers in a pot on the verandah

Winter Salad Mix

2011-06-21T21:37:00.016+10:00

Edible Flowers

Radicchio

Mizuna (Brassica rapa var nipposinica)

Winter and spring in the vegetable garden is a great time to grow and harvest a wide range of tasty and tender salad leaves. These are a few of the ones I am using at the moment. Mizuna pictured above is a Japanese green which is now grown commercially for use in supermarket salad mixes. It is very decorative in the garden and forms a small fountain of jagged leaves which can be picked individually or in bunches. It is closely related to the stronger tasting Mibuna or Mibu Green (pictured below). Mibuna has more elongated leaves and grows into a spray like clump. It originates from Mibu in the Kyoto prefecture of Japan.

Mibuna

Warrigal Greens /New Zealand Spinach (Tetragonia tetragonioides)

A local coastal native plant , this sprawling ground-cover just appears in the garden from time to time as a self-seeded specimen. The tips make a useful addition to salads and are loaded with Vitamin C. Older leaves can be steamed or added to stir fries.

'Bulls Blood' Beetroot leaves.

Now grown as a "micro-green". the rich dark magenta leaves make for a wonderful contrast with others greens. I plant this beetroot seed thickly and use the thinned out plants in a salad mix.

Chervil (Anthriscus cerefolium)

Winter is the best time for growing chervil and the delicate aniseed tasting leaves add an interesting flavour to salads. It is one of the fines herbes of French cuisine together with parsley, tarragon and chives.

Mustard 'Ruby Streaks'

First time I have grown this lacy mild tasting mustard leaf. It is very decorative both in the garden and on the plate.

Silverbeet/Chard 'Rainbow'

The very small young leaves are good in a salad mix.

Cavolo Nero/ Laciniato / Nero di Toscana Kale

The very young leaves have a wonderful texture ,and the dark colour makes a great contrast in a salad with pale lettuce leaves or ruby grapefruit pieces.

French Sorrel (Rumex scutatus)

Crinkly leaves with a lemony tang from a perennial plant which appreciates a bit of soil moisture for best flavour.

English Spinach 'Galilee'

Baby English spinach leaves are now quite popular and it is a very easy plant to grow in cooler weather . This variety has arrow shaped leaves. I sow the seed thickly and thin out the excess as baby leaf and allow some plants to reach maturity. Spinach prefers light or sandy soil for best growth with adequate soil moisture.

Pea Tendrils Pisum sativum

Pea tendrils are very sweet and are like eating fresh peas. They are also very easy to grow. If you buy pea straw to use as mulch there is always plenty of peas which come up amongst the mulch once it has been on the ground for a couple of weeks. The shooting peas can be cut when quite small for their tendrils.In Japan they are known as Tohbyo and are used as a garnish not unlike the way we use parsley.

Pigeonpea/pois cajun/gandul

2011-06-15T17:52:00.002+10:00

Pigeonpea, Cajanus cajan

The Pigeonpea gets its common English name form Barbados where the peas were once used as pigeon feed.It is actually a native of India and the highly nutritious seeds which can be brown, pale grey or speckled are used as toor dhal. It is also known in Malaysia as kacang dal.
In this southern part of Australia, Pigeonpea grows well as a sparse open shrub to about 3 metres and is crowned with brown yellow pea flowers for a large part of the year. Unfortunately it is not quite warm enough for the flowers to set seed and it really needs a dry tropical climate to do well. As a nitrogen fixing legume however it will improve the soil and its open habit means it has potential to be used as a support for summer crops such as cucumbers or french beans.

Australian Icon:The Choko

2011-06-13T17:47:00.005+10:00

Ready for picking now Choko fruit on vine, Sechium edule

From Tasmania to far north Queensland, the much maligned choko was once a feature of most backyards, covering fences and outhouses and climbing 30 metres up trees if allowed and always capable of producing an abundance of fruit . Last year I planted one to try and out-compete a Morning Glory vine which is growing from a neighboring property. It is doing a good job so far and has just produced its first crop which has sent me on a search for ways to cook with them. I have always liked what Sam Orr aka Richard Beckett had to say about the choko in his book The Gourmet's Garden. He said it produced fruit in such enormous quantities that it 'frightens you out of your wits' and that 'because of this over-production people attempt to find virtues for the choko where none exist, producing such execrable concoctions as choko jam and choko chutney. He recommends that it is boiled whole 'so that any taste it has doesn't escape into the water' Nice with cheese sauce or melted butter and a lot of pepper so that in this way you taste either cheese sauce or butter or pepper. You'll never taste choko as it doesn't.The choko is one of nature's little jokes.' Harsh words indeed.
So one interesting way of cooking them I have found is in a Caribbean cook book where the choko is given the French name of christophine. A Gratin of Christophine involves cooking choko in milk for about ten minutes, pureeing them and then adding egg yolk, butter, cream, chives, ginger, salt and pepper. This mix is placed in a baking dish and topped with breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese and baked for about 20 minutes until golden and bubbling. Sounds like just the dish for a cold winter night.

Choko Illustration from Curtis Botanical Magazine
London 1917

Salvia involucrata 'Timboon'

2011-06-12T08:31:00.002+10:00

Salvia involucrata 'Timboon'

Just coming into bloom now, the warm, velvety red flowers of this Salvia are most welcome on the cold grey days of winter. This is an excellent cultivar of the species and does not suffer from the brittle stems of other varieties such as 'Joan', instead it forms a well rounded shrub to about 1.5 metres with strong stems and olive green leaves.The flowers are well formed and are massed right across the top of the bush. It is a hardy shrub and not particular as to soil type as long as it is well drained.Pruning after flowering is recommended to help retain its compact shape.

Seemannia sylvatica, Goldfish Plant

2011-06-06T10:41:00.003+10:00

Seemannia sylvatica syn Gloxinia sylvatica

Growing to about 30 cm ,this is a neat small shrub to grow under a deciduous tree to provide some winter colour in a frost free climate. The small tubular flowers are shaped like goldfish and the stems are equally bright and felty in texture. For those who experience a colder winter it also makes an ideal indoor plant . I have mine in a decorative container which sits on an outdoor table in full sun and I will probably plant it out in the garden come spring. Propagation could be carried out in summer from stem cuttings and cutting grown plants would flower the following autumn.

Potted Colour for winter

2011-06-06T08:23:00.002+10:00

Pansy and Allysum in flower now

I always have one large container in the garden filled with whatever seasonal flowers are available. At this time of year I grow Pansies which are probably the most popular winter flower because the flowers are large, bright and cheerful. They need no special care other than removing spent flowers and being given an occasional dose of liquid fertilizer.

Aloe striata

2011-06-01T21:12:00.002+10:00

Aloe striata

Winter is Aloe flowering time and many are budding up or coming into flower already. This species is one of the smooth leafed thornless Aloes which forms a neat ground hugging rosette making it a perfect specimen for small gardens or for growing as a container plant. The name striata means marked with lines and the blue green boat shaped leaves have a fine pin stripe over their surface. Being from South Africa it has an Afrikaans common name which is unusual to say the least : Gladdeblaaaraalwyn

Fumaria/Fumitory

2011-05-29T17:42:00.002+10:00

Fumaria sp, 'Earth Smoke'

Every year around this time I do battle with this weed which grows rapidly, smothering and climbing over all plants in its path. It just loves fertile soil in vegetable gardens but is equally happy in poor dry soil. It belongs to the Poppy Family and the weak stemmed foliage reminds me of the common Iceland Poppy which I am also growing at the moment. The plant gets its name from the Latin fumus terrae , meaning smoke of the earth referring to the appearance of fine light grey leaves rising from the ground. It was once superstitiously thought to posses the power to expel and protect against evil spirits when burnt for its acrid smoke. It also has a history of use in herbal medicine with the usual assorted cures for plague and pestilence as well as those still common afflictions of melancholia and morbidness. John Hill wrote in 1750 that 'Some smoke the dried leaves in the manner of tobacco for disorders of the head with success.' Perhaps this was written at a time when other more narcotic members of the poppy family were making their mark in medicine.
Fumitory produces a mass of tubular pink/purple flowers throughout the winter months before finally collapsing as the weather warms up in spring having left behind a mass of seed for the following year. Emerging seedlings can be mistaken for young carrot plants and because of its delicate appearance it may be even taken for a benign green manure plant as one fellow gardener told me recently. Flowers have been used to make a yellow dye for wool which may be the one saving grace of a plant I don't really want to see again.

Chelsea Flower Show 2011: Princess Beatrice totters along looking svelte | Mail Online

2011-05-28T07:27:00.001+10:00

Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne ,Victoria wins gold at RHS Chelsea but for all the goss and great pics you can't beat the Mail Online:
Chelsea Flower Show 2011: Princess Beatrice totters along looking svelte | Mail Online

Postcard from Nafplio

2011-05-24T08:01:00.002+10:00

Brilliant Bougainvillea in Nafplio, Greece (Photo MM)

Received this "e-card" from Greece this morning amongst my emails. Just the thing to bring a bit of warmth to a cold day. I like the look of that pale blue ocean in the distance.

Chelsea Flower Show 2011 - Trailfinders Australian Garden - Ian Barker

2011-05-23T08:07:00.002+10:00

The Australian garden in RHS Chelsea this year is inspired by the journey made by Captain Cook and Sir Joseph Banks to the Southern Hemisphere in 1768. The garden is designed by Ian Barker and presented by Fleming's Nursery. Here is the link:
BBC - Chelsea Flower Show 2011 - Trailfinders Australian Garden - Ian Barker

A miniature succulent

2011-05-18T18:30:00.003+10:00

Monanthes brachycaulos (Crassulaceae Family)

This tiny succulent eeks out an existence in the wild on the rock cliffs of Gran Canaria and Tenerife. I noticed today there are some miniature glistening flowers just appearing at the ends of the creeping stems These would be smaller than any insect which was seeking out nectar so I am not sure how it gets pollinated if at all. A Bonsai pot with a gravel mulch provides it with a perfect home and it keeps on growing without any special care.

Gnomeo and Co

2011-05-17T21:25:00.009+10:00

"hey it's not what you think........ I'm camera shy that's all"

OK it's time to fess up that a couple of gnomes and one very nasty sprite live in the garden.
They are having a bit of a disagreement with me at the moment because they have met a bloke on Twitter who wants to take them on a pub crawl ........Thanks a lot @ThirstySmash

"Don't mess with me cause I am trouble"

"Settle down Grandad"

Ginger Harvest

2011-05-15T18:59:00.002+10:00

Freshly dug Ginger (Zingiber officinale)

I planted ginger rhizomes last September and though they were slow to shoot at first, they grew at an incredible rate over summer. They are now ready to be dug as the green tops are just starting to die down. I am leaving some of the clumps in the ground and laying off on the watering so the plants don't rot if we get a really cold wet winter. The ginger left in the ground will be dug towards the end of the year so that the young pink tender rhizomes can be harvested.The young ginger is my favourite sort as the skin peels off easily and the flavour is not as strong. With this harvest I am going to freeze some and the rest I am going to peel and cut into knobs, place them in a jar and cover with dry sherry or Shao Xing Hua Diao wine which will keep it fresh for weeks.

Burgundy 'Iceberg' Rose

2011-05-14T16:53:00.004+10:00

Burgundy Iceberg Rose in Wollongong Botanic Garden with Arctotis daisy

Floribunda Rose 'Burgundy Iceberg'

Just when you think roses are about to go dormant for winter, this dark coloured sport of the standard white 'Iceberg' throws out a whole flush of new buds which will flower on the cold dark days of June ahead. If you want a hardy trouble free rose this is one to go for. If you select a standard form, it needs a good couple of metres on either side of it as it can get quite large. I made the mistake of planting this one close to a path which it started to block in no time. It takes to moving quite well if you make this mistake and mature specimens can be lifted with ease. Burgundy Iceberg looks good under- planted with silver foliage plants or soft catmint as a contrast.

Turk's Cap Cactus

2011-05-12T22:05:00.000+10:00

Melocactus bahiensis

Salvia 'Pink Icicles'

2011-05-09T20:39:00.004+10:00

Salvia involucrata 'Pink Icicles'

The week is starting off in a pink kind of way with my local bakery selling pink iced buns to raise money for a breast cancer charity. Cycling fans are not left out as the Giro d'Italia is underway with the leader's jersey of each stage being hot pink in colour.
This Salvia is aptly named as the flowers are enclosed in bracts which are a delightful frosty pink colour and the emerging flowers are just a shade darker. The flowers are terminal and quite heavy as they weigh down the branches. It is a somewhat ungainly shrub with stems going in all direction and these can be quite leafless at the base. This is the first time it has flowered for me so perhaps with a good cut back after flowering it may become more compact with age. It does not seem to object to growing in the shade as the autumn sun no longer reaches the part of the garden where it is growing. Eventual height will be around 1.5 metres.

Radicchio/Archicoria

2011-05-05T21:23:00.004+10:00

Lustrous crimson leaves of Radicchio

Last winter my Italian-Australian friends at the community garden introduced me to that confusing tribe of vegetables variously known as Chicory, Radicchio and Endive. I was familiar with curly Endive whose pale frissy leaves catch at the back of your throat in a salad mix and the Belgian Witloof which is wonderful baked with ham and cheese but I had never tried Chicory pan di zucchero or the bright red radicchio rossa di Verona or palla rossa. I have just planted seed of the latter which should be ready for picking in about 12 weeks ,though there will be plenty of baby leaves in the meantime. Glancing at an Italian cookbook I like the sound of Radicchio con purea di fagioli which uses the leaves dressed with vinaigrette and topped with a cooked bean puree.

Salvia oppositiflora

2011-05-03T22:01:00.002+10:00

Salvia oppositiflora

Plants with tiny flowers and soft lax growth don't get much attention and are not the first choice with buyers in garden centres in an age of big and bold plants, hedges and grasses. Add to that sensitivity to frost and the appeal diminishes further. I like this small growing Salvia for the unique colour and shape of the flowers which could best be described as narrow tubes of pastel orange appearing opposite each other on thin stems (hence the species name.) I picked up this plant at a garden fete and have yet to see it offered as a commercial plant in the Nursery trade.
It has been in cultivation for some time having been discovered in its native Peru in 1798 by Hipolito Ruiz and Jose Pavon who went on to include it in their Flora of Peru. It has been in cultivation in the Northern Hemisphere as a conservatory plant since the early part of the 19th century. It is thus ideal for growing as a container specimen and perhaps even kept on a bench where the delightful flowers could be viewed at close range.

Stinking Roger, Tagetes minuta

2011-05-02T21:11:00.003+10:00

Stinking Roger, Tagetes minuta

It is not often I go out of my way to cultivate a weed but this one has many uses. Of all the species of marigolds (Tagetes sp), this one is the least decorative but apparently the most effective companion plant for use in the control of 'root knot' nematodes (eel worms) in vegetable gardens or amongst fruit trees and as a general weed suppressant. It is a fairly common roadside weed here and I didn't have to go far from home to find some small plants. At this time of year masses of small creamy yellow flowers appear at the ends of branches and the whole plant become quite sticky. This fact is a curse for dairy farmers as this exudate can adhere to a cow's udder and readily taint milk. On the north coast of New South Wales, the plant can grow quite tall and reach well over 3 metres . In its native habitat of South America...... Chile, Argentina and Brazil, it is much more respected and widely used as both a medicinal herb and harvested for the production of flavouring oil used in the food and drink industry.
The active insecticide property in the root of the plant is a sulphur compound called Thiophene which inhibits the growth of nematodes in the soil.The leaves have a similar action if scattered around vegetable plants to dispel cabbage white butterflies and other insect pests.
Tagetes is named for the Etruscan prophet Tages who sprang from the earth and revealed the art of water divining to ancient farmers.

Petty Spurge, Euphorbia peplus

2011-05-01T18:00:00.003+10:00

Petty Spurge, Euphorbia peplus growing through a crack in concrete

Hardly a week goes by when I don't have to pull out some of this weed. Common in gardens throughout Australia, it is usually found around buildings or in shady spots. It is native to Europe and Asia but it grows worldwide in settled areas. The milky juice from cut stems is corrosive to tender skin and mucous membranes and may cause severe gastro-intestinal irritation if swallowed. As it often appear in vegetable gardens it may inadvertently become mixed amongst the green leaves of a salad mix so it is best to keep it under control where food plants are grown. It will also cause hens to go off the lay if it becomes mixed with their green pick feed.

The Jacobean Lily, Spreklia formosissima

2011-04-27T18:09:00.002+10:00

Jacobean or Aztec Lily, Spreklia formosissima

This lily has just gone dormant so I have been dividing up some clumps and separating offsets from the main bulbs for replanting. It is one of those tough easy care bulbs which is native to Mexico and Guatemala and will grow across a range of climates as long as it gets a freely draining soil. In colder frosty areas it is better to wait till early Spring to plant out the bulbs or they can be grown in a pot which is best kept on the dry side over winter.In warmer climates they can be left undisturbed for years in the same spot and can even be dug up in summer if you want to share a few plants with friends. The main flowering time is early spring but flowers can occur at intervals throughout summer as well. If growing it in a pot it makes an interesting and unusual plant to bring indoors when in flower, especially if you love a splash of deep crimson or scarlet contrasting with a glossy black container.

Absolutely!

2011-04-24T08:56:00.002+10:00

Can't wait to read this book. Gil from Florilegium books in Sydney says he has copies. You can follow author Anne Wareham on Twitter @AnneWareham. Thanks to Alice from Garden Travel Buzz for all your garden news.

The Woody Pear

2011-04-22T21:45:00.004+10:00

Pear shaped seed pods of Xylomelum angustifolium from WA

I am reading Barbara York Main's book in which she writes fondly of the Woody Pear tree growing in small pockets of uncleared bushland in the Western Australian Wheatbelt: Tassels of heavy scented, small white tubular flowers hung from the terminal branchlets of the woody pear trees... distal to the bizarre clumps of 'pears' arranged in groups along the branches, each clump representing the fruits of past successive flowerings. Growing elsewhere in association with the 'pears' the large orange flower heads of Banksia prionotes were coming into bloom.......
The Woody Pear tree of New South Wales is Xylomelum pyriforme and as a protected plant it cannot be propagated or offered for sale in Nurseries. I once saw a specimen growing in an old "mansion" garden in the Sydney suburb of Darling Point. It was probably left behind amongst the largely exotic plantings because of the quaintly decorative fruit which were a popular florist item before the protection status was given in the mid 20th century.

Xylomelum pyriforme
Woody Pear by Edward Minchen (1862-1913)