Here in the UK it’s that time of the year when everything seems poised, ready to spring – in both senses of the word. I haven’t been able to get across to Sherbrooke Continue reading
Peat walls
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Monthly Archives: February 2012
How to transplant fruit trees
I squashed many fruit trees into my old garden. Some, like the plums (Narrabeen, Satsuma, Green Gage and Coe’s Golden Drop) were planted after I shook hands on the boundary realignment deal a few years ago, so that I’d have advanced specimens to transplant in (hopefully) the next winter. Others, like the macadamia and two avocados, were planted just before my neighbours put ‘James Stirling’ pittosporums and photinias along the boundaries. And others – like the white sapote (Casimiroa edulis), dwarf persimmon (‘Jiro Dwarf’) and dwarf ‘Trixzie’ pear were ones planted in less than ideal spots simply because I had nowhere else to put them. Continue reading
A giant blooms
Late in January this year a strange plant came into bloom in John and Genny’s nursery, located to the south of Brisbane. Known as the Titan flower, the Continue reading
Tomato feast
Our tomato crop looked sketchy at the beginning of the season, to say the least. We had very little fruit and what we did have was deformed, contorted and Continue reading
Snowy Mountains wildflowers
The wildflowers of the Snowy Mountains are truly one of Australia’s great botanical treasures. During mid-summer the high plains around Mt. Kosciuszko are lit up with a succession of wildflowers various daisies such as everlastings, billy buttons (Craspedia sp), and little Brachyscome daisies. Continue reading
Right plant, right spot
Over a year ago now, friends of mine gave up their city slicker existence for what one would assume to be a more subdued life in the country. Fresh country Continue reading
Arnold keeps its promise
Away over President’s Day holiday weekend, I returned to find the Witch Hazel ‘Arnold’s Promise’ in full bloom! This wonderful Hamamelis leads the way Continue reading
Graffiti grief – top tips to avoid problem graffiti
The writing is on the wall. Yesterday when I went for a drive around my city I saw graffiti everywhere – along the main highway and roads, on fences, garage doors, gates, public utilities and even tree trunks. I know it’s only paint, but ugly and (to most) meaningless tags all over your front garden walls, street signs, power poles is somehow really depressing. Continue reading
Foliage plants for under a eucalypt tree canopy
I’m establishing a small rainforest section of foliage plants under a canopy of eucalypt trees in my ‘Middle Garden’. This is currently my favourite part of the garden. The middle garden consists of a canopy of numerous Eucalyptus leucoxylon. When we moved in 3 years ago, these beautiful trees had lots of dead wood through them, starting at ground level. No formative pruning had been done; the trees were just planted and left. Fortunately there was a deep deposit of decaying mulch at the base that would be excellent for my new garden. Continue reading
A gentle warning of dittander
Winter in Europe, apart from admiring flowers that defy the frost and pondering on structural strengths and weaknesses in a garden, is time for reflection and planning ahead. And to admit mistakes and think about ways of rectifying those. Continue reading
Dahlias
For me, summertime in the garden is about all hot gaudy colours, and in my mind, no flower does that better than the dahlia. A few of these flamboyant daisies Continue reading
Pandanus – a Sunshine Coast favourite
I’ve been in Queensland for six months now and having come from the temperate climate of Auckland, I am overwhelmed by the sub-tropical species that cross Continue reading
No dogs but three dragons in the land of the spaghetti western
Forget the dogs now it’s all about dragons. Most of them have been slain but like Jurassic Park they rise again, like this Gran Canaria Dragon (Tree). Thankfully Continue reading