PLANT OF THE WEEK

DESIGN ELEMENTS

Old Fashioned Plants for the Hot Sub-Tropics

What to plant in those parts of Australia which have no rain for months, and then never ending rain in others?

What if they don’t get rain for 12 months like in Madagascar?

You need plants that can store water but look good.

What is on offer for the hot dry sub-tropics. Let’s find out.

I'm talking with Peter Nixon, garden Designer & project Manager from Paradisus Garden design.

Cool sub-tropics is not a zone you would normally think of but there it is.

Peter mentioned these plants

• Cussonia paniculata-the Mountain Cabbage tree from Sth Africa
• Brachychiton bidwillii-exceeds 10m over a long time.
• Brachychiton rupestris-Qld Bottle tree
• Pachypodoium geayi or P lamerei -similar white flowers to Frangipani
• Gardenia aubreyi-white flower- a small gardenia like tree
• Adenium obesum-the Desert Rose- with a swollen base or caudex and fleuro coloured flowers.
• Zamiocalcus zamiifolia-ZZ plant, no water in winter for semi-shade.
• Ephipyllum oxypetalum-queen of the night.
• E. anguliger and Epiphyllum 'Curly Sue' Guatemalense Monstrose.

THE GOOD EARTH

Brassicas are a large family of plants which include not just white cauliflowers and green broccoli, but all manner of purple caulis, purple sprouting broccoli and purple or green cabbages just to mention a few.

There’s even a veg that’s a cross between brussel sprouts and kale, called Brukale. Whatever next?

So what’s needed to grow the best brassicas? Let’s find out more. 

VEGETABLE HEROES

THE GOOD EARTH

Plastic is back in the media as being bad for the environment, so much so, that some countries have banned the use of plastic bags.

Soft plastics such as what you use for wrapping your sandwiches are just as much of a problem as the bags because, it doesn’t break down ever.

So what else can you wrap your sandwiches in other than putting it in a plastic container?

So let’s find out.

DESIGN ELEMENTS

Old Fashioned Shrubs for Cool Sub-tropical part 2

This series is all about what were those old fashioned shrubs that you may have some of in your garden.

Last week was part 1 of cool sub-tropics which is a zoning not mentioned before by any gardening book I know.

Peter has added this zoning to cover parts of the east coast that are warm and humid but not as warm and humid as say Cairns or Townsville.

Let’s find out what old fashioned shrubs suit cool temperate areas.

I'm talking with Peter Nixon, garden Designer & project Manager from Paradisus Garden design.

PLAY: Old Fashioned Shrubs cool sub-tropics part 2 15th May 2019

Cool sub-tropics is not a zone you would normally think of but there it is.

Peter mentioned plants for shade:

Gerberas; 

Barleria cristata -Lavendar lace

Lobelia laxiflora 1.2m height with orange/yellow flowers;

 Ruellia mackoyana-groundcover

Plants for semi-shade:

Farfugia japonicum aureomaculatum-Leopard plant

Plectranthus ecklonii and P. grandis with blue flowers

If you have any questions for Peter or for me, you know what to do..

PLANT OF THE WEEK

Dew of the sea, what can that be?

Not a rhyme but a riddle about which herb that grows by the coast, and is used by herbalists and naturopaths.

With a pretty little flower either white, pink or blue and needle like leaves, this herb grows easily and has a minty-sage or pine like flavour. 

TALKING PLANTS

Marigolds: Tagetes erect: Tagetes patula

Native to North and South America

• Sowing: They take off easily from seed, either grown indoors during the winter months or sown directly into the soil when it’s warmer out.
• Good companion plant because they attract pollinators and improve soil quality.
•  Be mindful not to water marigolds from the top. If their blooms get too wet, they will often turn into a mushy brown mess.

Did you know that one variety of the flower is even fed to chickens so that egg yolks have a more perfect yellow colour?

Myth or Fact?

Legend has it that Mother Mary of the Christian tradition was robbed by bandits, but when they cut open her purse all that fell out were yellow flowers, something that would one day by named “marigold” (Mary’s gold) in her honour.

Or was it because early Christians placed flowers instead of coins on Mary’s altar as offerings?

I'm talking with Mercedes Sarmini of www.floralgossip.com.au

DESIGN ELEMENTS

5 Old Fashioned Shrubs Cool Sub-Tropical Part 1

Last week I mentioned that gone are the days when you had lots of variety in garden centres to choose from.

This series is all about what were those old fashioned shrubs.

But we’re not just doing a blanket five but going through each climate zone in Australia, including some of Peter Nixon’s zoning.

Some of these other zones might suit your area as well even though they’re classified as say arid or sub-tropical.

It all depends on whether or not you’ve got a micro-climate in your garden that will suit.

Let’s find out what old fashioned shrubs suit cool temperate areas.

I'm talking with Peter Nixon, garden Designer & project Manager from Paradisus Garden design.

PLAY: Old Fashioned Shrubs cool sub-tropics part 1 8th May 2019

Cool sub-tropics is not a zone you would normally think of but there it is.

Peter mentioned for the south side: shady

• Platycodon homalocladium or bad hair day plant.
• Aucuba japonica-gold dust plant ; Japanese Maple
• Selection of Fuchsias eg Tom Thumb.
• On the northern side: Hibiscus mutabilis; Rothmannia globosa-September Bells
• Thevetia peruviana-Yellow Oleander; Hibiscus schizopetalus
• Melastoma affine-Blue Tongue; Eriostemen_Philotheca myoporoides

If you have any questions for Peter or for me, you know what to do..

BACKYARD BIODYNAMICS

Have you ever though of weeds as messengers?

Probably not because like most gardeners, when we see weeds, we think of the work that’s needed to either pull them out or spray them with something or other.