August 30th, 2021
PLANT OF THE WEEK
All About Australian Native Plants with Silver Leaves.
Plants with grey or silver leaves are adapted to a drier environment because the colour of the leaf better reflects the sun than green leaves regardless of the size of the leaf.
This in turn means the plant uses less water for its functions.
There's usually more to the story as is the case with eucalypt trees having a thick waxy coating that makes the leaves look silver or grey in the first place. This waxy coating is added protection from the sun's rays.
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| Eucalyptus perriniana |
Mature leaves are often different from juvenile leaves not only in shape and size but orientation.
Mature eucalypt leaves hang vertically to reduce exposure to high levels of radiation and water loss.
Silver leaves don’t just have to be about small shrubs and ground covers, there’s some beaut examples of silver leafed gums.
pt1 A Couple of Eucalypts with Silver Leaves.
- Two great silver leafed gums were our picks:Eucalyptus perriniana and Eucalyptus cinerea
Silver leaves can be so attractive in the garden, in the vase or just in the landscape.
The add texture and structure to a garden. But they also can brighten a dark spot in a garden where dark green would just disappear in the gloom.
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| Eucalyptus cinerea |
Other fabulous silver leafed eucalypts
- You could also try Eucalyptus pulverulenta, known as the Silver-leaved Mountain Gum.
- There’s a dwarf form of this one called Baby Blue which only grows to 3m.
- The Silver-leaved Mountain Gum is an unusual Eucalypt (especially for eastern Australia) because it hangs onto juvenile foliage into maturity. Plants rarely produce adult leaves.
Listen to the podcast to find out more
I'm talking with Adrian O’Malley, native plant expert and officianado
August 24th, 2021
Edna Walling and Bickleigh Vale part 2
Last week, I introduced you to Edna Walling was one of Australia’s most influential garden designers of the 20th century.
The people that live in the village of about 20 homes, are all in love with Edna's design principles.
In spring, the gardens are like fairlyland, with flowering wisterias, crabapples, flowering cherries, birches, hornbeams. hawthorns, plums, apricots, oaks and elms .
"Edna Walling had a free and easy attitude to garden maintenance and she believed that every window of a house should have a view of the garden, to create the effect of bringing the garden into the house."
Edna Walling came to appreciate Australian flora more and more and started to incorporate many native species in her designs even early on.
I talk again with Trisha Dixon, garden author and photographer.
August 24th, 2021
EDNA WALLING & BICKLEIGH VALE
Part 1
Edna Walling was one of Australia’s most influential garden designers of the 20th century but I daresay, not too many people have heard of her.
Edna was Walling was born in 1896, in Yorkshire and grew up in the village of Bickleigh Devon, England but came to Australia at 17 years of age.
Edna was influenced by her father and studied landscape design at Burnley Horticultural College in Melbourne.
Walling was awarded her government certificate in horticulture in December 1917, and after some years jobbing as a gardener she commenced her own landscape design practice in the 1920s.
Her plans from the 1920s and 1930s show a strong architectural framework with 'low stone walls, wide pergolas and paths – always softened with a mantle of greenery'.
While doing some garden research I happened on one of her most famous creations called Bickleigh Vale in the Melbourne suburb of Mooroolbark in the foothills of the Dandenongs.
- She just happened on some land while out bushwalking and convinced a bank manager to lend her money to buy the land and build her first house 'Sonning.'
Who better to talk about them is someone who has researched Edna Walling for the last 40 years.I'll be talking with Trisha Dixon, garden author and photographer and sometime tour leader of gardens.
Trisha mentions that she found that actual village that this was modelled on, the real 'Bickleigh Vale ; in Devon, in England.
Listen to parts 1 & 2 of the podcast below.
A quote from
https://www.bickleighvalevillage.com.au/properties.html
is this quote
In the early 1920s Edna Walling acquired land at Mooroolbark where she built a house for herself - 'Sonning'. Here she lived and worked, establishing her nursery and gathering around her a group of like-minded people for whom she designed picturesque 'English' cottages and gardens. She named the area Bickleigh Vale village.
The houses and outbuildings that were designed or approved by Edna Walling in what she termed 'the English style' include her own home 'Sonning' which was rebuilt in 1936 following the destruction of 'Sonning I' in a fire,
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| Bickleigh Vale Village |
Have a listen to part 1, a bit of Edna’s history and a bit about Bickley Vale.
We’ll continue next with more about the actual village and also more about Edna’s vision in creating beautiful gardens.
If you have any feedback email realworldgardener@gmail.com or write in to 2RRR PO Box 644 Gladesville NSW 1675
December 31st, 2020
PLANT OF THE WEEK
Scientific Name: Bickinghamia celsissima
Common Name: Ivory Curl Tree
Family: Proteaceae
Etymology:Buckinghamia....after Richard Grenville, Duke of Buckingham.
celsissima....from Latin celsus, high or lofty, a reference to the habit of the plant in the wild.
Origins: Rainforests of Queensland.
Height: grows to 30 m in natural environment, but 7-8 metres in the home garden. Often used as a street tree.
Flowering: Summer to late Autumn, depending on the location, when the entire crown can be almost entirely covered with spectacular and large (30cm ) racemes of pendant white to cream sweetly perfumed flowers. Often covered in bees happily taking in the nectar and pollen.
pendant white to cream sweetly perfumed flowers. Often covered in bees happily taking in the nectar and pollen.
Fruit: Wooden follicles that contain several seeds. Fresh seed germinates fairly easily, producing plants that can flower within three years.
- You will find that it can be grown throughout most of Australia, including as far south as Melbourne. However Buckinghamia celsissima doesn't do well in Canberra, because it hates frosts, and it won't flower in the humidity and heavy rains of the northern tropics.
- If left to it's own devices it will go straight up like a telegraph pole and you will miss the spectacle of the flowers.
- Tip pruning judiciously will give you a shrub as in the picture where the flowers can be observed at close quarters.
- It can be pruned reasonably hard, but be warned, it will recover slowly.
I'm talking with native plant expert Adrian O'Malley
December 31st, 2020
PLANT OF THE WEEK
Scientific Name:Agonis Flexuosa
Common Name: Willow Myrtle/ Peppermint Willow (pictured)
Family: Myrtaceae
Etymology: derived from the Greek word agonos, translated as "without angles," in reference to the drooping branches of some species
flexuous means "bending" or "curvy," referring to the way the branches arch gracefully.
Origins: Native to Western Australia
Height: to 10 metres
Flowering: Late spring-branches are covered in fragrant tiny white flowers.
There are various cultivars available such as Agonis 'After Dark" (pictured) and Agonis 'Jervis Bay, Agonis 'variegata' and Agonis 'Burgundy.'
Also there is a dwarf form Agonis "Nana.'
Another fairly spectacular tree when in flower which although small, there are heaps of them.
The burgundy or dark foliage is a superb contrast to all that green you may have in the garden.
Soil preference is sandy to medium soil, but not clay soils.
This one's not frost tolerant.
Adrian says you would grow it for the attractive foliage and attracting furrowed bark.
I'm talking with native plant expert Adrian O'Malley
December 31st, 2020
PLANT OF THE WEEK :
Blueberry Ash
Common Name:Blueberry Ash
Scientific name: Eleaocarpus reticulatus
Family:Elaeocarpacea
Etymology:Elaeocarpus - From the Greek elaia meaning 'olive' and karpos meaning 'fruit';
reticulatus - Latin word meaning 'net-like' referring to the leaf venation.
Tree Height: 6-15m (various cultivars Prima Donna 8-10m)
Flowering:April - October
Origin: Australian rainforests along the east coast.
This is a beautiful tree with sculptural leathery leaves that show off a 'bloom' much like you see on some eucalypt leaves.
Leaves are medium sized (12cm) with a drip tip apex and serrated edges.
Starting off as mid to dark green the leaves age to a bright red which contrasts well, being opposite on the colour wheel.
The flowers are also quite a feature resembling clutches of lily of the valley flowers in either pink or cream all over the tree.
The fruits are small blue berries, hence the common name. The fruits are liked by many birds including currawongs, parrots, cockatoos and native pigeons.
Fruits can persist on the tree until the next flowering.
Although the height can grow to 15m you can keep it to as small a height as you would like even 2-3m if preferred.
- Adrian says they shed foliage 12 months of the years so don't plant them near your gutters.
I'm talking with Adrian O'Malley, native plant expert.
August 6th, 2020
DESIGN ELEMENTS
How to Create a Sense of Enclosure.
In the middle of winter, the only sun you can see may be outside.
So it would be nice to venture outdoors into the winter sun but what if you're overlooked?
May not feel so welcoming.
Magnolia grandiflora 'Teddy Bear.' 4-5m height (pictured)
I talk with garden designer Peter Nixon of Paradisus Garden Design.
What you want is some sort of screening hedge or planting that not only hides that fence, but hides it well enough so you don't see any fence.
That would mean you need that the 'bole length' or the gap between ground level and the first branch, is at a minimum.
So what can you choose?
Here are Peter's best tips:
- Choose things that stay dense and non transparent from the ground.
- Choose useful heights, especially if it's the northern boundary because you don't want to cut the winter sun.
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Magnolia hybrid "Fairy." ht 3m
Heliconia 'Hot Rio Nights.' for northern sub-tropical zones.(norther rivers and up). height 3m, lush paddle leaf.
Hibiscus boryanus- plant in areas where temperatures are above 5 Deg C
Drepanostachyus falcatum -Blue Bamboo is a clumping bamboo height 4m
You can underplant with smaller shrubs but you need to do this at the same time as you plant the larger shrubs otherwise the soil underneath will be compacted with the roots.
May 1st, 2020
PLANT DOCTOR
Plants for Privacy in a Container
What do you do if you want a plant for privacy but there’s either not enough soil in that location or you’re in an apartment?
I’ve talked about big trees in pots with horticulturist, Adrian O’Malley from Plant of the Week, before, but it doesn’t have to be just about trees for privacy.
So what can it be?
Let’s find out .
I'm talking with Steve Falcioni from
www.ecoorganicgarden.com.au PLAY: Plants for Privacy in pots_15th April 2020
Choose as large a pot/container as you can accommodate in the spot where you want to achieve some privacy.
For my Magnolia 'Little Gem,' I have a 60cm terracotta round pot.
The disadvantage with round terracotta or ceramic pots, is that they can be bowled over in strong winds.
Mine has a large crack down one side having been blown to the ground numerous times during strong winds.
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Magnolia Little Gem surround by orchids.
Cracked terracotta pot after being knocked over in strong winds. |
There is of course the problem of replacing the soil which over a few years, will slump.
Rejuvenating Your Large Potted Plant
- TIP: employ help to push the container gently to the side then ease out the tree or large shrub.
- Use this opportunity to give the plant a root prune, about 10% all over.
- Replace any loose soil with good quality potting mix and only a couple of handfuls of compost, whether homemade or store bought.
If you really want a sure fire winner, then choose
Murraya paniculata or commonly called Murraya, for your screening option.
Yes, I know it’s pretty common, but that’s a good choice if you’re prone to forgetting to prune it.
A lesser known and somewhat handsome plant that Steve mentioned is
Radermachera “Summer Scent.” Originating from Southern China,
Summerscent has lush, glossy, compact foliage.
Best of all this plant has clusters of white to pale pink scented flowers that flower profusely throughout the warmer months.
A perfect plant for hedging or screens as it responds well to pruning and adds a tropical feel to the garden.
Summerscent grows well in full sun and shade as well as indoors if kept in a well lit position.
If you have any questions of course, why not email
realworldgardener@gmail.com or write in to 2RRR P.O. Box 644 Gladesville NSW 1675.
May 1st, 2020
DESIGN ELEMENTS
Assessing Trees for Failure ( following on from blog on "Why Trees Fail"
https://realworldgardener.blogspot.com/2020/04/why-trees-fail-and-celery.html
Trees are so beneficial in a garden that I can’t imagine having a garden without them.
For me they provide, an element of height, but often the ones I choose have flowers with sumptuous scent, and in summer, they provide much needed shade.
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| Arbutus unedo: Strawberry Tree photo: M Cannon |
But how to prevent them from failing is the question in this week’s segment.
Let’s find out .
I'm talking with Glenice Buck, consulting arborist and landscape designer
www.glenicebuckdesigns.com.au PLAY: Assessing Why Trees Fall_1st April 2020
Trees fall from time to time and believe it or not, sometimes it’s not predictable, and sometimes it is.
Glenice says "it's totally impossible to predict if and when a tree will fail"
BUT you can seek professional advice from a consulting arborist to relieve any worry that you have about that particular tree.
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| Champion tree in Stowe, England. |
- The consulting arborist can make recommendation as to how to mitigate and potential problems.
Remember, a tree expert will cut out limbs correctly if they need cutting so the tree will be less likely to get insect attack or decay forming.
Consideration is given to remaining trees, if one needs to be taken out because it exposes them to more natural elements such as wind and changes in hydrology of the soil.
- Trees will overtime adapt if they lose a surrounding buffer.
A qualified arborist will use methods as outlined by QTRA and TRAQ are methods of tree risk assessment.
QTRA-Quantitive Tree Risk Assessment
TRAQ-Tree Risk Assessment Qualification.
"The terms ‘hazard’ and ‘risk are not interchangeable.... A tree-failure hazard is present when a tree has potential to cause harm to people or property. ‘Risk’ is the probability of something adverse happening; the likelihood that the hazard will cause harm.
Assessment of tree-failure hazards requires consideration of the mechanical integrity of the tree and the likelihood that the tree or part of it will fail within a given period."
If you have any questions of course, why not email realworldgardener@gmail.com or write in to 2RRR P.O. Box 644 Gladesville NSW 1675.
April 8th, 2020
PLANT OF THE WEEK
Common Name: Black Bean Tree:
Scientific name: Castanospermum australe
Family: Fabaceae
Native distribution: east coast of Australia in Queensland and New South Wales, and to the Pacific islands of Vanuatu, New Caledonia
Over the last few weeks in this segment, we’ve been talking about big, big trees, and today’s offering is no exception, but perhaps not as big as the Kauri Pine.
This tree, although very range with amazing huge boat like seed pods, is in the same family as peas, beans and broadbeans.
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| Castanospermum australe |
The Black Bean tree makes an interesting pot specimen.
Lovely red and yellow pea like flowers, typical of the legume family.
I'm talking with Adrian O”Malley, horticulturist and native plant expert.
So let’s find out more.
PLAY: Castanospermum austral_18th March 2020
- Black bean tree is an attractive Australian rainforest tree with dark glossy leaves and masses of yellow and red flowers during summer.
- Flowers attract lorikeets and other nectar feeders.
Sometimes used as street trees as long as they’re not under power lines.
DO NOT plant in the garden, because it has invasive roots.
Certainly bird attracting when in flower and has a spreading canopy when it matures.
If you want to grow it from the large bean like seed, sow the seed so that half of it is inserted into the seed raising mix.
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| Attractive pea like flowers of Castanospermum australe |
Sometimes sold as a novelty plant with 6-10 seeds in a small pot, sort of like a bonsai plant but with many stems.
Unless you have a large garden, we recommend that you can plant this one successfully in a pot for many years.
- The beans of Castanospermum austral or black bean tree or toxic to everyone.
Sydney Botanic gardens have a couple of these trees and various suburbs such as Hunters Hill, have the occasional Black Bean tree as a street tree.
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| seed pods of Black Bean tree. |
If you have any questions either for me or for Adrian, why not write in to realworldgardener@gmail.com
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