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.

Scientific Name:Agonis Flexuosa

Common Name: Willow Myrtle/ Peppermint Willow (pictured)

Family: Myrtaceae

Origins: Native to Western Australia

The flowers are also quite a feature resembling clutches of lily of the valley flowers in either pink or cream all over the tree.

• Adrian says they shed foliage 12 months of the years so don't plant them near your gutters.

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.

So what can you do? 

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.

Recommended plants

.

Magnolia hybrid "Fairy." ht 3m

Heliconia 'Hot Rio Nights.' for northern sub-tropical zones.(norther rivers and up). height 3m, lush paddle leaf.

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.

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.

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.

• 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.

 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.

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. 

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.

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.

 

Common Name: Black Bean Tree: 

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.

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.

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. 

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

www.glenicebuckdesigns.com.au 
Let’s find out . 

PLAY: Why Trees Fall_25th March 2020 
There are many reasons why trees fail or fall.

• Trees need to be growing in well drained soil. 
• If the soil holds onto too much moisture, this results in no oxygen in the soil, leading to tree roots rotting, making the tree unstable.

Trees will also fail or fall over in extreme weather events if they're susceptible.

Heavy rain inundation together with strong winds undermine the soil that the tree is growing in, particularly if the soil is shallow.

Glenice talks about the force of the wind, where the canopy of the tree acts like a lever, causing it to topple.

Sometimes the tree can be rescued by giving it a hard prune and winching it up, but that is the exception rather than the rule. 

• Trees not planted correctly is another factor.
• The planting hole needs to be wide enough so there there is enough room for the roots to spread . The hole should have more of vase shape, and loosen the soil so there is no soil 'glazing.'
• Don't plant the tree too low in the ground.
• If the tree is planted into a tight narrow space, not giving it enough room for the roots to develop to support the canopy.

If you want to know more or if you have any questions about why trees, fail, next week’s episode is about assessing trees for failure with Glenice. 

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.

 

Kauri Pine: Agathis robusta-an Australian native

Over the last few weeks in this segment, we’ve been talking about big, big trees, and today’s offering is no exception. 

Kauri pine, like it's name states, is a conifer in the Araucariaceae family.
Also considered a dinosaur tree because it evolved millions of years ago when Australia was largely subtropical all over and not just in Queensland.

Kauri pine: Agathis robusta

So let’s find out more. 
I'm talking with Adrian O”Malley, horticulturist and native plant expert. 
PLAY: Agathis Robusta_11th March 2020 

Big trees in pots: 

• The Kauri pine is quite happy in pots if you have limited space.
• Just need to be root pruned every couple of years, but no more than 10% all round.

Being an ancient conifer it comes from an era when the world was much wetter and rainforest covered all of Australia.

The tree has  big wide, leathery leaves with parallel veins. Leaves are in opposite pairs and 5-12cm long. The bark is smoothish, grey or a sort of grey brown.

Leaves of kauri pine, no mid-rib.

The lower part of the trunk is free of branches, having dropped off as it grows.

The pine cones come in to shapes. Male cones are long and narrow, but female cones are rounded, 8-13cm in diameter.

Agathis robuasta female cones

• The Queensland Kauri is a little known but magnificent specimen, that dates back to the mid-Jurassic period.

Agathis or Qld Kauri can live for centuries, but did you know that they were logged for their straight timber too much so by 1922, the Forestry Branch reported: ‘Of kauri pine the southern resource is utterly gone.’ 

The wood was used to cabinetry, floorboards, kitchen sinks, and boat building during the 1920's and 30's. 

• Geelong Botanic Gardens have an avenue of Kauri pine trees planted around the 1860's.
• Sydney Botanic gardens have one large specimen not far from the kiosk and close to the giant Dragon's Blood tree.

If you want to hug these large mature trees, you'll find that the girth is massive and it's more likely that 4-5 people with arms outstretched might make it being 150cm or so in circumference.

If you have any questions either for me or for Adrian, why not write in to realworldgardener@gmail.com

Silky Oak: Grevillea robusta

Here’s a semi-deciduous grevillea, that can grow into a big tree. Flowering at the same time as Jacarandas and just as spectacular. 
When you see one, you don't think the Silky Oak as being a large tree. But here it is.

A bit messy, semi-deciduous, losing a lot of leaves from time to time. 
Grevilleas like this one are nectar rich, loved by the lorikeets. 

Apart from that drawback, the leaves are attractive with the added bonus is that the flowers are attractive to birds that come from all around the district to have a feast on the nectar of the flowers. 
So let’s find out more. 
I'm talking with Adrian O”Malley, horticulturist and native plant expert. 
PLAY:Silky Oak_4th March 2020 2020 

The silky oak flowers at the same time as Brachychiton querquifolia and Jacaranda mimosifolia, and there are some large gardens that have those big three. 

• Brachychiton has the striking red flowers, contrasting with the purple of the Jacaranda and the golden yellow of the silky oak. 

So much nectar that on hot days, the nectar ferments, so the birds become intoxicated when sipping on the nectar, and become quite territorial.

When growing in pots, they take on the classical conifer type shape.

Remember Adrian's maxim, "spend a penny on the pot and a pound on the soil."

Very impressive to look at. 

The timber has a marbling dotty effect and is quite rot resistant should you come across this scarce resource.

The timber used to be used for frames around windows.
If you have any questions either for me or for Adrian, why not write in to realworldgardener@gmail.com