Frangipani Fever

Feature Interview: Frangipani Society of Australia's events coordinator, Anthony Grassi.
I hope you’re inspired to go along to the next meeting Sunday 28th Feb 2010, 2pm sharp, in the Padstow area
Bookings essential, non-members welcome
For bookings and address please phone Anthony Grassi on 0417 483 010 or email Susan Newhouse
www.frangipani.org.au/
Vegetable Hero: Basil or Ocimum basilicum, member of Lamiaceae family.
Plant it in a sunny spot, though basil will tolerate light shade too, especially in this heat, make sure that your basil has at least four hours on sunlight a day.
Basil grows best in very fertile soil - the more feeding, the bigger the leaves. Unlike many plants where overfeeding produces insipid plants, underfed basil is less fragrant than a well fed plant. Give your basil frequent doses of liquid manure throughout the growing season to keep up leaf production. The more you pick your basil the more you need to feed it. Basil has a very vigorous root system. Basil does not like water logging and all the annual Basil types will die off when the weather gets cooler.
Striking Basil-Just take a tip cutting off any plant at any time of the year. Cut off all the leaves except for the tiny ones that are emerging at the top and stick the thing in a pot. Keep it in partial shade and keep it moist. Basil cuttings root very quickly. Once the little basil plant is actively growing again you can plant it out.
Garden Design Elements: Shady courtyard design.
PLANT of the Week:Brachyscombe multifida-Cut Leaf Daisy.
Brachyscome multifida - from the Greek brachys meaning 'short' and kome for 'hair', this refers to the short pappus bristles on the top of the achenes of some species.
Multifida - Latin for 'multiply' or 'divided' referring to the divided nature of the leaves
Brachyscome multifida, Cut-Leafed Daisy, is a perennial herb found in the grassy understories of woodlands and open forests. It is naturally distributed throughout the temperate areas of southern Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, however it is limited by the seasonal dryness to the north and the colder climates of the south.
Propagation:-two best methods are cuttings,and by  layering.
Cuttings should be taken from firm, new growth and will strike readily. The stems naturally sucker and these to can be treated as cuttings. Layering is the most common propagation method as it occurs naturally and roots are usually well developed along many stems that are in contact with the soil. Growing from seed is not recommended.