Stopping the Methane Bubble

SYDNEY GARDENTALK 2RRR 88.5 FM Saturdays 12noon-1pm. Wednesdays 5-6pm.
Feature Interview: Helen Kerley-Ryde Waste Communications Officer.
Go http://www.ryde.nsw.gov.au/ to connect with what bins you can get from council for composting and worm farms.
Go to http://www.tec.org.au/ to find the latest info on problems with landfill, waste, and the latest articles written about these environmental issues.
Vegetable Hero:Perennial Coriander, Eryngium foetidum.
A better choice for subtropical and tropical areas than common coriander as it also dries well and stands up to cooking
This perennial form of coriander produces dandelion-like leaves and prickly seed heads. Keep removing the seed heads as they form if you want greater leaf production.
The leaves can reach 25cm long, -when they get this long, the leaf gets sharp spines along the leaf edge. The flowers are white after which a round fruit grows, covered with rounded protrusions. Sharp spines also occur on the flower stalk. It has a taproot which grows down to about 12cm.
Perennial Coriander flowers quite freely or some might say, ‘a lot’ especially during summer, and the prickly flower heads need to be regularly pruned from the plant to get more leaf growth or to make sure of new leaves get formed.
How to cook with this Coriander.
The leaves need to be chopped as they are tougher than the regular coriander. The leaves of perennial coriander will put up with some cooking unlike regular coriander. Use leaves in stir-fries, soups, salads, curries and salsa. Use the root to flavour vegetables.
The prickly seed head can be made into a spicy paste. Put seed head into blender or processor with chilli, ginger, garlic and sesame oil or vegetable oil and whiz until smooth. Store in fridge. Use to flavour curries and stir fries or spread on sandwiches or biscuits with cheese. The paste can also be stirred through chopped chicken for a delicious sandwich fill.
This variety of coriander dries well, retaining good colour and flavour.
Design Elements:Styles
Plant of the Week: Tibouchina "Alstonville" or Tree Lasiandra.
Tibouchina lepidota 'Alstonville'
Classed as a shrub by some, it can be trained as a small tree with appropriate pruning. Its small and controllable size has no doubt contributed to its popularity in modern gardens, where there is no longer space for grand tropical flowering trees like poinciana.
Also, many other trees flower in spring or in early summer. Although it can produce some flowers in spring, 'Alstonville' provides a burst of colour in late summer/early autumn. Its namesake Alstonville (NSW), the town near which this plant was developed, has a Tibouchina festival every year in March when the trees are putting on their best display
'Alstonville variegata' is a variegated leaf form. If anyone is still producing this cultivar commercially, please get in touch.
Tibouchina 'Jules'
This cultivar is also very popular, but in contrast to 'Alstonville' it is a dwarf shrub, suitable for a garden bed or container.
Tibouchina granulosa 'Kathleen'
This cultivar has pink flowers (The original species T. granulosa has purple flowers), and will grow into a tree if left unpruned.
Whats On:
Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 March, Open Gardens at Drummoyne. You might think that visiting an Open Garden means driving out of Sydney and seeing some of the big gardens in the Blue Mountains or Southern Highlands. Not so. There are some fascinating local gardens in the Open Garden scheme, and we have two this week at Drummoyne. Error and Trial is at Unit 1, 26 St Georges Crescent, and the Hooper garden is at number 24 St Georges Crescent. There’s an $8 joint fee to view both gardens and they are open fro 10am to 4.30pm both days of the weekend.
Saturday 6 March. The Bushcare Program will be holding a 'Field of Mars Discovery Afternoon' from 1:30pm-3:30pm The event will include:
A guided walks program that will cater for all age groups and a variety of interests.
An interactive Australian animal show (live animals).
Displays promoting Bushcare, Catchment Connections and Waste Education.
Free afternoon tea.
Plant giveaway.
The event is being held in conjunction with the Ryde Hunters Hill Flora and Fauna Preservation Society (RHHFFPS) and the Habitat Network. It will start off an exciting new series of monthy activities planned by the RHHFFPS.
We know how great Field of Mars Reserve is.....let's share it with other people!
If you would like to come please contact Sandra Payne, Bushcare Officer, Open Space, City of Ryde, Phone: 9952 8257