Preserving Our Flora & Fauna

Sydney Garden Talk Wed 5-6pm,Sat 12-1pm 2RRR 88.5fm

Feature Interview:Ryde, Hunters Hill Flora and Fauna Preservation Society committee members Brigid Dowsett & Cathy Merchant talk about the history of the society and it's major achievement being saving the Field of Mars from being turned into a tip. Field of mars is now a Heritage Reserve. Visit Field of Mars visitors centre to obtain a map that walks around the 33 hectares of reserve. For more info on the society, goto http://www.rydehhffps.org.au/

Vegetable Hero: HorseradishBOTANICAL NAME: Armoracia rusticana syn. A. lapathifolia

Horseradish is a member of the mustard family (Brassicaceae syn. Cruciferae -kale, cauliflower, Brussel sprouts and the common radish) and is cultivated for its thick, fleshy white roots.

The bite and aroma of the horseradish root are almost absent until it is grated or ground. During this process, as the root cells are crushed, volatile oils known as isothiocyanate are released. Vinegar stops this reaction and stabilizes the flavor. For milder horseradish, vinegar is added immediately.Propagate by root division in spring or autumn for harvest the following year. At harvest-dig up all the plant and use the larger roots to make horseradish sauce and store the smaller ones in sand for replanting next year.

Design Elements:Sturcture using hedges-hedges give that strong vertical element and help define beds and borders. You can use hedges in clipped geometric shapes or curves for variety.

Buxus are good in any garden on their own as a clipped feature or as a hedge. Buxus microphylla var Japonica is a fairly fast grower. Try Teucriam fruticans, Westringia fruticosa for tight grey foliage, or Alternanthera for dark burgundy foliage.

Plant of the Week: Hakea laurina or Pin cushion Hakea. Named after Baron von Hake.In the Australian National Botanic Gardens it is grown singly as a shrub or small tree reaching 5 m. The best specimens are in open beds of light soil, watered but well drained. In full sun the species forms an upright shrub with a compact, rounded head, flowering freely and evenly each year on the well-ripened wood. Specimens 20 years old in light shade are rather slender and sparse and in this position they do not flower well or regularly. The rounded pin-cushion flower heads are soft deep pink, with projecting long styles, white to pale pink on aging. A faint, pleasant scent may be detected and bees have been seen visiting the flowers.

What's On: Epping Open Garden-17 Dallwood Ave, Epping, 22nd,23rd May 10-4.30pm. Brendan Moar presentation 2.30-3pm

Timely topiary for a Tidy Garden

Sydney Garden Talk Wed.5-6pm, Sat 12-1pm, 2RRR 88.5fm
Feature interview:Mark Morrison, horticulturalist and topiary enthusiast. Start your topiary now. For more info go to http://www.morrisonsgardencentre.com.au/
Feature interview2:Nara Native Turf-from Ozbreed
Vegetable Hero:Cauliflower-Brassica oleraceae Botryoides.
All cauliflowers need a neutral or slightly alkaline soil to do well. If the soil is too acidic, the plants will be unable to obtain all the trace elements they need, and may develop whiptail. On the other hand, soils which are too limey or chalky can lead to stunted and discoloured cauliflower. Leave at least six weeks between liming and manuring. As with all brassicas, avoid using a plot on which a brassica crop was grown within the past two years. Cauliflowers will definitely suffer if they are grown on the same plot for two or more years in a row. A cauliflower is ready for cutting when the upper surface of the curd is fully exposed and the inner leaves no longer cover it. As usual in your veggie garden, cauliflowers are ready at the same time. If the weather is warm and you leave the cauliflowers in the ground once they have matured, the heads expand and they become discoloured and less appealing. To avoid this lift some early, they will be quite edible.
Here’s a tip to not have to eat cauliflower everyday for a month, gather up the leaves and tie them together over the curd so that they cover it, using garden twine, an elastic band or raffia. It will also protect the winter ones from the frost.
Design Elements:Structure for the garden-an overview.
It’s the bones of your garden. If you half close your eyes and look at your garden the things that stand out are the ‘structural’ elements. Providing a sound underlying structure is at the heart of good garden planning. Structure can be many things:
1 At its most obvious it’s the hard manmade elements in a garden – stone or brick walls, wooden screens, a pergola. Paths and paved areas (like a patio) also provide structure – they are elements that define a space.
2 Plants also provide structure. Obvious examples are hedges as they often enclose the garden and define its boundaries and are a very strong vertical element. But mid height and smaller hedges are also structural – think of the box hedges in a knot garden and the way they form a pattern. You can use smaller hedges to break up the space in a garden – either a mid height hedge to hide a section of your garden, or a small hedge to edge a planting bed.
3 Evergreen plants are structural elements in a garden. They keep their leaves all year round and their shapes, whether columnar, round or spreading, define the space. Some plants have, or can be pruned, into a clearly defined outline so you can use them architecturally (box). Many have an architectural outline – think of yuccas, phormiums with their sword-shaped leaves. You can also use standards for a structural element – a row of standard roses alongside a pathway.
4 Focal points are extremely valuable for structure and interest in the garden. Could be feature tree (weeping ones work well), a striking plant in a beautiful container, a sculpture, water feature, or seat.
Plant of the Week:Banksia ericifolia-Heath Banksia.
Both varieties of Banksia ericifolia are medium to large shrubs with narrow , linear leaves to about 15 mm long. The flower spikes are 80 - 110 mm wide, up to 500 - 600 mm long and usually orange in colour, although there is a form with maroon flowers in cultivation and another with whitish flowers with red styles. B.ericifolia is one of a group of banksias with "hooked" styles projecting from the axis of the flower spike. The flowers occur in autumn and winter and are followed by woody seed-bearing cones.

New Ozzie Breed of Plants

Sydney Garden Talk Wed 5-6, Sat. 12-1pm 2RRR 88.5fm
Feature Interview: Todd Layt, owner & manager of Ozbreed Plants-talks about new plants he has bred.
ISABELLA®Liriope muscari
Isabella is a denser more compact fine leaf foliage and forms a dense ground cover.
In summer, display of showy pink flowers.
Isabella is drought and frost tolerant, and good for sunny or very shady positions.
In cooler areas it is a good idea to cut it back low to the ground in late winter.
Isabella grows to about 40cm high, with a wide spread of 50cm, making it an excellent ground cover.
PENNSTRIPE Pennisetum alopecuroides 'PAV300'
First Variegated Australian Native Grass Pennstripe is a showy, compact clumping perennial grass with narrow arching leaves and spectacular feathery flower plumes from summer to autumn.
The main feature of this variety is its stand out variegated foliage and compact form. Pennstripe grows to approximately 45cm x 45cm, which is 3/5 the size of the common form.
Pennstripe is the first variegated Australian native grass.
Vegetable Heroes:Broad Beans-belong to Fabaceae.
Like all beans, they fix atmospheric nitrogen and so, are also useful as a green manure.
They are hardy, easy to grow. Plant them in April or May for an early spring harvest. Good varieties for this region include Early Long Pod, any of the Windsor varieties and Cole’s Dwarf Prolific.
Broad beans prefer a sunny well-drained position in the garden. Ideally, the soil should fertile, but should not
have excess nitrogen or rich manure as this will promote leaf growth rather than flower (and bean) production and will make the plant more sensitive to frost and disease.
Sow 5-10cm below ground. You can sow in a weak solution of seaweed extract overnight to speed up germination.Takes up to two weeks to germinate and 3-5 months to harvest. Pick early to avoid having to peel them beans to eat them.
Design Elements: Colour Green.
Plant of the Week: Banksia ericifolia.
What's On. Sydney Botanic Gardens plant sale-Sat.8th May, 9-1pm.

Pandemonium with Bromeliads!

Sydney Garden Talk Wednesday5-6pm, Saturday12-1pm 88.5fm, 2RRR
Feature Interview:Treasurer NSW Bromeliad Society, Ken Phelan talks with me about the different genera with the Bromeliaceae family.We talk about how to distinguish between, Neoregelia, Nidularium and Vriesia, as well as which of the genera are more sun hardy. Those with hard leaves and spines on the edges of the leaves such as Aechmea, and some Guzmania.
Vegetable Hero: Mustard Plant. Mustard seeds of the various mustard plants are among the smallest of seeds. The seeds are about 3mm in diameter, and may be colored from yellowish white to black. They are important spices in many regional cuisines. The seeds can come from three different plants: black mustard (Brassica nigra), brown Indian mustard (B. juncea), and white mustard (B. hirta/Sinapis alba).Mustard is grown like lettuce. It is more heat tolerant than lettuce, but long hot summer days will force the plant to bolt (go to seed). If you can get the seeds, sow them in early the Spring or early Autumn.
Sow mustard seeds 1/4 to 1/3 inch deep, and 3" apart. Thin seedlings to 5" - 9" apart.
They prefer cool weather, so leave the middle of the summer for the heat loving vegetables.
Mustard plants grow well in most good garden soils. They prefer full sun and cool weather. Planting successive small crops, separated about a week apart, results in a continuous supply of greens.
Mustard plants should be grown quickly. Use plenty of water, and ample amounts of fertilizer, to promote fast growth of tender, green leaves. Water plants during dry periods.
Mustard greens are eaten raw, or cooked. Harvest leaves while young and tender. Pick individual leave, or the entire plant. Leaves get tough and have a strong flavor during hot, dry weather.
Design Elements: Cool colours
Plant of the Week,Gordonia axillaris or Poached Egg Tree.Even though Gordonia is yet another genus in the tea family with flowers that closely resemble single white camellias with their large central boss of yellow stamens. The genus is now considered a strictly New World one, because the Asian species have been moved to the genus Polyspora.
Polyspora axillaris has the common name of Fried Egg Tree, so named for its 9mm wide white flower with its orange-yellow central boss of stamens. There’s a couple of quite good specimens near tennis courts in Hillcrest ave, Gladesville..

If you're looking for a small tree for your backyard, then you must check out this one.  better known to most by its old name Gordonia axillaris .
What's On:Bromeliad Society Autumn Show, 11 Wellbank St. Concord, 24th &25th Arpil 9-5pm

Save the Salt Marsh Please

Sydney Garden Talk Wednesdays 5-6pm, Saturdays 12-1pm. 2RRR 88.5fm
Feature Interview: Mia Dalby-Ball, ecologist specialising in salt marshes, and river systems.
Saltmarshes are considered to be important coastal habitats because of their role in filtering surface water and  run off from land before it enters the estuary and the sea, their contribution to coastal productivity and because they are a source of organic material and nutrients for a wide range of marine communities.Salt marshes are the spongy layers between Mangroves and the land that may occur inland or near the sea.
They support grasses and succulents plants, but also small crabs, about 2-3 cm in size. The spawn from the crabs supports fish called small fry that are an essential food source for the bigger fish and so on up the chain.
Large numbers of crabs burrow in saltmarshes environments. These crabs excavate burrows over large areas in the saltmarsh, changing the physical structure of the environment.
From studies about mangroves and crabs, it’s been found that when the crabs bury the plant material in their burrows, this enhances the efficiency of microbial decomposition in subsurface mangrove sediments..
Crabs in mangroves are recognised for the role to the structure and function of mangrove habitats because of their burrowing and feeding activities, where they are high order predators.
These crabs are important to the foodweb because they process the leaf litter into more palatable forms and so contributing to nutrient recycling.
Vegetable Hero:Ellataria cardamomum-Cardamon
Cardamom is a perennial (means won’t grow a trunk or turn into a tree) with tall simple canes or stems that grow out of rhizomes. It is native to the shady forests of India, Ceylon and Malaysia.
Growing Cardamom-is a tough plant and drought tolerant as well if you grow it in the right spot.
You need to get a rhizome from someone in order to grow cardamon.True to its original habitat, cardamom prefers humous rich soil, filtered light and room to grow. You can grow it in a pot if you really must, but over summer it will get pot-bound, and refuse to flower, so you must keep dividing the plant and passing it out to friends (a great gift, by the way).

Even if your plant doesn’t flower you will have a huge supply of fragrant leaves, which is just as good to have as the spice.
From winter to midsummer feed your plant with fish emulsion.
Design Elements;Colour in Garden Design, designing with Hot Colours.Tropical associations, red, yellow, bright pink and organge.Warm colours may the garden seem closer than it is really is so use these colours to make parts of the garden to draw visitors into a space. Create a focal point with a hot colour.
Use Bougainvillea, Cannas, Bird of Paradise, Hibiscus, Kniphofias.
Temper down the look with palms,Philodendron and ferns-ie. plants with big leaves. Try Ensete ventricosum.
Plant red flowers among silver foliage to give jewel effect.
Plant of the Week. Asters:Mostly very frost resistant, asters have a preference for well-drained fertile soil that remains moist during the growing season. A sunny, airy, open position ensures maximum flower production and minimum mildew, which can cause problems in humid conditions. Deadhead routinely to encourage continued flowering, and cut back hard after flowering. Propagate by winter division or from spring softwood cuttings.
What's On:
Bromeliad Society Autumn show. Senior Citizens centre,Wellbank street, Concord 24,25th April. 9-5pm

At the Easter Show

Sydney Garden Talk 2RRR 88.5 fm Saturdays 12-1pm, Wednesdays 5-6 pm
Feature Interview: Jeff Cooke, Managing Director Ramm Botanicals, http://www.ramm.com.au/
Talking about new plants bred by Ramm: Anigozanthus "Pink Pearl." Brachysome "White Cloud." Mandevilla "Regal Ruby."
Vegetable Hero: Petroselinum-Parsley
Design Elements: Designing your garden with colour. Ep.1-Mixed Colours and the Colour Wheel.
Plant of the Week: Fuchsia
What's On.

Join A Garden Club Now

SYDNEY GARDEN TALK 2RRR 88.5 fm
Saturdays 12-1pm, Wednesdays 5-6pm
Feature Interview: Christine Rethers, Secretary Kuringai Horticultural Society. meets Tuesday 6th April, 7.30pm
Vegetable Hero: Mizuna-Japanes lettuce  greens. Easy to grow, just sow the seeds and pick off the leaves. Use in stir frys, soups, salalds.
Design Elements:Mediterranean gardens.
Plant of the week:Correa reflexa, Correa, alba, Correa pulchella-Correas, or Native Fuchsia
Flowering now and all through winter providing nectary for all nectar feeding birds.
Grows in part sun, not full western sun. Water over dry periods.
Whats On: