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
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Saturday, February 27, 2010
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Garden Clubs
SYDNEY GARDEN TALK 2RRR 88.5 FM Saturdays 12 noon-1pm & Wednesdays 5-6 pm
Feature interview: Eastwood Garden Club Secretary:ailsa Wareham.
The club meets every 2nd Tuesday at 7pm at the Dundas Baptist Church,154 Marsden Road, Dundas (cnr Carson str.) opposite Brush Farm House.
Vegetable Hero: Chives-Allium Schoenoprasum.
Chives are a very easy plant to grow. A couple of seeds planted in a pot or a corner of an herb garden make a great source of a flavourful herb for soups, dips, omelettes and garnish for just about anything.. Chives like sunny spots, but they will cope with a bit of light shade.
They like well-drained soil, loaded with organic nutrients, and they like to be kept moist. That’s the tip. People think that chives are a dry climate plant because of their appearance-grey, narrow leaves, pretty much what dry climate plants look like.
So if you’re wondering why your Chives are looking poorly or not growing that much, give them so more water than you’ve been doing especially around the root zone.
Even so, chives will tolerate dry conditions for reasonable periods of time. Sprinkle chive seed on top of the soil and tamp down lightly. (Chive seeds lose their viability quickly; so try to plant them within the year they have been purchased.)
If you’re not having any luck with seeds, try propagating some by division.
That is, planting rooted clumps in spring,
Established or more mature plants usually need to be divided every 3-4 years. Design Elements: Ornaments in your courtyard garden.
Design Elements:Ornaments for your Courtyard
Choose large pots to make a statement. Steer clear of itty bitty pots-too much to care for, will need constant watering.
Plant of the Week: Hibiscus-Hibiscus rosa-chinensis
POSITION: In order to obtain the best results from your hibiscus, make sure you choose an open sunny situation, preferably sheltered from cold prevailing winds. Full sun is essential, although hibiscus will grow and survive in shaded positions, they will not bloom as prolifically as if planted in full sun. Hibiscus do well on northern walls, particularly the modern varieties.
Hibiscus will grow with other shrubs, but they prefer to be planted on their own, and to obtain optimum results prepare a special bed for them alone, so that they do not have to compete for food, light, water and sun. Half a day's sun is the minimum requirement Remember also that hibiscus grow happily in pots, given an open potting mix and kept moist
The best time to prune hibiscus is just before the new season's growth, usually about September
What's On:
Sunday 28 Feb, Permapatch Community Garden Lane Cove is open from 2 to 5pm if you’d like to find out more about community gardening. There’ll be a working bee, children’s activities and afternoon tea. It’s located behind Chatswood West Uniting Church at the corner of Pacific Highway and Mowbray Road. There’s parking on site. Call Jono on 0401 890 256
Feature interview: Eastwood Garden Club Secretary:ailsa Wareham.
The club meets every 2nd Tuesday at 7pm at the Dundas Baptist Church,154 Marsden Road, Dundas (cnr Carson str.) opposite Brush Farm House.
Vegetable Hero: Chives-Allium Schoenoprasum.
Chives are a very easy plant to grow. A couple of seeds planted in a pot or a corner of an herb garden make a great source of a flavourful herb for soups, dips, omelettes and garnish for just about anything.. Chives like sunny spots, but they will cope with a bit of light shade.
They like well-drained soil, loaded with organic nutrients, and they like to be kept moist. That’s the tip. People think that chives are a dry climate plant because of their appearance-grey, narrow leaves, pretty much what dry climate plants look like.
So if you’re wondering why your Chives are looking poorly or not growing that much, give them so more water than you’ve been doing especially around the root zone.
Even so, chives will tolerate dry conditions for reasonable periods of time. Sprinkle chive seed on top of the soil and tamp down lightly. (Chive seeds lose their viability quickly; so try to plant them within the year they have been purchased.)
If you’re not having any luck with seeds, try propagating some by division.
That is, planting rooted clumps in spring,
Established or more mature plants usually need to be divided every 3-4 years. Design Elements: Ornaments in your courtyard garden.
Design Elements:Ornaments for your Courtyard
Choose large pots to make a statement. Steer clear of itty bitty pots-too much to care for, will need constant watering.
Plant of the Week: Hibiscus-Hibiscus rosa-chinensis
POSITION: In order to obtain the best results from your hibiscus, make sure you choose an open sunny situation, preferably sheltered from cold prevailing winds. Full sun is essential, although hibiscus will grow and survive in shaded positions, they will not bloom as prolifically as if planted in full sun. Hibiscus do well on northern walls, particularly the modern varieties.
Hibiscus will grow with other shrubs, but they prefer to be planted on their own, and to obtain optimum results prepare a special bed for them alone, so that they do not have to compete for food, light, water and sun. Half a day's sun is the minimum requirement Remember also that hibiscus grow happily in pots, given an open potting mix and kept moist
The best time to prune hibiscus is just before the new season's growth, usually about September
What's On:
Sunday 28 Feb, Permapatch Community Garden Lane Cove is open from 2 to 5pm if you’d like to find out more about community gardening. There’ll be a working bee, children’s activities and afternoon tea. It’s located behind Chatswood West Uniting Church at the corner of Pacific Highway and Mowbray Road. There’s parking on site. Call Jono on 0401 890 256
Saturday, February 13, 2010
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.
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.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
All About Begonias
Sydney Garden Talk -Saturdays 12noon-!pm on 2RRR 88.5 FM
Today's program featured an interview with Peter Sharp, who has over thirty years experience in Begonia growing and was fundamental to establishing the Begonia beds at Sydney Botanic gardens fifteen years ago.
The beds contain 60 different species and about 50 different hybrids of Begonias.
Start with bedding begonias in a mass to give the visual effect.
The first can Begonia should be Begonia "Irene Nuss," -will take full sun to part shade, flowers from end of spring to winter. Has huge panicles of pink flowers.Almost an angel wing leaf.
All Begonias have leaves that are asymmetrical.
Recommended groundcover Begonia: B. Convolvulacea-can grow up to cover a fence, otherwise about 30-50cm tall depending on conditions. Takes full sun or shade-will grow under trees.
Begonias are heavy feeders,-use a slow release and also supplement with a liquid fertiliser if growing in pots.
Need frequent pruning to shape and size. Pruning of cane Begonias forces growth from the root system rather than promoting lateral growth.
If pots are too small for these Begonias, growth of side shoots will be inhibited.
Begonias for shade: B. listada-deep green velvety leaves with lime stripe-groundcover.
Next to the Cactus family, Begonias are the most drought tolerant as they are succulents by nature. Store moisture in leaves, stems and root systems.
Vegetable Hero:Kohlrabi-Brassica oleracea "Gongylodes"
Heirloom seed from http://www.greenharvest.com.au/ has purple skin and white flesh. Easy to grow.
It has a bright purple skin and white flesh. The flesh is tender with a mild, cabbage-turnip flavour. This is a very hardy vegetable and easy to grow .
Kohlrabi is usually grown from seedlings started in a mini greenhouse, but you can sow seed directly in the garden. Plant the seeds 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep; -, 0.6 to 1.3 cms,
Thin them to 13 to 15 cms or 5 to 6 inches when they're large enough to handle.
Kohlrabi likes fertile, well-drained soil with a pH between 6.5 and 7.5. The soil should be high in organic matter. Also, when growing kohlrabi, you want to make sure to keep the soil well watered or you will end up with woody stemmed plants that are too tough. How do I know when it’s ready to pick?
When kohlrabi bulbs are two to three inches across they can be picked. Or pick then when small, golf-ball-sized, as they become fibrous with age.
Design Elements:-Sunny courtyard.
Using vertical elements will make the space seem bigger.
Climbing plants soften wals and scent intensifies in small spaces:Climbing Star Jasmine, Pandorea jasminoides "Jazzy Bellz," Rosa "Pierre de Ronsard,"-creamy pink double, repeat flowering. Passionfruit-Nellie Kellie.
Espalier-citrus, Coffee tree-Coffea arabica.
Shrubs-Viburnum tinus'Eve Price'-2.5x2.5m
Escallonia 'Red Knight'deep Cerise flowers, grows 1.5x1.5m
Striking folieage-Agave or Phormium Tricolour.
Seasonal colour-Geraniums-angel-wings.Petunias, Osteospermums-Daisy.
Plant of the Week:Ivory Curl Tree-Buckinghamia celsissima.
Buckinghamia celsissima is a hardy reliable flowering tree which has proved popular as a street tree in many areas because of its adaptability. It can either be grown as a tree, or pruned to maintain a shrubby appearance. Responds well to pruning.Flowers are white to cream and occur in summer in large racemes up to 200 mm long. The flowers are well displayed at the ends of the branches.
Ideal growth is achieved in full sun and deep well-drained soil, where it will develop a dense, compact, rounded crown of deep green leaves. New growth is flushed bronze/red. Moderately fast growth can be expected if well-watered and fertilized in summer.
Watering-Although watering is necessary initially, once established, rainforest plants require no more water than other garden plants.
What's On:
Tuesday 9 Feb: Eastwood Evening Garden Club will meet at 7.30pm at the Dundas Baptist Church Hall. Speaker Ken McGill, who works at a nearby nursery, will talk about what’s new for autumn. There’s a cutting table and library available. For more info phone 9874 2306
Friday 12 Feb Composting and Worm Farm workshop at Lane Cove Community Gardens corner Pacific Highway and Mowbray Rd, behind the church, from 9.30am to 12.30pm. Composting and worm farming prevents food scraps from ending up in landfill, and provides great nutrients for your garden. Online booking only for this one. Go to www.lanecove.nsw.gov.au to book. If you do have enquiries about this or don’t have access to a computer call 9911 3555. It’s free of charge for anyone to come along and Lane Cove residents who attend get a free compost bin or worm farm.
Saturday 13 Feb. Growing Friends plant sale at the Royal Botanic Gardens from 9am – 1pm. Free entry.
Also-, Royal Botanic Gardens. Sogetsu Ikebana demonstration – in other words, the art of Japanese flower arrangement. Joan Perkins from the Sogetsu Teachers Association will show you the basic. 10.30Am – 12.15pm in the Maiden Theatre. Cost $35, book on 9231 8182.
Today's program featured an interview with Peter Sharp, who has over thirty years experience in Begonia growing and was fundamental to establishing the Begonia beds at Sydney Botanic gardens fifteen years ago.
The beds contain 60 different species and about 50 different hybrids of Begonias.
Start with bedding begonias in a mass to give the visual effect.
The first can Begonia should be Begonia "Irene Nuss," -will take full sun to part shade, flowers from end of spring to winter. Has huge panicles of pink flowers.Almost an angel wing leaf.
All Begonias have leaves that are asymmetrical.
Recommended groundcover Begonia: B. Convolvulacea-can grow up to cover a fence, otherwise about 30-50cm tall depending on conditions. Takes full sun or shade-will grow under trees.
Begonias are heavy feeders,-use a slow release and also supplement with a liquid fertiliser if growing in pots.
Need frequent pruning to shape and size. Pruning of cane Begonias forces growth from the root system rather than promoting lateral growth.
If pots are too small for these Begonias, growth of side shoots will be inhibited.
Begonias for shade: B. listada-deep green velvety leaves with lime stripe-groundcover.
Next to the Cactus family, Begonias are the most drought tolerant as they are succulents by nature. Store moisture in leaves, stems and root systems.
Vegetable Hero:Kohlrabi-Brassica oleracea "Gongylodes"
Heirloom seed from http://www.greenharvest.com.au/ has purple skin and white flesh. Easy to grow.
It has a bright purple skin and white flesh. The flesh is tender with a mild, cabbage-turnip flavour. This is a very hardy vegetable and easy to grow .
Kohlrabi is usually grown from seedlings started in a mini greenhouse, but you can sow seed directly in the garden. Plant the seeds 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep; -, 0.6 to 1.3 cms,
Thin them to 13 to 15 cms or 5 to 6 inches when they're large enough to handle.
Kohlrabi likes fertile, well-drained soil with a pH between 6.5 and 7.5. The soil should be high in organic matter. Also, when growing kohlrabi, you want to make sure to keep the soil well watered or you will end up with woody stemmed plants that are too tough. How do I know when it’s ready to pick?
When kohlrabi bulbs are two to three inches across they can be picked. Or pick then when small, golf-ball-sized, as they become fibrous with age.
Design Elements:-Sunny courtyard.
Using vertical elements will make the space seem bigger.
Climbing plants soften wals and scent intensifies in small spaces:Climbing Star Jasmine, Pandorea jasminoides "Jazzy Bellz," Rosa "Pierre de Ronsard,"-creamy pink double, repeat flowering. Passionfruit-Nellie Kellie.
Espalier-citrus, Coffee tree-Coffea arabica.
Shrubs-Viburnum tinus'Eve Price'-2.5x2.5m
Escallonia 'Red Knight'deep Cerise flowers, grows 1.5x1.5m
Striking folieage-Agave or Phormium Tricolour.
Seasonal colour-Geraniums-angel-wings.Petunias, Osteospermums-Daisy.
Plant of the Week:Ivory Curl Tree-Buckinghamia celsissima.
Buckinghamia celsissima is a hardy reliable flowering tree which has proved popular as a street tree in many areas because of its adaptability. It can either be grown as a tree, or pruned to maintain a shrubby appearance. Responds well to pruning.Flowers are white to cream and occur in summer in large racemes up to 200 mm long. The flowers are well displayed at the ends of the branches.
Ideal growth is achieved in full sun and deep well-drained soil, where it will develop a dense, compact, rounded crown of deep green leaves. New growth is flushed bronze/red. Moderately fast growth can be expected if well-watered and fertilized in summer.
Watering-Although watering is necessary initially, once established, rainforest plants require no more water than other garden plants.
What's On:
Tuesday 9 Feb: Eastwood Evening Garden Club will meet at 7.30pm at the Dundas Baptist Church Hall. Speaker Ken McGill, who works at a nearby nursery, will talk about what’s new for autumn. There’s a cutting table and library available. For more info phone 9874 2306
Friday 12 Feb Composting and Worm Farm workshop at Lane Cove Community Gardens corner Pacific Highway and Mowbray Rd, behind the church, from 9.30am to 12.30pm. Composting and worm farming prevents food scraps from ending up in landfill, and provides great nutrients for your garden. Online booking only for this one. Go to www.lanecove.nsw.gov.au to book. If you do have enquiries about this or don’t have access to a computer call 9911 3555. It’s free of charge for anyone to come along and Lane Cove residents who attend get a free compost bin or worm farm.
Saturday 13 Feb. Growing Friends plant sale at the Royal Botanic Gardens from 9am – 1pm. Free entry.
Also-, Royal Botanic Gardens. Sogetsu Ikebana demonstration – in other words, the art of Japanese flower arrangement. Joan Perkins from the Sogetsu Teachers Association will show you the basic. 10.30Am – 12.15pm in the Maiden Theatre. Cost $35, book on 9231 8182.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Community Gardens are Go!
Sydney Garden Talk Saturday 12noon-1pm 2RRR 88.5 Fm
Feature interview: Talking with Mandy Stubbs, coordinator for Permaculture North, Lane Cove and team leader for Lane Cove's first community garden on the grounds of Chatswood South Uniting Church, cnr of Mowbray road and Pacific Highway, Lane Cove.. Go to http://www.permapatch.org.au/
Open day on Sunday 31st Jan 2-5pm. Learn about no dig gardening.
Vegetable Hero:
Every couple of weeks give plants a liquid seaweed feed, and even some fish fertiliser, worm castings or more compost/compost tea.
Install irrigation right from the start.
Choose several focal points standing from your living space. Place a plant, water feature or statuary at the focal points to lead your eye. It could be a plant in a tall elegant pot or bubbling urn shaped fountain.
Plant of the Week:Mandevilla-Mandevilla sanderi
Mandevilla is known by a host of plant names. In South American countries, people know it as mandevilla, sometimes as the Chilean jasmine, Bolivian and Brazilian rose. Mandevilla is a native plant of Argentina, not Chile as originally believed. In Mexico and Central America, the plant is routinely known as the Mexican love vine.Evergreen throughout the year, mandevillas features light-green elliptical leaves and spike-like clusters of funnel-shaped blossoms at the tips of branches (shoots). Prefers full sun or part shade.
Happy in a pot or raised garden bed.
During the summer, mandevilla will enjoy some morning sun, but it must be shaded from noon on to prevent the fun from burning the foliage. Continue bi-weekly feedings with a liquid fertiliser through the summer, and keep the soil lightly moist. The only exception to the rule is the “My Fair Lady” mandevilla. Allow the soil to dry between waterings.
Also, it's quite O.K to use a complete release fertiliser like Garden Gold as well.
Next April-Most mandevillas drop their flowers in early april, some a bit longer.
Prune the plant after the flowers drop. Go to the hard wood on the branch (shoot), and prune to within two inches of this hardwood. Repeat this to each and every branch that has flowered.
Having pruned, you now must cut back on how often you water the plant. For the month of April, let the soil go dry for three or four days, then apply tepid water.
What's On:
Wednesday 3 February. Willoughby Council is holding a workshop: All you need to know about installing a rainwater tank. This workshop will introduce you to both the practical and regulatory issues associated with installing a rainwater tank at your home. The workshop will cover government rebates, health considerations, greywater reuse and tank sizing to ensure maximum benefit.
Contact: Please contact: Assistant Sustainability Education Co-ordinator on 9777 7674 or email email@willougby.nsw.gov.au RSVP by Wed 27
Saturday 6 Feb, Mt Tomah Botanic Garden. Orchid Penjing Botanic Sculpture workshop. Penjing is the ancient Chinese art of creating miniature trees and landscapes. Join Tony Lennon in creating your own Penjing work from carved sandstone and orchids. 10a,-3pm, Waratah Education centre. $95 includes materials. Bookings essential on 4567 2154.
Saturday 13 Feb. Growing Friends plant sale at the Royal Botanic Gardens from 9am – 1pm. Free entry.
Feature interview: Talking with Mandy Stubbs, coordinator for Permaculture North, Lane Cove and team leader for Lane Cove's first community garden on the grounds of Chatswood South Uniting Church, cnr of Mowbray road and Pacific Highway, Lane Cove.. Go to http://www.permapatch.org.au/
Open day on Sunday 31st Jan 2-5pm. Learn about no dig gardening.
Vegetable Hero:
Celery (Apium graveolens) belongs to the Apiaceae family and is related to parsley, parsnips and carrots. The edible parts of the plant are the fleshy leaf stalks. So why are we eating it exactly? Celery has many health benefits. It is high in Vitamin C and when celery juice is combined with a little lemon juice it can be used as a remedy for the common cold.
In fact, drinking celery juice before meals helps suppress appetite, but eating Celery takes up more calories than it has, supposedly,Celery likes rich soil. Give it good drainage and soil pH 5.8-6.7, with constant moisture.
Celery has a very shallow root system, and needs frequent watering because the roots are concentrated in the top few centimetres of soil and so they will dry out quickly.Every couple of weeks give plants a liquid seaweed feed, and even some fish fertiliser, worm castings or more compost/compost tea.
Harvest celery after 10-12 weeks. You can pick off a stem one at a time so can keep harvesting for quite a few weeks.
Design Elements: Courtyard Gardens-Functionality of the desgin. Install irrigation right from the start.
Choose several focal points standing from your living space. Place a plant, water feature or statuary at the focal points to lead your eye. It could be a plant in a tall elegant pot or bubbling urn shaped fountain.
Decide on a style- go with plants that fit that style.
Decide on what you're going to use the space for and where shady places need to be created, what views need to be masked. Plant of the Week:Mandevilla-Mandevilla sanderi
Mandevilla is known by a host of plant names. In South American countries, people know it as mandevilla, sometimes as the Chilean jasmine, Bolivian and Brazilian rose. Mandevilla is a native plant of Argentina, not Chile as originally believed. In Mexico and Central America, the plant is routinely known as the Mexican love vine.Happy in a pot or raised garden bed.
During the summer, mandevilla will enjoy some morning sun, but it must be shaded from noon on to prevent the fun from burning the foliage. Continue bi-weekly feedings with a liquid fertiliser through the summer, and keep the soil lightly moist. The only exception to the rule is the “My Fair Lady” mandevilla. Allow the soil to dry between waterings.
Also, it's quite O.K to use a complete release fertiliser like Garden Gold as well.
Next April-Most mandevillas drop their flowers in early april, some a bit longer.
Prune the plant after the flowers drop. Go to the hard wood on the branch (shoot), and prune to within two inches of this hardwood. Repeat this to each and every branch that has flowered.
Having pruned, you now must cut back on how often you water the plant. For the month of April, let the soil go dry for three or four days, then apply tepid water.
What's On:
Wednesday 3 February. Willoughby Council is holding a workshop: All you need to know about installing a rainwater tank. This workshop will introduce you to both the practical and regulatory issues associated with installing a rainwater tank at your home. The workshop will cover government rebates, health considerations, greywater reuse and tank sizing to ensure maximum benefit.
Contact: Please contact: Assistant Sustainability Education Co-ordinator on 9777 7674 or email email@willougby.nsw.gov.au RSVP by Wed 27
Saturday 6 Feb, Mt Tomah Botanic Garden. Orchid Penjing Botanic Sculpture workshop. Penjing is the ancient Chinese art of creating miniature trees and landscapes. Join Tony Lennon in creating your own Penjing work from carved sandstone and orchids. 10a,-3pm, Waratah Education centre. $95 includes materials. Bookings essential on 4567 2154.
Saturday 13 Feb. Growing Friends plant sale at the Royal Botanic Gardens from 9am – 1pm. Free entry.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Princess Lillies, and Butterflies
SYDNEY GARDEN TALK Saturdays 12noon-1pm 2RRR 88.5fm
Feature Interview: Lucinda Coates from Permaculture North, Hornsby.
http://www.permaculturenorth.org.au/
Vegetable Hero: Basella alba"Rubra" or Climbing Spinach
The plant is also much better suited for summer growing than Spinach itself.
Malabar spinach grows 2-3 metres or eight to ten feet tall and wide and produces almost unnoticeable white-tinged pink flowers in its leaf axils. When the flowers are fertilised, small, attractive, single-seeded purple berries will grow. The juice from the berries is so intensely purple that it puts beet juice to shame. A bit like Dianella berries I think. It's used as a natural food colorant for agar (vegetable "gelatine") dishes, sweets, and pastries.
Indonesian-Style Malabar Spinach
•4 cups Malabar spinach leaves
•3 tablespoons peanut oil
•3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
•½-inch piece galangal root or fresh ginger root, peeled and finely chopped
•1 red chile pepper, seeded and slivered lengthwise
•1¾ cups cream of coconut (not coconut milk)
•¼ cup fresh lime juice
•¼ teaspoon salt
•1 scallion sliced into thin rings, including green tops
•2–4 fresh kaffir lime leaves, or 2 dried leaves pulverized in a spice mill
Plant of the Week:Alstroemeria or Peruvian Lilly or Princess Lillies.
I have several colours in large 20cm terracotta pots on some stone steps. In winter I move them into a sunny spot but in summer they don’t like being blasted by the hot summer sun, so I move them to the other side of the stone steps, where it’s shade by a building.
There’s no reason why they can’t be grown along a border instead of having annuals. There spread fairly slowly and I would say that the height of this plant is about 25 - 30 cm and about 40 cms wide in a garden
They will look their best if you position the plants so they receive bright light or full sun in spring and autumn then move them to a site with dappled shade during summer.
You need to make sure that the crown of the plant (the place where new shoots arise) is not buried too deeply when planting as this can lead to rotting and possibly death of the plant. The top of the crown should be just below or equal to the top of the pot, and as the grow, you’ll find that they’ll push up even higher.
Princess Lilies continually produce new shoots to replace those that have finished flowering. These old flower shoots should be removed regularly and this can be done by pull and twist action to remove the old stems completely from the plant..
That means that you need to completely remove the shoot that has finished flowering.
What's On
Tuesday 26 January. If going into the CBD is your thing for Australia Day, The Royal Botanic Gardens has a special ceremony at 8am – Woggan-ma-gule Morning Ceremony. This event acknowledges Sydney’s traditional landowners and gives recognition to the original shoreline of Sydney Harbour. Band Lawn, Farm Cove, Royal Botanic Gardens. Free for everyone to attend.
Friday 29 January 5-7pm “South Side Swing” in Lane Cove Plaza
Enjoy listening and dancing to some 40’s – 60’s swing numbers from the Big Band era and modern jazz tunes.Contact: Faith Wieland at Lane Cove Council on 9911 3594
Saturday 30 January. Opera in the Park. Opera Australia, in conjunction with the Sydney Festival, presents Leonard Bernstein's Candide. Put the champagne on ice, pack the picnic and head to the Domain for a night of music.
Feature Interview: Lucinda Coates from Permaculture North, Hornsby.
http://www.permaculturenorth.org.au/
Vegetable Hero: Basella alba"Rubra" or Climbing Spinach
The plant is also much better suited for summer growing than Spinach itself.
Malabar spinach grows 2-3 metres or eight to ten feet tall and wide and produces almost unnoticeable white-tinged pink flowers in its leaf axils. When the flowers are fertilised, small, attractive, single-seeded purple berries will grow. The juice from the berries is so intensely purple that it puts beet juice to shame. A bit like Dianella berries I think. It's used as a natural food colorant for agar (vegetable "gelatine") dishes, sweets, and pastries.
Indonesian-Style Malabar Spinach
•4 cups Malabar spinach leaves
•3 tablespoons peanut oil
•3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
•½-inch piece galangal root or fresh ginger root, peeled and finely chopped
•1 red chile pepper, seeded and slivered lengthwise
•1¾ cups cream of coconut (not coconut milk)
•¼ cup fresh lime juice
•¼ teaspoon salt
•1 scallion sliced into thin rings, including green tops
•2–4 fresh kaffir lime leaves, or 2 dried leaves pulverized in a spice mill
Plant of the Week:Alstroemeria or Peruvian Lilly or Princess Lillies.
I have several colours in large 20cm terracotta pots on some stone steps. In winter I move them into a sunny spot but in summer they don’t like being blasted by the hot summer sun, so I move them to the other side of the stone steps, where it’s shade by a building.
There’s no reason why they can’t be grown along a border instead of having annuals. There spread fairly slowly and I would say that the height of this plant is about 25 - 30 cm and about 40 cms wide in a garden
They will look their best if you position the plants so they receive bright light or full sun in spring and autumn then move them to a site with dappled shade during summer.
You need to make sure that the crown of the plant (the place where new shoots arise) is not buried too deeply when planting as this can lead to rotting and possibly death of the plant. The top of the crown should be just below or equal to the top of the pot, and as the grow, you’ll find that they’ll push up even higher.
Princess Lilies continually produce new shoots to replace those that have finished flowering. These old flower shoots should be removed regularly and this can be done by pull and twist action to remove the old stems completely from the plant..
That means that you need to completely remove the shoot that has finished flowering.
What's On
Tuesday 26 January. If going into the CBD is your thing for Australia Day, The Royal Botanic Gardens has a special ceremony at 8am – Woggan-ma-gule Morning Ceremony. This event acknowledges Sydney’s traditional landowners and gives recognition to the original shoreline of Sydney Harbour. Band Lawn, Farm Cove, Royal Botanic Gardens. Free for everyone to attend.
Friday 29 January 5-7pm “South Side Swing” in Lane Cove Plaza
Enjoy listening and dancing to some 40’s – 60’s swing numbers from the Big Band era and modern jazz tunes.Contact: Faith Wieland at Lane Cove Council on 9911 3594
Saturday 30 January. Opera in the Park. Opera Australia, in conjunction with the Sydney Festival, presents Leonard Bernstein's Candide. Put the champagne on ice, pack the picnic and head to the Domain for a night of music.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Frangipani Fever
SYDNEY GARDEN TALK 2rrr 88.5 fm Saturdays 12noon-1pm
Today I spoke with Anthony Grassi, Events Co-ordinator for the Frangipani Society of Australia.
Next weekend 23rd and 24th January, between 10am and 4-m the society is holding a show at the Tropical centre in the Sydney Botanic Gardens.
There are 2 talks-11am-Frangipani rubra cultivation and care; 2 pm Tropical frangipanis.
If you want to join the Frangipani society go to http://www.frangipani.org.au/
Worm farms and composting workshop also at the Botanic gardens on Wednesday 20th January.
I spoke with John Coco, Horticultural Education Officer and my colleague at the gardens.
John said the you need to sprinkle some water over your worm farm everyday to keep the worms moist and alive.
Vegetable Hero: Rungia klossii or Mushroom Plant.
This mainly tropical plant family includes plants like Snapdragon, Acanthus mollis or Oyster plant, and African violets.
Apparently, the leaves are extremely rich in chlorophyll, making them, valuable for blood cleansing and building. Mushroom plant leaves have 3% protein (higher in protein than mushrooms).
If you plant it in the ground it’ll spread by suckering and will form a large clump over time. It needs a fair amount of watering but needs good drainage.
Plant of the Week: Lavender:
When you purchase your lavender, the best you can do first is prune it back by half to two-thirds in the first year. This is to make sure that the plant stays healthy looking and bushy. Otherwise plants soon get straggly and the lower part becomes quite woody with no foliage. Most important in humid climates.
Lavender. angustifolia and Lavender intermedia, flower in summer, prune in autumn.
Lavandula. dentata or French Lavender, should be pruned in summer so that it is in flower for winter and right through spring.
When taking cuttings of lavender-the best is to take a heel cutting and plant in a sandy mix.
What's On:
Sun 17 Jan – Lane Cove Alive Art & Design markets, 9am – 3pm in Lane Cove Plaza between Burns Bay and Longueville Roads. Free entry. Artists and high end craft; original jewellery, print making, etching, linocuts, handmade soaps and fashion and childrens’ wear. 25-30 stalls.
Sat 23 and Sunday 24 January, Royal Botanic Gardens. Frangipani Show. Beautiful and fragrant frangipanis on display, plants for sale and advice on how to grow them. Hosted by Frangipani Society of Australia. Runs from 10am – 4pm at the Tropical Centre, Adults $5.50, children $3.30.
Tuesday 26 January – free Australia Day concert at North Ryde Common. Time: 5 - 9pm Venue: North Ryde Common, cnr Twin and Wicks Rds North Ryde Celebrate our nation at our Australia Day Family Concert, with rides, foods, entertainment and fireworks at 9pm. Featured artists include Jenny Biddle, The Beatnix, The BBQ Kings and Go Seek.
Tuesday 26 January – Hunters Hill Council Australia Day at Clarke’s Point. The Australia Day festivities commence with official proceedings in the morning and in the afternoon a family and jazz picnic. The official ceremony is at 10am. Hunters Hill Rotary will provide a traditional Aussie BBQ. Local Jazz outfit, The Riverside Jazz Band will fill the air with some fantastic traditional Jazz music and 2RRR’s own DJ Streamer will be providing music too.
Tuesday 26 January. If going into the CBD is your thing for Australia Day, The Royal Botanic Gardens has a special ceremony at 8am – Woggan-ma-gule Morning Ceremony. This event acknowledges Sydney’s traditional landowners and gives recognition to the original shoreline of Sydney Harbour. Band Lawn, Farm Cove, Royal Botanic Gardens. Free for everyone to attend.
Sunday 31 January, 12noon – 2.30pm. Guided walk of the Priory and Gladesville Hospital by Peter Colthorpe. Meet at the Priory, 2 Salter St Gladesville with your gold coin donation. Gladesville Hospital has beautiful grounds to walk through with plenty of mature trees and plantings. For more info call Peter on 0434 673101.
Next weekend 23rd and 24th January, between 10am and 4-m the society is holding a show at the Tropical centre in the Sydney Botanic Gardens.
There are 2 talks-11am-Frangipani rubra cultivation and care; 2 pm Tropical frangipanis.
If you want to join the Frangipani society go to http://www.frangipani.org.au/
Worm farms and composting workshop also at the Botanic gardens on Wednesday 20th January.
I spoke with John Coco, Horticultural Education Officer and my colleague at the gardens.
John said the you need to sprinkle some water over your worm farm everyday to keep the worms moist and alive.
Vegetable Hero: Rungia klossii or Mushroom Plant.
This mainly tropical plant family includes plants like Snapdragon, Acanthus mollis or Oyster plant, and African violets.
Apparently, the leaves are extremely rich in chlorophyll, making them, valuable for blood cleansing and building. Mushroom plant leaves have 3% protein (higher in protein than mushrooms).
Has dark green, glossy succulent leaves. Blue flowers in spring. Recommend a semi-shaded position, with morning sun.
The plant will grow from cuttings or from root division. It can be slow to strike. Once established it can grow quite quickly. If you plant it in the ground it’ll spread by suckering and will form a large clump over time. It needs a fair amount of watering but needs good drainage.
Plant of the Week: Lavender:
When you purchase your lavender, the best you can do first is prune it back by half to two-thirds in the first year. This is to make sure that the plant stays healthy looking and bushy. Otherwise plants soon get straggly and the lower part becomes quite woody with no foliage. Most important in humid climates.
Lavender. angustifolia and Lavender intermedia, flower in summer, prune in autumn.
Lavandula. dentata or French Lavender, should be pruned in summer so that it is in flower for winter and right through spring.
When taking cuttings of lavender-the best is to take a heel cutting and plant in a sandy mix.
What's On:
Sun 17 Jan – Lane Cove Alive Art & Design markets, 9am – 3pm in Lane Cove Plaza between Burns Bay and Longueville Roads. Free entry. Artists and high end craft; original jewellery, print making, etching, linocuts, handmade soaps and fashion and childrens’ wear. 25-30 stalls.
Sat 23 and Sunday 24 January, Royal Botanic Gardens. Frangipani Show. Beautiful and fragrant frangipanis on display, plants for sale and advice on how to grow them. Hosted by Frangipani Society of Australia. Runs from 10am – 4pm at the Tropical Centre, Adults $5.50, children $3.30.
Tuesday 26 January – free Australia Day concert at North Ryde Common. Time: 5 - 9pm Venue: North Ryde Common, cnr Twin and Wicks Rds North Ryde Celebrate our nation at our Australia Day Family Concert, with rides, foods, entertainment and fireworks at 9pm. Featured artists include Jenny Biddle, The Beatnix, The BBQ Kings and Go Seek.
Tuesday 26 January – Hunters Hill Council Australia Day at Clarke’s Point. The Australia Day festivities commence with official proceedings in the morning and in the afternoon a family and jazz picnic. The official ceremony is at 10am. Hunters Hill Rotary will provide a traditional Aussie BBQ. Local Jazz outfit, The Riverside Jazz Band will fill the air with some fantastic traditional Jazz music and 2RRR’s own DJ Streamer will be providing music too.
Tuesday 26 January. If going into the CBD is your thing for Australia Day, The Royal Botanic Gardens has a special ceremony at 8am – Woggan-ma-gule Morning Ceremony. This event acknowledges Sydney’s traditional landowners and gives recognition to the original shoreline of Sydney Harbour. Band Lawn, Farm Cove, Royal Botanic Gardens. Free for everyone to attend.
Sunday 31 January, 12noon – 2.30pm. Guided walk of the Priory and Gladesville Hospital by Peter Colthorpe. Meet at the Priory, 2 Salter St Gladesville with your gold coin donation. Gladesville Hospital has beautiful grounds to walk through with plenty of mature trees and plantings. For more info call Peter on 0434 673101.
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