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Gardening / Shadow over magnificent magnolias
The Magnolia “Black Tulip”… with purple-black blooms up to 15cm across. MAGNOLIAS present a magnificent floral display in spring, particularly in the older southside suburbs, yet it’s hard to imagine...
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Gardening / Falling out of love with lawns
FOR thousands of years magnificent gardens were created without a lawn and it wasn’t until the 17th and 18th centuries, in the grand estates in England, that they become fashionable. It was easy with...
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Gardening / Learning to live without the lawn
Out goes the lawn and in goes the drip irrigation.Three years later… a low-maintenance Mediterranean garden. WHILE some gardeners love their lawns, irrespective of maintenance costs, others may be...
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Gardening / The man who found fragrance
One the world’s most famous rosarians, David Austin. THE contribution of Englishman David Austin, one the world’s most famous rosarians, to growers worldwide cannot be underestimated. Austin, who...
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Gardening / Hanging around a small garden
Use a variety of plants for hanging gardens. HANGING gardens are a great way to brighten up a verandah or townhouse balcony with a floral display in a minimum of space. I say hanging gardens rather...
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Gardening / Sleeves up, it’s springtime!
Clematis are one of the easiest plants to grow for summer colour.OCTOBER heralds the real start of spring and one of the busiest times of the year for gardeners. What to do first? Concentrate on the...
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Gardening / The power of regular pruning
The full, colourful effect of pruning Photinia robusta at the right time.BESIDES promoting more flowers, pruning is important to keeping shrubs under control so that they don’t intrude over footpaths...
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Gardening / The bliss of spring blossom
Now’s an excellent time to select lilacs at garden centres, as they come into flower. SPRING blossom is a reason why living in the older areas of Canberra is so desirable with streets lined with...
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Gardening / There’s lots of love for maples
The “wow-factor” maple… some magnificent specimens can be seen growing in Canberra’s older suburbs. COLD-climate, Japanese maples are some of the world’s best loved trees and some magnificent...
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Gardening / The rosy world of apples
There’s that apple…. “The Fall of Man” by Peter Paul Rubens (1628-29).THE humble apple has been grown, it seems, since the time Eve gave Adam that apple, from a tree of knowledge of good and evil in...
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Gardening / Colourful option for the ‘Gaza’ strip
A colourful solution to a driveway… hardy, colourful gazanias.WHAT to do with the centre between the concrete strips for driveways? I know this sounds old-fashioned in today’s world of driveways with...
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Gardening / At home with successful citrus
Meyer lemon in a 50-centimetre terracotta container. BUT for oranges, citrus trees, such as lemons, limes, kumquats and grapefruit, all grow well in our region. Typically, oranges need the long, hot...
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Gardening / Small star called ‘Baby Pete’
Agapanthus “Baby Pete”… suitable for a path border. AGAPANTHUS has always been a firm garden favourite, although the old-fashioned varieties are now listed as an environmental weed in many areas due...
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Gardening / Why wisteria makes a statement
What a show, wisteria in full bloom in a Canberra garden.WISTERIA growing over a pergola or arch makes a statement, both with its flowers and superb fragrance. Cedric Bryant. The frame needs to be...
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Gardening / Inspiring books worth a look
ANYONE looking for the Christmas gift that really can’t go wrong? How about a gardening book? I have listed here three new books that, even on a rainy day, the recipient can sit inside and still enjoy...
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Gardening / Many worlds of the Botanic Gardens
The flowers of the Waratah “Canberry Gem”.ONE of Canberra’s underrated attractions is the Australian National Botanic Gardens. It’s a great experience for visitors and a good place to start is by...
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Opinion / Tram trees go to pot with rigid growing
Spring Rings… overcoming the problem of trees becoming root bound in rigid pots. A THOUSAND or more Eucalyptus mannifera for the tramway have arrived at the Yarralumla Nursery. They are potted in...
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Gardening / For autumn colour, the time is now
Chrysanthemums… always present a good show. A LONG, hot summer maybe, but now’s the time to think about the autumn garden. In the excitement around spring bulbs, the wonderful bulbs for colour in the...
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Gardening / Bringing bulbs into the sun
IT seems only a short time ago we were enjoying daffodils and, with March a few weeks away, it’s time to dig up and replant bulbs. Dig up bulbs in shady spots and replant bulbs in full sunshine. Often...
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Gardening / Dripping a way through heat
WOW, what a storm; I thought the roof of our carport was going to head skywards. It stopped almost as soon as it started, but the damage was unbelievable. The downed eucalypt in the Majura Primary...
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