Real World Gardener-Horticulture, Gardening, Learning to Grow

BEE KEEPING part 1

Thinking about keeping bees but didn’t know where to start?

Is keeping bees a lot of hard work?

Marianne & John Scott

Are you wondering why keep them in the first place?

Well there’s the pollination of flowers, both ornamental and on vegetables in your garden as well as neighbouring gardens, plus the reward of honey by the kilo, not to mention the hive byproduct of beeswax.

Let’s find out about things you need to know about keeping bees in part 1 of this 2 part segment.

I'm talking with John Scot from www.eezybeez.com.au

 

Langstroth Hive: Image-CSIRO

NOTE:  If you are keen on keeping bees, then you must register with the Department of Primary Industries.

A hive is made up of a bottom board, a box and a lid. When you expand a put another box on top, this box is called a 'super.'

What type of hives are out there?

Flow Hive

Langstroth: the traditional hive with wooden frames.

There are two sizes, an 8 or 10 frame box.

Each frame has hexagonal wax moulds that the bees can then use to build their own comb on top of. 

Flow Hive: The bees fill the honey cells and cap them off. When you insert the Flow Key and turn it,  the hone cells are split so that honey flows into the trough, through a tube and into your jar.

 

We all know what honey is but did you know that that bees make it by gathering nectar from plants and processing it in their stomachs?

They keep the honey in cells, adding an enzyme to ripen it.

It's stored as a food reserve for the colony in winter but, since they make more than they need, beekeepers can collect the surplus.

If you have any questions for me or for John, why not write in to [email protected] or write in to 2rrr, PO Box 644 Gladesville NSW 1675.

BEE KEEPING part 1

Thinking about keeping bees but didn’t know where to start?

Is keeping bees a lot of hard work?

Marianne & John Scott

Are you wondering why keep them in the first place?

Well there’s the pollination of flowers, both ornamental and on vegetables in your garden as well as neighbouring gardens, plus the reward of honey by the kilo, not to mention the hive byproduct of beeswax.

Let’s find out about things you need to know about keeping bees in part 1 of this 2 part segment.

I'm talking with John Scot from www.eezybeez.com.au

 

Langstroth Hive: Image-CSIRO

NOTE:  If you are keen on keeping bees, then you must register with the Department of Primary Industries.

A hive is made up of a bottom board, a box and a lid. When you expand a put another box on top, this box is called a 'super.'

What type of hives are out there?

Flow Hive

Langstroth: the traditional hive with wooden frames.

There are two sizes, an 8 or 10 frame box.

Each frame has hexagonal wax moulds that the bees can then use to build their own comb on top of. 

Flow Hive: The bees fill the honey cells and cap them off. When you insert the Flow Key and turn it,  the hone cells are split so that honey flows into the trough, through a tube and into your jar.

 

We all know what honey is but did you know that that bees make it by gathering nectar from plants and processing it in their stomachs?

They keep the honey in cells, adding an enzyme to ripen it.

It's stored as a food reserve for the colony in winter but, since they make more than they need, beekeepers can collect the surplus.

If you have any questions for me or for John, why not write in to [email protected] or write in to 2rrr, PO Box 644 Gladesville NSW 1675.

PLANT OF THE WEEK

Angophora hispida: Dwarf Apple

Here’s a much smaller relative of one of Australia’s native giant trees, Angophora costata.

The genus name is the same but this tree fits into a small garden and with the profusion of flowers in summer that will attract all manner of bees and nectar feeding birds.

How do angophoras differ from eucalypts?

Angophoras have leaves that are opposite always, but in eucalypts and corymbias, the leaves are for the most part alternate except for juvenile leaves.

The seed capsules of angophoras have ribbing on the outside.

 

Angophora hispida flower

 Let’s find out why we should grow it. I'm talking with Adrian O'Malley, native plant expert and horticulturist.

Angophora hispida has an extremely small distribution but worth growing because of the many features. Growing naturally in heath and open woodland as a smallish gnarly looking tree, however it will grow in a variety of soil types including clay.

Height is a maximum of 6m.

Plus,if it grows in Orange in central west NSW, one of the coldest places in the state where it generally snows in winter, it will cope with frost. 

Protection from frost is only need when the tree is still young.

The tree's habit is a single trunk but if you prune right down to the ground, it will resprout from a lignotuber with multiple trunks.

If you have any questions either for me or Adrian, why not write in to [email protected]

PLANT OF THE WEEK

Angophora hispida: Dwarf Apple

Here’s a much smaller relative of one of Australia’s native giant trees, Angophora costata.

The genus name is the same but this tree fits into a small garden and with the profusion of flowers in summer that will attract all manner of bees and nectar feeding birds.

How do angophoras differ from eucalypts?

Angophoras have leaves that are opposite always, but in eucalypts and corymbias, the leaves are for the most part alternate except for juvenile leaves.

The seed capsules of angophoras have ribbing on the outside.

 

Angophora hispida flower

 Let’s find out why we should grow it. I'm talking with Adrian O'Malley, native plant expert and horticulturist.

Angophora hispida has an extremely small distribution but worth growing because of the many features. Growing naturally in heath and open woodland as a smallish gnarly looking tree, however it will grow in a variety of soil types including clay.

Height is a maximum of 6m.

Plus,if it grows in Orange in central west NSW, one of the coldest places in the state where it generally snows in winter, it will cope with frost. 

Protection from frost is only need when the tree is still young.

The tree's habit is a single trunk but if you prune right down to the ground, it will resprout from a lignotuber with multiple trunks.

If you have any questions either for me or Adrian, why not write in to [email protected]

DESIGN ELEMENTS

Living Path Edges.

 

Continuing the series on lawn alternatives but this time we’re throwing in those plants that will suit

growing along a path like a living edge.

 

Lirope Stripey White

What do you have growing along your path?

Perhaps you have terracotta or brick borders or maybe even a steel edge.

But what about a living path edge?

Plants that are suitable for path edges are necessarily a lot of hard work.

They can soften a path and make it look that much greener. 

We’re not going to walk on them so what can grow along the path?

Let’s find out.

I'm talking with Glenice Buck from www.glenicebuckdesigns.com.au

Agapanthus Bingo White: photo curtesy www.ozbreed.com.au

 

The top picks for living path edges were

Santolina chamaecyparissus-very hardy and self-shaping. Alternanthera Little Ruby-not for frosty areas.

Liriope muscari variegated such as Glenice’s favourite called 'Stripey White' growing to a max of 20cm in height.

Teucrium fruiticans or Germander.

Repeat flowering dwarf agapanthus with white flowers called Bingo. Lookout for it in your nursery. 

For all the latest news - Follow Glenice on Facebook or Instagram

Facebook : www.facebook/glenicebuckdesigns

Instagram: Glenice_Buck_Designs

Or Subscribe to Glenice's monthly Garden Greetings Newsletter: www.tinyletter.com/glenicebuckdesigns

If you have any questions for me or for Glenice, please write in to [email protected]

DESIGN ELEMENTS

Living Path Edges.

 

Continuing the series on lawn alternatives but this time we’re throwing in those plants that will suit

growing along a path like a living edge.

 

Lirope Stripey White

What do you have growing along your path?

Perhaps you have terracotta or brick borders or maybe even a steel edge.

But what about a living path edge?

Plants that are suitable for path edges are necessarily a lot of hard work.

They can soften a path and make it look that much greener. 

We’re not going to walk on them so what can grow along the path?

Let’s find out.

I'm talking with Glenice Buck from www.glenicebuckdesigns.com.au

Agapanthus Bingo White: photo curtesy www.ozbreed.com.au

 

The top picks for living path edges were

Santolina chamaecyparissus-very hardy and self-shaping. Alternanthera Little Ruby-not for frosty areas.

Liriope muscari variegated such as Glenice’s favourite called 'Stripey White' growing to a max of 20cm in height.

Teucrium fruiticans or Germander.

Repeat flowering dwarf agapanthus with white flowers called Bingo. Lookout for it in your nursery. 

For all the latest news - Follow Glenice on Facebook or Instagram

Facebook : www.facebook/glenicebuckdesigns

Instagram: Glenice_Buck_Designs

Or Subscribe to Glenice's monthly Garden Greetings Newsletter: www.tinyletter.com/glenicebuckdesigns

If you have any questions for me or for Glenice, please write in to [email protected]

DESIGN ELEMENTS

Lawn Alternatives for Low Foot Traffic Areas

Continuing the series on lawn alternatives but this time we’re throwing in those plants that will only take light foot traffic, rather than say constantly walking on the area or playing cricket or football.

So what sort of plant alternatives are there for low foot traffic areas in part shade or hot spots in your garden?

Let’s find out. I'm talking with Glenice Buck from 

www.glenicebuckdesigns.com.au

 

For hotspots: Sedum acre as a lawn alternative.

 

The three top picks for lawn alternatives in low traffic areas with some shade are Corsican mint, (Mentha requieni) Chamomile nobilis or lawn chamomile.

For hot spots choose creeping thyme, (Thymus serpyllum) or Stonecrop, (Sedum acre.) 

For all the latest news - Follow Glenice on Facebook or Instagram

Subscribe to Glenice's monthly Garden Greetings Newsletter: www.tinyletter.com/glenicebuckdesigns 

If you have any questions for me or for Glenice, please write in to [email protected]

DESIGN ELEMENTS

Lawn Alternatives for Low Foot Traffic Areas

Continuing the series on lawn alternatives but this time we’re throwing in those plants that will only take light foot traffic, rather than say constantly walking on the area or playing cricket or football.

So what sort of plant alternatives are there for low foot traffic areas in part shade or hot spots in your garden?

Let’s find out. I'm talking with Glenice Buck from 

www.glenicebuckdesigns.com.au

 

For hotspots: Sedum acre as a lawn alternative.

 

The three top picks for lawn alternatives in low traffic areas with some shade are Corsican mint, (Mentha requieni) Chamomile nobilis or lawn chamomile.

For hot spots choose creeping thyme, (Thymus serpyllum) or Stonecrop, (Sedum acre.) 

For all the latest news - Follow Glenice on Facebook or Instagram

Subscribe to Glenice's monthly Garden Greetings Newsletter: www.tinyletter.com/glenicebuckdesigns 

If you have any questions for me or for Glenice, please write in to [email protected]

THE GOOD EARTH

Luffa or loofah grows on a vine

Growing Plant Fibres

Did you know that there are lots of plants that may be used to produce plant fibre and many fibre plants are grown as field crops to make paper, cloth, and rope? 

But how easy is it to grow plant fibres? 

In this segment, you will find out that it's not only easy to grow these plants, but the fibre they produces is a sustainable source of products that you can use around the home.

 

Let’s find out what this is all about all about. 

I'm talking with Margaret Mossakowska from www.mosshouse.com.au

These fibre plants are useful and easy to grow.

If you want a more sustainable bathroom sponge that you use, it can be grown in your garden.

Use the luffa for washing your dishes too.

After the luffa is finished with, throw it in the compost bin where it will break down; after all it's a plant fibre.

Growing luffa is dead easy, easy as long as you don’t confuse if for a cucumber or zucchini vine.

Don’t be like me, make sure you label the spot where you put those seeds in the veggie bed.

Cotton plant

Then there’s the cotton bush which has pretty hibiscus type flowers.

Easy to grow and easy to harvest the cotton.

You just need to remove the large black seeds before you using it.

If you have any questions for me or for Margaret, why not write in to [email protected] or write in to 2rrr, PO Box 644 Gladesville NSW 1675.

THE GOOD EARTH

Luffa or loofah grows on a vine

Growing Plant Fibres

Did you know that there are lots of plants that may be used to produce plant fibre and many fibre plants are grown as field crops to make paper, cloth, and rope? 

But how easy is it to grow plant fibres? 

In this segment, you will find out that it's not only easy to grow these plants, but the fibre they produces is a sustainable source of products that you can use around the home.

 

Let’s find out what this is all about all about. 

I'm talking with Margaret Mossakowska from www.mosshouse.com.au

These fibre plants are useful and easy to grow.

If you want a more sustainable bathroom sponge that you use, it can be grown in your garden.

Use the luffa for washing your dishes too.

After the luffa is finished with, throw it in the compost bin where it will break down; after all it's a plant fibre.

Growing luffa is dead easy, easy as long as you don’t confuse if for a cucumber or zucchini vine.

Don’t be like me, make sure you label the spot where you put those seeds in the veggie bed.

Cotton plant

Then there’s the cotton bush which has pretty hibiscus type flowers.

Easy to grow and easy to harvest the cotton.

You just need to remove the large black seeds before you using it.

If you have any questions for me or for Margaret, why not write in to [email protected] or write in to 2rrr, PO Box 644 Gladesville NSW 1675.