Real World Gardener-Horticulture, Gardening, Learning to Grow

Real World Gardener-Horticulture, Gardening, Learning to Grow

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Real World Gardener-Horticulture, Gardening, Learning to Grow episodes

  • Real World Gardener NEW Sacred Bamboo in Plant of the Week
    PLANT OF THE WEEK
    Nandina domestica spp.
    Best known for it’s hardiness and loved by local councils who seem to plant it willy-nilly, this next plant has morphed into somewhat finer forms.
    Which is a good thing because it’s one
    of those old fashioned plants that gardeners would screw up their noses at.
    Perhaps we can change your mind?
    Let’s find out.
    I'm talking with Jeremy Critchley owner of www.thegreengallery.com.au
    Jeremy mentioned Nandina filamentosa with superfine leaves. Use it as a filler plant.
    citylights-dwarf-60cm also.
     
    N Lemlim-new foliage is green instead of red.
    8 min
  • Real World Gardener NEW Sacred Bamboo in Plant of the Week
    PLANT OF THE WEEK

    Nandina domestica spp.

    Best known for it’s hardiness and loved by local councils who seem to plant it willy-nilly, this next plant has morphed into somewhat finer forms.

    Which is a good thing because it’s one

    of those old fashioned plants that gardeners would screw up their noses at.

    Perhaps we can change your mind?

    Let’s find out.

    I'm talking with Jeremy Critchley owner of www.thegreengallery.com.au

    Jeremy mentioned Nandina filamentosa with superfine leaves. Use it as a filler plant.

    1. citylights-dwarf-60cm also.

     

    N Lemlim-new foliage is green instead of red.

    8 min
  • Real World Gardener Plants for Wet Tropics in Design Elements
    DESIGN ELEMENTS
    Old Fashioned Plants for the Wet Tropics
     
    What is wet tropics? Is it your zone?
    High humidity, but not too much over 35 degrees C perhaps? 
    In Australia, we would say that Cairns, Babinda, 'cyclone alley' but not the Atherton tablelands, would fit the bill.
    Darwin also, although, the Summer's are much hotter.
    So what are the plants that would love that?
    Let’s find out
    I'm talking with Peter Nixon, garden designer and project manager of Paradisus garden design
    Peter mentioned: 
    Pisonia umbeliffera-bird lime tree.
    Mussaenda philippica or M. erythrophylla-showy bracts-large shrub with pink or white bracts.
    Warszewiczia coccinea-Pride of Trinidad-bract type red flower.2m sprawly shrub.
    Plumeria spp-P obtusa, P.rubra, P. caracasana, P. pudica- but not hybrids like P acuminata who get rust in this zone.
    Plumeria rubra photo M Cannon
     
    Perennials, and sub-shrubs:
    Pseuderanthemum laxiflorum-purple Prince, open habit, 1m, purple flowers all year.
    Heliconia rostrata-red and yellow
    Dichorisandra thyrsiflora-Blue ginger.
    Persian Shield
    Rhinacanthus nasutus,, commonly known as snake jasmine, white butterfly flowers.-Low groundcover
    ForShade: try these
    Crossandra spp. Firecracker Flower-apricot flower, 400m
    Crossandra infundibuliformis- Firecracker flower, (another form)
    Strobilanthes dyerianus-Persian shield Xanthostemon youngii-red penda, brushlike
    If you have any questions either for me or for Peter, drop us a line to [email protected] or write in to 2RRR PO Box 644 Gladesville
    11 min
  • Real World Gardener Plants for Wet Tropics in Design Elements
    DESIGN ELEMENTS

    Old Fashioned Plants for the Wet Tropics

     

    What is wet tropics? Is it your zone?

    High humidity, but not too much over 35 degrees C perhaps? 

    In Australia, we would say that Cairns, Babinda, 'cyclone alley' but not the Atherton tablelands, would fit the bill.

    Darwin also, although, the Summer's are much hotter.

    So what are the plants that would love that?

    Let’s find out

    I'm talking with Peter Nixon, garden designer and project manager of Paradisus garden design

    Peter mentioned: 

    Pisonia umbeliffera-bird lime tree.

    Mussaenda philippica or M. erythrophylla-showy bracts-large shrub with pink or white bracts.

    Warszewiczia coccinea-Pride of Trinidad-bract type red flower.2m sprawly shrub.

    Plumeria spp-P obtusa, P.rubra, P. caracasana, P. pudica- but not hybrids like P acuminata who get rust in this zone.

    Plumeria rubra photo M Cannon

     

    Perennials, and sub-shrubs:

    Pseuderanthemum laxiflorum-purple Prince, open habit, 1m, purple flowers all year.

    Heliconia rostrata-red and yellow

    Dichorisandra thyrsiflora-Blue ginger.

    Persian Shield

    Rhinacanthus nasutus,, commonly known as snake jasmine, white butterfly flowers.-Low groundcover

    ForShade: try these

    Crossandra spp. Firecracker Flower-apricot flower, 400m

    Crossandra infundibuliformis- Firecracker flower, (another form)

    Strobilanthes dyerianus-Persian shield 

    Xanthostemon youngii-red penda, brushlike

    If you have any questions either for me or for Peter, drop us a line to [email protected] or write in to 2RRR PO Box 644 Gladesville  

    11 min
  • Real World Gardener Bells of Ireland in Talking Flowers
    TALKING FLOWERS 
    Bells of Ireland: Molucella laevis:
    Native to Syria and Turkey and not as Carol Linnaeus thought, native to the Molucca Islands of Indonesia.
    Is it grown for the foliage or the flowers?
    Not actually a flower, but instead are amplified calyxes that grow into a flowering plant. Calyxes (or bells) are leaves or sepals that develop into a protective house for the quite small and slightly fragrant, white or pink flowers.
    The prominent part is actually the calyx.
    Best grown in light sandy soil, the molucella plant also requires a good, openly sunny spot. Flower right through spring, summer and into autumn, Bells of Ireland offer interest.
    Can grow to 1 metre tall.
    Mercedes says that "slip on the heels" if you want to use the stems in a flower arrangement. That means of course that you need to cut the bottom of the stem on a diagonal.
    Easily grown from seed but cold stratification will help with germination.
    How to cold stratify
    You can expose them to cold by sowing them outdoors in the Autumn, or by refrigerating them for a week before starting them indoors.
    Don't just place the seed packet in the refrigerator.
    Sandwich seeds between moist coffee filters or paper towels in the refrigerator, followed by planting in soil. 
    Experts say this moist stratification results in a higher germination rate than simply exposing dry seeds to cold temperatures.
    I'm talking with floral therapist, Mercedes Sarmini, of www.floralgossip.com.au
    9 min
  • Real World Gardener Bells of Ireland in Talking Flowers
    TALKING FLOWERS 

    Bells of Ireland: Molucella laevis:

    Native to Syria and Turkey and not as Carol Linnaeus thought, native to the Molucca Islands of Indonesia.

    • Is it grown for the foliage or the flowers?

    Not actually a flower, but instead are amplified calyxes that grow into a flowering plant. Calyxes (or bells) are leaves or sepals that develop into a protective house for the quite small and slightly fragrant, white or pink flowers.

    The prominent part is actually the calyx.

    Best grown in light sandy soil, the molucella plant also requires a good, openly sunny spot. Flower right through spring, summer and into autumn, Bells of Ireland offer interest.

    Can grow to 1 metre tall.

    • Mercedes says that "slip on the heels" if you want to use the stems in a flower arrangement. That means of course that you need to cut the bottom of the stem on a diagonal.
    • Easily grown from seed but cold stratification will help with germination.

    How to cold stratify

    You can expose them to cold by sowing them outdoors in the Autumn, or by refrigerating them for a week before starting them indoors.

    • Don't just place the seed packet in the refrigerator.
  • Sandwich seeds between moist coffee filters or paper towels in the refrigerator, followed by planting in soil. 
  • Experts say this moist stratification results in a higher germination rate than simply exposing dry seeds to cold temperatures.

    • I'm talking with floral therapist, Mercedes Sarmini, of www.floralgossip.com.au

    9 min
  • Real World Gardener Plants for a Warm Temperate or Coastal Climate in Design Elements
    ESIGN ELEMENTS
    Old Fashioned Shrubs: Warm Temperate Coastal and Inland Mediterranean zones.
    This includes Adelaide, even Melbourne, and Alice Springs with temps in the 40’s in the Summer and rain in the winter.
    What is on offer for the hot dry sub-tropics. Let’s find out. 
    I'm talking with Peter Nixon, garden Designer & project Manager from Paradisus Garden design.
    Temperate coastal and inland mediterranean are zones that would suit many a location around 
    Australia as long
    Peter mentioned these plants
    Shrubs and small trees: 
    Carpentaria californica-white flowers.
    Alyogyne heugeli-mauve flower, also in white.
    Nerium oleander-cut them any which way and they respond.
    Arbutus unedo-Irish strawberry tree.
    Romeya coulteri photo M Cannon
     
    Perennials & sub-shrubs: that are easy in that climate
    Perlagoniums, peltatum, sidioides, Sims carnations, hate humidity
    Salvia spathaceae-pinky red flowers
    Monarda didyma-heaps of hybrids
    Phlomis italicum-sage like in appearance
    Romneya coulteri with very large poppy like flowers.
    Mimulus or Diplacus, both are monkey flowers-semi-shade location.
    Acca sellowiana-fejoa, prefers low humidity.
    Caeselpina ferrai-Leopard tree
    Iochrama-violet tube flowers
    Artemisia arborescens-wormwood.
    10 min
  • Real World Gardener Plants for a Warm Temperate or Coastal Climate in Design Elements

    ESIGN ELEMENTS

    Old Fashioned Shrubs: Warm Temperate Coastal and Inland Mediterranean zones.

    This includes Adelaide, even Melbourne, and Alice Springs with temps in the 40’s in the Summer and rain in the winter.

    What is on offer for the hot dry sub-tropics. Let’s find out. 

    I'm talking with Peter Nixon, garden Designer & project Manager from Paradisus Garden design.

    Temperate coastal and inland mediterranean are zones that would suit many a location around 

    Australia as long

    Peter mentioned these plants

    Shrubs and small trees: 

    • Carpentaria californica-white flowers.
  • Alyogyne heugeli-mauve flower, also in white.
  • Nerium oleander-cut them any which way and they respond.
  • Arbutus unedo-Irish strawberry tree.

    • Romeya coulteri photo M Cannon

     

    Perennials & sub-shrubs: that are easy in that climate

    • Perlagoniums, peltatum, sidioides, Sims carnations, hate humidity
  • Salvia spathaceae-pinky red flowers
  • Monarda didyma-heaps of hybrids
  • Phlomis italicum-sage like in appearance
  • Romneya coulteri with very large poppy like flowers.
  • Mimulus or Diplacus, both are monkey flowers-semi-shade location.
  • Acca sellowiana-fejoa, prefers low humidity.
  • Caeselpina ferrai-Leopard tree
  • Iochrama-violet tube flowers
  • Artemisia arborescens-wormwood.
    • 10 min
  • Real World Gardener Pretty Varied Triller in Wildlife in Focus
    WILDLIFE IN FOCUS
    Varied Triller: Lalage leucomela
    Today it’s a pretty looking bird that is Australian but with a French sounding scientific name.
    Varied Triller's have a wide-ranging diet, about anything from fruits, to nectar, and insects.
    Don’t be alarmed though, they go for the fruits of native figs and not your fruit trees in you backyard or orchard.
    Varied Triller
    Let’s find out more.
     I'm talking with Dr Holly Parsons from www.birdsinbackyards.net
    The varied triller is a small to medium, about the size of a noisy miner and weigh around 35grams.
    The male is black on top, with white eyebrows and grey barring on the chest. The Females are similar to the males, but with a little bit more brown in their feathers.
    Lalage leucomela
    Their call is a softish churring sound. Rather pleasant to listen to.
    The Varied Triller builds a beautiful cup shaped nest held together with spider’s web and placed in the fork of a tree.
    Sorry Tassie and Victoria, you miss out, but maybe when you’re travelling to other parts of Australia, you can listen out for them.
     
    If you have any questions either for me or for Holly, drop us a line to [email protected] or write in to 2RRR PO Box 644 Gladesville NSW 1675
    8 min
  • Real World Gardener Pretty Varied Triller in Wildlife in Focus
    WILDLIFE IN FOCUS

    Varied Triller: Lalage leucomela

    Today it’s a pretty looking bird that is Australian but with a French sounding scientific name.

    Varied Triller's have a wide-ranging diet, about anything from fruits, to nectar, and insects.

    Don’t be alarmed though, they go for the fruits of native figs and not your fruit trees in you backyard or orchard.

    Varied Triller

    Let’s find out more.

     I'm talking with Dr Holly Parsons from www.birdsinbackyards.net

    The varied triller is a small to medium, about the size of a noisy miner and weigh around 35grams.

    The male is black on top, with white eyebrows and grey barring on the chest. The Females are similar to the males, but with a little bit more brown in their feathers.

    Lalage leucomela

    Their call is a softish churring sound. Rather pleasant to listen to.

    The Varied Triller builds a beautiful cup shaped nest held together with spider’s web and placed in the fork of a tree.

    Sorry Tassie and Victoria, you miss out, but maybe when you’re travelling to other parts of Australia, you can listen out for them.

     

    If you have any questions either for me or for Holly, drop us a line to [email protected] or write in to 2RRR PO Box 644 Gladesville NSW 1675

    8 min

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Radio program Sydney, Australia. Garden Design, Growing Vegetables Trees and Flowers, Garden Tools, Plant Care and Plant Health, Attracting Wildlife to your Garden.