Real World Gardener-Horticulture, Gardening, Learning to Grow

PLANT OF THE WEEK

Ctenanthe Burle-Marxii

Some plant names are meant to confuse but botanists persist in them remaining. The reasons are varied but it often is because of what family it’s in, where it came from and because once upon a time, a botanist declared that it looked like horses hooves, or a dolphin’s snout.

So here we have a great plant, the Ctenanthe but with a name that just isn’t that attractive.

Ctenanthe Burle-Marxii

It's pronounced:  Ten- An-Thee

No, don't ring up Jeremy and ask for ke ten-an-thee.

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

Ctenanthe is sometimes called the ‘never-never’ plant, but nowhere can I find why?

It’s much hardier than it’s cousin Calathea that looks similar but with thinner leaves.

Both of these plant types like to be warm, so unless you live in the tropics or sub-tropics, it’s an indoor plant for you.

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

All About Frangipanis Part 1

What’s new in Frangipanis?

Q. I have a leaf here that doesn’t look great? 

The green in the centre has gone white and there’s white fluffy stuff, maybe scale? What do you think?

Mite Damage on Frangipani leaves

A: this is typical mite damage on the leaves seen an Frangipani and Camellias as well.

The treatment is Natrasoap spray to which you can also add Neem Oil.

Available from www.ecoorganicgarden.com.au

I'm talking with Anthony Grassi from the Frangipani Society of Australia.

Q. It’s been so hot but my Frangi’s aren’t flowering what can be done and is it too late?

 A. When Frangipani are still relatively small, often every second year is a resting year, so they don't flower. Especially if they're in a pot, flowers will be bi-annual. 

It's only when the Frangipani is a mature tree, that you see yearly flowering because they have enough leaves to carry out the photosynthesis needed for lots of flowers.

The exception is when there is a micro-climate and the plants are pampered with high potash fertilisers.

 

Frangipani Society of Australia are now  a FB society so you can join their FB page, but if you join as a financial member, you get to access another FB page as well as receive a lovely calendar, CD and tips on how to grow the best Frangipanis ever, plus seeds for you to grow some new varieties of Frangipanis.

photo M. Cannon

DESIGN ELEMENTS

No Shade For Outside Dining

Summer has been hot, really hot, and we want to cool off.

In the evening, things cool down a bit, but the sun stays up late.

So what do you do if just outside the back door where the outdoor dining setting is, it’s still really stinking hot?

 

Peter's Sea Changer Garden

 

You sit outside for a little while and then you can’t stand it anymore and retreat inside.

So what can you do to fix that? Let’s find out.

I'm talking with Peter Nixon, garden designer

You could make yourself a shade hut or a dining canopy.

Or if you want a pergola, grow a deciduous climber on it that will drop it’s leaves in winter so that you can enjoy some winter sun.

NEWS

Designer Peter Nixon ‘Clifton’ Masterclass on Sydney Cool Subtropics Gardens

7 Woolwich Road, Hunters Hill, 10am – 11.30am

Wednesday 1st May, 2019

http://www.dgnblog.peternixon.com.au

for L’Arche 4 Australia

 

Peter Nixon’s home work garden ’Sea-Changer’ will open free on Saturday 4th May, 10am till 2pm at 21 Lavinia Street, Forresters Beach on the Central Coast an hour’s drive from the Wahroonga on ramp. See Garden Lovers https://www.paradisusgl.peternixon.com.au & https://www.paradisusgl.peternixon.com.au or Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/explore/locations/1024854734/paradisus-garden-design-peter-nixon?hl=en Designers midday ‘Walk & Talk’ & 1 page hand out for exciting names of plants in flower and or foliage on the day.

PLANT OF THE WEEK

Lemon Balm as Herbal

Herbs are a great addition to any garden even if you’re just growing them in a pot or trough.

They’re useful plants to have because they tend to be used almost daily throughout the year in our cooking.

This is one herb that’s not talked about too much when Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme are mentioned.

I'm talking with Simone Jeffries, Naturopath, Nutritionist and Herbalist .

www.simonjeffriesnaturopath.com.au

Let’s find out …

 

Lemon balm is also used for insomnia, cold sores, indigestion, and heartburn. 

In essential oil form, the scent of lemon balm is said to reduce stress.

Lemon balm makes a great calmative tea. 

Put 5-6 leaves in boiling water and let steep for 5 minutes.

Sip before bed-time for a restful night's sleep.

Grow it from seed if you don’t know someone who can give you a piece.

Remember Simone’s tip, grow it in a pot if you don’t want it taking over your garden.

THE GOOD EARTH

Simple Self Watering System

Today we’re going upward to grow our produce or herbs but we’re doing it with a simple self-watering system. 

photo Margaret Mossakowska

If you have large trees in your garden or your neighbour has trees that overshadow yours, this is a great way to utilise the sunny parts of your garden without taking up too much space.This is a DIY wicking system that you can either build yourself or that you can get help with from either a friend or the ‘men’s shed.’ I'm talking with Margaret Mossakowska from www.mosshouse.com.au Let’s find out how to build it. PLAY: Simple Self-Watering_23rd January 2019 

photo Margaret Mossakowska

 METHOD:Things you need are polypipes/pvc pipes that are 10 - 15cm in diameter.

Hole cutter to cut holes in the top of the pipes so that the pots are suspended.

You don't want the pots sitting in water because this leads to anaerobic fermentation in the soil.

Make up some wicks out of textiles such as old t-shirts, poly fleece, or geo-tex off-cuts. As long as it's synthetic fabric otherwise it will rot.

 

You need 2-3 wicks per pot measuring a total of 35cm length.

Push the wicks through the pot so that they are about half way into the potting mix.It’s achievable and once set up, you’ve got an ongoing self watering system to last you for years. This system could even be erected on a balcony and is a much better system that the vertical plastic grow bags. In Summer this watering system doesn’t have to be topped up for around two weeks. 

For more detailed information visit www.mosshouse.com.au

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

DESIGN ELEMENTS

Garden Walkways

 

Today’s garden challenge is for those gardeners that don’t want hard surface garden paths.

Concrete, brick or other types of paving for paths can be a bit harsh in areas where the garden is quite natural.

In this segment, garden designer Peter Nixon explores some softer alternatives.

Let’s find out…

I'm talking with Peter Nixon, garden designer.

Peter’s not a fan of pebbles on paths.

Instead why not try a combo of bark chips and shell grit, or decomposed granite, perhaps lillydale topping and bark or woody mulch.

You would need to run the plate compactor over these surfaces to compact the path.

 

If you have any questions about what to do for your garden paths in your garden, or have some information to share, write in [email protected]

TALKING FLOWERS

Pineapple Lily: Eucomis comosa

Grows in the wettest parts of South Africa where it orginates.

 

Member of the Asparagaceae family.

Pineapple lily is a bulbous perennial with a basal rosette of lime-green leaves.

Mercedes will say, Mr Pineapple Lily, because it starts from a bulb.

The thick stem  carries hundreds of small star-shaped flowers with a tuft of green bracts at the top. 

 

This sort of looks like a pineapple top, hence it's common name.

The Pineapple Lily as a cut flower will last for several weeks in the vase.

Cut the stem straight across, because the flower arises from a plant with a bulb, therefore Mr Pineapple Lily.

Remember to always use filtered water.

 

 

I'm talking with Mercedes Sarmini of www.workshopsbymerceds.com.au

PLANT OF THE WEEK

Sage as Herbal

Herbs are great plants to grow in the garden because they’re so useful in cooking. But perhaps you’re not using your herbs to fullest? 

 

Even if you just made a tea, you’re expanding the usefulness of that herb. 

But what kind of benefits would you get from just drinking a freshly made herbal tea? Let’s find out … I'm talking to new contributor Simone Jeffries, a naturopath, nutritionist and herbalist. www.simonejeffriesnaturopath.com.au Sage is Salvia officinalis which you may already know, means it’s the one for medicinal use. There’s no point buying a Pineapple sage plant and using it’s leaves, it just has to be the medicinal sage which is also the culinary sage. There are heaps of benefits of drinking Sage tea but Sage tea is an acquired taste. 

Put 6 fresh leaves in a cup of boiling water and let steep for a minimum of 5 minutes.

Somone says "Sip throughout the day for control of night sweats for post-menopausal ladies."So, if you really want the benefits, then you’ve just got to drink it as Simone says, maybe add a dash of honey. If you have any questions either for me or Simone why not write in to [email protected]

WILDLIFE IN FOCUS

Beautiful Firetail Finch: Stagonopleura bella

Over the years, Australian birds have featured on this program, but how good are we at identifying the calls?

It’s not that easy is it?

Beautiful Firetail finch

What about placing a particular bird in the correct family of birds?

That should be easier so where do finches sit? Parrot family or Passerine?

Let’s find out . 

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

 

Amazing to see in the wild, males and female Firetail Finches are similar, being small and chunky, with striking barring and a pale blue eye ring.

Let’s hope listeners that people don’t mistake them for mice scuttling about the long grass looking for grass seeds.

They also like the seeds of Casuarinas and Tea-Trees.

Can you imagine this little bird building an exact bottle shaped nest tipped on its side? 

The nest is built from grass and carefully woven by both of the birds.

Not found in urban settings that much, but in shrubby settings.

 

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

VEGETABLE HEROES

DESIGN ELEMENTS

Which Fence Style For Your Home?

What type of fence have you got and does it need replacing?

Paling fences seem to be de rigour, but there’s no need to settle for that because you’ll be looking at it for a long time.

What are the things you should consider though before deciding on a fence?

Let’s find out.

 

Just goes to show that you don’t have to be limited with the type of fence that you can have for your garden?

If you’re stuck with a grey looking paling fence, you can always zhoosh it up with some bamboo screening.