Real World Gardener-Horticulture, Gardening, Learning to Grow

REAL WORLD GARDENER Wed. 5pm 2RRR 88.5fm Sydney,

streaming live at www.2rrr.org.au  and Across Australia on the Community Radio

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The complete CRN edition of RWG is available on http://www.cpod.org.au/ , just click on 2RRR to find this week’s edition.

DESIGN ELEMENTS

 

How many gardeners do you know of that don’t like perfume or scent in the garden?

Hopefully, those of you listening to this program like scented plants because scent adds an extra dimension to a garden, turning it into a place where you linger, indulging your senses rather than rushing through to the front door or garden shed. Stephanotis floribunda: scented climber photo M CannonLet’s continue this new series on scented plants for the garden with part 12of scented climbing plants.

I'm talking with Landscape Designer Peter Nixon.

With the wide range of temperatures in Australia, there are a huge variety of fragrant plants that can be grown. Chenomorpha fragrans: Climbing Frangipani photo M CAnnon 

Many flower during the colder months so that even when there’s not much colour in the garden you can still have plenty of fragrance.Use plants that flower in different seasons to turn your garden into a perfumed paradise all year round.

REAL WORLD GARDENER Wed. 5pm 2RRR 88.5fm Sydney,

streaming live at www.2rrr.org.au  and Across Australia on the Community Radio

Network. www.realworldgardener.comREALWORLD GARDENER NOW ON FACEBOOK

The complete CRN edition of RWG is available on http://www.cpod.org.au/ , just click on 2RRR to find this week’s edition.

PLANT OF THE WEEK

Cycas revoluta SAGO PALM

 

Did you know that the term Gymnosperm that’s used to classify or define conifers or pine trees and cycads means naked seed?

That’s because the seed doesn’t come from a flower because conifers don’t have flowers but the seeds develop on the surface of the pine cones, which is the reproductive structure.Cycas revoluta; Sago PalmThat’s how plants evolved around 200 million years ago.

This plant doesn’t have flowers either but it’s not a conifer.

Let’s find out more with the plant panel:Karen Smith, editor of Hort Journal www.hortjournal.com.au  and Jeremy Critchley, The Green Gallery wholesale nursery owner. www.thegreengallery.com.au

PLAY: Cycas revoluta_17th August_2016

The leaves are a deep semiglossy green and about 50–150 cm  long when the plants are at the cone bearing stage. Cycas revolutaThey grow out into a feather-like rosette to 1 m in diameter. T

he crowded, stiff, narrow leaflets are 20 cm long and have strongly recurved or revolute edges hence the latin species name of  Cycas revoluta.

Of all the cycads, Cycas revoluta is the most popular in gardens and parks.

It’s called Sago Palm but it has no links to actual palms which are flowering plants and therefore Angiosperms.

It’s seen in almost all botanical gardens, in both temperate and tropical locations.

In many areas of the world, it is heavily promoted commercially as a landscape plan.

REAL WORLD GARDENER Wed. 5pm 2RRR 88.5fm Sydney,

streaming live at www.2rrr.org.au  and Across Australia on the Community Radio

Network. www.realworldgardener.comREALWORLD GARDENER NOW ON FACEBOOK

The complete CRN edition of RWG is available on http://www.cpod.org.au/ , just click on 2RRR to find this week’s edition.

DESIGN ELEMENTS

Updating Your Garden with Different Shaped Plants.

Have you updated the flower colour in your garden yet?  Or are you considering putting in some grasses, or strappy leaved plants with coloured foliage?

Are you thinking about moving some plants for a fresh new look?

 

Here’s something you mightn’t know or realise, and that is: a single species can have different leaf shapes over the life of the plant.

In fact, some can have different leaf shapes on the plant at the same time. Mt Tomah Botanic Garden photo M CannonFor example, gum trees have different adult and juvenile foliage. That’s complicated enough, but what about the shape of the plant itself?

Good garden design takes the shapes of plants into account.

Did you know that you can update your plants using just the shape of the plant?

What does that mean?

 Let’s find out….I'm talking with Garden Designer Louise McDaid.Blenheim Palace garden, England. photo M CannonAs Louise said, if one of your garden beds could look a bit better, think about introducing a different shaped plant, one with perhaps a vertical shape, like the ornamental pear, or a lollipop on a stick.P

erhaps a fountain shaped plant will fit the bill, like a weeping grass with stripey foliage- such as variegated Miscanthus.

Lots to ponder when thinking about updating your garden.

REAL WORLD GARDENER Wed. 5pm 2RRR 88.5fm Sydney,

streaming live at www.2rrr.org.au  and Across Australia on the Community Radio

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The complete CRN edition of RWG is available on http://www.cpod.org.au/ , just click on 2RRR to find this week’s edition. WILDLIFE IF FOCUS

Striated Heron

The Striated Heron is doesn't get as much attention as other Australian herons because of its quiet nature.Butorides striata; Striated Heron 

With its short legs, black crown with striations or  stripes on its throat and neck that can either be grey or rufous in colour; it lives quietly among the mangrove forests, mudflats and oyster-beds of eastern, northern and north-western Australia, where it creeps about in the soft mud among the mangrove roots in search of prey such as fish, crabs and other marine invertebrates.

Let’s find out about it. I'm talking with Dr Holly Parsons, manager of Birds in Backyards. www.birdsinbackyards.org.au

These birds are a touch smaller than the white faced heron, and about the same size as Dusky Moorhens.

When foraging, these herons usually adopt a hunched posture, with the head and neck drawn back into the bird’s body, while keeping the bill held horizontally, parallel to the surface of the mud.

It may be small with short legs but it’s pretty good at stalking it’s food.

Slowly, either standing and waiting for prey to emerge or by sometimes plunging at it from a perch, before stabbing it with its sharp bill.

If you have any questions about Striated Herons or any other bird or have some information to share, drop us a line to [email protected] or write in to 2RRR PO Box 644 Gladesville NSW 1675

REAL WORLD GARDENER Wed. 5pm 2RRR 88.5fm Sydney,

streaming live at www.2rrr.org.au  and Across Australia on the Community Radio

Network. www.realworldgardener.com

REALWORLD GARDENER NOW ON FACEBOOK

The complete CRN edition of RWG is available on http://www.cpod.org.au/ , just click on 2RRR to find this week’s edition.

PLANT OF THE WEEK

SOFT TREE FERN Dicksonia antartctica

Dicksonia Antarctica is a statement tree which will create a dramatic sense to any garden.

Easily established and maintained, this evergreen tree is guaranteed to intensify your garden.

Let’s find out. I'm talking with the plant panel, Karen Smith, editor of Hort Journal

 

www.hortjournal.com.au  and Jeremy Critchley, The Green Gallery wholesale nursery owner. www.thegreengallery.com.au

 

Soft tree ferns live in moist areas with high water content in wet sclerophyll forests, along creek beds, in gullies and occasionally at high altitudes in cloud forests

 

Dicksonia tree ferns can grow up to 15m in height; it has large dark green roughly textured fronds in a spreading canopy of up to 6m in diameter.

 

They have an erect rhizome forming a trunk. They are very hairy at the base of the stipe. (trunk). The "trunk" of this fern is the decaying remains of earlier growth of the plant and forms a medium through which the roots grow

Fast Fact:

 

 

 

 

 

Did you know that the soft tree fern doesn’t reach maturity until it’s 23 years old?

 

A lot of places just name this tree fern but you mightn’t want the taller growing coin spot tree fern.

Look for Soft tree fern or Dicksonia Antarctica on the label.

REAL WORLD GARDENER Wed. 5pm 2RRR 88.5fm Sydney,

streaming live at www.2rrr.org.au  and Across Australia on the Community Radio

Network. www.realworldgardener.com

REALWORLD GARDENER NOW ON FACEBOOK

The complete CRN edition of RWG is available on http://www.cpod.org.au/ , just click on 2RRR to find this week’s edition.

DESIGN ELEMENTS Updating your garden with existing plants.

That simply means, moving some plants around the garden to give it a new look.

We’ve been updating our garden over the last couple of weeks.

 Starting with flowers and flower colour, then changing or putting in some new foliage colour. Perhaps some grasses or cordylines with pink or red, like Cordyline “Electric Pink” with a muted pink shade really.That was last week.

Today, we’re talking about what do you do if you just want to update your existing plants?

Poinsettia can be easily moved. photo M CannonSounds like you don’t have to spend a penny, just put in some hard yards in the garden to give it a fresh look.Let’s find out. I'm talking with garden designer Louise McDaid.

Japanese viburnum can be easily moved to update your garden. photo M CannonHow about moving some plants during the cooler weather?

I always find moving plants is very satisfying, especially if you move them into the right location where they just suddenly look better.

That’s a great way of updating your garden with existing plants.

Cannas can be easily moved to update your garden. photo M CannonFor those plants that can't be moved such as Salvias, cuttings can be  easily taken and the new plants planted somewhere else in the garden.

But think about it if your gardens need some of that type of adjustment like that, and make a note of where you would like the plants to go.

There should be plenty of ideas to get you started if you’re a beginner gardener, and some tips for those of you who’ve been doing it for a while.

The Helichrysum petiolare that Louise mentioned is commonly known as Licorice plant.

Helichrysum comes in two colourways, the traditional grey green foliage of the species and the lime green foliage of Helichrysum petiolare “Limelight.” Easily clipped into a bun shape or grown as a low hedge.

REAL WORLD GARDENER Wed. 5pm 2RRR 88.5fm Sydney,

streaming live at www.2rrr.org.au  and Across Australia on the Community Radio

Network. www.realworldgardener.com

REALWORLD GARDENER NOW ON FACEBOOK

The complete CRN edition of RWG is available on http://www.cpod.org.au/ , just click on 2RRR to find this week’s edition.

SPICE IT UP

PAPRIKA Capsicum fruitescens.

Paprika is the most popular of spices and is found in many spice blends, especially for meat.

The Paprika fruit looks like a long and narrow chilli, but the Spanish variety is like a slightly squashed capsicum.Paprika Red BananaAlma Paprika

 

The top quality grades of Paprika are called "Noble Sweet" and these have the best flavour.

 

Without this spice Hungarian goulash, Spanish chorizos and Indian tandoori chicken just wouldn’t be the same.

COOKING TIP:

Be warned, only use Paprika that's labelled Hungarian Sweet Paprika in your Goulash, otherwise the taste will be quite strong and unpleasant.

It's so famous in Hungary that there’s even a Paprika Museum in the town of Kaloscsa.

Let’s find out.. I'm talking with Ian Hemphill, owner of www.herbies.com.au

 

That town in Hungary that Ian mentioned holds an annual Paprika festival every October.

Not only that, in the villages of Szeged and Kalosca, peppers are threaded onto long pieces of string and hung up to dry outside the houses and from garden fences.

Fun Fact:For those in the know, they can tell when the Paprika is the correct amount of dryness from the sound the dried Paprika makes when the wind rattles the peppers!

Cooking isn’t the only way Paprika is used.

Did you know some zoos use it mixed in with the feed to keep the bright pink hue of flamingoes!

If you have any questions about Paprika or have some information to share, drop us a line to [email protected] or write in to 2RRR PO Box 644 Gladesville NSW 1675

REAL WORLD GARDENER Wed. 5pm 2RRR 88.5fm Sydney,

streaming live at www.2rrr.org.au  and Across Australia on the Community Radio

Network. www.realworldgardener.com

REALWORLD GARDENER NOW ON FACEBOOK

The complete CRN edition of RWG is available on http://www.cpod.org.au/ , just click on 2RRR to find this week’s edition.

 PLANT OF THE WEEK

Sandpaper Fig Ficus coronata

Bush tucker plants are one of the hot trends in horticulture and this one is no exception.Ficus coronate Sandpaper FigWhat about a tree that has leaves the not only feel like sandpaper, but can be used for sandpapering surfaces.

Let’s find out more about this plant by listening to the podcast.

I'm talking with the plant panel, Karen Smith, editor of Hort Journal www.hortjournal.com.au  and Jeremy Critchley, The Green Gallery wholesale nursery owner. www.thegreengallery.com.au

Ficus coronata serves as a food plant for the caterpillars of the Queensland butterfly the common- or purple moonbeam. One of many host plants for the larvae of the Common Crow (Euploea core).

Good jam fruit but fussy to prepare because of hairs on skin.

Suited to a shady position in gardens, or medium to brightly lit indoor spaces. Like all figs in garden situations, they attract birds such as species of silvereye and rainforest pigeon.

Of the 1,000 fig species, most are tropical and 70 per cent of the animal life in the rainforest depends on them.

They are a “keystone” species: no figs, no jungle. Birds, bats, monkeys, gibbons, insects – all run on figs.

They are sweet – which means they are high in energy – and the trees can fruit/flower several times a year.

Aboriginal Women: Would use the leaves to "sand" there feet and nails.

Men: Would use the leaves to do the fine sanding of important artefacts and weapons.

REAL WORLD GARDENER Wed. 5pm 2RRR 88.5fm Sydney,

streaming live at www.2rrr.org.au  and Across Australia on the Community Radio

Network. www.realworldgardener.com

REALWORLD GARDENER NOW ON FACEBOOK

The complete CRN edition of RWG is available on http://www.cpod.org.au/ , just click on 2RRR to find this week’s edition.

DESIGN ELEMENTS

Do flowers play the starring role in your garden, while the greenery gets relegated to backstage?Foliage makes a garden. photo M Cannon

 The greenery, or foliage if you like, are the mainstay of gardens and garden design because they’re there all year when the flowers fade.

Think of the delicate fronds of ferns or the fountain like effects of many types of ornamental grasses. The leaves of these plants don’t just serve as a lovely background for flowers, because they have their own attraction. There are some really beautiful foliaged plants that could be used as a dominant feature alongside your flowers. Remember, foliage will carry your garden through all seasons, long after the flowers have faded away.

I'm talking with garden designer Louise McDaid.Coloured leaves photo M CannonIf doesn’t hurt the pocked to update your garden in this series, because we’re not doing the crazy make-over.

There should be plenty of ideas to get you thinking about updating the foliage in your garden.

REAL WORLD GARDENER Wed. 5pm 2RRR 88.5fm Sydney,

streaming live at www.2rrr.org.au  and Across Australia on the Community Radio

Network. www.realworldgardener.com

REALWORLD GARDENER NOW ON FACEBOOK

The complete CRN edition of RWG is available on http://www.cpod.org.au/ , just click on 2RRR to find this week’s edition.

LIVING PLANET

What happens when an ecologist from Australia, packs up and leaves to work in Namibia for a couple of years?

Namibia wildlifeSome of the wildlife found in Namibia are big cats, Cheetahs, Elephants, Zebras, and Giraffes.

Let’s find out.. I'm talking with Katie Oxenham, a Consulting ecologist who now lives in Sydney.

Katie's role in Namibia was conservancy and natural management support. She was employed by the Namibia Nature Foundation and worked with communities in the north of the country to manage natural resources such as the harvest of Devil's Claw. Devil's Claw is different to the Australian weed by the same name found in the Top End.

 

Help with how to sustainably harvest the Devil's Claw was important because it prevented the plant from becoming regionally extinct.

Katie also helped the indigenous population with entering into contracts with private companies of eco-tourist lodges whereby they would acquire jobs thus giving them a reason to conserve wildlife.

Namibia has unique landscapes and is home to a vast diversity of wildlife found nowhere else on Earth.

There are approximately 4,000 plant species, over 650 bird species and 80 large mammal species.Namibia is a pretty special place and a must see destination for tourists wanting to see African wildlife.

If you have any questions about Namibia or have some information to share, drop us a line to [email protected] or write in to 2RRR PO Box 644 Gladesville NSW 1675