by James Wall
Hortivations is an industry only event for businesses involved with and related to horticulture. It has been going for a few years now and is one of the premier events in the Australian horticultural calender. The thing people seem to like about it is that it is a fun event and a great place to catch up with whats going on. There is everything from new plants to new potting machines, but more than anything, it is a place of new ideas. Its a bit of fun, and we need that.
Kniphofia - Red Hot Poker - (Kniphofia Hybrid Cultivar)
There are nearly 70 species in this genus (Asphodelaceae). They are South African clump forming perennials that increase in size each year.
PLEASE NOTE THE PHOTOS HAVE COME OUT A BIT BLUE - THE TRUE COLOUR IS A BIT MORE OF A PURPLY.
'Hardiness combined with elegance' by Peter Green
This is one of the longest colourful flowering and toughest shrubs ever. Not jus as a native, but as a shrub in general.
They originate from the drier regions of WA and grow rapidly to around 2 metres in height with a similar spread. They do well in Melbourne and will survive in all soil types although they prefer good drainage. They prefer full sun, although at least 4 hours a day of sun will be enough.
Continue reading "Australia's own native Hibiscus - Alyogyne huegelii" »
Winter wonders - a liriope intertwined with fallen leaves of a silver birch
We have just finished building a little herb garden in front of the café. Now the staff can simply walk out and pick some Italian parsley, mint, rosemary and dill. In a few weeks the thyme and oregano will also be big enough to harvest. Of course it is too cold for basil now, but coriander will grow well in the cooler weather and it is less likely to set seed. It is a great feeling to have built something so useful, and the food has never tasted so good.
Continue reading "June in a Melbourne garden - shallots, bare-root trees, camellias..." »
Our first rose pruning demonstration was held last Saturday and the huge turnout proved that gardeners young and old still love growing roses. It was presented by Dr. Bruce Chapman from the Rose Society and included his lovely wife Joyce, assisting. Bruce is famous for breeding the Amazing Grace and the Melbourne Town roses.
Some of the tips I gathered from this event were:
Continue reading "Rose Pruning from The Rose Society of Victoria." »
By Jason Hilborn
A plant that
really starts to catch my eye in the nursery this time of year, as well
as my own garden, is a grafted plant called Eremophila “Gubburra Bells”.
As we move further into autumn the days get shorter and in many cases,
a little more dull, but it is the distinctive foliage of the Eremophila
that stands out.
Eremophila “Gubburra Bells” is a very showy Australian Native garden shrub that bears massed clusters of vibrant lilac ‘Bells’ held on beautiful silvery white foliage. They are at their very best from late winter through spring when their masses of flowers contrast against the soft, silvery white foliage. In addition to this, they will also produce spot flower throughout the autumn months. The Eremophila “Gubburra Bells” is grafted onto a hardy rootstock and grows and flowers in a sunny well-drained position. It will benefit from a position with ample air-movement and can tolerate moderate frost.
by Peter Green
When I am asked by customers to give advice and suggestions regarding the choosing of drought tolerant plants, they are often surprised by the wide range on offer. Some are natives. Some are not. There is a good variety of native plants that do well in and around Melbourne. There is also a huge range of environmentally friendly exotics (non-natives) that do better than some natives. Usually because their place of origin is a lot more similar to Melbourne's climate than, say, a Sturt Desert Pea which although native, comes from a climate much different to ours, and does not grow well here.
by James Wall - Gardenworld Nursery
the mice did play. Yes, today Rob Pelletier and I took over am radio station 3AW's The Big Backyard while Jane Edmonson and Darren James were away. I was actually only there for the second hour but we had a good ol' yarn, there were plenty of tomato growing stories and we discussed some of the more popular plants currently being sold at the nursey. One of those I mentioned was the Coprosma Tequila Sunrise. This succulent like plant has awesome coloured foliage and is a low water user. It gets up to waist height but can be trimmed back to keep neat. The foliage colour actually varies throughout the year and you will need to protect young plants from frost.
The boys were also impressed by our genovese basil grown in biodegradable pots made from miscanthus grass bound with natural vegetable gums. You simply crack the pot and plant it in the ground. It composts away and comes with no label and no price sticker. This pot is perfect for quick crops like herbs. We are selling hundreds of them which shows that this is what people want to see.
Anyway, its late, and the nursery is open again tomorrow and I'd better not be late ! Tune in to 3AW next Saturday to hear our fruit tree expert Dennis talking after nine. He works at the nursery every Saturday.
