Don showed some of his favourite palms: Rhapis palm: Good points: · Great indoors · Tough · Fabulous for shady areas · Doesn’t grow too tall Parlour Palm & Cascade Palm Good points: · Excellent where low growing plants are...
Palms
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In the Garden
Solve a problem, find a plant or look for a design inspiration
Australian Native Orchids
These plants are wonderful plants for semi-shaded areas. Commonly known as Dendrobiums although there has been a recent name change to Thelychitons (which is being largely ignore). Sadly, while the more common orchids such as cymbidiums are very well known, the...
Australian Native Birthflower For August
Grevillea buxifolia is quite different to the general run of grevilleas. Its silvery/grey 5cm diameter spider flower heads stud the top of this 1-2m tall shrub most of the year. Leaves are dull green, about 2cm long x 7mm wide. Reasonably frost hardy, this species...
Potager Gardens
Potager gardens were named after the French word potage which means soup so it was essentially a soup garden. Today is means a pretty vegetable garden with lots of paths in it. The best thing about a potager garden is that you can have a very attractive vegie...
Agave attenuata
The plant which is most frequently asked about is one with beautiful foliage and spectacular very tall flowers. These are Agave attenuata: Their common name is century plant because it is said to take years to flower and after doing so it dies. The genus (botanic)...
Gnomes
Although they are quite old fashioned gnomes are very happy additions to many gardens if you have a positive & fun approach to life. As well as the traditional Seven Dwarfs type gnomes there have been many in recent times that were made to resemble...
Keeping Cats Off The Garden
A recent question to Don’s Mailbag from Tilly in western Sydney related to keeping cats doing their business off her garden. Don suggested getting rival manures such as cow, horse of chook manure to spread on the garden. Many viewers emailed different...
White Magnolia
The most often used name for the white magnolia is Magnolia denudata. Deciduous magnolias produce their spectacular winter and early spring blooms on naked branches (hence the name denudata – denuded of leaves). Although expensive plants to buy they are long-lived,...
Formation of Frost
Frost forms when conditions are very cold (around 0º C) and clear. On overcast nights temperatures are usually a little warmer (the cloud layer traps some of the day’s warmth) so frost is unlikely. Frost is formed when dew condenses overnight and freezes. Frost will...
Corrugated Iron Raised Garden Beds
Small garden beds can be made using a new product produced by Tankworks. They can be used for growing veggies or ornamental plants when space is limited They may be available in nurseries of can be ordered via www.tankworks.com.au Various models are: Slimline squat...