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Everyone knows that vegetables are good for you. To gain full nutritional benefits from vegetables it is important that they are eaten when they are as fresh as possible. Vitamin content is highest in raw vegetables or those that are cooked so as to preserve their...
According to legend, a gallant Spanish knight returning from the Crusades in the 11th Century, brought a gift of great value for his beloved. But to her dismay, instead of receiving a costly treasure, she was given an orange. After overcoming her shock, the lady ate...
Wattles, also called acacias, are wonderful native plants. More than 850 species of wattle grow in Australia, ranging from ground covers and charming shrubs to giant trees that provide fine timber and screening. With this number of species and many cultivars there...
To create harmony in your garden it is important to match the colours of your plants with those of the surrounding hard structures such as the walls of your house, paving and the like. Plant colour comes mainly from the colour of the leaves (which may vary throughout...
Camellia reticulata, introduced in Australia 30 years ago, is less commonly known in the camellia family. Yet as the largest flowering of the entire camellia group, it is spectacular. Reticulata refers to the strong veining or reticulated pattern in the leaves. Plant...
Palms and ferns are often associated with tropical climates but ‘Burke’s Backyard’ recently looked at some palms and ferns which can grow in colder areas. Palms for cool climates Dwarf sugar palm (Arenga engleri): A small growing, clump-forming palm...
Peter Valder recently visited the garden of Merry Garth at Mount Wilson, NSW and found snowdrops and snowflakes in bloom in the middle of winter. The true snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis) is a cold climate plant and is sometimes confused with snowflake (Leucojum aestivum)...
Imagine someone turning up with a living Tyrannosaurus Rex. Peter Valder discussed how this has happened more than once during the last century. The Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) was known through its fossils to have existed up to 225 million years ago...
According to legend, the Souvenir de la Malmaison rose was given to Napoleon by the Empress Josephine to bring him back safely from war. It was claimed to resemble Napoleon’s hat and was also carried by French soldiers in the Battle of Waterloo to protect them....
A wonderful plant that is probably not very well known is the Evergreen Dogwood. Most Dogwoods are deciduous but the Evergreen variety is long flowering and has leaves all year round; a beautiful tree in the garden. Plant details Common name: Evergreen Dogwood or...