My dear friend Les Beers passed away last week. As the owner of Hibiscus Park in Warriewood, NSW he bought spectacular colour and magic to many homes. As a guest on my radio programs Les very kindly shared his immense knowledge of hibiscus cultivation and care. ...
Don Burke has just released a new book. Don has kept and bred budgies since the 1950s and specialises in budgerigar genetics. This book shares his lifetime of knowledge. You can buy the book in Australia via Amazon & most books stores now. The rest of the world...
How is cork used? The time-honoured way of sealing bottles is with a cork. Cork is remarkable, It’s got a bit of give, it’s mostly waterproof, and has insulating properties. It’s also used in floor tiles, insulated table mats, the cores of cricket balls...
Gouldian Finch- Pet Road Test Breed: Gouldian Finch Temperament: Inquisitive, friendly Lifespan: 5 years Recommended for: Experienced birdkeepers Maintenance: Medium-high History: The Gouldian Finch (Erythrura gouldiae) is the most brilliantly coloured of all...
https://www.burkesbackyard.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Bouganvillea.m4v This video shows the perfect way to grow Bougainvilleas. The secret is very little water, plus no nitrogenous fertiliser and no pruning. If you prune, fertilise or water your...
BREED: Andalusian TEMPERAMENT: Docile, easily trained COST: $3000-$8000+ (part-bred young horse), $5,000-$15,000 (purebred), $15,000-$20,000 (trained horse) LIFESPAN 25-30 years RECOMMENDED FOR: Beginner to experienced riders History The Andalusian has descended...
This week we lost our dear friend and one of the worlds greatest botanists, Dr Peter Valder. Peter featured on the Burke’s Backyard TV show for 17 years, engaging the audience with his vast knowledge, dry sense of humour and most of all his delightful turn of phrase....
UV markings in Budgies, Gouldian Finches, Platypuses, Wombats, plus Lichens. © Don Burke. Ultraviolet pigment and markings occur in many animals. When you put them under Black UV light they Glow. Why? Recently, Platypuses, Wombats and other marsupials have been...
Butt Cracks Gardening – How To Use Colour In Your Garden and Impress Your Neighbours. A Cheats guide to good taste. Choosing colours for your garden that look good and are complementary can be tough. But you can cheat. Don shows an easy hack that even your average...
This group of birds may surprise you! A rainbow lorikeet, a crested pigeon and a noisy miner, all native birds eating the same piece of bread in the gutter of the local shopping centre. This is important for two reasons: firstly, they are experimenting with new...