The Border Room has two main functions. The first and foremost is to give us some privacy from the road. The second is to attract beneficial insects, birds and other wildlife on to the property. FEATURED PLANTS RUBY TEA TREE (Leptospermum scoparium “Ruby Glow”) – this New Zealand native has beautiful little rose like blooms… Continue reading The Border Room
Category: biodiversity
Plant Profile – Brisbane Wattle
Wattle or Acacia trees are iconic in Australia because of their golden blooms. This variety is just as striking as the Golden Wattle which is Australia’s floral emblem. Also known as: Acacia fimbriata Fringed Wattle Fringed Brisbane Wattle Growing Conditions: Full Sun/Part Shade Protected positions Will tolerate most soils but prefers well-drained loamy soils Drought… Continue reading Plant Profile – Brisbane Wattle
Plant Profile – Wombat Berry
Also known as: Eustrephus latifolius Orange Vine Growing conditions: Part shade/shade Tolerant of most soils Vine, gentle climber that doesn’t restrict the host Groundcover Suitable for pots, garden beds, rockeries, bush rehabilitation Suits hanging pots which allow the foliage to hang over the edges Propagation: Fresh Seeds, 54-368 days germination This plant is truly unique,… Continue reading Plant Profile – Wombat Berry
Meet the Trotters: a family of Magpies
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How I grow my Garden Rooms
A few years ago I was watching “Gardening Australia” when they visited a gardener who talked about Garden Rooms. Her garden was divided into themed sections like a series of rooms with different environments and functions. Themed areas in a garden with clear boundaries What is a garden room? The idea captured my imagination and… Continue reading How I grow my Garden Rooms
Plant Profile – Native Violet – Viola banksii
Also known as: Viola hederacea (Not the same plant, as explained later) Australian Violet Growing conditions: Shade/part shade (some sources advocate full sun, but this plant has not survived in full sun in my garden) Tolerant of most soils but prefers moist site Will tolerate boggy sites Will tolerate light foot traffic Tolerant of light… Continue reading Plant Profile – Native Violet – Viola banksii
Plant Profile – Perennial Basil
Also known as: African Blue Basil Ocimum killmanscharicum x basilicum Dark Opal Basil Growing conditions: Tolerant of most soils but prefers well-drained soil Grows up to 1.2metres tall and wide Will tolerate some shade Can be grown indoors in a brightly lit position Suitable for garden beds, rockeries and pots Needs protection from frost Perennial… Continue reading Plant Profile – Perennial Basil
It Starts with a Trickle
Living Upstream and Downstream in a Global Community When you think about it, every revolution in human history started with a trickle, a small group of humans pushing for change. As the trickle moved downstream it gathered volume and momentum, followers, and the push for change intensified until it became a flood that the most… Continue reading It Starts with a Trickle
Plant Profile – Native Mulberry – Pipturus argenteus
This plant is a biodiversity hub in my garden. A few moments of close observation on any given day reveals species galore. From the Eastern Sedge Frog family to Rainbow Lorikeets to countless insects, I am never disappointed. My children are also regularly drawn to the tree to gather and gobble the tiny sweet fruits… Continue reading Plant Profile – Native Mulberry – Pipturus argenteus
Backyard Biodiversity Tip Three – Leave some of the Wild
With the dire warnings of an insect apocalypse and the potential impact on the food chain, encouraging creepy crawlies has never been so relevant. My garden purposely embraces the wild, but the messiness drives my partner crazy. Over time and with compromise I have managed to convince him of the importance of garden debris for… Continue reading Backyard Biodiversity Tip Three – Leave some of the Wild
