Dipodium variegatum The Slender Hyacinth Orchid is truly a wildflower. Orchid enthusiasts have tried to cultivate it, but have been unsuccessful due to its unique growing conditions. Dipodium variegatum is leafless and the only part of it that appears above ground is the stalk and flower. It is a saprophyte meaning that it is notContinue reading “A True Wildflower of the Tamborine Bush – Slender Hyacinth Orchid”
Category Archives: Nature
Plant Profile – Spotted Gum – Corymbia citriodora subsp. variegata
Also known as: Eucalyptus maculata (historical, no longer used by herbariums for this species) Corymbia maculata (historical, no longer used by herbariums for this species) Eucalyptus citriodora (historical, no longer used by herbariums for this species) Growing conditions: Prefers well-draining soils Like growing on slopes Prefers full sun Drought tolerant Propagation: Seeds in shallow traysContinue reading “Plant Profile – Spotted Gum – Corymbia citriodora subsp. variegata”
Meet the Trotters: a family of Magpies
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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 mostContinue 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 fruitsContinue 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 forContinue reading “Backyard Biodiversity Tip Three – Leave some of the Wild”
Plant Profile – Cut Leaf Daisy
Want bees? Grow some Brachyscomes! Also known as: Brachyscome multifida Cut-leafed Daisy Break O’ Day Swan River Daisy Good Old Native Daisy Rock Daisy Native Daisy Growing conditions: Part shade/Full sun (prefers full sun) Tolerates almost any soil/prefers well-drained loam Needs light watering in dry seasons Suitable for garden beds/rockeries/pots/borders Groundcover/living mulch Propagation: Seed –Continue reading “Plant Profile – Cut Leaf Daisy”
Plant Profile – Aloe Vera
Also known as Aloe barbadensis miller Aloe Barbados Aloe Growing conditions: Full Sun/Part shade/Bright shade Succulent Well-drained soil/sandy loam Suitable for pots/indoor pots/garden beds/rockeries Propagation: Propagation is easiest by separating pups from a “mother” plant. Demonstration available on my YouTube channel Click here to watch When I think of Aloe Vera, I think of sunburn. IContinue reading “Plant Profile – Aloe Vera”
Backyard Biodiversity Tip Two – Habitat
Hello and welcome to my garden. This beauty isn’t a dead tree, it’s a sustainable, slow-built, high-rise apartment building for wildlife. In this tree we have observed countless birds, including endangered species, mammals including possums and gliders, reptiles like tree snakes and bearded dragons and various insects and arachnids. Many people have suggested that weContinue reading “Backyard Biodiversity Tip Two – Habitat”
Garden Friends and Foes – what’s that?
I’ve always had “what the…?” moments in my garden and struggled to get information to explain what is it that I am seeing. Here I plan to document some of my findings progressively. Check back if you’re interested in knowing what those random nests and larvae are in your garden. This is another Lacewing. ItContinue reading “Garden Friends and Foes – what’s that?”
Jane Grows Garden Rooms 