Plant Profile Also known as: Growing Conditions: Propagation Uses This plant is a wonderful way to find buzz-pollinating bees in your garden. It delivered my first Teddy Bear Bee sighting and numerous Blue-banded Bee sightings. It is a classic understorey plant from subtropical and tropical rainforests and can therefore be used in shady places in… Continue reading Native Ginger or Alpinia caerulea
Category: permaculture
A Garlic for Subtropical and Tropical Climates
Society Garlic (Tulbaghia violacea) is the perfect way to grow garlic flavours in warm climates. I love garlic flavours, but try as I might, I just can’t get garlic to grow in my subtropical climate zone. The solution? Society Garlic or Tulbaghia violacea! This strappy leaved plant with lovely purple flowers will grow as an… Continue reading A Garlic for Subtropical and Tropical Climates
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
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: Growing conditions: Propagation: Uses: I originally purchased this plant from Mudbrick Herb Cottage because I liked the idea of fresh basil all year. It has delivered, but I still grow sweet basil for those dishes that need its pungent sweetness. During Wild Pollinator Count Weeks it’s the first plant I visit. It… 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
Garden to Kitchen – Fried Pumpkin Flowers with Basil and Lemon Myrtle
Ever tried Fried Pumpkin Flowers? Here’s how to cook them!
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
Jane Grows Garden Rooms 