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

Plant Profile – Warrigal Greens

Also known as: Tetragonia tetragonoides New Zealand Spinach Botany Bay Spinach Sea Spinach Growing conditions: Full sun/Part shade Tolerant of most soils/prefers moist, well-drained loam Harvest regularly for best growth Perennial in tropics and subtropics/annual in cooler zones 20cm high and 200cm wide Suitable for garden beds and rockeries/good gap filler/living mulch/hanging pots Propagation: Soak… Continue reading Plant Profile – Warrigal Greens

Garden to Kitchen – Choc-Mint Ice-cream

This recipe is a companion piece to my plant profile for Mint species coming soon! A vlog version is also available Garden to Kitchen – Choc-Mint Ice-cream on the Jane Grows Garden Rooms YouTube channel. NEW – short version of the vlog. Ingredients: 1 cup cream 1/3 cup chopped fresh mint (I like a chocolate… Continue reading Garden to Kitchen – Choc-Mint Ice-cream

Plant Profile: Slender Mint – Mentha diemenica

Also known as: Mentha diemenica Wild Mint Very similar to Mentha satureoides and sometimes confused with it. Growing conditions: Full sun/Shade/part shade Groundcover Prefers slightly damp soil Suitable for pots, rockeries and as a filler between paving stones or driving strips Propagation: Cuttings Removing a rooted section of the plant as it spreads Keep moist… Continue reading Plant Profile: Slender Mint – Mentha diemenica

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.  It… Continue reading Garden Friends and Foes – what’s that?

Garden to Kitchen: Liquid Lemon Gold

I love to use produce from my garden and Lemon Myrtle is one of my favourite trees. I don’t need any more reasons to justify its existence in a food forest but recently I read about a new use and I just have to try it! Here’s some of the ways that I already use… Continue reading Garden to Kitchen: Liquid Lemon Gold

“Build it and they will come”

This morning as I sat on my back patio looking around at the back garden drinking a coffee, a butterfly almost landed on my head. How delightful that sensation was once I had got over the initial shock response! I watched it fly away and cross the path of two other butterflies in the process.… Continue reading “Build it and they will come”