The burst of colour that many of the flowering native plants bring to the garden in late winter seems to be happening earlier this year, perhaps because it’s been so mild. Grevilleas are starting, as well as wattles and kangaroo paw. But one of my absolute favourites is the flowering tea trees, Leptospermums. These small...Read More

Most of the vegetables we grow are annuals. They grow quickly, are ready for harvest in only a few months, and then we replace them. But there are some perennial vegetables, which will live and produce for years, and perhaps the most popular of these is asparagus. An asparagus plot can produce for over 15...Read More

Lots of our native plants flower in winter. Grevilleas and Callistemons are probably the mostly well-known and widely grown native flowering shrubs, but there are plenty of others that are well worth growing. One of my favourites is the Australian rice flower, Ozothamnus dismofolius, which is native to Eastern Australia from north Queensland as far...Read More

Chocolate is the most popular sweet in the world the average Australian eats somewhere between 5 and 6 kilograms of the stuff every year. Most of us love chocolate, and so imagine how exciting it would be to have a chocolate scented flower in your garden. Cosmos ‘Choca Mocha’ will give you that irresistible chocolate...Read More

Roses need a sunny position, with at least 6 hours per day. They also need good drainage, and plenty of organic matter in the soil. To minimise the risk of fungal diseases, ensure that there is plenty of airflow around the roses – they don’t like to be crowded out by other plants. To plant...Read More

Now is the perfect time to take a look at your garden and make major improvements. Winter is great for establishing new trees and shrubs, transplanting, pruning, and mulching. The days are warm but not too hot, so plants have time to get established and develop a nice strong root system before the hot weather...Read More

Lavender has been grown and used for healing and perfume since ancient times. The Egyptians, Romans, Greeks and Arabs were all aware of its powerful antiseptic properties. It was used for treating wounds, freshening rooms and laundry, treating skin ailments, relieving headaches, repelling insects, as well as in tea and dozens of other household uses....Read More

Indoor plants not only look good, but research over the last 20 years or so has clearly identified the significant role that indoor plants play in improving air quality, particularly in offices and workplaces. One of the foremost researchers in this field in Australia is Margaret Burchett, Adjunct Professor, Department of Environmental Services, University of...Read More

Asparagus (Asparagus officianalis) is a hardy perennial, a member of the lily family, which will produce for over 40 years once established. The fern-like foliage grows to about 1.5m if it is not harvested as a young shoot. This is a nutrient-rich vegetable, high in folic acid and a good source of potassium, fibre, vitamins...Read More