By Beatrice Hawkins
I think of all the 4 seasons I am primarily a fan of this time of year. The days are wonderful, the mornings and evenings pleasantly cool and the nights a chance to enjoy being warm in bed!
The weather at this time of late autumn/early winter seems to be more settled and consistent than other periods. I am not a fan of the full heat of summer, although I don’t really think we have much to complain about in our region as it is never too intense for more than a few days at a time. Nor am I a fan of the really cold winter days. Frosts I like as they usually preempt a beautiful sunny day. Cold grey days, as I experienced last year in the southern part of NSW, are to me the worst weather of all. Days where we didn’t see the sun and the temperature only varied from 4 to 6 degrees day and night.. not an area where I would choose to live!
Driving around town at this time also I am delighted with the late season roses in gardens. The weather in recent weeks must have been ideal as they are putting on a beautiful display. I wish I had the position, patience and perseverance to grow our town flower.
Also at the moment the town is filled with spectacular golden rain trees covered in the bright salmon pink, papery capsules. These trees are koelreuteria paniculata and are providing a wonderful display as street trees and in house yards all over town. The yellow flowers are fairly insignificant but the following papery pods are a real show stopper at this time of year.
These trees are very different to what I’ve always known as a golden rain tree. The one I know is cassia fistula. It is also known as golden shower tree with long drapes of bright yellow flowers similar in form to wisteria. It is a truly beautiful sight in full flower in spring and summer.
Both these trees are beautiful specimens for very different reasons and seasons but both are considered a potential environmental problem in Queensland and the Northern Territory! I don’t believe this to be the case in our area and am reliably informed by my nursery person that both are quite safe to grow here. A weed is only “a plant out of place” after all and I don’t believe they are “out of place” here!
The other beautiful shrubs I have noticed lately are camellias. A neighbour has a lovely deep pink specimen out at the moment and it really looks spectacular with the flowers offset against the glossy green leaves. They are something I have considered growing down the eastern side of my house on the top of the retaining wall. I did in fact plant some there along with some azaleas but unfortunately the hedge on the other side of the fence flourished to the detriment of my shrubs.
Another shrub that I have seen in full flush of colour lately is the “red robin” photinia. Hedges of this popular shrub are everywhere around town and if they have been trimmed in the last little while, are at present sporting spectacular new, bright red, growth. They are certainly justifying their name and are really eye catching. Probably not something to plant on rural properties if there are horses about as they evidently are very poisonous to them.
I hope everyone has their sweet peas growing nicely. I’m afraid mine are still in the packet as I went away for a weekend with family business and only came home a few days ago… 3 weeks later! Hopefully they will get into the ground tomorrow before I leave again for a week to look after my grandson. It is really great to have the freedom to be able to help out when needed.
I am again going to put some winter vegetables in if I am ever at home long enough. Purple peas as well as yellow and green will be on the list and some broccoli and cauliflowers. Hopefully they will do okay and provide some excess to share with neighbours and friends. Sharing the bounty is one of the great joys of, and reasons for, gardening for me.
My daughter has suggested that I should get rid of the narrow strip of grass at the back of my house and instead plant it with low growing fragrant herbs. Then she suggested that I should relocate my clothes line to this area so that I can walk on the herbs and also so my washing will be able to absorb the perfume. It’s an idea I am considering. It certainly would be easier than mowing the awkward strip!
I am amazed at the change in the trees as I’ve driven through the New England again this week. The tall spires of the Lombardy poplars were in glorious brilliant yellow last week but have gone off in the intervening few days in most areas. However they have been replaced by the brilliant colour of the fiery red oak and the deep claret of the ash trees.
As I drove through Uralla I was entranced by the brilliant orange/red of the street trees. I contacted the tourist information office and the shire to see if they knew what they were and they told me they are Chinese pistachio trees. So, in the other column that appears this week in the Magazine, I have mistakenly identified a tree in my son’s backyard. Turns out it is a Chinese Tallow, triadica sebifera. Sorry about that readers.. as you can see I am not infallible! It does however turn beautiful colours but is not in the same class as the Chinese pistachio. The ones in Uralla are really a sight to behold at the moment and a wonderful choice for street trees in that climate.
While I am a huge fan of all things native I am pleased to be able to enjoy the spectacular beauty of the deciduous English trees that add such spectacular colour to our landscape at this time of year.
*This is an old article that has been digitised so our readers have access to our full catalogue.
