The frosts have certainly slowed things down in my garden lately and the need to mow my lawn has decreased. The lovely white “Sweet Alice” Alyssum is still flourishing and covering a multitude of sins. This, with the addition of my old gate and fence posts, ceramic mushrooms and metal animals, and the continuing gold of the ornamental variegated abelia still has it looking decorative.
Grevilleas of all colours in gardens around town are looking beautiful. There are so many colours and sizes available these days the choice is difficult.
Some time ago I gave a list of “birth” flowers for each month but was disappointed by the fact that it was aimed at the northern hemisphere…obviously daffodils do not flower in Australia in March, Chrysanthemums are our Mother’s day flower in May not flowering in November and roses are approaching pruning in June!!
So I went looking for an Australian alternative and found a list of Australian natives flowers as birth month flowers. So here is a truly Australian list, January though to December: Hibbertia Sun Shine, Brachyscome Magenta Bliss, Grevillea Little Robyn, Eremophila Winter Gold, Crowea Edna Walling, Hardenbergia Happy Duo, Adenothus Silver Sensation, Correa Dusky Bells, Eucalyptus Euky Dwarf, Callistemon Betka Beauty, Leptospermum Starry Night and Banksia Cherry Candles.
I am sure that if you want to use this list it would not be necessary to find the particular variety named..in March, I am sure, any variety of grevillea, would be suitable.. eg. Moonlight, Robyn Gordon, Superb or Honeybird Yellow, just to name a few, would look wonderful in a birthday bouquet. There are now so many beautiful varieties of each of the shrubs mentioned a really beautiful bouquet would be easy to arrange for a birthday surprise.
I am thrilled to see that Adenothus Silver Sensation is the flower for July. It is a variety of “Woolly Bush” that has bright orange flowers for most of the year and silvery foliage. I love the many varieties of Woolly Bush and have long suggested that they are a great alternative to the traditional northern hemisphere pines for a Christmas tree. I will certainly hunt down a Silver Sensation to plant in my garden and have a bouquet each July.
I was recently asked about Wasabi and it was suggested that it would grow here. Now I have never eaten Wasabi, even though I am a fan of sushi, so it was fun to find out a little about how and where it grows.
It is also known as Japanese Horseradish and is used in the spicy sauce in Japanese cuisine, especially with sushi. Apparently fresh wasabi is not spicy and the spicy taste of the commercial sauce is achieved using mustard. Mustard is in the same family, Brassicaceae.
I doubt that it would grow here as it prefers a humid summer and temperatures no lower than 10 degrees or higher than 20 for most of the year. Our current run of frosts would not be conducive to growing it successfully in our region!
That is a shame, as it is a low growing plant with large green heart shaped leaves, and looks very decorative for protected areas. In its natural habitat it is a water plant so needs constant watering. Self watering pots might be worth a try indoors if you are really keen. It is the rhizome that is harvested and used in sauces.
The Jumpers and Jazz Festival is almost here!! Events are organised and final touches are being applied by the many organisations involved.
The days are certainly chilly and the mornings fresh.. even frosty!!.. so you’ll definitely be needing your Jumpers to enjoy the Jazz in the streets! What a great fun event for our locals and visitors alike to enjoy!
The Gardening Extravaganza to be held in St Mary’s Hall in Wood Street on Wednesday 27 July and Thursday 28 July is ready to go!!
The menu is set, the soups to warm you are planned! Shirley has the ingredients ready to make the scones fresh for the morning teas and ladies are making slices and cakes to tempt you. A range of jams, pickles and relishes will be there.
18 exhibitors will be displaying many things with which to entice you to plant and decorate your garden. There will even be an exhibit to show you how to use produce from the garden! It is definitely all go, go, GO!! Covid protocols will be in place so don’t forget to come see us there and enjoy a break from the festivities in the streets!
