Pittwater Life November 2018 Issue

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Garden Life Garden Life Delight Flamenco in hibiscus the amazing makes colours brilliant of stamp hydrangeas of colour Lush, Always tropical a favourite Hawaiian for hibiscus were in Christmas demand in colour, the ’80s hydrangeas and ’90s but as the ‘new look’ and are trend flowering towards their low maintenance heads became off! popular, They look their wonderful popularity waned. The Hawaiian in the hibiscus garden, were brightening grafted plants grown by the specialist semi-shaded nurseries, areas but many and of these nurseries glowing closed as in clipped the full, hedges protected and strap-leaved plants sunlight. took over Once and hibiscus the older were hard to buy. varieties The huge were flowers either of pink the older or hibiscus lasted blue just one depending day and the on shrubs the soil, needed constant additional care. The warm, lime will tropical deepen gardens of the northern the beaches pinks are and boosted blueing by tonic a flash of colour – and (sulphate nothing can of compete aluminium) with will bright, spectacular heighten flowers of the blues, new flamboyant but the Flamenco hibiscus. new They named will flower varieties continuously will for nine months maintain of the year, their with colour. blooms White that will last on the never bushes changes. for up to There five or are six days before they hydrangeas fade. The compact of every plants size are from great for pots, the mass tiny planting dwarf in Piamina garden to beds the or even as a low tall hedge traditional in the full Mop sun. Heads. If space is limited, plants With that have so many been to trained choose as from standards are available. it is They almost look too stunning difficult as focal to points of in the garden traditional mop Hibiscus heads, have few that problems. can be two They metres should tall. decide. beds, or There in tubs are on the sunny delicate balconies the or patios cone-shaped be flowers cut back of by a third The recently in late spring, introduced as they lace with caps, colourful the petunias, huge blooms white allysum hydrangea or trailing, paniculata flower bushes on new growth. smaller Feed growing with a Picotee fertiliser that silver dichondra growing underneath. There are will promote flowers varieties – I use with Sudden two-tone Impact flower for nine different colours to choose from: white, plus Roses. Their only heads problem are is hard the hibiscus to leave beetle behind the bright and if green you have leaves a semi- and pinks, yellows, salmon, tangerine and scarlet. that eats holes in Their huge, single, frilly petalled blooms lives in the flower shaded buds. (Granular wall, the BugKilla climbing from have dark centres. Richgro will control hydrangea these irritating petiolaris insects.) is just beautiful. Hydrangeas are forgiving Little Angel plants daisies L that are easy to grow. ow-growing borders They add colour. like regular Little water Angel and is a tight, compact plant any that good will easily garden adapt soil. to Mulch any sunny position. It will gradually the roots carpet with compost the garden to edge with rosettes of bright keep them green cool leaves. and The feed large, pure white, yellow-centred them daisies in early will spring appear to all get through the summer months. them going. Grow them in Little Angel makes a pots, great or border; in the it garden; will grow bring between pavers or down them the inside centre when of a driveway. in flower Pick the flowers and add or them cut the to blooms bunches – of they scarlet last geraniums for Christmas well table in water. decorations. with Gabrielle Bryant Christmas bush that’s a ‘Cracker’ New Zealand Christmas Bush is an old favourite for seaside gardens. The soft, grey foliage is salttolerant and tough. In the past few years there have Cherry been many new Guava varieties a sweet under cultivation. surprise All are Ifantastic hedging plants for n salt full or flower as wind in my breaks. veggie garden The newest is my Cherry newcomer Guava, is sometimes Metrosideros known Fire as Cracker. a Strawberry Fire Cracker Guava. This has delightful all the evergreen hardiness shrub of its never parentage fails to produce but is quite a heavy different crop of in cherry guavas appearance. in early Fire autumn. Cracker is It a is perfect a small, name pretty for tree the with rounded, explosion glossy of colour green in leaves the that new only leaves: grows bright to about yellow, three gold, metres pink and in height. scarlet Keep that it trimmed cover the into dark shape green after and fruiting. gold The variegation delicate fluffy of the flowers older are leaves. creamy white, growing close to the Grown branches. as a hedge They are that followed is clipped, by the the tangy amazing flavoured, colours sweet, will dazzle berry-sized, you. It cherry can reach red fruit a height that are of high three in metres vitamin and C. Unlike grow the to be taller-growing two metres deciduous wide if left yellow as an guava informal that needs shrub. cooking, This is a the Christmas fruit can be bush eaten that raw is grown straight for from its the leaves tree alone. or used I have in cooking, never seen jellies, one drinks, flower. sauces or jams. You should protect the fruit from fruit fly with a fruit fly bait. Get into the ‘swing’ of Xmas It is time to relax and enjoy your garden. Look at your outdoor seating requirements – the shops are full of amazing chairs and tables. Hanging cane egg chairs have been trendy for the past few years and now the ‘Swing Seat’ is back. Nothing is more peaceful than swinging in a seat for two, sheltered from the weather with a roof to shade from the sun – makes a great Christmas present too! 72 68 NOVEMBER DECEMBER 2017 2018 The Local Voice Since 1991
Spice things up with turmeric Not only is turmeric great for aches and pains, arthritis and rheumatism, it is a delightfully decorative plant in the garden. Turmeric is a member of the ginger family, native to India and Pakistan. The attractive, tall, bright green leaves that can grow up to a metre in height, are perfectly complemented by the spikes of pure white flowers that can be tinged with pink. Turmeric grows from knotty rhizomes under the ground. The new growth appears every spring and then dies down in winter. This is when the spice can be harvested. The orange rhizomes can be used freshly grated or in a dried, powdered form. It is used extensively in curries as a spice, for colouring dye and as a tea for aches and pains. Turmeric is easy to grow in warm humid conditions. Plant the rhizomes (I got mine from a fresh vegetable organic health food shop) in good, rich soil that drains well. The plants love plenty of water – but not ‘wet feet’. Their natural habitat is dappled light at the edge of subtropical rain forests. The plants will grow in full shade but will produce a higher yield with some sunlight. If space is a problem, turmeric makes a very attractive pot plant indoors, in a sunny window, or grown outside. Flannel flowers: short but so sweet The soft, velvety flowers of the native Flannel flowers appear every year in late spring along the road sides, from crevices in the rocky kerbs and in the stony soil under the gum trees in the bush. Flannel flowers are shortliving plants, lasting just a couple of years. Seeds are hard to find and germinate erratically, but established plants are in garden centres, potted. These amazing silver/ grey native plants love full sun or semi-shade; they will grow in any well-drained soil (they hate ‘wet feet’). If your garden is damp or your soil is heavy clay, they will suffer from root problems and fungal disease. You will have to mound up the soil with additional sand; or better still, grow them in pots. They don’t need native potting mix – any good potting mix will do. When planting, remove the plants from their pot very carefully with as little disturbance to the root ball as possible. Flannel flowers hate their roots to be disturbed. Make sure you tip-prune the plants on a regular basis to keep them bushy. The more tips, the more flowers you will get. Water them in with a seaweed solution at the time of planting, and feed with a waterbased fertiliser every three or four weeks. (Eco-Aminogrow is an organic fertiliser that is great for native plants.) Garden Life The Local Voice Since 1991 NOVEMBER 2018 69
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The Local Voice Since 1991 COMING T
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FREE LOCAL MONTHLY INDEPENDENT DIST
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News Shuttle provides ‘easy’ li
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News Chambers slam council fee hike
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News Book Review Lenny’s Book of
Page 17 and 18: SEEN… While a headcount of 3,000
Page 19 and 20: existing heritage features. The con
Page 21 and 22: vets. World Vets Mission is to impr
Page 23 and 24: Artists in Residence Programs provi
Page 25 and 26: submissions for consideration by it
Page 27 and 28: Sandy recalls he was on duty last y
Page 29 and 30: MODEL RESCUES: Office decorations a
Page 31 and 32: PL’s NOVEMBER SURF CALENDAR 12-24
Page 33 and 34: including a section of the ‘Total
Page 35 and 36: Market Days for Mixed Palette Mixed
Page 37 and 38: SUNDAY NOVEMBER 18 Avalon ushers ne
Page 39 and 40: The Local Voice Since 1991 NOVEMBER
Page 42 and 43: Health & Wellbeing How small change
Page 44 and 45: Health & Wellbeing Health & Wellbei
Page 46: Health & Wellbeing Health & Wellbei
Page 49 and 50: Hair & Beauty Care for your neck an
Page 51 and 52: planning, no matter what anybody sa
Page 53 and 54: agree to remove or prune a tree, co
Page 56 and 57: Trades & Services Trades & Services
Page 58 and 59: Trades & Services RENOVATIONS CONT.
Page 60: Tasty Morsels Tasty Morsels Newport
Page 63 and 64: homemade gourmet pies with chips an
Page 65 and 66: For more recipes go to www.janelleb
Page 67: Pittwater Puzzler Compiled by David
Page 71 and 72: Times Past Study of women in commun
Page 73 and 74: Up close with timeless treasures of
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Pittwater Life November 2018 Issue

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