Pittwater Life June 2019 Issue

Garden Life
Garden Life
Delight Watch Australian in the amazing natives
colours exploding of into hydrangeas colour!
The Always warmth a favourite has finally for
Christmas gone out colour, of the sun hydrangeas
that June are flowering is here, and their our
now
heads lush tropical off! They gardens look are wonderfuing
in the the result garden, of the brightening
onset of
show-
the colder semi-shaded winter nights. areas However, and
glowing as the tropical in the gingers full, protected die
sunlight. down, the Once frangipani the older trees lose
varieties their leaves were and either hibiscus pink or
blue also cease depending to bloom. on the soil,
additional But the Australian lime will deepen native
the trees pinks and shrubs and blueing come into tonic life!
(sulphate These include of aluminium) Kangaroo paws, will
heighten grevilleas, the wattles, blues, boronia, but the
new Geraldton named wax, varieties banksias will and
maintain violet hardenbergias.
their colour. White
never For many changes. years There plant are growers
have worked of every at developing size from
hydrangeas
the new, tiny improved dwarf Piamina varieties to of the native
traditional trees and shrubs. Mop Heads. Each year
tall
With gardeners so many are given to choose more from and
it more is almost plants too choose difficult from. to
decide. Stunning There this are winter the are delicate
lace the Expo caps, Gold the trees huge in blooms Bungan
Street at Mona Vale. The
brilliant, acid yellow flowers
smother the bright green
leaves. Xanthostemon Expo
Gold was developed and
released in Queensland for
Expo 88. It is a slow-growing
tree, perfect for street planting.
Now, 30 years on, the trees
look amazing in winter light.
Grevilleas are beautiful,
hardy shrubs that come in all
sizes, from the tall-growing
tree grevillea robusta to the
delicate, small pink grevillea
Pinkie Pettite. (If your space is
limited, weeping grevilleas will
thrive in pots.)
with Gabrielle Bryant
Ideas for
indoor
hanging
baskets
Now that winter is here bring
your hanging plants inside.
Cherry Guava a
Indoor hanging baskets take
sweet space but the surprise
effect stunning;
Ithey n full will flower bring in the my indoors veggie alive.
Choose garden your is my container Cherry carefully. Guava,
sometimes Wire baskets known with as fibre a Strawberry
are great Guava. out-
This delightful
liners
evergreen doors but impractical
inside. a heavy crop of cherry
shrub never fails to
produce
guavas They drip in water.
of the traditional mop heads, that can be two metres tall.
early autumn.
Some It is smaller
the cone-shaped flowers of The recently introduced
a small, pretty tree with
rounded, pots have glossy clipon
saucers only grows and
hydrangea paniculata bushes smaller growing Picotee
green leaves
that varieties with two-tone flower
to about
three larger metres plastic
heads are hard to leave behind
and if you have a semi-
into shape after fruit-
in height. Keep it
trimmed baskets are
ing. available The delicate with
shaded wall, the climbing
fluffy flowers
are water-well
hydrangea petiolaris is just creamy white, growing close
to bases.
beautiful.
the branches. They are followed
Plastic by pots the tangy are
Hydrangeas are forgiving
flavoured,
Weeping grevilleas are ing
plants
its way
that
through
are easy
rockeries, sweet, light but
to grow.
berry-sized, ceramic cherry red
grafted. The rambling, groundhugging
varieties are grafted flowerbeds
covering
They like
the
regular
bare earth
water
in
and fruit hanging that baskets are high in vitamin C.
any good garden
and spilling
soil. Mulch
over Unlike are heavy the and taller-growing deciduous
need yellow very strong guava that needs
onto a tall upright trunk. At banks,
the roots
the
with
electric
compost
blue dampiera
to
this time the weeping branches
keep
is
them
coming
cool
into
and
flower.
feed
A shy cooking, hooks for the hanging.
straight Plant stands from the tree or
fruit can be eaten
are festooned with bright, plant,
them in
its
early
small
spring
flowers
to
look
get raw
spider-like flowers that thrill amazing
them going.
against
Grow
the
them
green
in used are great in cooking, as they jellies, drinks,
the honey-eating birds. Their carpeting
pots, or in
leaves,
the garden;
but for
bring
something
sauces are both or moveable
You and should strong protect enough the for fruit
jams.
size is easily controlled and can
them
new
inside
find
when
a pot
in
of
flower
the
be pruned to any shape. silvery-leaved
or cut the blooms
variety,
– they
dampiera
last from heavy fruit hangers. fly with If you a fruit use fly plant bait.
Across the ground, wind-
Stirling
well in water.
Silver – it is gorgeous. stands, make sure that you balance
the baskets on each side,
otherwise they will tip over!
Get into the
Also, the macramé holders
‘swing’ of the 1970s are of back! Xmas They are
Iquick t is time and easy to relax to make and – enjoy look
for your patterns garden. on the Look internet at your or
outdoor buy them seating ready-made. requirements
Look – for the cascading shops are plants full of
amazing for your baskets; chairs and try the tables. new
Hanging tiny pink-and-cream, cane egg chairs trailing have
been Callisia trendy (top). In for the the bright past light few
years of a north-facing and now the room ‘Swing there
Seat’ are flowering is back. basket Nothing plants is more
peaceful that will enjoy than some swinging warmth in a in
seat Winter, for like two, the sheltered bronze leaves from of
the begonia weather Cleopatra with a that roof glisten to
shade against from pink flowers the sun in – spring. makes a
great Christmas present too!
72 70 DECEMBER JUNE 2019 2017
The Local Voice Since 1991