Her Garden, His Garden and Their Garden
Monday, September 1st, 2008
You probably already know what I’m talking about when I say, “her garden, his garden, and their garden”, but have you ever taken the time to contemplate it?
Archive for the ‘Articles’ Category
It’s Showtime For Native Gardens
Tuesday, July 1st, 2008We all have our reasons for growing native plants in our gardens. For some it’s a way of staying in touch with nature by attracting birds, butterflies and other little creatures close to our homes. For others it’s to create a garden coherent with the local climate or purely for aesthetic reasons, to make their home look great. Gardening for you may simply be a way to relax and pass the time, but whatever the reason, you’re most likely not doing it for praise or monetary rewards for your efforts. However, wouldn’t it be nice to get both?
Watering Without All The Fuss
Sunday, June 1st, 2008If it’s not flooded, it’s drying out. That’s the challenge for gardeners in the tropics, but now the rains have come to an end we have to get our dry season watering regime back on track. Watering methods can provoke debate – allow me to share with you my experience after seven years of trial and error.
I’ve Bogged The Lawnmower
Thursday, May 1st, 2008Many of us have a depressing area in the garden that gets completely waterlogged during the wet season. You know the one I’m talking about. It’s the spot the kids sink into and lose their gumboots. You can’t even mow it during the wet because you’re afraid you’ll need a winch to get the mower out, and every plant you’ve ever planted there has turned into a lifeless stick.
Getting Touchy-Feely In The Garden
Tuesday, April 1st, 2008A couple of years ago while working as a rainforest guide, I was asked to undertake a private rainforest walk with a difference. You see, the young Italian honeymooners who had hired me were blind. Obviously this meant expressions such as “look at this,” and “can you see the”, had to be abandoned and emphasis shifted to other senses. We walked very slowly, listening, smelling and touching. I have to say, it was one of my most rewarding and memorable experiences.
There’s A Honeyeater In My Orange Marmalade
Saturday, March 1st, 2008Without exaggeration, every moment of every day there are birds in my grevillea patch. At work when I look out the window I can see a nesting yellow honeyeater in a Kay Williams grevillea. It’s amazing the life grevilleas bring to a garden. I’m not talking about a forest of plants, just one or two are enough to attract native honey eaters when they are in flower.
Continue reading There’s A Honeyeater In My Orange Marmalade…
Diamonds In The Rough
Friday, February 1st, 2008There’s a rugged natural beauty associated with plants in the Australian dry country. They’re gnarly, weathered, fire scarred, insect damaged and often hold their dead limbs. Essentially they are full of character but not exactly the look most people are going for when creating a garden to frame their beautiful new home. However, these bush plants are really just diamonds in the rough.
The Native Garden Diet
Tuesday, January 1st, 2008Being told you should plant natives sounds a lot like you’re being told to give up junk food and switch to brussels sprouts and bran. It makes you feel like you’ll be going on a garden diet. Lush green foliage and the pretty flowers will be a thing of the past. There will be no more planting of self indulgent cordylines, hibiscus, gardenias or gingers. You’re now restricted to a gardening diet of gumtrees, paperbarks, grasstrees, and if you’re good, a grevillea or two. And you’ll have to tear up your lush green lawn so you can replace it with a nice deep layer of bush mulch with a couple of clumps of prickly Spinifex and a mandatory frog pond.
The Brown-Thumbed Garden
Saturday, December 1st, 2007Not all of us are green thumbed, but without green thumbs you’re left with few options as to how you make use of the area around your home. You can pay someone to come in and take care of your landscaping and garden maintenance, or you can have a fairway garden that is 100 per cent treeless lawn. Actually the latter isn’t a bad idea if you’re renting your investment property to a group of JCU students, as it leaves more room for backyard parties and provides space for additional parking on the lawn.
Fragrant Gardening For Blokes
Thursday, November 1st, 2007Smelling the sweet scent of a delicate flower is usually associated more with youthful innocence, femininity and romance than it is with masculinity.
