Interviews     

Myles Baldwin
Author: ‘Rural Gardens Australia’
Published by Murdoch Books, RRP $89.95

Nicky Barry
Spring Hill Peony Farm, 23 Knights Lane Spring Hill (near Trentham)
www.springhillpeonyfarm.com.au

Adam Burges
Head Curator, National Arboretum Canberra
100 forests, e.g. Tulip Tree, Hornbeam, Spotted Gums, Snow Gum, Cork Oaks, Bunya Pine. 820 Wollemi pines plants. Some forest have yet to be planted and it will be completed by 2014.
Trees are selected for diversity, maybe endangered and for shape and colour.

www.nationalarboretum.act.gov.au

 
Eugene Gilligan
Landscape Designer
www.eugenegilligan.com

 

Plant of the Week
Pointsettias – for a traditional Christmas look, a Poinsettia as an indoor plant gives a joyous feel to any front door or living room. They will take quite dry conditions, so don’t overwater them and choose a well lit spot as the colour of the bracts (flowers) fade if the light is too dull.

Just ask Jane

* Strelitzia – Bird of Paradise please, trim off spent flower stems, right the base to keep the plant looking tidy
* Smoke Bush (Cotinus coggygria) – absolutely fantastic 2 metre shrub with burgundy leaves and large clusters of tiny flowers all over the top just wafting like smoke in the breeze.
* Salt and Vinegar weedicide – ½ cup salt, ¼ cup vinegar and up to 5 litres water or try ‘Beat a Weed’ Weedicide (available at Nurseries &  Bunnings)
* Be inspired to use lots of colour in the garden: www.colourwave.com.au