Bilpin Plant Collectors' Fair 2010

Beaut Booty in the Car Boot!

Last weekend, we stayed in the Blue Mountains and drove to Bilpin with family on Saturday for the 2010 Collectors' Plant Fair. Guest speakers for the event included Dan Hinkley from the US and Australian gardening identity, Trisha Dixon. With over 40 stalls, it is becoming a mecca for gardeners and plant collectors of the region. Attending such events, I have only been on the first day - Pickings must be slim by Sunday judging by the buying frenzy in the first hour!

We arrived just before 10, not realising that it had started at 9 am -so the car park was full and buyers were already streaming back to their cars with various verdant treasures. Having been to the Open Garden Plant Fair at Lambrigg near Canberra a few weeks earlier, my green thumb was already pretty happy, so I first strolled from one end of the sales area to the other - looking over the selections of more than 40 stalls. it was delighful to see so many happy buyers - homing on on a long wanted treasure, seeking advice from the sellers and queueing for the coffee!

My current plant interests include the Araliaceae, the Apiaceae and Primulas, so, I was interested to find these in particular, and I was especially looking for Polycias spp. Polycias  is a genus of mostly subtropical and tropical foliage plants that are native to Asia-Pacific. I already had the fernleaved form of Polycias sold by Yamina and another broad leaved form of the Australian species, and hoped that someone might be selling some of the types from the Pacific that were common in Queensland gardens once. No luck. However I did buy the variigated Fatsia japinica and a dormant Aralia californica - Elk Clover - Fortunately, we don't have Elks in Canberra, but maybe the possums will like it! In the Apiaceae, I purchased a plant of Ferula communis (Giant Fennel) and Selinum carvifolia (Milk Parsley) (Left).

I also purchased a double blue and white forms of Prumula auricula - The varieties I bought at Bilpin last year have done well. No-one was selling Primula bulleyana, which I have from seed, with some plants now in their second season - I think I have the secret for growing P. bulleyana - I immerse the pots in water. I recently divided my plants - teasing apart each crown and getting 3 or 4 crowns from each plant. They had strong white root systems so I think they like the growing conditions. So far only a few flower heads have set seed- they didn't like the heat last summer. I use a fairly gritty potting mix for the Primulas, and add charcoal to the soil for the P. bulleyana seeing they are immersed in water.

Amongst my other purchases were:

Ensete ventricosum, a banana relative purchased bromthe Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens Stall. I will need to keep it sheltered from the frosts here in Canberra, but I think it should be OK in a large pot to provide a tropical foliage effect next summer.

Albuca namaquensis (Syn, A.  circinata) . It hales from Namibia and has corkscrew spiral leaves and the flowers are reputed to smell like playdough!

Nothoscordum hirtellum an Allium relative with yellow flowers up to 2 cm across. There were 3 flowering bulbs in the pot and it put out new flowers a week later!. It is summer dormant, and comes from Argentina and Uruguay. It is a relative of Onion Weed (N. inodorum), a weed in warmer areas, so I'll be keeping it in a pot - although Bulbs for Warm Climates, by Thad Howard, suggests this is a non-weedy species.

The proud new owner of a prickly customer.

 

Gil Teague of Florilegium had a fine selection for the Arm-Chair Gardener.

 Bilpin Plant Collectors' Fair - 2010.

Pre-loved, hand-made and antique garden tools and paraphenalia.

Bulbs - My 2010 selections (well, at least some of them)

Last weekend, I bought a few bulb types at the Lambrigg Plant Fair, and I plan to plant some this weekend (except the Tulip - I will keep that til Anzac day). Yesterday, I moved  all of the pots of bulbs from last year's plantings from under the shade/dry of an Elderberry, where they had been for the summer. I immersed the pots in water for a while, top-dressed them with bulb fertiliser, which I then scratched into the crushed brick topping that I use to keep the bulbs cool, and rewatered. Today, I will move them to shade (for shade lovers) or sun - a couple of types are up already!

The illustration in this blog comes from on-line images of the  rare books collection at Missouri Botanic Garden Library (Also see Botanicus, the Missouri Botanical Garden's digital library portal,).

Over the years, I have lost countless small bulbs in the garden, so now-a-days, I plant them in pots, at least for the first year or two. I use terracota. The modern experts say black plastic is better, but I think this may be the case in cold climates. Here in Canberra, I think the terracotta works well ,with the planting topped with crushed brick to keep cool and reduce weeds (terracotta breathes, black plastic may overheat in late Spring) and the bulbs in pots moved to a cool dry spot over summer (at least that's what I tried this year, Spring will see if it worked!)

Some of the 2010 bulb purchases (Lambley)

Ixia paniculata comes from South Afrlca and grows on damp sandy soils . Needs room (avoid crowding) with max sun and bulb mix soil diluted with sand and some blood and bone (Ref), and a risk of weediness in Western Australia. Pictured in the ABC Gardening Australia bulb profiles.

Ixiolirion tartaricum, the blue Altai lily or Tartar lily,  a native of western Asia from Turkey and Eqypt East to Siberia and Mongolia according to Philips and Rix Bulbs. (Curiously, my Google for this bulb only gave two entries! but a lot under the common name see here). The Lambley label says it is rare in Australia, but easy to grow in hot dry spots (another post says perfect drainiage, and very dry summers, and protection from excessive wet in winter), while elsewhere it says plant at 5-10 cm.

Muscari ambrosiacum. (Pictured left) Lambley label says sun or light shade and can take summer dryness!


Muscari macrocarpum . Lambley label says grow in a spot that is sunny in winter and dry in summer. Fragrant grape hyacinth (bulb bigger than common grape hyacinth).  Native to the Aegean region of Turkey and Greece, growing at 10 to 800 m on mountain rocks and flowering in early Spring (ref)

Tulipa neustruevae The Lambley label says they're from the Tien Shan and Pamir Altai mountains and from relatively warm areas so may also suit Melbourne gardens (as well as Canberra natch) plant in sun or light shade and takes summer dryness! The web says plant 10-20 cm deep in early autumn with blood and bone or bulb booster round the planting hole and in mostly sand to some clay soils. I always think it is good if there are bulbs that can be planted deeper than the usual garden digging! See pic from "Dig the Dirt'...

I'll report progress later in the year!

Gardening in Autumn - 'Lambrigg' Open Garden and Plant Fair 27 3 2010

This is proving to be the wettest Autumn in Canberra for more than 10 years - lawns are actually growing - I was glad that I had decided to reseed and fertilise mine during a rainy day in Summer - because it is now showing the results.

Last weekend, I went to Lambrigg, the former home of William Farrer, known as the "Father of the Australian Wheat Industry" and his wife Nina, as it was open for the first time in more than a decade under the Australian Open Garden Scheme, and was also hosting the AOG's annual Canberra region Plant Fair.

 Nowadays, Lambrigg is the home of Peter and Kate Gullett and Peter grew up there. The garden has been developed over the last half century since the property was purchased in 1949 by Peter's parents. You can view a short interview and video about the garden: here, or read the Canberra Times story. For those with a sense of history, it is possible to walk to the graves of William and Nina Farrer and to stand on the steps in the spot that William Farrer was standing when he died, early in 1906 (but for me there was only time for plants!

It was a great day for plant lovers - a beaut garden, and a host of plant stalls - including stalls by Lambley Nursery from Ascot, Victoria (which specialises in drought and frost tolerant perennials), and by Yamina Rare Plants, as well as specialist hellebore, Clivea, Iris, Dahlia and bulb growers, amongst others, as well as the all important coffee stand and sausage sizzle ( and a stall selling 'glow in the dark' cup cakes - Bring back Anzac biscuits and scones, I say!).

I was pressed for time, so, arriving at opening time, I headed first for the plant stalls. I bought a few plants from Yamina - including the native fern-leaf Polyscias (which grows in a frost free spot outside the NBG Bookshop), Fothergilla major, Nothofagus fuscus (Reed Beech, a NZ evergeeen), Sambucus racemosa plumosa aurea and S. nigra laciniata. I got a range of unusual bulbs from Lambley as well as a couple of perennials. Hope to plant some of them over Easter.

After the plant stalls 'round one', I queued for coffee (along with half a million others), being gallantly made by the guys from one of the ANU cafes. A belated breakfast of bacon and egg sandwich from the Rotary stall, then a visit to the gardena and walk on the homestead verandah.

 
My tour of the garden was fairly quick, but it was a delight to see, and to sit in the shade - no time for the walk to the Graves of William and Nina Farrer, next time perhaps.Thanks to all involved in organising this great event!

Perfect Valentine's Day Gift - Rain - and Belladonna lilies in flower!

Over the last 36 h, we have been receiving the perfect Valentine's Day gift - Rain. I think that more than 75 mm have fallen in my garden - and my 5000 L tank is overflowing. I am running a slow hose to put the overflow into a path across the top of the garden that is filled to about spade depth with crushed bricks - this will allow the excess to soak further into the ground which has been bone dry to a great depth for a long time. 

Yesterday I spruiked about planting sweet pea seed on Valentine's Day - I guess this year I will be late as the rain, falling at about 2 mm per hour, is expected to continue all day.

This summer I have Amarylis belladonna - Belladonna lilies, commonly known as Naked Ladies,  flowering on the footpath. They have been in the ground for over 10 years, coming originally from my mother-in-law's garden, and this is the first year they have flowered! They say that Belladonna lilies take a while to settle in, but a compounding factor here in Canberra has been the drought - We had about 60 mm of rain at Christmas time so the ground was wet for a few cm deep for the first time in years - I think this must have sparked some extra life into the lilies and they are rewarding us now - in time for Valentine's Day - Seems somehow appropriate?

Sweetpeas on Valentine's Day, Rain at last, Diplarrena spp.

 

Sweet Peas on the Footpath Spring 2002

Rain. We have been blessed with over 30 mm rain here since midnight - the perfect prelude to the Lunar New year tonight and the coming Year of the Tiger. My 5000 L rainwater tank installed just before Christmas is almost full so I am running a dripper line to ensure the excess goes in to the vegetable garden.

Sweet Peas. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is traditional to recommend planting Sweetpeas on St atrick's Day March 17th. I have found living here where we can have frosts between Anzac Day (April 25 and Melbourne Cup (First Tuesday in November) that March 17 is to late to get good growth before winter. I plant Sweetpeas on Valentine's Day - which seems appropriate. I usually grown them on a circular trellis to one sideof the vegetable garden. I dig out the soil to below spade depth and add a good amount of compost,water holding crystals and dolomite. Pile the soil back on top and water well. After the wateris drained away I plant the Swwetpea seeds at about 2 cm apart up next to te wire nettting of the trellis. A good number of seedlings usually emerge and by late April plants are usually 50 cm high - They make slow growth through winter and by Spring I am usually getting my first flowers.

Last Summer I neglected tocollect seed - it dreid out too early and set was poor so I imagine that there will be quite a few self sown seedlings coming up after this rain. I like to plantold-fshioned types and the Yates Patricia Ann are a good choice - with rippled veins of colour through the petals and good scent. The mai nuisance for sweet peas aresnails - they boldly climb into the foliage and deface leaves with relish.

If you grow sweet peas in the vegetable garden be careful not to eat the foliage or seed or feed them to animals - Lathyrus spp. contain a neurotoxin, and  horses are more susceptible to the toxin in sweet peas than humans.

Diplarrena moraea and D. latifolia, the Butterfly Flag and the Western Flag Iris respectively, are two Australian members of the Iridaceae. Here in Canberra (600 M -5 C to 40 C 35 S 141 E), I am growing D. latifolia  in a large terracotta  pot - in a well drained gravelly mix,standing on a pot saucer so it won't dry out and tucked near shrubs so it is protected from frost and to much direct sun. I bought the plant last autumn, and it has made good growth through the year - rewarding me with the first flower this week - late summer. I have seen this garden gem in mass flowering in Tasmania (Cradle Mountain) in Summer, so it is worth trying to get established! I went out to take a photo of the flower but over night rain had ruined it!

Gardening in February

Golden Weather Grass, Hypoxis hygrometrica Labill., in the Hypoxidaceae, is one of the lesser known and grown Australian bulbous plants. It occurs naturally in open woodlands in Eastern Australia preferring swampy areas or grassy forest clearings. Members of the genus also occur in Africa - the best known being H. hemerocallidea (African star grass, African potato), with reputed medicinal properties, and there are also two species recorded from Brazil.

I purchased my plant at the Open Garden Australia Plant Fair held at Huntly, a property near Canberra, last Autumn so I have had it almost a year. I am growing my plants in a pot along with a dwarf foxglove -. The soil mix includes water-holding crystals to reduce drying out, and over the summer the fox glove foliage has covered the area where the bulb is planted. The Golden Weather grass died down over winter and has been dormant for  most of the summer, and has comeup and flowered in the last few weeks. The plant seems to clump up, but I have not yet attempted to divide it. It seems to have set seed so it will be interesting to see if I can raise a second generation. While Golden Weather Grass might not win any awards for spectacular performance, it is a good addition to the garden - the summer dormancy being a particular asset in dry summers..

Tha National Library of Australia holds a watercolour painting of a group of the plants by Adam Forster, 1924.

Bulbine spp. Here in Canberra,  I have grown two species from seed - (B. bulbosa (Golden Rock Lily) and B. semi-barbata (Leek Lily) (which featured in Curtis's Botanical Magazine in 1832). The seeds of both species, and a third, B. glauca ( Rock Lily), are offered by Wild Seed Tasmania . I also grew B. bulbosa years ago, in Brisbane.

After my inital Canberra planting in 2004 (lots of seedlings emerged), I lost both species in the drought. Then a year or so later, a lone seedling of one species emerged in a pot. I kept it well-watered and it flowered and set seed. I raised more plants and now, I have lots and, it seems to spread around a bit in the garden - a sure sign that  a plant is happy! I also divided up the original plant and transplanted it into the garden where they are doing OK - but I am not sure which of the two species it is, but it's probably B. bulbosa. I have found that the plants like to be kept moist, and even tolerate some waterlogging. At the National Botanic Gardens, they grow at least two species in the rock garden where plants seem to like growing beside and amongst rocks.

Gardening Magazines

Just at the moment we are experiencing cyclic spells of heat wave, followed by days where the maximum is in the high 20s C (low 80s F). We are also in drought, so it takes 3 h every second morning to hand water the garden. The hot days are a good time to catch up on garden reading - magazines, books and plant catalogues. I regularly read several magzines that have good coverage of gardening - ideas, information and inspiration - not always climatically relevant, but great for gardens of the mind. Here are some of my impressions:

BBC Gardens Illustrated (UK) - I am a subscriber, and have read every issue.Great inspirational pictures of plants and gardens, UK, Europe, occasionally other places, interesting plant and people profiles, garden design ideas, company features and people.

The English Garden (UK) - I have bought this on order from the local newsagent since the first issue. Enjoyable features and great pictures of gardens in UK - usually fitting the season of the issue, sensible articles by authorative writers, good plant profiles.

The Garden (UK)- Magazine of the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) - received by mail as an RHS member. Crosses over into policy and science issues as well as covering gardens, plants, people and news of the Society and their famous events. Visiting the Chelsea Flower Show can be a life-changing pilgramage for the keen gardener! Finding the magazine site on the RHS website is not easy! The imitable Hugh Johnson was a columnist (as Tradescant's Diary) for many years. According to Trad's Diary (by Hugh), the column was 'in The Garden from 1975-2006, in Gardens Illustrated in 2007, and in 2008 took to the ether with new material monthly or more often. Extracts are now published regularly in the quarterly Hortus magazine, starting with the summer issue of 2008'.  On their website, I recently enjoyed watching a podcast - conversation between Roy Lancaster and Beth Chatto which included Beth's memories of Christopher Lloyd.

Hortus (UK) - I occasionally buy collections of back issues and read the current issue highlights on the magazine's website - These are budget ways to acess the timeless articles written by the 'creme de la creme' of garden writers.

Gardening Australia - Many articles align with contemporary topics and stories covered by the ABC's "Gardening Australia' TV program, now hosted by exotic plant authority, Stephen Ryan. I tend to browse and buy occasionally when there is a topic that interests, or I need to access the latest in advertisements for seasonal buying of plants and bulbs. Useful video links on the website such as one on rose pruning. Useful range of fact sheets on the website.

Burke's Backyard (Australia) - Covers gardening and plant topics and other issues and ideas relevant to the back-yard - pets, BBQs, handy-man projects. I am sometimes tempted to buy by copies for plant focussed articles or special topics (how to pave  or build a stone wall). The  famous Fact Sheets - which started when Burkes Backyard was also a TV program - are a great resource. I used to like to count the number of pictures of Don Burke in each issue!

Your Garden (Australia) - As the website says: It "stands for quality, reliability, adaptability, excellence and resilience". How else could a gardening magazine maintain its position in a fiercely competitive market for nearly 60 years!" The doyen of Australian Gardening magazines - my first introduction to the world of possibilities in the garden when I was just a kid - my first purchases were 3 bonsai plants and 3 bonsai pots for $1.50 for 3 plants and the same for 3 pits! Once people would buy the magazine just for the advertisements - the lists of rare and unusual plant nurseries and garden-supply companies - but specialist articles and regional columns are also a feature. Maybe I'm biased because I wrote the 'Gardening in the subtropics' column for 7 years (1988-1995), but it is still my favorite Aussie gardening magazine. Sadly now only produced quarterly, and the direct access website seems to have been disabled.

Horticulture Magazine (USA) My first introduction came from back issues bought at a book fair - this magazine is memorable for its fine writing - good coverage of specialist topics and plants, regional columns that are a good read even when you live in a completely different climate and the advertisements - enticing insights into possibilities that may be beyond the boundaries of climate and quarantine! Back issues are available on CD ROM!

Fine Gardening (Taunton USA). I was a subscriber for many years - hearing about its launch through it's sibling magazine 'Fine Wood Working'. Both are based on a reader-written philisophy, and FG can have good coverage of particular plant groups, but with a emphasis on temperate climates. I no-longer subscribe - the rise of some of the British magazines tempted me away

Country Living (UK) - I have bought this on order from the local newsagrent since about 1993 - Still have most back issues - except for one month when a new staff member put aside the USA version instead of the UK edition! More a lifestyle magazine than strictly gardening, but the profiles of country living and lives, the features on country houses, gardens and occasionally, plants, the regular columnists and profiles on things to buy and the Editorials by Susy Smith are all an inspiration, even 'down-under', and can be re-read again and again.

Country Life - A periodical that focuses on upper-class life in the countryside, and features stories (and for-sale advertisements) on homes ranging from the very grand to the quirky and quaint. This magazine is often available in local lending libraries in Australia - it merits attention because it formerly published a gardening column by the late Christopher Lloyd, and in a much earlier time, Vita Sackville West. I used to like to read Lloyd's column. The gardening section is still worth a read. Also, the cartoon is  often a laugh.

Hydrangeas

Gardening in A Warm Climate - Articles from Brisbane in 1994 - originally published in Your Garden magazine.

Gardening in the Subtropics : January 1994 with update - Turn over some new leaves...

Hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla) have a familarity that can lead to neglect when it comes to choosing garden plants. It's the associations with neat, trim stucco houses of the 50's, one hydrangea either side of the entrance: the antithesis of modernity. Not so! These old-timers have a place in the 90's garden too, be it cottage or Glenn Murcott Australian. In semi-shade, they produce fine serrate glossy leaves and plate-sized posies of pink, blue or white flowers in late spring and summer. A no-nonsense, weed-smothering, easy-care neatness that lasts the weeks of heat and summer outings when gardening-time is scarce. The flowers fade and blotch in russet autumn tones, and the leaves drop off in winter, leaving a skeleton tipped with firm, fat buds and the promise of another spring. Plant them in rows beside a wall, around deciduous trees or along a drive. They'll grow to 150 cm high and wide. Tubs in-flower on paved or gravelled areas, or at the entrance, also look great and, at the local drive-in nursery have that strong `buy-me' allure for customers after `instant-garden' effects. Plant in well drained soil. Good nourishment helps. Prune them lightly in winter, the flowers form on last year's dormant buds. Plunge the cuttings into pots or in garden beds where new plants are required, and water regularly. You'll have a brace of new plants in Spring. Pink/blue colour forms are influenced by soil acidity, pink in acid, blue in alkaline soil. Addition of copper sulphate can intensify the blue colour. White forms are soil pH neutral. Variegated forms have extra charm, but are slower growing and should be in bright shade. Several other species of hydrangeas, including climbers, are available from specialist nurseries. They may be more sensitive to the summer heat, but are worth a try in cooler spots.

Here in Canberra, I lost quite a few Hydrangea varieties during the drought years 2005-2008 so I now grow them in pots in a shady spot.

Summer 2010

Growing from Seed. In early summer, I planted a range of seed from Nindethana, a Western Australian company that specialises in Aussie plants. I had ordered seed earlier in the year, and waited until it was warm enough before planting. Growing from seed is a way of getting uncommon plants cheaply, and of trying things that 'stretch the climate boundaries'. This season, I have planted a range of herbaceous plants, as well as shrubs and trees, and so far only a few have emerged - Abutilon geranoides, Alyogyne hueglii, Brachychiton gregorii (The Desert Kurrajong), Bracychiton megaphylla (Big Leaved Kurrajong), Eryngium pinnatifidum, Erythrina vespertilo (Bat's Wing Coral Tree) have emerged. I have not had success yet with two other species of Brachychiton (diversifolius and discolor), a Baobab, and the native crepe mytrle (Lagerstroemia archeriana var. divaricatiflora) as well as other plants.

Batswing Coral Tree. The batswing coral tree seedlings (right) shot out of the ground and are already about 20 cm high. It occurs naturally in Northern Australia and is probably frost tender. There were some planted at the Australia National Botanic Gardens (ANBG) during summer 2008, and they seem to have survived and thrived when I saw them this week. In Europe they grow the Erythrina crista-galli  (pictured above) in the perennial garden bed (It's considered a noxious weed in Northern NSW), cutting it back to ground level over winter. This may be a way of growing E. vespertilo here in Canberra.

Brachychitons. The kurrajong (Brachychiton populneus) grows well in Canberra. it seems to take the cold weather OK.

I have grown Bottle trees (B. rupestre) in pots over two seasons - I keep them in a frost free spot over the winter, with part shade during the day in summer. (The picture (left) shows a Bottle tree in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney) .

So far my pot-grown specimens are doing fine - one is about 2 m high. I plan to transplant them into the garden. As the Bottle tree grows naturally in western Queensland in areas that get frosts and it drought tolerent, it may be OK here in more sheltered spots.

I am also trying two hybrids - obtained as grafted plants from Yamina Rare Plants in Victoria - Brachychiton ' Clarabelle', a cross between B. discolor and and B. populneus, and B. X 'Bella Donna' a cross between B.acerifolius and B. populneus. The former may be the more cold tolerant as it has Kurrajong parentage.

The Illawarra Flame Tree (B. acerifolius) is growing in the rainforest area of the National Botanic Garden, and there is also one in a home garden in Aranda, under the protection of a big gum. The Flame tree is native to the coastal areas of NSW and Queensland in rainforest - It flowers in Spring after dropping its leaves - I have not seen the trees in the ANBG in flower.