Australian native and indigenous plants, shrubs, trees, flowers are adapted to local climates and soils and create habitat suitable for attracting wildlife to your garden. A useful guide to a range of these plants is on https://www.australianoutdoorliving.com.au/australian-native-plants/
Wildflower gardens – What’s the buzz about?
In the quest for sustainable and environmentally conscious practices, gardening enthusiasts and nature lovers alike are turning to a time-tested…
Indigenous plants for reducing insect decline
A steep drop in insect numbers since the 1970s has environmentalists very concerned. While we might not miss some species - mosquitoes and termites…
Top Productive Perennials
Productive perennials provide solutions to many of today's gardening challenges. Top of the list is that they save time! Perennials don't need to be…
Environmental Weeds: Native Invaders and Eager Exotics
We see them on the roadsides: vigorous, long-flowering, hardy and a splash of colour against the grey-green foliage of the native species. They are…
Myrtle Rust is a Spreading Problem
Myrtle rust is a spreading problem in Australia. It is a fungus, Puccinia psidii, which affects plants in the family Myrtaceae. While there are…
Native Lawns
It may surprise you to learn that not all native grasses are tall feature plants. In fact in parts of Australia, pasture is composed almost entirely…
Edible and Useful – Walking Stick Palm
With showy spikes of cream flowers and edible red berries, perfect to nibble whilst gardening, the Walking Stick Palm Linospadix monostachyos is a…
Native Ginger
Native ginger Alpinia caerulea/coerulea is an attractive, easy to grow feature plant and also a bushfood with a mild, tangy ginger flavour. A…
A School’s Sustainable Gardening Adventure
One way to teach children about sustainable gardening practices is by developing a community garden on school grounds. An example of this comes from…
Sea Celery – an Indigenous Edible Plant
When we think about native foods, or bushfood we often miss the nuances of what each one means. Many (if not all) are inextricably linked to…
Albany Woolly Bush – A Home Grown Christmas Tree
Adenanthos sericeus As the festive season approaches, many of you may be considering a Christmas tree for the occasion. Why not break from the…
Living Mulch: Waterwise, Firewise & Seriously Good Looking
Mulching the garden to cut-back on water-use is enshrined in garden lore. Protecting the soil from direct sunlight prevents it from getting hot and…
Conserving Indigenous Remnant Vegetation at Heide
“There is a growing and strong, but quite unscientific ‘feeling’ that the bush must be saved and I believe this feeling should be encouraged to the…
Fan Flower – Fabulous Native Ground Cover
Scaevola – groundcover species What a popular garden plant this has become, and quite rightly so. The splendid fan flowers that give the genus its…