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In the Garden This Week

As promised and predicted it's been rain, glorious rain in the garden this week, and didn't we need it.

Just the ticket for tomatoes, freshly planted in the vege patch, and all the better for our poor lawns that have struggled through the prolonged dry. Let's cross our fingers now and hope we don't get too much, especially in Queensland.

 

Thank heavens for the rain!

 

When can I take pups from my bromeliads?

As soon as they're big enough to pot up bromeliad pups can be taken off the parent plant and potted up with a good quality potting mix and grown on. It's the best way to multiply your favourite broms in your garden.


What's wrong with my broad-beans?

By the end of the growing season broad-beans can look a little less than luscious to say the least. Even though the beans themselves might be numerous and perfectly formed (and tasty!) the plants tend to get covered in fungal disease like powdery mildew. This is probably happening as a result of fungal spores in the soil splashing up onto the foliage during rain or watering, and then exacerbated by humidity.

Prevention is better than cure with fungus on beans. It's important to mulch under your beans well and reduce the amount of water that splashes back up onto the foliage. The good news - usually the beans aren't affected and at the end of the fruiting season just remove and compost the vines.

 

A warning about Arum Lilies

A caller to Talking Lifestyle this week recounted a story about a very frightening moment when her grandaughter had a severe allergic reaction to pollen from an Arum lily she was playing with.

These flowers are poisonous. Children have been fatally poisoned after eating the white spathe or yellow spadix of the flowers. This is probably due to an alkaloid in the flower and stalk. All parts of the plant are toxic and may cause illness if eaten or put in the mouth.

 


Arum lilies are poisonous. Take care with children and pets

 

What's on:

Still plenty of Spring events and open gardens happening in New South Wales and Queensland this week. Why not make a weekend of it and check out some of our favourites.

Spring festivals

Take a trip up to the Blue Mountains this weekend and catch the spring display in Mt Wilson. Pop over to Wildwood, the garden of former nursery owners, and passionate plant-people, Wayne and Sue Tapping. Their five-hectare garden is part wild, part formal, and 100% breath-taking.

Then swing around to Nooroo, probably the best known garden on the mountain. It's an incredible spring display of wisteria in a majestic setting.

Mayfield Spring Festival

Head down the western slopes of the mountains from Mt Wilson and you'll find the largest private garden in the country, Mayfield.

Mayfield Garden is open to wander and discover the features and follies throughout the garden during their Spring Festival right now.

Mayfield Garden Spring Festival runs until October 29. Tickets from the Mayfield Garden website.

 

Rose arbor at Mayfield Garden, Oberon NSW

 

NSW Cactus & Succulent Society Spring Show

Love succulents? Head over to Eden Gardens today and see the spring show Cactus and Succulent exhibition. And yes, plants will be for sale too.

 

Austrsalasian Native Orchid Society Sarcochilus Show

What's a Sarcochilus orchid? Drop into the Kellyville Village Shopping Center today and see why these diminutive, but very beautiful orchids deserve a show of their very own. Plants will be for sale in a range of colours as well.

 

The diminutive, but very beautiful Sarcochilus orchid

 

Queensland Orchid Society Orchid Display

A colourful display of orchids at Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha this Saturday and Sunday promises to dazzle orchid lovers in Brisbane. A large variety of orchids will be for sale. Enjoy potting demonstrations, gain culture advice and learn orchid growing requirements. Floral arrangements and light refreshment will also be on sale. Don't forget to purchase a ticket in the raffle.

 

Master Garden Class - Identifying Plants

For the intermediate-level gardeners the Mt Coo-tha Botanic Gardens presents the Master Gardener Class program designed with a difference to provide in-depth learning experience focusing on horticultural practices and gardening skills alongside leading horticulturists in their fields.

The first class will investigate and identify plant parts and their interesting structure; similarities in plants - families genus and species; plant part modifications; plant curiosities and looking at specific sub tropical and tropical adaptations in plants.

Practical workshops will be led by Annette Irish, RH, Fellow of Australian Horticulture. Please wear suitable protective clothing, covered shoes and bring a hat.

 

On the Road

Mexico group are having a ball

Linda and the Gardens and Ancient Sites of Mexico and Cuba group are thrilled to be in Mexico City as their hosts prepare for the biggest party on the Mexican national calendar, Dia De Los Muertos.

This week the group head north to the picture perfect city of San Miguel Del Allende, with private gardens galore and loads of fun to be had in town.

Follow the group through the Yucatan and then on to Cuba on the Ross Tours Facebook page. The timing for the rest of the tour is perfect - the wet season has transformed the Yucatan and Cuba into a tropical paradise.

 

Linda and 'Los Muchachos Aztecas' in Mexico City, Aka 'Linnie Ross and the Aztecs'

 

The Gardens of Sri Lanka

And speaking of tropical paradise, Sri Lanka is an island paradise full to the brim with history and culture, and of course stunning tropical gardens.

Tour leader and professional horticulturist, Paul Urquhart returns to Sri Lanka's world heritage sites, bustling cities, tea plantations, and serene tropical gardens with our Ross Tours group February 22, 2018, and there is still time to book. Don't delay - this tour is expected to fill quickly.

To find out more about Sri Lanka or any of our tours go to the Ross Tours website and have a look at our 2018 programme. Call Royce or Roslyn at Ross Tours on 1300 233 200.

 

A spot of fishing, Sri Lanka style.