Down in the Garden: The Language of Houseplants
While it may be common knowledge that red roses mean love, yellow friendship and that lilies indicate comfort during times of grief, did you know that not just floristry flowers,…
down in the garden
Down in the garden: It’s Autumn
As the chill rolls in on the Coast, it can be easy for beginner gardeners to think that gardening is slowing down and there won’t be much to do. The…
Down in the Garden: Get Rid of Pests, Organically
“Help! I need an organic alternative.” This was once the cry of radical greenies and hippies, but these days most of us have realised we just don’t want to consume,…
DOWN IN THE GARDEN: HOW TO EAT FLOWERS (AND GROW THEM)
Our attraction to flowers is not frivolous or fanciful, it is a survival instinct that without, we would have probably perished. As hunters and gathers, ancient people needed to not…
Down in the garden – Love from the garden
We have always invited flowers into every facet of our lives. Flowers and the treasures they create such as perfumes, foods and medicines, have been readily embraced for their supportive…
Down in the Garden – Time to Get shady
We all love more than a bit of sun and our gardens, particularly our veggie plots that would not thrive without it. But a balanced garden needs a bit of…
Down in the Garden: Plants to Work With
Indoor plants can make us healthy, happy, calm, more focused and breathe a little easier – science has proved it – but can you just plonk any old plant anywhere?…
Down in the Garden: Create New Plants with Propagation
Propagation is an interesting and rather addictive gardening practice … once you have achieved a few successes. For the botanically minded, there are two types of propagation, the first being…
Down in the Garden: (Almost) No-Fail Plants
There are some of us gardening folk who spend every spare minute in our botanical paradises, tending each leaf and nursing every bud to blossom. On the other far side…
DOWN IN THE GARDEN: A Magical Botanical Christmas
Could it even be Christmas without our botanical friends, the Christmas tree in our loungeroom, the poinsettia gracing our table and the Christmas Bush bursting from gardens everywhere? Depending on…
DOWN IN THE GARDEN: THE PERFECT GARDENERS CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE
One thing that wasn’t cancelled in 2020 was gardening. And those of us who already enjoy this earthy pursuit have noticed our numbers swell this year as neighbours, friends and…
Down in the Garden: A Beautiful Lawn
Your gardening writer is not the biggest fan of lawns, but I do see their use and their desirability, particularly for those who have a young family, enjoy outdoor games…
Down in the Garden: How Companion Planting Works
Polyculture is the practice of planting combinations of plants for stronger, healthier growth and greater yields in productive agriculture. When we think of companion planting, often it is considered as…
DOWN IN THE GARDEN: GROW YOUR OWN SALAD
It’s getting warm on The Coast and I feel a salad coming on! We are a lucky bunch here – we can grow many of the warm weather loving plants…
Down in the Garden: Growing garden climbers
Creating a wall of green to hide an ugly fence, covering a difficult patch of ground or making a pergola a shade house in summer and a sun trap in…
Down in the Garden: Stunning Succulents and Cool Cacti
These delightful gems of the botanical world are popular, easy to grow indoors or out and, with Christmas rapidly approaching, great for creating living gifts for your family and friends….
Down in the Garden: Waterwise your Garden
With the refreshing spring rain we are enjoying, it can be hard to think about heat and how dry our gardens will likely become this summer. Even if we do…
Down in the Garden: It’s tomato time!
We are blessed on the Central Coast with an almost perfect climate to grow the star of summer salads bowls – the tomato. And the best time to plant is…