Pittwater Life July 2024 Issue
GOVT’S BUDGET SNUB
CONCERN NARRABEEN LAND IS ‘FALLING INTO LAGOON’
AVALON’S RUSKIN ‘ROW’ OVER TREES / PUBLIC ALCOHOL BAN
THE WAY WE WERE / ARTISTS TRAIL / SEEN... HEARD... ABSURD...
GOVT’S BUDGET SNUB
CONCERN NARRABEEN LAND IS ‘FALLING INTO LAGOON’
AVALON’S RUSKIN ‘ROW’ OVER TREES / PUBLIC ALCOHOL BAN
THE WAY WE WERE / ARTISTS TRAIL / SEEN... HEARD... ABSURD...
Garden Life Planting gorgeous grass trees will make a growing statement An absolute stunning and iconic genus of plants are the Xanthorrhoeas. Commonly know as grass trees, there are approximately 30 known species endemic to Australia. Most species form a thick trunk with a tuft of long, thin leaves spilling out from the top. Long flower spikes with small creamy white flowers are produced from Autumn to Summer. Grass trees are notoriously slow-growing – on average approximately 1cm per year – which means established nursery stock is the way to Garden Life go (below) when acquiring a grass tree. The two most important things to consider when planting a grass tree are position and drainage. Grass trees prefer full sun but will handle dappled shade. Good drainage is key. Test your drainage by digging a hole where you want to plant. Fill the hole with water; if the water drains out within a few minutes, then it’s probably okay. If the water is slow to drain or remains, then you may need to consider an alternative location, or a raised garden bed. Common species that are available in nurseries are Xanthorrhoea Jonhnsonii and Xanthorrhoea glauca. Both species produce a stunning thick trunk and reliable flower splikes. Xanthorrhoea glauca is the faster growing of the two, with leaves that have a slightly bluish tinge. Whichever species you choose it is bound to make a great feature plant in your garden. 64 JUNE 2024 The Local Voice Since 1991
Compiled by the team at Cicada Glen Nursery, Ingleside. What’s flowering The weather may seem a tad dull this time of the year, but this is the season some plants will show off! We have lots of bushland in the Pittwater area and it is popping with colour which can warm the spirits. As well as warming the spirits, why not get out for a walk, warm up the body and see what you can find! Take pictures or drawings and connect with our local flora – you never know what you might find. Some favourite local natives to keep an eye out for are Persoonias, Hardenbergia (Violacea – pictured), Philotheca, Correa, Banksia, Grevilleas and Epacris. Pterostylis and other terrestrial orchids are favourites of ours to look out for; most species will die back for the warmer months of the year, making this the best and only time to see some of the orchids. Shady Gardens Creating a shade-loving garden with Australian native plants or exotics can be both beautiful and sustainable. Here are some plants that thrive in shady conditions: Native Violet – A low-growing groundcover with small violet flowers (pictured top of page), perfect for shady spots. Dianella – Many varieties of Dianella, such as Dianella caerulea (Flax Lily), can grow in shaded areas and produce attractive bright blue flowers and berries. Clivea – An ever-popular and hardy plant that loves shady areas and still produces The Local Voice Since 1991 colourful orange flowers even in full shade. Native Rhododendron – A small to medium native shrub that will flower in a shady position. Native Ginger (Alpinea) – Also known as Native Turmeric, it has attractive foliage and prefers shade with moist soil. When selecting plants, consider your specific shade conditions (light shade, deep shade, morning/evening sun) and local climate to ensure the best choices for your garden. Native plants are generally well-suited to local conditions and require less maintenance once established. Gymea Lilies Gymea Lilies thrive in warm temperate climates like we have here on the Northern Beaches. They are native to coastal areas of NSW and Queensland. When flowering, the impressive flower spike can reach up to 4m high and is topped with a display of red trumpet like flowers (pictured top right) that stand out above the surrounding vegetation. Planting them in uneven numbers like 3s or 5s will give the best effect in the garden. They prefer full sun to partial shade, however as a rough guide ensure they get at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily for optimal growth and flowering. Gymea Lilies are relatively drought-tolerant once established and have the amazing ability to pull themselves deeper into the ground during droughts, which not only helps them conserve water but protects their growth tip during bushfires. They will benefit from regular watering during dry periods, especially in the first few months after planting. Avoid waterlogged conditions, as they can lead to root rot. JUNE 2024 65 Garden Life
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Garden <strong>Life</strong><br />
Planting gorgeous grass trees<br />
will make a growing statement<br />
An absolute stunning and<br />
iconic genus of plants<br />
are the Xanthorrhoeas.<br />
Commonly know as grass<br />
trees, there are approximately<br />
30 known species endemic to<br />
Australia. Most species form a<br />
thick trunk with a tuft of long,<br />
thin leaves spilling out from the<br />
top. Long flower spikes with<br />
small creamy white flowers<br />
are produced from Autumn to<br />
Summer.<br />
Grass trees are notoriously<br />
slow-growing – on average<br />
approximately 1cm per year<br />
– which means established<br />
nursery stock is the way to<br />
Garden <strong>Life</strong><br />
go (below) when acquiring<br />
a grass tree. The two most<br />
important things to consider<br />
when planting a grass tree are<br />
position and drainage. Grass<br />
trees prefer full sun but will<br />
handle dappled shade. Good<br />
drainage is key. Test your<br />
drainage by digging a hole<br />
where you want to plant. Fill<br />
the hole with water; if the water<br />
drains out within a few minutes,<br />
then it’s probably okay. If<br />
the water is slow to drain or<br />
remains, then you may need to<br />
consider an alternative location,<br />
or a raised garden bed.<br />
Common species that are<br />
available in nurseries are<br />
Xanthorrhoea Jonhnsonii and<br />
Xanthorrhoea glauca. Both<br />
species produce a stunning<br />
thick trunk and reliable flower<br />
splikes. Xanthorrhoea glauca is<br />
the faster growing of the two,<br />
with leaves that have a slightly<br />
bluish tinge. Whichever species<br />
you choose it is bound to make<br />
a great feature plant in your<br />
garden.<br />
64 JUNE <strong>2024</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991