Mother's Day

Mother’s Day is just an overrated commercialized day and we don’t celebrate it our family …. Said no mother ever!

Mother’s Day is all about celebrating all the wonderful things your mum has done for you and forgetting about the things that niggle at you. Because don’t forget many of us are mothers too and I’m sure our children feel the same way if not now definitely in the future!

I heard an advert on the radio the other day that basically went like this “if your mum told you she doesn’t want a present this year, just time with you is present enough”, means you aren’t the best gift chooser and please don’t waste money on something I don’t want.

Now days it seems like we are spoilt for choice in the present department. Years ago a pot of chrysanthemums was the only choice you had for Mother’s Day. 

You know what? It’s still a darn good choice.

Chrysanthemums are traditionally given at Mother’s Day as they flower profusely during autumn and they contain the word mum! 

They are so many varieties of chrysanthemums available today; there is surely one to suit every mum. 

The US National Chrysanthemum Society has derived that there are 13 different types of flower forms and over 100 different colours.

Chrysanthemums are honestly one of the easiest plants to grow and are a perfect gift for green or brown fingered mums! Chrysanthemums have long lasting flowers and are relatively pest and disease free. 

Potted chrysanthemums can flower for several weeks indoors but thrive best if placed in full sun. They can be grown in pots or in the garden. To keep them looking fantastic and to promote more flowers all spent flowers and discoloured leaves should be removed and liquid fertilised fortnightly. After flowering chrysanthemums should be cut back to about 15cm (6") high and be given some organic link complete organic fertiliser. They can have up to three flowerings a year.

If you don’t like the traditional Chrysanthemum, Trevallan Lifestyle Centre is overflowing with living flowering gifts. Cyclamens, azaleas, pansies, anthruiums, orchids, camellias, roses are all in bloom, look fantastic and are easy to care for – even brown thumb mums should enjoy all of these! 

Team any of these plants with a beautiful planter and you have the perfect present even if your mum doesn’t have a garden. Planters are a little different from normal pots in that they don’t have a hole in the bottom. With a planter you just place the plant inside the planter, no potting. They are great for indoors as you can still give your plants a good drink without having the water running everywhere problem. Just don’t over water!

With every present you give though, don’t forget to give a little of your time as well. Even though we are adults we are still our mum’s children. She just wants the best for us – so ignore the so called mothering insanity and give her a hug and kiss and let you know you love her. Because while a mother’s love is unconditional we as children need to reassure them that our love is unconditional too!

Don't Blame it on the Sunshine

What type of gardener are you?

I’m the one that has 15 minutes to spare so I’ll try to get as much done as possible. I don’t care what day, month or year it is. Things get trimmed, fertilised, sprayed and planted when I say so.  

Are you more of a follower of the rules, like only plant your sweet peas on St Patricks Day?’

Are you a seasonal gardener, only plant in the spring, trim in the summer and rest in the cooler months?

No matter what type of gardener you are does it ever feel like you are just unlucky in the garden and then once in a blue moon you hit jackpot and everything goes according to plan? Or are you always lucky and once in awhile things go astray and you just can’t explain it.

Have you ever tried to germinate seeds and sometimes you get 90% success rate and other times not one measlyseed grows yet you did nothing different?

It’s not just you. It happens to everyone.

The good thing is The Jackson 5 and myself may be able to explain it.

Don’t blame it on the sunshine,

Don’t blame it on the gardener,

Don’t blame it on the good soil,

Blame it on the Moon!

For thousands of years people have been practicing Moon Planting.  

Moon planting is based on the synodic period of the Moon from one New Moon to the next, an average period of 29.5 days.

 

Over this time, farmers observed that all aspects of farming seemed to be affected by the interaction of the gravitational forces between the Sun, the Moon and Earth. The plant geeks, scientists, have found variations in sap flow, biological functions in plants and the subtle changes in Earth’s electro-magnetic fields correspond to the Moon’s gravitational pull. For us non plant geeks just as the moon influences the seas tides, it also affects the motion of water in plants and soil. The ebb and flow of this water can have an impact on seed germination, flower development and fruit production.

Ok, so how do we unlock the secrets to moon planting? With a Moon Planting Calendar of course.

Moon Planting Calendars can help unlock the secrets of the lunar cycles with easy-to-follow directions on the right time to plant, when to fertilise, when to cultivate, when to harvest and when is best to time preserve fruit.  

My grandfather swears by Thomas Zimmer’s Moon Planting calendar. It is produced in Australia for Australian conditions.

This moon planting calendar is a detailed chart that gives the correct lunar and astrological planting times forfruiting and leafy vegetables and covers the best times to weed, transplant seedlings, prune, harvest and irrigate.There are even instructions for those new to gardening by the moon.  The calendar also contains astrological information such as moon phase, equinox, solstice and eclipse dates and times, including annual planting by the moon guides as well as an astrological commentary on the year to come.

2014 - who knows what it will bring but I’m sure if you follow Thomas Zimmer Moon Calendar your garden will be bountiful. I also promise when you come into Trevallan Lifestyle Centre to get your moon calendar I won’t serenade you with my Jackson 5 song!

The Secret

I have discovered the secret to great looking plants.

 

Trace Elements.

 

Trace Elements isn’t some brand spanking new fertiliser on the block. It’s an essential item to healthy soils.

 

Most gardeners are going ‘pfft’ - I so knew that.

 

Well you might know it but how many of you use a complete trace element mix on your gardens at least once a year? What about your pots, at least twice a year?

 

It seems everyone fertilises and expects to see results. What happens when you do all the right things but you don’t see the results you want? 

A common question is – “I’ve given my plants all the TLC they can handle, I’ve fertilised, watered well, even checked the pH level and it's perfect.  What could possibly be wrong with my plants?

Trace elements.

 

Most of us are aware that plants require mineral nutrients for their growth and development. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, the macro elements, the names that usually appear on fertilizer packages, whether you use organic or chemical fertilizers.  It is sometimes assumed that they are the "important" nutrients.  These macro elements are just consumed by the plants in large quantities. Trace elements, micro nutrients can often be forgotten about as they are required in minuscule quantities.

When it comes to macro elements being the most important nutrients, nothing could be further from the truth. Trace elements like Manganese, Iron, Zinc, and Copper, are every bit as vital to the plants metabolism as nitrogen, potassium and phosphorous. They have essential functions and so a deficiency in even one element will adversely affect the healthy growth of the plant. Strangely enough some trace elements when present in excessive concentrations are actually poisonous for plants.

Common gardening practices (such as liming acid soils) can contribute to widespread occurrence of micronutrient deficiencies in plants by decreasing the availability of the micronutrients present in the soil. Also, extensive use of glyphosate (most common weed killer) is increasingly suspected to impair micronutrient uptake by plants, especially with regard to manganese, iron and zinc.

So how do we pinpoint the problems in our soil? We can get a leaf or soil analysis.  Yeah right! I couldn’t be bothered with all that.

So what do I do?

I use Plant of Health’s Bio Trace. It has a blend of the key micronutrients (e.g. iron, cobalt and manganese) supported by macro elements. It is also contains fulvic acid to further enhance growth and health.

The best thing about Plant of Health’s Bio Trace, you mix some up in a watering can and pour it over the plants foliage or as a soil drench. Done. Couldn’t have been easier.

Go on breathe some life into your garden and use Plant of Health’s Bio Trace.

Careful though, when you see the difference it makes you’ll be buying it in bulk like I do now!

Trevallan's Search is Over

Trevallan's Search for Ipswich's Best Garden 2012 is over.  The public have chosen a winner. 

The winner is

Deb Sutton

Congratulations Deb.  Deb Sutton was finalist number five if you want to check out her garden again. 

We had close to 400 votes from all over the world via the blog and in-store.

Deb's garden really is inspiring and beautiful with its hidden nooks and delightful plants.  A masterpiece that is constantly changing and evolving.  If you are lucky enough to live near Ipswich Deb has an Open Garden in October so you can all visit and see her amazing handiwork. (I'll post more details soon)  Deb has won an amazing array of prizes - a Searles Pack – 30lt Peat 80, Five in One 30lt, 7kg Penitraide, a Pohlmans Plants Pack, a Plant of Health Pack – 4lt Triple Boost, 10kg Organic Link and a Trevallan Gift Voucher.

A  big congratulations needs to be given to the other finalists for they too had amazing gardens.  What I loved most about this year's finalists was that all showed not only a love and enthusiasm for gardening but their gardens were all so very different.

Thank you everyone that entered and voted.  Thank you too to my wonderful sponsors Plant of Health, Searles, Pohlmans and Trevallan Lifestyle Centre.

Trevallan Lifestyle Centre Garden Competition

Voting

Well the finalists have been announced - Leonie Peasey, Marie and Basil Streeting, Barry Beetham, Deb Sutton, Tracey Patterson, and Agnes Maskalans.  Congratulations to you all.

It’s now up to the public of Ipswich to decide who has Ipswich’s Best Garden.

All I can say is “Oh my goodness, these gardens are amazing!”  You, the public, will have trouble deciding on a winner

To vote for your favourite garden just "Like" or comment "my favourite" on the post that contains your favourite. 

Don’t forget to share on Facebook too and let all your friends know how amazing Ipswich’s gardens are.

Don’t forget it’s all about what does your garden mean to you not who has the neatest lawn or the prettiest flowers!

Finalist Six in Ipswich's Best Garden Competition

Basil and Marie Streeting

Our Garden means so much to us. It's changed over the years and with the water restrictions we have had to adapt.  Our main love is our cacti and succulents because we love anything unusual and they are easy to maintain. We are always amazed at the show of flowers from some of these thorny and sometimes unattractive little plants.

Our epiphyllum cactus are our love and when hanging baskets bloom in October they are a special sight. We are like kids again, going out every hour or so to see them as they fully open.

We completely 'rocked' the bottom half of the yard last year after we lost it all with the rain.  It nearly killed us but gives great satisfaction.

Our garden eases our pain, our worry and any fear for the future. When we come into our garden we are at peace. Times means nothing and all we need is a few pots or an empty space, each other and the world is ours.

Our garden is 'us'. We are etched into every inch of it and just like us it's not perfect. It's quirky, it’s fun and like us frayed a bit on the edges.

I love being a gardener because we are a special breed. We understand why your nails are dirty and you are covered in soil. We don't care if you look a mess and you have to duck into Woolies for milk. When I see someone like that I cry 'Comrade' and we are instantly linked by the same passion.

Finalist Five in Ipswich's Best Garden Competition

Deb Sutton 

I'm not sure when my love of gardening started, for as long as I can remember I have loved flowers. Above all else I must have flowers.

My Grandmother spent her spare time gardening amongst spectacular annuals, Mum (87) has been a keen gardener for 65 odd years. I guess it's been born and breed in me, although my four siblings are not gardeners.

My present garden, 15 years in the making started with a bare block, bar a small Poinciana tree. It's been done my way, mistakes and all. No plan, just making a garden when money and time permitted and adding to it over the years.

Today it's not what it started out to be, due to the large Poinciana spreading its limbs much wider than its allotted space. So what was once a sunny perianal garden has been altered to a shade loving area.

I like to break up the plantings with other things; an old plough, cast iron bits and pieces, wagon wheels, seats, fountain, statues, a church door, a ruin, birdhouses, a secret garden, a chandelier and lots of pots.

The garden is filled with cuttings and plants from family and gardening friends- lots of memories. I am at my happiest at the end of the day, sun going down, glass of wine in one hand and the hose in the other.

Finalist Four in Ipswich's Best Garden Competition

Leonie Peasey

I am the custodian of a garden that has not been loved for 20 years. The previous owners belonged to the ‘large trees, woodchip and roundup’ school of gardening – easier to maintain between tenants!

After removing a 22m gum 3m from the house, a 10m ficus planted directly behind a timber retaining wall, digging up monsteras with roots tracking under the driveway and raking up many layers of woodchip, I found grey, compacted, hydrophobic soil, with clay not far from the surface.

A spade was no use – a mattock was my tool of choice, there were no bees, earthworms or frogs.

It has been a labour of love and a voyage of discovery to bring my garden to life. As a novice gardener, my original vision was overly ambitious and I have planted inappropriately at times, which saddens me when I see plants struggling and dying, but I am learning.

Two and a half years on, my garden is beginning to prosper from the planning and hard work – the foundations have been laid and I can build from here.

I look at my garden and instead of seeing how much there is still to do, I sit and appreciate the beauty of the young plants, the butterflies they attract and see an occasional bee and delight in the first green tree frog.

It is still a young garden, with a long way to go, but when I dig over moist friable soil, rich with homemade compost and earthworms, I know that what I have given in labour and love, is being returned tenfold, and will continue for years to come.

Finalist Three in Ipswich's Best Garden Competition

Barry Beetham

My garden satisfies my eyes, my nose, my tongue, my stomach and my muscles. It even contributes to my sleep.

I have pot plants, flowers, trees and grass so my garden satisfies my eyes. Have you ever seen up to 30 zygo cactus in purple flower, or the pleasantness of lovely green CSIRO experimental grass that grows where other grass won’t grow or a variety of foliage and prickly pot plants or healthy vigorous vegetables or tall lady finger bananas ripening in bunches in in one place? This truly satisfies my eyes. Have you ever walked down the garden path and enjoyed the odours and perfumes from flowers and fruit and native bee honey? My garden truly satisfies my nose.

My tongue and stomach? Sensational dragon fruit, heavy bunches of bananas, tomatoes, carrots, cabbage, caulies, gooseberries, cassava, mangoes, strawberries, figs, Ceylon Hill Cherries, sweet potatoes, peas, beans and so much more really do satisfy my tongue and stomach.

Walk into the garden and there is always something to do – exercise the doctor says is essential for good health; yes my garden satisfies my muscles. And sleep? Yes getting tired for garden work contributes to my satisfying sleep.

Challenges and variety add to the spice of life.  Sometimes too much rain and at other times insufficient rain; so the challenge of water confronts me. Hence water tanks and a system to harvest precious rain water for gardens, trees, pot plants and some lawn. The various grubs challenge!

Variety inspires. 

Hence now red, orange and white zygo cacti have been added to the collection of purple zygo cactus. There are leaves large and small in a variety of greens. Not just one orange tree or mandarin but several with blood orange, Valencia and Washington navel. Tight skinned and loose skinned mandarins as well. There is a variety of tubers to eat such as cassaa, sweet potato and English potato.

Yes my garden is an enormous part of my life and is well a passion and I love it.

Finalist Two in Ipswich's Best Garden Competition

Tracey Patterson

I love my garden.

It gives me such great pleasure to work in it, regularly adding to and re-sculpting its design and composition. At the end of a long day, I enjoy nothing more than relaxing with my husband and family, surrounded by my beautifully landscaped ‘canvas’, replete with trees, bushes, shrubs and colourful flowers. My husband and I have spent many happy hours together creating our ‘master piece’, and we continue to derive much enjoyment from the time we spend developing, altering and ‘refocusing’our horticultural efforts in our on-going quest for perfection!

My quaint letter-box welcomes you to my garden. As we cross the bridge, the rippling water echoes the serenity of its goldfish inhabitants.

My garden offers peace and tranquillity, a place of solitude to ease the tensions of a busy day. Its calming influence on my family and my pets is legendary!

My garden is welcoming, with its fascinating colour blends and intricate design. It is so therapeutic to stroll around catching glimpses of my hand-made glass mosaic objects, which all have their own special spots.

The plants in my many pots scattered throughout the garden are so diverse, interesting and attractive. We also have two reclusive ‘pot men’ peering through the palms!

My garden means so much to me.

Finalist One in Ipswich's Best Garden Competition

"PARKSIDE on Thorn" - Agnes Maskalans

Our garden is our haven, a retreat from the rest of the world. It is a delight for the five senses, a garden where one can immerse oneself totally and experience the sight, sound, smell, feel and taste of nature.

The sight of flowers blooming, the bright plumage of the tropical parrots flitting amongst the trees and the wonderful array of colours and textures provided by Mother Nature, is a feast for the eyes.

Our garden is also an aural experience, where one can listen to the delightful chatter of birds, the patter of raindrops on the tin roof, the rustle of leaves, as well as the crunch of gravel as you walk through the rainforest.

At night, the captivating scents of jasmine, daytura and cunjevoys intoxicate and delight, surrounding our home with a fragrant perfume.

There is nothing like the tactile experience of the cool sensation of grass underfoot, the gentle breezes that caress and the foliage that gently brush against you as you wander through Parkside.

It is also about the gourmet delight of being able to garnish and flavour home cooked meals with leaves plucked from the herb bushes or to savour the taste of eggs, freshly laid by our chickens.

Our garden is a family garden. We share it with birds, lizards, frogs, insects and our pets. We love to hang out in our garden and have many spots to do so. Our garden allows us to connect with nature and feel grounded.