Don’t miss our Autumn plant sale with books also on related topics, all at great prices. Sat 13th April 10am-4pm, Eltham Senior Citizens Centre. Most plant lists are up on our website now – click on the links for each plant stall.  If you are intending to print them out, do that just before you come, as they are being regularly updated as we receive more information.  This is the best time of year to rejuvenate your garden, so take advantage of all the unusual species available.

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This is just a small selection of native flowers from 3 of our members – from Eltham, Mill Park, and Montmorency gardens in High Summer, since our group doesn’t have a meeting in January.

Thanks to Carmen, Mike and Jill for images.

Regelia megacephala

Ixodia achillaeoides

Verticordia monodelpha

Pseuderanthemum variabile

Hemiandra pungens alba

Swainsona formosa (Sturt Desert Pea)

Verticordia lepidophylla

Pandorea jasminoides

Bracteantha bracteata

Chrysocephalum apiculatum

Backhousia anisata

Backhousia anisata

Veronica arenaria

Eremophila maculata

Westringia glabra

Eremophila enata

Correa sp.

Eremophila sp.

Persoonia pinifolia

Scaevola aemula pink

Scaevola aemula pink

Eremophila maculata

Eremophila maculata

Melaleuca lateritia

Callistemon ‘Pink Champagne’

Callistemon ‘Pink Champagne’

Westringia ‘Wynyabbie Gem’

Chrysocephalum semipapposum

Chrysocephalum semipapposum

Thryptomene baeckeacea

Prostanthera aspalathoides

Pandorea pandorana

Westringia ‘Wynyabbie Gem’

Alyogyne huegelii white

Eremophila maculata

Eremophila maculata

Eremophiila ‘Kalbarri Carpet’

Ozothamnus diosmifolius

Eremophila cuneifolia

Eremophila cuneifolia

Scaevola ‘Mauve Clusters’

Scaevola ‘Mauve Clusters’

Grevillea ‘Poorinda Royal Mantle’

Grevillea ‘Poorinda Royal Mantle’

Lythrum salicaria

Bursaria spinosa

Bursaria spinosa

Crowea ‘Festival’

Crowea ‘Festival’

Eremophila ovata

Chrysocephalum semipapposum

Chrysocephalum semipapposum

Marianthus bicolor

Wahlenbergia fluminalis

Viola hederacea

Eremophila macdonnellii

Corymbia ficifolia

Isotoma axillaris

In the absence of the usual Flower display at our final meeting in December or High Summer, here are some that are flowering in our members’ gardens in Wattle Glen, Hurstbridge, Heidelberg, Mill Park, and further afield.  Platytheca galioides (from WA) is an unusual one, as are the 3 Verticordias and Prostanthera eckersleyana…….all also from WA. Looking forward to all the daisies flowering over Summer.

Thanks to David Redfern, Miriam Ford, Charles Young and Carmen Cooper for images.

Click on an image to scroll through via the arrows.

Platytheca galioides

Eremophila muelleriana

Grevillea buxifolia

Chamelaucium uncinatum with Eremophila nivea

Verticordia luteola

Verticordia dichroma

Verticordia chrysostachys var pallida

Swainsona formosa (Sturt Desert Pea)

Swainsona formosa (Sturt Desert Pea)

Swainsona formosa (Sturt Desert Pea) flower pedicel with buds

Swainsona formosa (Sturt desert Pea) bud

Sarcochilus sp

Prostanthera eckersleyana

Veronica arenaria

Pelargonium rodneyanum

Melaleuca pulchella

Eremophila maculata (Spotted Emu Bush)

Eremophila glabra

Epacris longiflora (Fuschia Heath)

Xerochrysum viscosum

Chrysocephalum apiculatum

Anigozanthos (Karwarra Gdns)

Anigozanthos ‘Amber Velvet’ Portland

Hibiscus heterophyllus

Alyogyne huegelii

Alyogyne hakeifolia ‘Melissa Anne’

We rounded off this year’s garden visits as we had started, with visits to two smaller-sized gardens, this time in Donvale; those of Helen and Joe, and Nancy and Lee.

Joe, a former nurseryman and Maroondah APS member, outlined in his knowledgeable manner some of the problems of down-sizing.  Joe acknowledged the influence of Peg McAllister on his own ideas of an Australian garden.  Peg’s garden was largely open with not a lot of talls, but masses of daisies, flannel flowers, wahlenbergias and other small plants.  Joe and Helen’s garden echoed this, and he emphasised that he shied away from mulch to allow plants such as the above, and Ptilotus spathulatus and Podolepis jaceoides, to seed and spread “en masse”.  Amongst his taller shrubs/trees were both juvenile and adult foliaged Eucalyptus lunata, a brush cherry (Exocarpos cupressiformis), Acacia cognata and a South African Leucospermum.  Joe’s native gardenia (Randia fitzalanii), three different forms of Templetonia retusa and a Verticordia plumosa were also worth noting, as was his planting of the nature strip.

Lee and Nancy’s garden is Lee’s creation as we know Nancy creates through her art and this was evident in pieces placed throughout the garden.  Lee has achieved much in a short time with some Eucalyptus caesia, several Grevilleas and a Callistemon ‘Kings Park Special’ taking off.  The daisies here were also thriving (Lee using mulch), Brachyschome (perhaps ‘Happy Face’), forms of Chrysocephalum apiculatum and Bracteantha, and Xerochrysum all showing off.  A lovely Pimelea ferruginea, Philotheca ‘Cascade of Stars’, Epacris reclinata, Verticordia plumosa and a couple of amazing Leptospermums were full of flowers.  We walked past Lee’s trademark Banksia baueri to the newly planted back garden, to admire more of Nancy’s art work while we settled in to afternoon tea.  A most enjoyable day out.

Many thanks to Helen and Joe, Nancy and Lee, and all who shared their gardens with us this year.

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Here there is a feeling of wandering and relaxing, of stepping out of time, which is rarely experienced in a suburban garden.  Kathy and Ken live on a sloping fan-shaped block above the Yarra parklands with wide views, tranquility and much birdlife – even the odd kangaroo. The sloping ground gives good drainage, so the front area near the road is hot and dry.  The return driveway allows large boulders to act as shoulders for plants to lean over.  Acacia glaucoptera sprawls over the huge rocks in a blanket of yellow.  Dampiera linearis is colonising along the street with a rich show of blue.  Darwinia and other WA species enjoy this area.  A pathway to the porch winds through bushes, some more recently planted since the huge heritage Oak died.  This open area now has maturing shrubs and is being replanted with understorey.  A mallee, Eucalyptus woodwardii hybrid with bunches of large fluffy yellow flowers and silver green foliage and stems, marks the entrance path, with Hardenbergia ‘Mini Ha Ha’ draped with purple flowers near its feet.  Near the porch, 2 large flat mudstone steps give an air of grand welcome, with another defining the path around to the side.  The back garden has the parkland backdrop and a 2 metre drop to the roadway, so the planting is for screening and merging.  Two Eucalyptus leucoxylon rosea help meld it into the view with a thriving Eremophila nivea a feature.  Eucalyptus citriodora defines the end section with its shady seating area and scented and relaxing plants.  At the other end is a large pond where local ducks fly in and Grevilleas offer food for small birds.  Fences enclose the northern garden area with vegetables and fruit trees and an amphitheatre on 2 levels paved in Castlemaine slate.  There a delicious afternoon tea awaited us under a large umbrella with Kathy’s fresh scones and her famous ginger cake, a real treat.  Thanks Kathy!  We were delighted to see this garden, now barely 15 years old, while Kathy and Ken are in the process of refurbishing it.

Report by Merele Webb (who was the designer of the garden).

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A huge selection of flowers brought to our October meeting from members’ gardens – in True Spring.  Some of the more unusual ones this month were Eremophila aureivisca, Grevillea dielsiana and Senna nemophila (Desert Cassia), with many Prostantheras (mint bushes) flowering.

Thanks to Ben Eaton and Rob Dunlop for images. 

Click on an image, and scroll through via the arrows. You may see extra information at the bottom of each image.

Pandorea pandorana ‘Golden Showers’

Pseudanthus pimeleoides

Grevillea wilkinsonii (Tumut Grevillea)

Eriostemon australasius (Pink Wax Flower)

Conostylis candicans (Grey Cottonheads)

Chamelaucium uncinatum hybrid (Geraldton Wax)

Darwinia macrostegia (Mondurup Bell)

Prostanthera baxteri

Prostanthera lanceolata

Goodenia decursiva

Prostanthera rotundifolia (Round leafed Mint Bush)

Prostanthera magnifica (Magnificent Prostanthera)

Boronia chartacea

Eremophila lehmanniana

Eremophila aureivisca

Acacia cupularis

Chorizema cordatum (Heart-leaf Flame Pea)

Chamelaucium uncinatum hybrid (Geraldton Wax)

Leionema sp

Chamelaucium uncinatum hybrid (Geraldton Wax)

Acacia argyrophylla (Silver Mulga)

Calothamnus quadrifidus (One-sided Bottlebrush)

Pomaderris lanigera (Woolly Pomaderris)

Grevillea ‘Poorinda Adorning’

Ozothamnus diosmifolius ‘Royal Flush’ (Rice Flower)

Acacia laracina

Hypocalymma robustum (Swan River Myrtle)

Eremophila platycalyx

Eremophila nivea

Eremophila maculata x alternifolia

Eremophila nivea ‘Blue Velvet’

Pimelea nivea

Senna nemophila (Desert Cassia)

Olearia phlogopappa (Dusty Daisy Bush)

Melaleuca micromera (Wattle Honey-Myrtle)

Eremophila oppositifolia

Grevillea ‘Pink Ice’

Grevillea endlicheriana (Spindly Grevillea)

Grevillea dielsiana

Eremophila muelleriana

Lysiosepalum involucratum

Acacia laricina

Indigofera australis (Austral Indigo)

Dodonaea sinuolata (Feathery Hop Bush)

Ozothamnus obcordatus

Callistemon ‘Adina’

Senna artemisioides (Silver Cassia)

Melaleuca leptospermoides

Torquay Garden: Following on from Lara, we toured to Torquay.  On finding John and Barbara’s property, we were again greeted by a large Banksia praemorsa at the front gate, stunning in full flower.  This garden, originally set up for Proteas and Leucodendrons for the flower trade, also has a large collection of Australian plants.  After a pleasant lunch and John making us welcome, we launched forth to explore.
Set on 5 acres and alive with birdlife, we gained some idea of the size that some of our plants can attain.  Some of the Eucalypts were not too large.  Eucalyptus preissiana, 1 to 3.5m (rarely to 7m), Eucalyptus tetraptera 1.5 to 4m, both responding well to pruning.  Some of the Grevilleas reaching an impressive full size here – G. intricata, preissii subsp glabrilimba (Seaspray), halmaturina subsp laevis.  Other Grevilleas of note were ‘Bush Lemon’, candelabroides and subtiliflora.  Acacia acinacea was full of flower, Hardenbergia ‘Happy Wanderer’ and Acacia aphylla together showing off flower, foliage and form.  Chamelaucium uncinatum – various forms and a double flowered form of Philotheca were eye catchers.  Some of the Eremophilas were glandulifera, mackinlayi and punicea (small, compact 1×0.8m), ‘excellent shrub for a small garden or unit where space is limited’ (Australian Eremophila, Boschen, Goods & Wait).  Another plant of note was a Doryanthes palmeri with the unopened spike arching down.  We rounded off the day with lovely cuppa with a range of delectable cakes, thanking John and Barbara for a wonderful afternoon.
Report: Peter Smith, Images: Miriam Ford, Jill Lulham, and Joanne Cairns.

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Kevin Hoffman Walk:  We all really loved this site and yet hardly anyone from the group knew about it. The Walk is an 800m scenic linear trail running parallel with Hovell’s Creek and easily accessible to locals and visitors for a walk in beautiful and inspiring surrounds.  Matt Leach, the gardening supervisor, and Beverley Hoffman (Kevin’s wife) explained the history and generously walked and talked with us as we made our way along, surprised at the wonderful growth and wide range of many favourite plants. We walked in dappled light amongst groundcovers, low grasses and herbs, medium and tall shrubs, many in flower, and a wonderful cover of Eucalypts including River Red Gums planted by Kevin. The 4m Banksias were amazing. Landscaping include sculptures and interesting installations.
It represents over 40 years of landscaping and planting of Australian natives by an inspired and hard working person, Kevin Hoffman. Beverley spoke of how Kevin was out there working away every day, before work, after work and section by section to fulfill his dream.
Now run by the Friends of Hoffman Walk with support from the City of Greater Geelong and Barwon Water, there is enthusiastic community support which ensures that the garden is going to be maintained into the future for all to enjoy. Put this on your list of special places if you haven’t been. It is well worth the effort.  Report: Joanne Cairns. Images: Miriam Ford, Joanne Cairns, and Jill Lulham.

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