Kiss Me Quick? - Oct 17, 2013
Dear gardening friends
We had so much fun here on the weekend with pig's birthday. Everyone who came wearing something pink got some birthday cake and a drink. We got all excited when one of our customers turned up with pink hair. Wow, she had gone to so much trouble to celebrate pigs birthday but then when we questioned her she knew nothing about pigs birthday she had pink hair!
We ate 5 huge cakes over the weekend and the staffs at Waminda Bakery were kind enough to make us more cakes on Sunday morning. Check out the photos and you will see we had some fun. Pig's party was gate crashed by garden gnomes! Never turn your back on a garden Gnome, especially if they are carrying a chain saw.
I wrote a poem about garden Gnomes once and it has just come back to me.
I'm all alone
I won't spend all day on your phone
I like to garden to sit and ponder and I will never ever wonder yonder
And yes I'm from down under but I will never burp fart or chunder
And I'm small not tall and I'm the smartest dresser of them all
And when I'm living at your place you and I will have a ball.
So come on dudes, buddies, Jimmy Barnes fans
I'm all alone, I need a home
I am a garden Gnome.
Not sure you are going to take me seriously after that but while I was picking up the cakes I noticed this spectacular shrub flowering in a garden on Waminda rd Campbelltown.
It is called Kiss Me Quick! Or more commonly called Yesterday - Today - Tomorrow.
This perfumed plant has violet, lilac and white flowers on the same bush.
What happens is the flowers fade every day until they turn white.
This shrub is a very easy to grow and it comes in tall or dwarf growing varieties.
It can even be grown in a pot. They seem to grow best with protection from the afternoon sun but this one was facing north and thriving.
We have them in stock so come and see us.
Simon and I have been working in the roses this week. Moving the labels to the top and just spacing them out. We were really just trying to steal some of Ryan's thunder because he has done all the hard work to get them looking this good. We have put some of the best varieties up on Facebook for you to see. I was doing some research on some of the best ones and I was surprised to learn that they were first released into Australia in the 60's.
In 1964 a red rose bush called Mr Lincoln was released in Australia.
Almost 50 years later this is still the best selling red rose.
I have heard stories about gardeners ringing the chain stores looking for a Mr Lincoln Rose only to be told some time later that he no longer works here.
Mr Linoln has been so successful because it has long stemmed velvety red double blooms with the most amazing perfume.
It is said that on a still day you can smell the perfume up to 3 metres away. Imagine this perfume wafting through your windows all day.
One of my other favourites is Blue Moon. This rose was first released in 1964! This vintage rose is still the best selling so called blue rose in Australia.
It actually has lilac coloured double blooms. It is perfect for picking and it is sweetly scented. It has less thorns than other roses so it is almost friendly.
If you have room for two rose bushes then plant Just Joey beside your Blue Moon. The colour contrast works beautifully.
Just Joey was first introduced in 1973. It has huge perfumed apricot coloured flowers with a frilly petal.
You may have noticed these big trees with golden flowers, flowering in gardens around Macarthur. I took a great photo of a Silky Oak flowering in an old garden in Elderslie. Silky Oaks often get planted by the birds so they just pop up in unexpected places. They grow into huge trees that drop leaves all year round so they are better planted in parks or large gardens. Some times they are planted by mistake because when gardeners see the name Grevillea robusta they just assume it is a shrub. The birds love the nectar in these flowers and they do look amazing.
Grafted Grevillea's are nearly always grafted onto Grevillea robusta because it is so tough.
If you are looking for a place to escape the heat head down to Campbelltown Art Gallery. The Japanese gardens are looking sensational and the huge trees offer protection from the hot sun. While you are getting a coffee from the restaurant you can check out the floral tree in the courtyard. An artist has covered the trunk and branches with silk flowers and it looks amazing. No damage was done to the tree and it is only temporary.
If you are growing Tomatoes then you will need to start tying them to a stake for support. As the tomatoes develop the extra weight will damage the plant if it is not supported. Stockings are great for tying up the branches. Don't use twist tie or you will cause damage to the plant. We have a product here called Jolly Tree Tie. It is stretchy material that's perfect for tomatoes. It costs $8.99 for a 40 metre roll.
Talking about Tomatoes, you may remember I bought a giant Tomato in Noosa for $6.00. People thought I was crazy to pay so much for a tomato. It was a variety called Mortgage Lifter and it was the size of a huge grapefruit. I have taken the seeds from that tomato and we are growing them here at the nursery. They will be ready to sell in a couple of weeks. We are going to sell them for $4.50 and donate all the Money to The African Aids Foundation in Camden. Keep a place in your veggie garden for one of these. We want to see if you can grow a giant tomato too.
Happy gardening
Tim