Top ten list of garden plants

  • Abutilons of all kinds
  • Buddlejas old and new
  • Epiphytic orchids and ferns
  • Gordonia species
  • Heliotrope, Lemon verbena, Fennel and herbs
  • Michelias of all sorts
  • Perennial Salvias large and small
  • Species Camellias
  • Tea and China Roses
  • Weigela of all types

Montville Rose

Monday, January 25, 2016

Things great and small at 'The Shambles' January 2016


Magnolia grandiflora, Grevillea baileyana, Taxodium disticum and Castanospermum (Queensland Bean) form a skyline.
There is a great deal of colour and life at ground level at 'The Shambles' garden, but looking up there is also a lot to see in the skyline with our collection of trees. This is our 24th year here at Montville and some of the young trees we planted in the past are growing to a substantial size. 
Rampant growth has it's drawbacks however. One of them is in the maintenance of our Duranta and Privet hedges , which require truckloads of material be removed each year. The South frontage hedge has taken 2 days to civilize, with 3 guys involved.

Young Araucaria bidwillii, Araucaria cunninghamii and Grevillea robusta North East Corner.
Then with the collection of trees including the Red Cedars, Flame Trees, Bollygums, Exotic pines and Macadamias, to name a few. There are remarkable sights on the small scale. 
             The Grewia occidentalis on the driveway attracts up to 5 different species of native bee at once and solitary Blue banded bees love Salvia guaranitica near my seat on the back verandah. Spiders criss cross our garden paths with webs s soon as we walk past and Kyleigh spotted an interesting leaf insect by chance this morning

Lead insect, or Phasmid (Phylliidae) on Lepachinia salviae in South Rose Garden at 'The Shambles'.

Our Roses and ornamentals and the garden in geberal attracts a great variety of insect and bird life. Lately we have spotted the elusive Richmond Birdwing Butterfly. With birdlife , however there is a dominance of the Noisy Miner, o the detriment of other small birds
Shadow the Border Collie guarding our Roses? Not really.


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