A new Fernery from a Mountain of Rocks

 Cooper and Bauhinea corymbosa. Photo by John Simpson

Over the last few days our son John and our friend Martin Leonard have helped Kyleigh move a mountain of rather large pitching rocks (granite we think, rather than our usual basalt) to form a series of new garden beds. Our daughter Eleanor helped as well.  In the area adjacent to our propagating area and previous fernery, under the shade of large trees, Brachychiton acerfolius, Neolitsia and Toona ciliata a series of narrow raised rock beds have been built with a network of gravel paths to become our new Fernery.
The large Privet hedge has been reduced by 2/3 and the fernery building renovated to let in light and restore its usefulness.
Our propagating area is coming back into production as an engine for new and replacement plants. While much more attractive already the rock edged fernery needs the backdrop of the propagation area to be altered to make it more attractive when walking in the garden.
Lots of new growth on epiphytic orchids planted in trees over the fernery area and the large Crinum asiaticum anjacent to the new paths give plenty of visual interest.
In flower at the moment are quite a few things but looking best is the Bauhinea corymbosa along the northern pool fence and embankment which is a blaze of pink and of course the fragrant Trachylspermum jasminoides on a trellis beyond that.
Michael Simpson

New Plantings but a Dry Summer indeed

A  number of charming and new plants have been added to the garden in spite of prolonged dry weather which quite honestly is verging on drought.

Most have been acquired as cuttings from Nicky and Paul  at Woodford but some have been bought at Noel Burdettes Nursery . A dwarf Apricot Knifophia has been added and we have boldly planted out Forsytghia viridissima "Lynwood Gold" and Kolkwitzia amabilis as well as a variegated Deutzia in the central shrub garden and front path gardens.

we have also added.

An enchanting Michelia 'BLUSH' hybrid, bred by renowned New Zealand breeder Mark Jury. A well struck cutting of this bushy shrub is noted for its masses of russet colored buds opening to lightly fragrant blush-lilac pink flowers in late winter to mid-spring. It's apparently a compact size.

Carissa macrocarpa  'DESERT STAR'Attractive, small, compact evergreen shrub with large white, sweetly scented, star-shaped flowers and glossy round green leaves. Hardy and drought resistant and makes a very good low hedge or mounding plant. This plant has thorns so not sure where best to put it in our often moist environment

Graptophyllum excelsum is a shrub or small tree 1.5m to 8m high, usually no more than 4m, with multiple stems. It is found in dry vine thickets usually on soils derived from limestone. The leaves are about 3cm x 1cm and borne in opposite pairs. they are dark shiny green and spathulate (shaped like a spatula, with a broad tip and tapering to the base).We already have wonderful specimens of Graptophytum ilicifolium

	Pandanus utilis
	Red Edged Pandanus
	Madagascar and Mauritius.
	Sandy to rocky exposed slopes.
	Upright, generally multi trunking with wide spreading head.
	Evergreen
	Grey brown trunk and round seed pods create a statement. Branching often uniform from main trunk I believe that this may end up on our front embankment.   This small Fortunella japonica  (kumquat tree) has an abundance of dark orange fruit that is delicious eaten fresh or used in marmalades and jams. They make very ornamental tub specimens. Carl Peter Thunberg originally classified the kumquats as Citrus japonica in his 1784 book on Japanese Flora. In 1915, Walter T. Swingle reclassified them in a segregate genus, Fortunella, named in honor of Robert Fortune.   Viburnum suspensum is an evergreen Shrub growing to 3.5 m (11ft 6in). It is hardy to zone 9. It is in leaf 12-Jan It is in flower in March. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects.The plant is not self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil. Tea Rose. Mrs Canons Rose Woodford. Cream coloured Tea rose grown from cutting. The spirce plant apparently was brought to Woodford  from the Blackall Range more than 50 years previous to our tiny specimen. Caryopteris x clandonensis ’Worcester Gold’ is a deciduous sub-shrub with a rounded, bushy habit. Its foliage is bright yellow and lanceolate with a simple margin. It bears clusters of small violet-blue, tubular flowers from late summer. Anisodontea scabrosa The pink mallow is an evergreen perennial shrub; its size is variable but reaching heights of 2-3m. It has an upright branching habit with partially woody stems.   We have many cuttings grown plants ready to go in , waiting for rain including Pieris japonica, Cleome, Abelia grandiflora, Pachystachys lutea, Plectranthus argentus, Sambucus nigra, Solenostemon spp, Salvias and even hopefully Rothmannia.  Lets see what the following summer will bring. Michael Simpson

Book Launch, "An Open Garden" and more new plantings

 Rose 'Buff Beauty' and 'Zepherine Drouhin' at 'The Shambles' Oct 2012

We are looking forward to our Book Launch evening at Rosetta Book Shop, Maleny on thursday 18th October. Being an evening start, 5 30-6 pm means coming straight from work for the occasion.
"An Open garden , and Visiting Gardens by Motor Car has been well received and there are only a few copies left available. attendees should contact Rosetta book shop at reading@rosettabooks.com.au or by ringing 54352134 by Tuesday 16th. No one will be turned away however.
Today a scruffy area on our eastern boundary garden, near the side stairs had a makeover. A big clump of Agapanthus praecox was removed along with a bucket of mysterious corms and a large Dichorisandra Blue ginger lily. In this place were planted well established specimens of Rosa banksii alba, Rosa Bloomfield Abundance opposite a mature Rosa banksii lutea. Lavender (Lavandula stoechas), Rosmarinus officinalis, Thyme and Oregana in pots and Lemon grass were planted. Fennel made up the new planting in front of pre-existing Salvia madrense, Salva involucrata and Salvia 'Purple Majesty'.
Several pot bound pelargoniums were released into the ground around the fenced rose garden and potted specimens of the roses 'Julias Rose' and 'Harry Wheatcroft' were put into the North Rose gardens. A new specimen of the rose 'Sparieshoop' was also added, together with a cuttings grown rose 'Carabella' from Ron Treloar.
It is our  third month without significant rain but we still have a very green garden. We made some very promising cuttings from a magnificent Rothmannia globosa outside the stained-glass workshop in Post Office Rd. Mapleton. We also put in a cutting froma very mature double white Camellia outside the site of a long gone Montville Guesthouse.
Michael Simpson

Rosetta books launch, following our garden Party

 Garden Bed at the 'Plough Inn' waiting for the opening ribbon to be cut.

Be aware we have a book launch for "An Open Garden' at Rosseta Bookshop, 30 maple Street Maleny with wine and cheese at 5 30-6 pm Thursday 18th October, bookings essential for catering as follows:

Phone Rosetta Books 54352134

E Mail: reading@rosettabooks.com.au 

or shambles@bigpond.net.au 

Thankyou to all who attended our successful book launch, garden party and reopening of the Plough Inn on 22nd September..
Our new book "An Open Garden and Visiting Gardens by Motor Car" was taken home by many of our visitors.
The weather was fine, the garden was full of flowers, the wine flowed and we were grateful that so many visitors had come a long way to attend
As for the weather, it remain dry , now into the thord month and today the temperature will go over 30 degrees C. In spite of this the garden remian green and even newly acquired and planted specimens such as Viburnum suspensum, Hemizygia transvaalensis and the rose 'Sparieshoop' are doing well.
In the Uniting Church Garden in Montville Kyleigh and I added the rose 'Candy Stripe' as well a number of lavender Lavandula stoechus to boost those flowering there. We also put in Cleome 'Senorita Rosalita' for follow on mauve colour and Salvias such as Salvia elegans and 'Hot Lips'.
Just as at home the red hot doubkle Dahlia from Talgai Homestead is emerging. Working in public attracts attention and before we finished Loma and Rod Carter stopped by to give us Brunfelsia latifolia and yellow shrimp plant Belerophone guttata to add into the garden at the church.
Michael Simpson

"An Open Garden" successful book launch

A beautiful fine spiring day and plenty of colour greeted guest for our book launch on 22nd september.
Kyleigh worked very hard to decorate our 6 x 9 meter shed for guest to sit in and table and chairs were borrowed for the occasion.
Margaret and Laurie Jeays help put the finishing touches on the "Plough Inn" which was prepared with a big purple ribbon and bow for the occasion and a plaque fixed withe the names of all those who helped us keep this building standing in the last 20 years.
Guests enjoyed afternoon tea, prepared by Kyleigh and later wine, beer and cheese platters at the "Plough Inn". The book "An Open Garden and Visiting Gardens by Motor Car" was lauched with great success and the day finished with dinner at a local restaurant for some stayers and players.
Thanks to Tom Moroney for MC duties and all of our friends and family who helped out.
Until next time

Michael

Book Launch in a Spring garden

 Western Path around the house "The Shambles"

In spite of nearly 2 months without rain the garden is green and mature shrubs and trees and bursting with colour. Brunfelsia latifolia and B. americana are in flower as is white may and the Wisteria. Epiphytic Orchids are flowering and in bud . The Eupatorium megalophyllum is covered in purple flowers. It seems that purple an white will be the colour theme for our garden party.
Party news 2 PM, 22/9/2012, "The Shambles" 85 Western Avenue , Montville
Book launch of "An Open garden and Visiting Gardens by Motor Car"
+ reopening of the renovated "Plough Inn"
New plants acquired in our recent trip to Warwick include Teuchrium frutescens, Abelia schumannii, Marsh mallow and White Broom.
We were given Tillandsia "Queens Tears" and a white unknown Bauhinea by Sue at Assmanshausen Winery.
New Marguerite Daisys and planting out of our own cuttings grown perennials including Hypericum and Cleome will fill in some gaps. Very few losses in spite of appalling dry conditions
Michael Simpson 

Book Launch and Garden Party Preparations.

Our book "An Open Garden and Visiting Gardens by Motor Car" is a limited edition (100 copies only) colourful exploration of the experience of opening a garden to the public. The whys, whens and hows of this will hopefully make interesting reading for anyone who has opened their own garden or enjoys visiting them.
It is a glossy grown ups picture book of beautiful gardens we have visited.
For those who buy the book for $60 (the cost of printing a hard cover in Australia) we will give a complimentary copy of our 224 page hard cover book "Over the Fence and Overlooked, Traditional Plants in Queenslands Gardening Heritage" and  copy of our 1.2 hour DVD "A Garden in the Rain". I'd say that was great value.
The garden is holding up beautifully in the dry weather. Not only has our "Plough Inn" been rescued and renovated but Ed Donlen is helping us put power and water on in our big shed after 20 years. We will empty this of old cars and use it for under cover seating during the book launch garden party.

 "Plough Inn" before and after

Roll on September
Michael Simpson