Open Garden "Wongawilli" Montville

Please come and see this wonderful garden at Montville as the owner Rowena is raising money for families in Fiji who were affected by Cyclone Winston. All money raised on the weekend is going directly to the purchase of building materials so people can rebuild their homes.
The thing about opening a garden now without the layers of costs that were associated with opening through the now defunct Open Garden Australis scheme is that there is no longer a middle man wanting 65% of the takings.
 People continue to ask us why the Open Gardens Scheme no long exists and as we were not part of the inner circle we were fed a lot of lines about the running of the organisation. I only observed hard working people at the State level and very generous garden owners who voluntarily opened their gardens and worked tirelessly to achieve successful weekends.
Unfortunately the organisation at the top level was not transparent and as stakeholders ,which includes all garden owners we were never given any financial reports to purse on an Annual basis as is required by all other organisations from the local soccer team , local garden clubs and bigger companies.
As garden selectors it became very hard to justify the high percentage of money going back into the coffers to garden owners especially the business savvy people . After all it didn't make sense to us.

'Wongawilli" is being opened for the first time and it has been a privilege to help Rowena to prepare for her weekend. The garden is set on a difficult slope which has well constructed terraces where an amazing selection of plants has matured . There is something to see at every direction and will be inspirational for gardeners who are just starting out as well as for the gardeners who just love seeing beautiful gardens.  Rowena has had a long connection with Fiji and has done a lot of things to help the settlement that she returns to several times a year including sending containers of books for the school and families as well as containers of tools and things that are not readily available.
Rowena has purchased her own insurance for the day and has been advertising the opening and arranging helpers and stall holders so it should be a great success.
The garden is at 19 Manley Drive Montville . If you are in the main street of Montville simply turn down Western Avenue and Manley Drive is the first street on the right just before the Baroon Pocket Dam turn off. There will be refreshments available at the garden. For people who have mobility issues there is some level access and a lovely terrace around the house .
Hope to see you there Kyleigh

Plant Inventory at "The Shambles" u[dated April 2016

Plants Collected 2016

Home Run               From Cutting , Shrub Rose, Single Red repeat flowering .    Tom Carruth USA 2001   Front path garden

The RSL Rose syn. 'Garden Director Bartje Miller'. From Cutting. Hybrid Tea double Red , repeat flowering . Meilland France 2008 Front path garden

In the East Border garden a reasonably large area of overgrown Jasmine (Jasminium officinale) was cleared with quite an effort adjacent to a drift of Azaleas, Vireyas and Fuchsia.

New plantings in the East Border gardens are

Azalea (Rhododendron indica) 'Alphonse Anderson'

                                                  'Exquisite'

                                                  Magnifica

                                                  Alba Magnifica

                                                  Ann Kehr

                                                  Conlec

Rhododendron vireya                Toff

                                                  Archangel (white)

                                                  Coral Seas

Buddleja davidii                       'Velvet'

Camellia vernalis                     'Star above Star'

New plantings, in an area cleared of weed, Poinsettia in the north end of the central shrub garden. Hibiscus mutabilis and Hibiscus syriacus were liberated

Cuttings grown Roses  'Comtesse de Labarthe'

                                     'Beauty of Glenhurst'

                                    'Ally's Rose'  multiflora hybrid

and cuttings grown  Fuchsia and Rosemary were added.

Also  Dipladenia sanderi  x 2 cultivars (white and pink)

Rosa 'Kardinal"  Multiflora Repeat flowering grafted rose. Kordes, Germany 1989 added to North rose garden 

Goldfussia “Chameleon” - Strobilanthes anisophyllus

An interesting garden plant that will change it's colour randomly through the year from yellow veined leaves, to orange, pink and burgundy and any shades in between. Goldfussia 'Chameleon' can be grown as a low formal hedge or an informal shrub and can display  different colours at the same time topping it off with mauve, bell-shaped flowers in the middle of Winter. 'Chameleon' likes full sun to semi shade' excellent for Sydney and Brisbane climates. Evergreen and hardy with height 1.2 - 1.5 m. Cut back after flowering. Can withstand light frost. Criss Cross garden

Neomarica longifolia syn. Trimezia martinicensis Has yellow Iris type flowers on leaf stems .from Mexico, South America and Martinique. Very tough, pretty and reliable

Tacca chantrieri is an unusual plant in that it has black flowers. These flowers are somewhat bat-shaped, are up to 12 inches across, and have long 'whiskers' . Tacca chantrierei is native to tropical regions of Southeast Asia including Thailand, Malaysia, and southern China: particularly Yunnan Province.[3] They are understory plants, so they prefer shade (at least 60%). They grow best in well-drained soil with good air circulation, but they prefer high humidity, and need a lot of water. Original description of Tacca chantrieri. was in 1901 by ḖF André. Rainforest garden

Morus alba. White Mulberry is a very widespread and important crop for silkworm feed, fruit and timber. The species is native to northern China, and is widely cultivated including in Southern Europe for over a thousand years. It is known as shahatut शहतूत in Hindi,Tuta in Sanskrit, Tuti in Marathi, Dut in Turkish and Toot in Persian in Azerbaijani and in Armenian. North west Corner garden

Davidia involucrata Native to China, handkerchief tree was once considered to be the Holy Grail of exotic flora, and seeds were first sent to England by the legendary botanist Ernest Wilson in 1901. A deciduous tree from China, handkerchief tree is best known for its striking display of floral bracts in late spring. Its small, reddish purple flower heads are surrounded by a pair of large, white bracts up to 30 cm long, which are said to resemble dangling handkerchiefs or doves resting on the branches. The young plants exhibit healthy dark red shoots and take about ten years to flower, after which flowers are produced in most years. China. North west Corner garden

Posoqueria longiflora Needle Flower Tree. Long tubular white flowers with distinctive night time fragrance. Grows to a modest sized tree in tropical areas and will flower throughout the year as long as the light level is high and the temperatures are warm. It has spreading branches and large glossy, deep green leaves. A somewhat slow grower, it forms clusters of blooms on the ends of the newest growth. Once established, it can tolerate varying light conditions and watering. The genus was established by Aublet in 1775 on material from French Guiana. South America  North west Corner garden

Shadow in NorthWest Corner Garden.

3 Large Privets removed and the large Inga edulis removed creating a dramatic well lit area sorrounded by Palms and maturing Australian trees , Black Bean, red Cedar and tamarind.

Plants transplanted or added to this area included 

Knifophia aloides

Reinwardtia indica  (Southern Side)

Bauhinea torulosa (Western side)

Graptophyllum illiciolium (Northern Side)

Clerodendrum bungeii (Corners)

Morus alba (South West Corner)

Davidia involucrata (Southern side)

Lomandra hystrix (Southern side)

Brillantasia (Corners),   

Anenome hupehensis (Central stone bed)

Angelonia,  various annual seeds

Trees hung with off Dendrobium orchids. 

Posoquera longifolia (Eastern Side). Much more to follow

Michael Simpson

Montville Open garden "Wongawilli" 14th 15th May 2016

We are assisting Rowena Cavanagh to open her garden and would highly recommend a visit .

"Wongawilli"  beautiful Montville Garden opens for the first time to raise money for the Fijian villages of Ovalau in the wake of Cyclone Winston (February16).

“Wongawilli ”

19 Manley Drive, Montville.

14^th &15^th May   from 9.30 am -4.00pm

Entry is $6.00, children free

All money raised will go directly to this area to purchase building materials in order for people to start again.

 Levuka in the wake of Cyclone Oswald

Levuka in the wake of Cyclone Oswald

This garden is now close to maturity since its beginning 16 years’ ago when it was a steep slope covered in lantana. It is inspirational to see the photos taken at  the beginning and compare them with how it is today  with it’s well constructed terraces . A generous mix of sub-tropical and temperate plants gives it year round colour and interest.

 "Wongawilli" Pool garden

"Wongawilli" Courtyard garden

Rowena is the owner and creator of the garden and felt drawn to help the Fijians after the Cyclone as she has travelled and lived in Levuka on  the Island of Ovalau over several years.

You are welcome to come to the Open garden to help support this cause and ,of course, get loads of garden ideas.

"The Shambles" rose R.O.R. at "The Shambles"

For years we have grown a very happy successful rose with unknown parentage at "The Shambles"
an entry from our website (page on our Heritage Roses) www.montvillegarden.com
We have decided to adopt this rose, becuase of its qualities and will attempt to propagate and distribute cuttings grown specimens when we can

THE SHAMBLES ROSE (r.o.r) acquired as incorrectly named (and labelled) PINK CASCADE 

Our rose resembles a China- Tea rose is robust, disease resistance and has beautiful short lasting deep pink single to semi-double flowers in clusters of 3 to 5. This rose flowers freely year around. 

The bush , to about 1 meter height has few thorns. Flower stems are weak. It seems disease free and Low maintenance and very willing to propagate from cutting. 

Original specimen from Mapleton Hardware nursery, stated that "Weeping Pink" was bred at a nursery on Mt Tambourine, parentage unknown,.

The rose grows in our Front Path Garden, South Rose garden, North Rose Garden, and Central Shrub garden.

The only candidates for the name "Pink Cascade" in the literature do not describe roses resembling "The Shambles" rose.

"The Shambles Rose" at "The Shambles" garden 2016

"The Shambles Rose" at "The Shambles" South rose garden 2016

Pink Cascade (polyantha, Lammerts, 1945)

Please help: We need your photo of this rose.

Polyantha.  Light pink.  Mild fragrance.  Blooms in flushes throughout the season. Dr. Walter E. Lammerts (1945).
.  

Pink Cascade (cl. miniature, Moore, 1981)

Please help: We need your photo of this rose.

Climber, Miniature, Cl..  Pink.  Mild fragrance.  Blooms in flushes throughout the season.  Height of 1' to 18" (30 to 45 cm).  Width of 4" to 6" (10 to 15 cm). Ralph S. Moore (1981).

refs www.helpmefindme.com

Michael Simpson

Many Changes at "The Shambles" before Easter 2016

It seemed the right time.
A big Cocos Palm near the house and 3 large Privets (Ligustrum ovale) and a very large Ice Cream Bean tree (Inga edulis)  were removed from our North West Rainforest corner.  The palm was a big bloody nuisance and the sky has opened up in the North west corner bringing on a new project.

4 meters of large large pitching stone was brought into the NorthWest corner to compose a circle of stone and a central circle of stone reflecting somewhat the more formal rock work in the opposite corner (SE) of "The Shambles".  The paths will be gravelled and the rest of the understory areas of ferns, bromeliads, Deiffenbachia and other subtropical foliage plants are now rock edged. Going from the shade of the rainforest into the sun is quite successfully achieved. A borrowed background of a large variegated fig ? Ficus benjamina? lies to the west of this new area.
We mean to keep this area from being shaded by new trees. We ave already added Lomandra hystrix and intend to transplant Red Hot Poker Knifophia aloides for interest and Graptophyllum ilicifolim (Holly Fuchsia) for Hedging behind.

Assembling rocks and gravel at North West Corner "The Shambles"

Our once fowl house and then mower shed was moved after 20 years and now sits close to the north boundary behind the "Plough Inn". Old wire was taken away with posts etc. This gives a lovely open aspect which takes in the trunks (and in season) the autumn foliage of our old Persimmon trees.
The former crossing paths of our "Criss Cross"  garden is now a five ways also connecting to the western side of "Fenced Rose garden"
Kyleigh found an interesting plant , a variegated Stobilanthes anisophyllus var 'Chameleon' to add to he "Criss Cross Fiveways.

Strobilanthes anisophyllus "Chameleon"

The site where the Cocos Palm was removed is right outside a large picture window in our main room. Thinking and planning is required here.

Just the beginning of these projects which should start to reach a final form before Easter2016

No excuse

For my birthday Michael gave me the Clive Blazey book, 'There is no excuse for ugliness".I think I feel much the same as the author and really can't understand why most Australian gardens can be so ugly.Councils too have dropped the ball with the rigid landscaping of public spaces and the unexciting planting. Sure there is always a place for a few natives but many places could be improved with a sassy colourful exotic plant - preferably one that provides shade here in Queensland.
There was a time when people were  house proud and maintained the outside of their properties mainly with that shorn piece of lawn and perhaps a flower bed or two.Yet lately I have noticed a distinct lack of care for both domestic spaces and roadside and public areas.

There is a particular spot in Montville on the southern side /coming from Maleny which illustrates this point. It is at the end of Western Avenue so I see it everyday. One side has the Entry statement  on a terraced garden and despite the weeds looks half cared for but the southern side is completely neglected. I used to take a bottle of round up with me when I went walking and attempt to cull some weeds but before long the whole thing is looking shabby again. Is it that people simply do not see it? Is it that we no longer have a "tidy towns' project and people can't be bothered ?
I am sort of convinced that people don't see it as they speed towards the shops.
I am sometimes tempted to take over some public space and plant it up with the  hardy colourful plants I have at hand but it is sure to incite aback lash from people who can't see any plant but natives being used anywhere and would prefer to have weeds.
It is great to see some of the Montville businesses doing up the gardens in town  as it all contributes to making the place look cared for. This morning I worked at the Church garden and it has changed a bit since this photo was taken. I have added a couple of plants from our place  including a Tagetes  which I love for it's sunny yellow flowers and the smell of the foliage  and it is so nice to have people stop to talk or ask about the plants or maybe

they just want to pat the dog!






"I just don't get it,first we have to do the garden at home and next thing she's gardening again"
Shadow

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.