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  • 5 months ago
Gardening Australia 2025 Episode 27
Transcript
00:00Hey!
00:05Hey!
00:06Hi!
00:08Ooh!
00:13Oh!
00:18Hey!
00:19Oop!
00:20Hey, buddy!
00:22Hey!
00:23Hey!
00:24Hello and welcome to Gardening Australia with spring right around the corner we've got a real
00:40bonanza ready for harvest this week. Here's what's lined up. I'm going to show you a rare collection
00:49of Syngia cultivars and species and share some expert growing tips. I'm growing green with
00:56fabulous phenomenal ferns for your bathroom or any shady spots at your place. I'm in an average
01:04size backyard that's anything but average. In hot weather it's a cool oasis and it grows enough food
01:12to feed households from across the neighborhood. And I'm meeting a woman who's an expert in making
01:18clay flowers. She also grows plenty of flowers in her own garden but can you spot the real one?
01:25Today I'm at Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mount Coother and I'm currently surrounded by one
01:38of the biggest collections of Australian native rainforest trees in the country. Spanning 56
01:46hectares, these stunning subtropical gardens are just seven kilometres from the Brisbane CBD.
01:52It's easy to see why this place has become a refuge for wildlife in urban Brisbane. There's nothing
02:01better than seeing birds joining you to enjoy what's going on in the garden. Josh is here with
02:08a gardener who knows exactly what I'm talking about.
02:15So you live on a suburban block, not the traditional quarter acre of days gone by, but the smaller footprint
02:21that's become more standard. A modest sized garden means modest ambitions for the gardener, right?
02:28Absolutely not. In 2020, Rachel and Mike Green downsized from two sloping hectares to a flat Badalax block in the hills on the eastern fringe of Perth.
02:42Their previous garden was a showcase of habitat planting, but they're proving the smaller dimensions here are still an excellent opportunity to invite the local wildlife in.
02:54We've squeezed as many local plants in as we can, especially for the birds.
02:58I'm a passionate, lifelong bird watcher, and this helps a lot. A bird watch in the bush as well, not just here. It's my primary hobby in life these days.
03:07Filling a garden full of native plants is one thing, but what's been your strategy to really maximise the habitat value of this garden?
03:15Well, I think the first thing is that we need food all year round. So it's not about having flowers in spring, which is easy.
03:22It's about, is there still food in January, February, March, April, May, all the way through?
03:28So food might be something like this erimophila, which is flowering now and providing honey to the honey eaters.
03:33But in three months time, those honey eaters will need other food because that will have stopped flowering.
03:38But also the birds need insects. So birds don't just eat nectar. Lots of people think it's about flowers, but it is also about nuts.
03:47It's about seeds. We've had banksias. We've got hachias that have nuts. We've got darnellas that have seeds and berries.
03:55It's about insect plants. See, there's insects on the plants on the conostylis down there at the moment.
04:00So they need a lot of things other than just flowers.
04:08What kind of birds are visiting the garden now, Mike?
04:11Lots of honey eaters. The western wattle bird, which you can sometimes hear in the background. There it is.
04:15The red wattle bird, the white-sheet honey eater, plus a few insectivorous birds like the river swissler.
04:24We've got the ring-necked parrot, which locals call 28.
04:27And, of course, there's the striated padlock, which is nesting right now.
04:31As the plants have grown, the birds have increased.
04:34We get so excited whenever we see a new species, and so we started with two.
04:39And in three and a half years, we've gone to 41.
04:42Look, look, look, look.
04:45In measuring the success of this space as a habitat garden, Rachel and Mike are not satisfied with anecdotal evidence.
04:51Well, we're a bit mad, and for the last three years, every single day when we're here, we've logged the birds.
04:57So we keep a list of all the birds that we've seen so far and tick them off every day if they appear.
05:03And if new ones arrive, we add them to the list.
05:05And we've charted them so you can see that there is a general increase in the bird species over the years.
05:12The other thing we've got are trail cameras.
05:14They record them.
05:15And we've seen even a white magpie that we've never seen before.
05:19And at the back, white-browed scrub wrens come in, and we don't see them.
05:23They're so secretive, but they're on the trail camera.
05:25Now, the ultimate is to have birds nesting because if you can provide a habitat garden where they feel safe and where they feel secure and there's enough nesting material and they nest, then you're encouraging, especially the little birds, to be safe because there is always the threat of extinction.
05:43We have so far had three birds nesting.
05:47We've got the striated pardalotes nesting in a gourd on the fence, and they've had three broods.
05:53We've found a brown honey-eater's nest in the Hardenbergia, and we've had New Holland honey-eaters nesting in a rare plant from the south coast, the Haakea Victoria,
06:04and they nested this year in April, which is an unusual time to nest, so it means that we were providing them with enough food in the garden.
06:12Yay!
06:16What was this garden like when you first moved in?
06:18Rather plain and boring.
06:20The front garden was lawn, roses, deciduous barren pears and a few lily-pillies, nothing else, and where we're standing now was wood chips.
06:30Within weeks, we'd had the front garden, the lawn was up, and all the roses came out.
06:35But the birdbath, that was the nucleus.
06:37Everything else was planted around that, and it grew very quickly.
06:39Within three months, we'd got an obvious native garden coming along.
06:44When we put a plant in, we make sure if we can it's local to the local government area as shown on flora base.
06:51And if it does really well and the birds like it, we plant more of those.
06:55If it doesn't do well or the birds don't like it, we take it out.
06:59Avoid having a garden where everything's at the one level.
07:03So here we've got, like, the acacia saligna is growing, and that will be taller.
07:07Then this is medium, and then we've got lower shrubs.
07:10So different birds need different habitat heights.
07:14Prickly plants are really important.
07:16Some of the smaller birds, they need to be able to escape from predators.
07:19And we've got haecchia lysocapa here, which we know we've got the data small birds will nest in.
07:26We're trying to get a jungle.
07:31It's really great because you actually have to do less gardening because there are fewer weeds, less raking.
07:36We want all the plants to grow together to cover the ground so that the birds can just hop from one to another.
07:43So beyond the plants that we've spoken about, what other initiatives do you put in place to bring birds in?
07:49Water. Mike put in our very first birdbath in the first week that we were here, and we got brown honey eaters almost immediately.
07:57But also we've got reticulation on the birdbath because if you're going to have a birdbath, you've got to provide clean water but consistent water.
08:05This is your handiwork. What are the key features of this design?
08:09It's about the right height, and it has a perch. That's very important.
08:13A birdbath on its own works, but if you put a perch there, the birds come in and have a look around first before they take the plunge, literally.
08:22And we find that our perch is just randomly around the garden for birds to land on.
08:27It's good for photography too because you can aim your camera at the perch and wait until a bird comes and snap.
08:33We have lots of rocks around so that reptiles can find a place to hide and also to sunbake.
08:41I see there's some insect hotels dotted around the garden.
08:44Yes, they're mainly for bees. We get lots of resin bees land in those and build their nests.
08:49We do our best to keep insects happy around the place as well.
08:56What we wanted to do was to prove you can do habitat in a tiny garden, and we think we've proved that.
09:02The success of the garden is really important because we can show other people what's possible,
09:08and it means we can inspire other people to look after the birds.
09:11Has it worked out how you'd hoped it might?
09:14This place has worked out much better than we thought.
09:16It rapidly became clear that yes, we could do a lot.
09:19It just took off and it was an amazing thing for both of us.
09:22I just love it.
09:23What would be your advice to someone who was thinking about starting a habitat garden?
09:28Do it, because if you start, then you can build on it.
09:32However small, start with water.
09:35And then if you've only got a really tiny garden, go for pots.
09:42The birds evolved with the local plants, and we found that the local plants attract more birds than plants from anywhere else.
09:50And by local, I mean local government area.
09:53So go local, go water, start now.
10:03When do I harvest asparagus?
10:05Well, there's kind of two answers to that question.
10:08The first being in spring, when those spears start to erupt from the ground.
10:12They are an absolute seasonal delight.
10:15But the second part of that answer comes when you're talking about establishing an asparagus patch.
10:21They are really long-lived plants.
10:23And that spear is actually an emerging stem which grows into leaves and of course photosynthesises.
10:30If you start harvesting these in the first couple of years that you plant out your patch,
10:34you're actually harvesting their ability to photosynthesise and build strength.
10:39So, as delicious as they look, you have to hold your nerve.
10:42At least a couple of years, establish the plants really, really well.
10:46And then you'll be picking asparagus for decades to come.
10:51What is a potager garden?
10:52It's a kitchen or vegetable garden.
10:55Potage is the French word for soup or vegetable stew.
10:59So a potager garden is simply a garden where you grow the ingredients for soup.
11:05Most potager style gardens are quite decorative with formal layouts and lots of flowers.
11:11So they're both productive and pretty all year round.
11:15When are passion fruit ripe?
11:18Very good question.
11:19One of the indicators is the darkness of the fruit which turns purple as it matures.
11:25And another is the wrinkliness of the fruit.
11:28But a commercial passion fruit grower will often wait until they drop to the ground.
11:33And that is a surefire guarantee it's ready to eat.
11:42Compost keeps our gardens growing and thriving.
11:45Turning pretty much anything that might be considered waste into a valuable resource.
11:49But can that include pet poo?
11:52Well, yes, it can.
11:55I've started composting my dog Ollie's poo.
11:58And like common animal manures, it's a rich source of plant and soil nutrients.
12:04However, dog and cat manure need to be treated and used slightly differently to make sure it's safe.
12:12Compost in a separate pile or system away from your regular plant and veggie scrap compost.
12:17And only ever use it on your ornamental gardens.
12:20Never your edible crops, due to the potential risk of spreading pathogens.
12:26Every time I add some poo, I also add some dry brown leaves to balance out the carbon and nitrogen ratio.
12:32And to help cut down on any smells.
12:37When adding pet compost to the garden, make sure to dig a hole at least 15 centimetres deep and bury it.
12:43This is because cat and dog poo may contain a bacteria called Toxoplasma gondii.
12:50When it comes into contact with wildlife, it can be deadly.
12:54So we want to reduce any chance of contact with them.
12:58Finally, if you've recently given your pet some worm medication, best to hold off composting their poo for around one week,
13:04just to make sure it doesn't hurt any worms in your compost system.
13:15The bonsai house here at Mount Cootha really stops you in your tracks.
13:18It's actually one of Australia's largest publicly owned displays.
13:25And people visit here from all around the world to appreciate the remarkable Japanese and Chinese art form of bonsai.
13:34When you're looking at plants that are over 80 years old, it makes you think about the timescales plants can grow through.
13:42Let's join Tammy now, who's with some other plants that are also quirky, pint-sized and long-lived.
13:51Long-lived.
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14:20Long-lived.
14:21Long-lived.
14:22Long-lived.
14:23Cymigia is a genus of tuberous flowering plants within the Gesneriaceae family.
14:29They're beloved by gardeners for their weed and wonderful look, vibrant blooms
14:33and ease of care. Flowers hang like pendulous bells atop long stalks and
14:38bloom in shades of red, orange, pink and purple, white and yellow.
14:46They occur naturally from Central America right through to Argentina but home to
14:50the largest concentration of species is Brazil.
14:58Many grow from a gnarly cortex that in their natural range stores energy and water
15:03over the long dry seasons. They are adaptable to both indoor and outdoor
15:08growing conditions, making them popular outdoors in temperate and subtropical
15:12regions and better suited as houseplants in cooler climates.
15:17There are nearly 80 natural species worldwide.
15:19The most well-known species in cultivation is Cynigia speciosa, often referred to as the
15:27Florus gloxinia. This species is commonly grown for its large, gorgeous leaves and showy flowers.
15:33Cynigia bullata can be recognised by its textured, crinkled leaves and vibrant red-orange blooms.
15:40It is one of the very best for growing at home, as they are evergreen and almost always in flower.
15:47Cynigia leucotrica, with its silver-hued furry leaves that feel like velvet and bright orange flowers is also known as Brazilian
15:57idolvice. The cortex looks like a giant round potato emerging out of the soil.
16:02And the even better news is that many Cynigia species hybridise easily, so there's an incredible range of plants to play with,
16:09including vibration, synth city, Aussie rhythm, witchcraft, and night watch.
16:24While the colours and forms are diverse, most Cynigia require similar growing conditions.
16:29They thrive in bright, filtered light, but can tolerate some direct morning sun.
16:34Outdoors, place them in the dapple shade of a tree, but avoid heavily shaded spots. They need light to produce flowers.
16:42Inside, place them in a spot with bright, indirect light, like near an east-facing window.
16:47Water is the key to all plants, and in cultivation, take some care.
16:51During the warm growing season, these plants need water and humidity, but overhead watering can damage the ornamental leaves.
16:59It's best to water from below by filling a saucer, allowing the plant to soak up what it needs.
17:06Most will go through a natural period of dormancy after flowering.
17:09In nature, this would be during the dry monsoonal period.
17:12This is when the cortex is prone to rot, so it's essential to allow the soil to dry up between watering.
17:19In spring, feed with a small amount of slow-release fertiliser.
17:23An occasional liquid feed during the growing season will encourage robust growth and blooming.
17:31To maintain humidity around the plants without keeping them soaking wet, you can sit them
17:36in a gravel-filled saucer of water.
17:39Things will last a long time in a pot, and the only time they need repotting is when they're
17:44bursting at the seams.
17:46This is best done at the end of winter.
17:51Tip the plant out.
18:00Brush the old spent soil away from the swollen cordex and repot into a larger pot to give
18:05it the space it needs to continue expanding.
18:14Sinigia prefer a well-drained mix that's rocky or sandy to mimic their natural habitat.
18:20A mix of potting soil and perlite or sand works well for container planting.
18:25You can also use a store-bought African Violet mix.
18:33Just remember not to bury the cordex completely.
18:36Pot it up halfway at the level it was originally.
18:43Sinigia are loved by collectors for their weird and wacky trunks and delicate showy flowers.
18:49There's been a lot of rain around Sydney lately and many other places too.
18:56At my local nursery the veggies have been getting a bit hammered.
19:01They'll dig deep and pull through but in the meantime there's plenty of inspiration growing under my feet.
19:22Check out these ferns, they're popping up all throughout the nursery.
19:28Ferns reproduce via these tiny spores that you can see on the underside of the fronds.
19:35They're a bit like seeds and they get blown around in the wind or they get transported by water,
19:41which is exactly what these heavy rains have done and they're just all over the place.
19:48Ferns really are nature's survivors.
19:53One of the first group of vascular plants to make their presence known on the planet some 350 million years ago,
20:01Ferns have certainly aged gracefully.
20:04They'll grow indoors in containers, hanging baskets or as a ground cover in that shady or part shade spot outside.
20:13And there's phenomenal ferns that are tough to boot, plenty to float my boat.
20:19Now this is the bird's nest fern and I think back and I reckon this was one of the first plants I ever had indoors.
20:27They're beautiful ferns and you recognise them by their leathery leaves that have this really lime green colour.
20:36And the leaves are all part of a rosette, which means all of the new leaves come out from the centre
20:43and they sort of unfurl beautifully, it's lovely to watch.
20:48So there's that one, but then look at this one.
20:51There's the unfurling leaves, but these leaves have this beautiful frilly texture,
20:56which changes the look of it so much, I really like it.
21:07Have a look at this crocodile fern.
21:10I reckon you're going to fall in love with it like I have,
21:13because when you get up close and personal,
21:16you realise that the texture of the leaves and the patterns,
21:21that it's scaly, like our friend here.
21:24And what's more, it's got these fangs on the end that make it even more captivating.
21:32While we might think of some of the more delicate looking ferns as divas,
21:37for many, the opposite is true.
21:40This hen and chicken fern may have a graceful, slender,
21:45soft form about it, but it's really quite tough.
21:48And the interesting part about it is the way that it creates its offspring.
21:53And that's where it gets the hen and chicken name,
21:56because it grows these little plantlets that are like the baby chickens
22:00that are hanging around mum and hanging off her fronds.
22:04In nature, these fronds arch over and touch the ground,
22:08which gives the chance for the chicklets to take root.
22:12So it makes them really easy to propagate.
22:14All you need to do is snip them off where the chicklet is
22:18and you can make plenty of your own hen and chicken ferns.
22:23They're a great plant.
22:28This is the rabbit's foot fern.
22:30And it has this really distinctive look about it.
22:34These little hairy paws that you see are actually rhizomes
22:39that spread across the ground.
22:41And it's a way of it stabilising itself, but also attaching to trees.
22:47You can see here it's climbing all over the pot and out and over the edge.
22:55It's like, oh, I want a better view.
22:56Where can we grow next?
22:58So the brown, hairy rhizomes contrast with the wispy, delicate fronds.
23:05What a lovely fern.
23:11There's something about ferns that the more you look at them,
23:15the more you start to appreciate all their differences.
23:20This is the Japanese sword fern.
23:22It's got this dark green foliage with really quite distinctive fronds.
23:29And, you know, just being around a fern makes you feel good.
23:35I've got an idea for a fern forest in the bathroom.
23:39A little slice of awe-inspiring nature morning and night.
23:46Ferns are ideal for bathrooms because they love that little bit of diffused light.
23:52And there's also the added moisture and humidity in the air.
23:56And, of course, I'll get to appreciate all those beautiful shades and patterns of green.
24:02Wherever you decide to grow your ferns indoors, they need filtered light,
24:08not direct sunlight where they'll burn.
24:12I've chosen a wide, shallow container to suit a couple of ferns.
24:17The ideal mix is loose and free-draining and has some moisture in it.
24:23So it's made up of two parts premium potting mix.
24:27Then there's one part of core fibre, which has been pre-soaked.
24:33Then there's one part of this coarse-grade perlite.
24:37Perlite helps with drainage and retains moisture.
24:40It can hold up to four times its weight in water.
24:44Very important to note that before you use any perlite, wear a mask
24:49and make sure you wet it down before you start moving it
24:53so you don't inhale any of the fine particles.
24:57And then there's one part of this horticultural-grade charcoal.
25:02It helps to sweeten the soil, can help reduce plant disease,
25:07and it adds another layer of assisted drainage because it holds space
25:13and allows water to move through the soil a bit like the perlite.
25:26So I've positioned my rabbit's foot fern perfectly
25:29so that those little claws can hang over the top.
25:32But before I put it in, now that my level's right,
25:36I'm going to add this last ingredient,
25:38which is a little bit of pelletised chicken manure,
25:42and that's like a little lunchbox that'll help it on its way in its early days.
25:48And I'll do the same with this hen and chicken fern as well,
25:53just a little bit of a pinch of our special chicken pellet ingredient.
26:00Oh, perfect.
26:03Look at that.
26:05Now I'm backfilling with my mix.
26:09Growing forward, ferns like it moist but not wet
26:15because over-watering will cause enormous problems.
26:19If the soil is wet,
26:21what'll happen is the roots will start to rot
26:24and the fern, naturally enough, will die.
26:27Definitely don't leave your ferns in a saucer of water.
26:31If you're not sure about the moisture needs of your ferns,
26:34the best rule of thumb is ultimately your thumb.
26:39Or at least your fingers.
26:41Put it in and see.
26:43If it's too dry, add some water.
26:45If it's too wet, step away from the fern.
26:48The other thing that happens is that those wet conditions are ideal for fungus gnats
26:58and you don't want to bring them into your internal plant environment
27:02because they'll just move from plant to plant.
27:05A mulch with sharp edges like this fine gravel will act as a deterrent
27:11to stop the fungus gnats from getting in and beginning their cycle of laying eggs.
27:21Ferns generally need to be repotted every two to three years.
27:25And they're not heavy feeders, but in the growing season,
27:28they'll appreciate a little drink of diluted liquid feed every few weeks.
27:34Well, it's a clean, green future for me.
27:37I reckon my mini fern forest is fern-tastic.
27:42Still to come on Gardening Australia,
27:46Gerry sows the seeds of a collector favourite.
27:50Clarence shows us some native lawn alternatives.
27:54And we meet someone dedicated to the intricate art of clay flowers.
28:04There's so many choices with gardening, it can be hard to cram it all in.
28:10But I say, why choose?
28:12Sometimes more is more.
28:15Just look around the tropical display dome here at Mount Coother.
28:19It's a treasure trove of horticultural delights.
28:23I'm talking palms, gingers, heliconias and aroids as far as the eye can see.
28:30Sophie's visiting a garden that packs almost as much in.
28:35And the result is a green urban oasis.
28:41Today, I'm meeting someone who, 18 years ago,
28:45moved into a sparse neglected backyard.
28:48And bit by bit, has gradually transformed it into this.
28:52Every possible space of Vicky s quarter acre block is now dense with fruit trees, shrubs, grasses, vines and veggies.
29:04I sort of picked out where I wanted the veggies to be for the light and the sun.
29:08And then worked my way around with the sorts of fruit trees I wanted.
29:13And then what I wanted to look at from the house in terms of texture and foliage and shape.
29:20Into mingling different plant types is Vicky's signature move.
29:25Always trying to balance food for herself with food and habitat for native species.
29:30And that theme starts straight away out on the nature strip.
29:35With a tangelo and dragon fruit and native eromophila filling in the gaps.
29:40Entering Vicky's garden from the front, a path takes you under an arbor of pomegranates
29:52to find a woodworking shed for all of Vicky's many projects.
29:56Behind the shed, there's a narrow sideway that Vicky is determined to make use of.
30:01Full of hardy succulents, many of which are displayed in Vicky's own handmade pottery.
30:07In the backyard, there's a big veggie patch and an arbor for grapevines.
30:15Leading to a dedicated potting up area.
30:18So Vicky, you've got a fairly average sized backyard and yet you've managed to fit 23 fruit trees in.
30:24That's a lot of produce. What do you do with it all?
30:27It is a lot of produce. I make a lot of things, chutneys and relishes and jams.
30:31Dehydrate, a lot of citrus, cook a lot with it.
30:37And we've sort of got a very good set up about sharing it.
30:40We've got a food swap that happens monthly.
30:43So once a month we wander around there with all the excess.
30:47And we usually have, you know, 15, 20 people every month.
30:51It's quite well attended. It's been going for over 10 years.
30:54And people just bring their excess.
30:57You know, I've got a basket out the front that we put excess in as well.
31:01So it all gets, you know, used.
31:03Usually we don't have a lot of waste at all really.
31:06So we've got this cost of living crisis where a whole lot of people are worried about
31:10how they're going to afford stuff and, you know, food insecurity.
31:14If everyone that has the capacity to just grow a bit more, like you are.
31:18Yeah, yeah, it's great.
31:20And it's so people can, you know, don't have to think about the price of a lemon.
31:25You know, some people just come by my place and have a look, I think, most days
31:31and see if there's anything there.
31:32And I think that's just a really good starting point to talk and chat
31:35and get to know people, yeah, and share food.
31:39Vicki is very handy on the tools and has made or modified the pergolas, fencing and gates
31:46and has done all the landscaping herself.
31:49But she insists that there's no hard landscaping.
31:52Instead, she's minimised hard surfaces so that plants have right of way.
31:58So Vicki, I love your sawdust pathways.
32:01And it has that beautiful grounding feel when you walk on it.
32:04It does, it does.
32:05And I love the quietness of it and the sort of nice sort of gentle feel underfoot.
32:11And it's really lightweight, so it's really easy to move around.
32:14It's pretty cheap.
32:15And not many weeds come through it once it's settled.
32:18You know, I upgrade the paths with new sawdust once a year.
32:21Yeah.
32:22Don't really have to, yeah, don't have to do too much with it at all.
32:25And I don't have hard surfaces that water runs off.
32:28They're very absorbent.
32:29And it's cool.
32:30Yeah.
32:31The western suburbs of Adelaide are generally hot.
32:35There's less tree cover and a lot of concrete.
32:38Vicki is acutely aware of the heat island effect
32:41and has made several decisions to cool the house and garden down,
32:45including keeping existing trees where possible,
32:49as well as creating new shade by planting trees,
32:52including a local mally gum,
32:55which is a great choice for a small backyard eucalyptus in this climate.
32:5921,000 litres of water tank storage means the thirsty edible crops are taken care of.
33:05Then, tough feature plants that don't need irrigation fill the gaps,
33:10including huge structural gymea lilies, many salvias, native grasses and eromophilas.
33:17Well, I tried to keep an area that would be kind of a dry, less water-reliant patch,
33:23which I've kept with natives and Mediterranean plants mixed in.
33:27Mm-hm.
33:28Got some logs to walk on and I've trimmed a few of the Mediterranean plants there
33:33to sort of just give it a bit of form and structure,
33:36but I've tried to make it look, you know, a bit naturalistic as well,
33:40but with all the nice textures and colours of the foliage more than anything.
33:44You've also got a bit of height difference in there.
33:46Yes, yes, I've got a mound.
33:48I wanted to have a focal point and a place that sort of had a bit of a different feel to it
33:54and you can stand on the top of it and have a look, so that's quite good.
33:57That also sort of hides a few areas from the house
34:01so that you have to walk around to go and have a look.
34:04You can't just see everything from here, which I quite like, sort of entices you.
34:08Now, in a garden that's quite water-wise and you're focusing water on things that need it,
34:15maybe like veggies, you've got a patch of lawn.
34:18Now, I love a limited area of lawn.
34:20Yeah, limited.
34:21Limited.
34:22Why have you kept the lawn there?
34:24Well, I've kept the lawn there because of that sort of green ribbon
34:28that entices you to walk down, which is almost like a path,
34:32but it's cooling and the animals love lying on it, the dog loves lying on it.
34:37In the evening on a hot day, everyone's lying out there on the cool grass.
34:41It's not a big patch.
34:43It doesn't take a lot of water at all.
34:45What advice would you give to someone that's starting out,
34:48that has a backyard and, you know, is feeling a bit overwhelmed?
34:52I think take your time, experience a bit of the seasons,
34:56work out where the light is so that you know where you're going to put things
35:01and also the water areas so you can, you know,
35:04you don't have to water things all over the place.
35:06You've got things that rely on water sort of grouped together,
35:10which is a lot easier for you in the long run.
35:12But also, take some risks.
35:14You know, if you really want something, then have it a go
35:17because that's a really great way of learning.
35:19Experiment, I think, is really important.
35:22So what are you most proud of in this garden?
35:25Well, it's a hard question because there's lots of things,
35:28but I think I'm proud of the feeling it's got, the atmosphere.
35:32Peaceful, calm, lots of green and texture.
35:37It particularly feels great in summer because when it's hot,
35:41it's a shady, cool sort of oasis kind of feel.
35:45So I think that's probably what I'm most proud of.
35:48Tellanzias are popularly known as air plants.
36:00They're members of the bromeliad family.
36:02They're evergreen perennials.
36:04And there's over 700 different species
36:07with a huge variety in form, colour and texture.
36:11Some even have fragrant flowers.
36:14They're found in South and Central America,
36:17as well as the West Indies
36:19and the southeast of the USA.
36:22Most Tellanzia species are epiphytes,
36:25so they normally grow without soil
36:27while attached to other plants
36:29or surfaces like rocks and cliffs.
36:32This means you can find them growing just about anywhere.
36:36They grow naturally from sea level
36:38to 3,000 metres in elevation,
36:41which means they've adapted to a wide range of climatic regions
36:45and some tricky niches.
36:47They're a lot hardier than people think,
36:50with some species even growing on power lines
36:53or happily in sand dunes in the middle of deserts.
36:57In the home garden,
36:58they often need little more than the right climate,
37:01an occasional splash of water
37:03and some diluted fertiliser now and then.
37:06Fertilising will boost their growth and flowering.
37:10On top of this,
37:11the flowering event of some Tellanzias can be spectacular
37:15and it's designed to catch the attention of passing hummingbirds.
37:19Think alien growths in shades of fluorescent pink and red.
37:24One drawback is Tellanzias can be expensive to buy
37:28and because of their small size,
37:30a large impactful display can be very expensive.
37:34Fortunately, they're pretty easy to grow from seed.
37:39My Tellanzia fasciculata has released its seed in response to a burst of heat.
37:46Now you can see how light and fluffy the seed are.
37:51Just like dandelion clocks,
37:53they're designed to catch the lightest breeze and to travel.
37:57And when they come into contact with rough surfaces like tree bark or rocks,
38:02they'll stick and hopefully they'll germinate.
38:06I've gathered them and placed them in between a piece of mosquito mesh I folded over.
38:11I've sewn the edges together using fishing line
38:14and it's now suspended in the nursery
38:17in a spot where my Spanish moss thrives on the south side of this fence.
38:22When I remember, I splash it with water.
38:25This replicates the rain showers that might occur in nature.
38:29Look at the tiny seedlings germinating.
38:33I'm going to start giving them some diluted liquid seaweed
38:36to gently nourish and support their growth.
38:39Everything about Tellanzias is gradual.
38:43It took four months for these seedlings to develop and become obvious.
38:48Now when these are large enough to be safely handled,
38:52they can be transferred.
38:54And I use this coir fibre as a nest,
38:57a little nursery to grow them on until they're a decent size.
39:01And then they can be mounted out in permanent positions
39:05on a branch or in a pot or against a wall.
39:10I glued this to my lime tree two years ago
39:13and it's taken about a year to produce visible roots.
39:17Tellanzias take a long time to grow and to set seed.
39:21This hybrid is at least a decade old.
39:24So it's a long-term project.
39:27But it's worth the effort.
39:35Now this old rake has seen better days.
39:37It's got a bent tine there.
39:39And I grabbed it at the tip shop.
39:41I love old tool heads.
39:43And this one I actually want to use
39:45to make a narrower rake for getting in between plants
39:48and raking my narrow paths.
39:51So I've got to clamp it in place
39:52because I'm going to get out the angle grinder.
39:54The angle grinder.
40:04Welcome to your new life shorty.
40:09That is a total game changer.
40:11There's nothing better than a bit of turf
40:20for stretching out, soaking in the view,
40:23enjoying a picnic or kicking a footy around.
40:26But have you ever thought about all the Australian plants
40:29that can be used to make a green carpet like this?
40:32Here's Clarence with all the details.
40:35When native plants are your thing,
40:41it's hard to go past the beauty of native grasses.
40:49There are over a thousand different species of native grass
40:52right across Australia,
40:53from the tip of Cape York
40:55right down to Tassie South East Cape.
40:57And I love them all.
40:59This long-haired plume grass
41:03was selected to hold soil in this steep bed,
41:07where it's also creating habitat and food
41:10for native pollinators, insects and lizards.
41:15Native grasses can also work well ornamentally.
41:18They're a great feature in a garden.
41:20They can soften sharp edges
41:22and in a breeze you get this beautiful wave.
41:25Form, colour, texture.
41:29They're great.
41:38But there's much more to native grasses than that.
41:40Check this out.
41:44This is Zoysia Sirgrange
41:46and you'd be forgiven for thinking it was a Japanese import.
41:50In fact, it's a hybrid of Zoysia Matrella,
41:52which is native to Northern Queensland.
41:55And it feels as soft as it looks.
41:59Oh, yes.
42:04Don't be fooled.
42:05It's also tough.
42:06Thanks to its hybrid pedigree.
42:09Zoysia tolerates a wide variety of conditions
42:12from drought and heat to frost.
42:15And it only grows about this high.
42:19Although it's essentially a no-mow lawn,
42:20it can do with a bit of a trim every one or two years
42:23with the shears.
42:24I reckon this one's probably had a snip
42:26over the last six to twelve months,
42:27so best to just let it grow.
42:32When you're considering a native grass for your garden,
42:35have a think first about this.
42:38How much sun is your native lawn going to get?
42:42What kind of soil are you working with?
42:43What kind of drainage?
42:46And is it purely ornamental?
42:48Or will it sometimes be underfoot by kids or pets?
42:52Once you've worked out what you want,
42:54there's even more good news.
42:55You can grow native grass from seed.
42:58And you can even get it for free.
43:02This is kangaroo grass.
43:04A hardy, deep-rooting grass,
43:06preferring full sun to part shade.
43:09And a well-draining soil.
43:11If you're going from seed, wait till spring.
43:14Distribute the seed straight into dry, sandy soil.
43:20Water in gently so the seeds don't wash away
43:22and keep the soil moist until they germinate.
43:25Don't mulch, but add a light layer of sand on top if you like.
43:29And depending on the type of grass seed you're using,
43:32it could take anywhere from a week to a couple of months
43:34to germinate and really establish.
43:37These are famita kangaroo grass,
43:39so it shouldn't take too long.
43:40But if you can't wait,
43:42just keep yourself a couple of tube stock
43:44from your native nursery.
43:46And way you go.
43:49If the no-mow lawn is more your thing,
43:51a great option is potted zoysia like these.
43:55This is zoysia zen.
43:57Now, it's a hybrid of a couple of zoysia species.
44:00Very easy to grow.
44:01Very easy to establish.
44:02You can get it in rolls of turf,
44:04automatic, no-mow lawn.
44:06Let's get into planting.
44:09For every square metre,
44:10you're probably going to need between 20 to 25 pots.
44:14You can probably halve that number by splitting your pots
44:19and planting them a little apart from one another.
44:22They will join up eventually.
44:24But the quicker you want the lawn,
44:26the closer you need to plant them.
44:28And water them regularly for the first two weeks,
44:31then reduce to weekly watering until they've established.
44:34From then on, they need less water than your classic lawn.
44:36Native grasses are a great low-maintenance option for any space.
44:41And they are great for the little critters in your garden.
44:45They're hardy, they're versatile,
44:47they look great up against Aussie natives.
44:50Who'd have thought?
44:51Who doesn't love a flower?
45:01The beauty, the diversity,
45:03the mind-blowing, intricate details.
45:06Our next story is with an artist
45:09who recreates the stunning complexity
45:12with unbelievable results.
45:14Every time I have new flowers, I just copy them.
45:24That's my achievement to make new one, new orchid, new colour.
45:29I love to do it, I can't stop doing.
45:32Patti Lee is a master in the ancient art of clay flower making,
45:38taking her inspiration from her own small colourful garden
45:42in Braybrook in Melbourne's inner west.
45:45I love garden because it brings me like I am holiday all the time,
45:51especially when there's flower blooming.
45:54I feel like peaceful, enjoy and connect to my hometown.
45:58My mum lives next to the orchid farm.
46:02Oh.
46:03So when we're small, we always go there and have a look around the farm.
46:08Yes.
46:09So that makes me love orchid more.
46:11And when I come to Australia, I try to collect them.
46:15My favourite is cymbidium orchid.
46:18So you grow mainly cymbidium orchids?
46:20Yes, I have a collection of them, different colours.
46:24Beautiful.
46:25And then you have also the moth orchid, Phalaenopsis.
46:27Yes.
46:28Yes.
46:29Yeah, and they're beautiful because I just love the shape of those flowers.
46:32They're lovely.
46:33Yes, they look cute.
46:35And the dendrodeum also is very easy to go.
46:40Yeah, we love dendrodeum and they're very variety of the colour and the shape.
46:47What sort of things do you do with your orchids to keep them looking well?
46:50I have my secret ingredient to spray them.
46:55What's your secret ingredient?
46:56Are you going to tell us?
46:57I have baking soda, I use vinegar, detergent and cooking oil.
47:04Yes.
47:05Mix them in the water and spray them to keep away the insects.
47:11Ah.
47:12You spray over the foliage?
47:13Yes.
47:14Over the leaves?
47:15Yes.
47:16But Patty has taken her love of orchids to a whole different level and I can't wait to
47:27see her creations.
47:28Oh, wow.
47:29This is really amazing.
47:31It's just like a conservatory filled with flowers.
47:35Yes.
47:36These are my handmade clay flowers.
47:38Oh, they're beautiful.
47:39And what is this one, this large one here?
47:42This one, van der orchid.
47:44Oh, the van der orchid.
47:45Yes, yes.
47:46Ah, this looks so lifelike.
47:48Yes.
47:49It's the leaves that give it away too.
47:50It's wonderful.
47:51Yes, everything made out of the clay.
47:53Every single thing, even a little bun.
47:54Yes.
47:55The stem and, yes, the leaves.
47:58Oh.
47:59How long did this one, it's quite a big one, so how long did that take?
48:03This one take about one month to make.
48:06Oh.
48:07And this art form has got a name?
48:10They call Doc Mai Jak Din.
48:12Doc Mai Dak Ching?
48:14Doc Mai Jak Din.
48:16What does that mean?
48:17That means the flower made out of the clay.
48:23This was the art form that your mother taught you?
48:28Yes.
48:29My mum teach me, like, you do knitting.
48:33Yeah.
48:34Australia people teach knitting.
48:36Yes.
48:37But in Thailand, my mum teach me how to do clay flowers.
48:41When I move into Australia, I get homesick, then I start making them again.
48:47Oh, that's good, isn't it?
48:48Yeah.
48:49And you're passing on your knowledge to your young people too?
48:51Your daughters?
48:52My daughter is learning how to make.
48:54They're amazing, but there is such a lot to see in this little room.
48:57Yes.
48:58It's beautiful.
48:59What else have you got to show me?
49:00I'd like to show you this Australian native orchid.
49:03Oh, the little ones that grow on the ground in the bush.
49:05Yes.
49:06Oh.
49:07And this is, you know what orchid?
49:09I think it looks to me like a rabbit orchid because of the rabbit ears.
49:13Yes, that's right.
49:14Oh, lovely.
49:15And this is donkey orchid.
49:16And because of the different ears?
49:17Yes.
49:18Yes.
49:19Oh, that's lovely.
49:20The orchid, yeah.
49:21That is intricate, isn't it?
49:22Yes.
49:23Oh, my goodness.
49:24That's just beautiful.
49:25Yes.
49:26Do people ever think that these plants are so real, they really are real, the real things?
49:29Yes.
49:30A lot of people say they look so real.
49:33They don't believe that this is handmade.
49:35And sometimes they ask me how I got the orchid and what kind of food I feed them.
49:41What kind of fertiliser you put in there?
49:43Yes.
49:44Yes.
49:45That's pretty weird.
49:46And what about the watering?
49:47Do you have to water them?
49:48Yes.
49:49Yes.
49:50With my flower, you don't need water anymore.
49:51No, that's right.
49:52Oh, that's funny, isn't it?
49:53Orchid enthusiasts would be amazed to see that one.
49:56It's a Cattleya and the size of it is just extraordinary.
49:59Yes.
50:00I used hand paint this colour.
50:02I paint like three times to get all this effect to make them look real.
50:08And also I paint all the detail on the stem and the leaf and the plant.
50:14And you leave that little bit of brown?
50:16Yes.
50:17So to make it look more natural?
50:18And also I add some root so they can look more natural.
50:22Because that's what Cattleyas and often orchids do.
50:25They have the roots coming up, don't they?
50:26Yes.
50:38What does it take to be a good craftsperson or artist to make these flowers?
50:45You have to practice.
50:46Yes.
50:47You learn and then go home, do practice, practice.
50:50Not just one time and then you got to get perfect like my work.
50:55Because before I can sell them, I do practice a lot.
50:59I throw away a lot of the flowers I make because I feel like this is not right.
51:03Uh-huh.
51:04So that's, practice will help you to achieve what you like.
51:08Yes.
51:09Yes.
51:10So that's a lot of work involved, isn't there?
51:12Yes.
51:13And you have to be, do you have to concentrate a lot?
51:15Yes, I do.
51:16But I enjoy.
51:17I just feel like this is my, enjoy, connect to my mum, my family when I was young.
51:24Yes.
51:25It's clear that Patty's love of flowers is everywhere, here in her garden and in her own home.
51:34But one thing's certain, the trends might change, but the love of flowers is always in style.
51:41The Japanese garden is incredible garden inspiration.
51:58It was designed by one of Japan's most prominent Japanese garden proponents and uses Australian trees, native shrubs and flowers.
52:08The whole thing was relocated from the Japanese pavilion after Expo 88 and reflects many traditional Japanese garden elements.
52:18It's an incredible space and one I love returning to whenever I'm in Brisbane.
52:24Now, if you're looking to channel this inspiration into results, your jobs for the weekend are here.
52:30And there's a Japanese saying, vision without action is a daydream.
52:37In cool areas, why not try your hand at an espalier citrus?
52:46Remove branches growing towards the back of the tree before attaching side branches to a trellis.
52:52Keep them happy with a monthly feed.
52:55Sow summer tomato seeds in a climate-controlled hothouse or windowsill.
53:01In six weeks' time, when the chill eases off, seedlings with two true leaves will be ready to plant outdoors.
53:09Dormant rhododendrons can benefit from careful shaping now.
53:14Cut select stems back to an emerging node, feed and mulch to assist recovery,
53:20and they'll soon produce a whole new whirl.
53:24In warm temperate areas, give mungelwurzel a try.
53:28This beetroot cousin can be sown by seed a knuckle deep into composted soil.
53:34Add a cap of boron powder to the watering can and apply after planting.
53:39Autumn sown sweet peas can be picked for vases now.
53:43Harvest frequently to prolong blooming and for a longer vase life indoors,
53:49pick stems with at least two unopened flower buds at the tip.
53:54Lace bugs will start appearing on your azaleas soon, sucking out sap and causing mottling on the leaves.
54:01Check for sticky black egg deposits on the underside of leaves and spray with horticultural oil.
54:08In subtropical areas, soil that dries out is harder to re-wet.
54:13Plunge dry hanging baskets into a bucket of water with an organic wetting agent.
54:19Water daily and cover with light mulch to protect from wind evaporation.
54:25Enclose veggie beds with borders of straw bales to protect plants from windy weather.
54:31The worms will love the organic material breaking down, providing onsite compost for your plants.
54:37Blue sage, or eranthemum, is adding swathes of near true blue colour to the garden now.
54:45Keep soil moist for best blooms and give it a healthy trim after flowering.
54:50In tropical areas, harvest herbs to make a pesto.
54:54Pinching out tips of basil leaves and flowering heads regularly will encourage bushier growth.
55:01Or why not get creative with dill, coriander, parsley or even macrat lime pesto.
55:10Summer snapdragon or angelonia add a pleasant scent and colour to long hot summers.
55:16Sow seeds lightly and keep uncovered as they germinate best in the sunlight.
55:22Mangoes are starting to ripen. Yes!
55:26You'll know it's ready to harvest when the stem snaps easily with a tug.
55:31Leave a 5cm length stem to avoid sap leakage, which can burn your skin and nearby fruits.
55:39In arid areas, heat things up by planting chilli seeds in a bright sunny spot.
55:45Add a bit of compost to get them cranky.
55:48There's plenty of varieties to suit your taste from mild to wild.
55:53When life gives you lemons, show them some love.
55:57Citrus trees are at their peak this time of year and will appreciate a boost of nutrient-rich compost
56:03and a foliage spray to keep them coming.
56:07What about a watermelon?
56:09Mound up soil to assist in drainage and sow watermelon seeds about a finger length deep.
56:15Water daily for two weeks or until you see seeds sprouting.
56:20Well, gardeners, I reckon that should have you covered for the weekend.
56:24We've got heaps more ideas on what to do this weekend in our free newsletter.
56:29Sign up via our website.
56:37Well, we're pulling up stumps for another week.
56:40But there's plenty more right around the corner.
56:43Here's a look.
56:44I'm visiting an artist and gardener who's transformed her bare paddock into a floral canvas that's just brimming with poppies.
56:53A garden for your cats?
56:56Sounds indulgent, but it actually makes a lot of sense.
57:00I'll be planting out a garden in a cat run.
57:03And we meet a pair lifting the rock on some elusive Tassie species.
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