Warm Bulbs are here to stay …

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Hippeastrum aulicum – Equestrian Star Flower

Yes that’s right and species hippeastrum are spear heading the Amarylid Group in showing us designers what a versatile range of warm bulbs they really are ..

Crinums, Amaryllis, Sprekelia, Agapanthus, Clivea, Cyrtanthus and Scadoxus and many more, they all belong to this fabulous lily group and an increasing number of non-general line growers offering these seasonal flares to add to your work – just have to find out where they are !!

Charles Harland is a regular at Fairs like Collectors Plant Fair and Central Coast Plant Lovers together with his son Clayton and has been skilfully hybridising because…. because HE CAN 😮 

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Hippeastrum aulicum x cybista

Easy to grow and beautiful to look at, these highly ornamental South Americans adapt easily to our East Coast Australian gardens and beyond. Some even lend themselves to Greenwall work as epiphytes or are lithophytic across rock crevices in moist micro-climates with leaf litter and surrounding tree sheltered bright light or morning sun. Undemanding, the only achilles heel they have is the gregarious striped Lily Caterpillar. Otherwise you can set and forget and be rewarded anytime between November and May with swathes of these elegant flowers that bring an easy grace to any garden.

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Hippeastrum (cybista x aulicum & looks like some interesting back crosses to get these raspberry swirls)
Clay & Charles at Collectors Plant Fair
Clay & Charles at Collectors Plant Fair

Charles and Clayton Harland, Harlands Nursery 0423 327 700 in Sydney’s south west 

“Sea-Changer Launch” …so much for you !

 

"Sea-Changer" Shade Hut
“Sea-Changer” Shade Hut

 Happy Melbourne Cup and hope you back a winner today. A sure winner for you and your garden is the “Sea-Changer” Launch !  

Its best to have more than one reason to get people out of the city for a “planty” day on the Central Costa. So, together with         “Sea-Changer’s” 19th March Launch here 10am till 4pm  at 21 Lavinia Street, Forrester Beach, you can visit 3 other gardens, 2 of these with plants sales AND one of the best Australian bromeliad growers. You might like to start your day early by leaving Sydney Metro around 8am, onto the Pacific Motorway at Wahroonga. Just 20 or so minutes past the Gosford turn off, take the Budgewoi, Charmhaven & Charlestown exit, then left in Rutleys Road just past Doyalson.  

Bromeliads Australia & Apex Plants – 49 Rutleys Road, Wyee Point  plant sales 9am till 4pm, where you can find the near gammut of bromeliad perfection, from giant hero plants to tiny fascinations for your garden. Owners Bob & Gleness Lanarch and their son Jamie and his wife Jennifer can answer your every question to make sure of bagging a few treasured winners.

Bob Lanarch and hero plants Vriesea hybrids featuring ruby "snake skin" patterning
Bob Lanarch and hero plants Vriesea hybrids featuring ruby “snake skin” patterning
Grassy Tillandsia's
Grassy textural Tillandsia’s
Beautiful full sun hardy Alcantarea imperialis x vinicolor hybrids
Beautiful full sun hardy Alcantarea imperialis x vinicolor hybrids

 … and don’t forget Peter & Ruth Donnelly will severely tempt you with tables of many treasures for sale here at “Sea-Changer” like these beneath, happily growing at “Sea-Changer”.  

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Mesembryanthemum sp. ever flowering copper suns
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Rosa sanguinea ‘Miss Lowe’s Rose’ coastal evergreen & winter flowering, makes a great hedge

Watch this space in coming weeks, for details of the other three mystery garden & nursery destinations … EXCITEMENT !  

Triple Graft “Rainbow” Frangi’s for fun ..

Novelties in ornamental horticulture, meh, we’ve seen them come and go…. right ? Every now and then a good grower comes up with something less of a gimmick and more of an asset though. Stuart & Joy Reiss from the Sydney Frangipani Co.  www.sydneyfrangipani.com 0452 504912 is one such and while you might still be thinking the triple grafts a bridge too far – I wouldn’t mind seeing one of these Rainbow Trees in 7 or 8 years with its beautifully merged yet contrasting flower shades, adding a certain scented je ne sais quoi to even the most tasteful of designs. Call Stuart for details on markets points of sale and cultural information on the best micro climate conditions for your new tree. 

Double graft plumaria acuminata, for extra interest why not ?
Double graft plumaria acuminata, in strongly contrasting gaudy interest, why not ?
Harmonising shades for added interest, could be good :o
Harmonising shades for more subtle interest, just as chic

Exceptional Bromeliads THIS weekend 10th & 11th October ’15

Simply the best species sun hardy neoregelias & their hybrids, vrieseas, tillandsia, guzmania and MANY more .. !! 

Just click here Brom fair 0ct2015 for opening times, NOTE trading on Sunday ceases at midday :0

Gary Flemming at Collectors Plant Fair will be selling at Concord Bromeliad Fair
Gary Flemming at Collectors Plant Fair will be selling at Concord Bromeliad Fair

Mark Paul from the Greenwall Company, Peter Tristram, Gary & Angela Flemming from Melanquin Nursery and Michael Firenze are some of the best of the former NSW Bromeliad Society growers and suppliers I use for my own Paradisus designs… A rare opportunity for your designs and to enrich your own home gardens from the one location over 1 & 1/2 days in Sydney.

Concord Senior Citizens

9 – 11 Wellbank Street, Concord

For more information contact Gary on 0265 5539868 or 0413 178884

and Peter Tristram Peter@bromeliads.com.au 

 

 

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