Get Nude in the Garden! - May 01, 2014
Dear Gardening Friends,
I was looking at Facebook during the week and noticed a story about nude gardening. Apparently it is “World nude gardening day” this Saturday.
Pig got excited about the idea and got his gear off but the rest of us are a bit worried about the cool change that is forecast for Saturday.
Not sure if any of us can afford shrinkage. But if you like the idea of mowing your lawn nude then you should probably do it on Saturday and you might just get away with it!
If you don’t have hedges around your house then it might be time to plant some so you can get your gear off next year. I have been admiring the Gardenia florida hedge that is growing outside the Ford Dealership in Blaxland Rd Campbelltown. This lush green hedge always looks so neat and tidy and it has spot flowering throughout the year. Gardenias are often over looked as hedging plants but this one has been so successful in our hot dry climate so check it out. Gardenias have beautiful white perfumed flowers that make your nose happy.We have hundreds of Gardenias here at the moment because I bought them on my Melbourne trip. Big plants start from just $14.99 so they are great value.
If you don’t have hedges around your house then it might be time to plant some so you can get your gear off next year.
Gardenias also make spectacular pot plants. We have had one growing in a big pot here at the nursery for at least 20 years! They flower best if they don’t get the afternoon sun.
If you are growing one in a pot make sure you use our Tim’s Best Potting Mix.
Camellias have started to flower in gardens around Macarthur. Camellias have gone out of fashion with younger gardeners because they grow slowly compared with Lillypillies etc.
But they are perfectly suited to today’s courtyard sized gardens that are often shady because the house next door is so close. I saw a lovely garden in Berry recently and the owners had used Camellias as hedges and topiaries and it looked fantastic. If you love Camellias come and see us. We have at least 100 to choose from.
To grow Camellias successfully you need to improve your soil first by digging in cow manure and plenty of compost. If you don’t do this they will just sit there and sulk!
Camellias make great pot plants. They have big lush green leaves and the flowers are spectacular.
The Garlic has arrived so come and see us if you want to try growing your own. We have an Australian grown variety that will be ready to eat in December.
See last weeks newsletter if you have forgotten how to grow it.
Kenny just came into the office to tell me he just got the best compliment ever. He was helping a lovely lady load her car with potting mix, plants and a pig.
The lady commented that she was going to call her pig Ken because she was so happy with Kenny’s service! When I was a boy our neighbours named their pet poodle Timmy after me. I don’t like poodles so I didn’t take this as a compliment. I am a big dog lover, but have you noticed how these have been replaced by the hand bag varieties? P.S I went to the dog pound this morning and it costs $325 to rescue a dog! This might stop people getting a dog on a whim but it does sound expensive. I wanted to trade my dog in this week because it climbed up into one of my terracotta urns and squashed all the pansies I had replanted twice. Simons says “my dog just loves me and wants my attention”. I think this dog was sent by the devil to teach me patience.
Our nursery is looking beautiful at the moment. The gardens outside have all been pruned this week by Blake our apprentice. He has done a lovely job. Karyn has just about planted up all the flower beds. The inside of our nursery is full of beautiful healthy plants. It’s worth just calling in for the floral experience. If you are looking for a flowering gift then now is the best time to buy a Cyclamen. These flowering pot plants grow best in the cooler months. Grow them outside in the cold and they will flower for 6 months or more. Repot them into a bigger pot using Tim’s Best Potting Mix and they will double in size and produce twice as many flowers! We have some lovely new varieties with bicoloured flowers. These are half the price as cut flowers from the florist and they flower 25 times longer! It just makes sense.
Have fun in the garden nude this week.
Happy gardening
Tim