We’ve Gone International! - Mar 12, 2026
Dear gardening friends
Drove through Menangle this morning where they are doing the roadworks and noticed the historic Kurrajong tree had been cut down opposite The Menangle Store.
It made me feel sick. The tree had been tortured over the years with pruning to keep the foliage away from the wires. It was twisted and distorted, it was bonsai like in shape, you may have noticed it.
I kept driving until I came to Macarthur Station and I saw the sun shining on a tree I've planted there in a garden that had no plantings even though it's been there for 10 years plus.
This little Kurrajong tree is thriving, it won't replace the historic tree in Menangle but it gave me hope. We cut things down too quickly in Australia, we have so many trees don't we? But they are disappearing, we don't go around them, if they are in the way we cut them down.
My good friend Achille just came in for a visit. You might remember before Covid he designed us amazing garden art from recycled tyres. There was nothing he couldn't make out of car tyres. We still have a bit of his art here.
Sadly he has hurt his back so he can't make it anymore but it's so nice that he calls in for a chat and coffee these days. He's got a great belly laugh which always makes me try harder to hear it.
He came in looking for Tomatoes and Chilli plants but it's getting late in the season now, it's too late to plant summer seedlings and too early to plant winter varieties.
But my eyes light up because I've grown a Chilli plant here in a big pot and it's covered in Red Chilli's. We sold this variety here in summer and it was called "Tim's Chilli". It's a smaller fruiting variety that's hot, but it's not an inferno.
I offered to give Achille some Chilli's, I told him I've got a Lamb Curry cooking as we speak and it's got two Chilli's in it from my plant at home.
If you'd like to try Tim's Chilli I'm happy to cut two fruit off for you too. Ask my staff if I'm not around. You could keep some seeds and grow it in spring, or we will have plants here.
Now is the time to pull out your summer vegetables. Improve your soil with Tim's Cow manure. One bag per 2m2. Dig it into your soil. Dress with Tim's FAST FOOD then cover with Sugarcane mulch.
Wait till night time temperatures turn cool before planting new season seedlings like Cabbage, Cauliflower and Broccoli. If you plant too early they rot.
Tim's Garden Centre has just gone International this morning. A bus load of International Production Horticulture attendees came to see our nursery. You might not know this but people follow us on Facebook and Instagram from around the world.
I gave them a talk about the history of our nursery and the things that have worked for us, we shared ideas. I've been invited to see a nursery in Italy. Yes I'm big in Italy.
It's amazing how they all listened so patiently to my stories. Sadly I couldn't fit them all in the photo.
See comments for bigger photo.
They are heading to The Australian Botanic Gardens in Mt Annan now. Growers from all over the world.
They were a happy lot.
It's Fungi season, recent rain and hot humid conditions means it's the perfect weather for Fungi to pop up and thrive. They are part of the composting process.
A had a guy turn up yesterday who was convinced that someone had planted them in his lawn. "It's nature mate", was my reply.
There's all shapes colours and sizes, some look quite disturbing. Some stink. They hang around for a week or so, until the weather dries them out.
Sometimes you'll open a bag of potting mix and it will be full of white Mycelium, don't panic, its nature.
Tibouchinas are about to burst into bloom around Macarthur. They always flower best after summer rain so they are going to look spectacular right through autumn.
The most popular variety is called Tibouchina Alstonville. It grows into a small tree. We have a fabulous smaller growing Tibouchina called "Carol Lyn". This new variety flowers twice a year and it has these spectacular purple flowers with white stamens.
The shrub gets covered in these flowers and they look so beautiful against the dark green leaves.
Tibouchina "Carol Lyn" grows 1.5ms high by 1.5ms wide. They grow best in a sunny position with protection from frosts.
Happy gardening
Tim