A number of native plants are coming into full bloom now, both in the garden and in the bush that surrounds our residential areas.
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Hardenbergia, also known as false sarsparilla or purple coral pea, is a member of the pea family and produces masses of dark purple pea flowers to accompany the dark green leathery leaves.
It flowers best when planted in well-drained soil in a sunny position. Regular pruning will help to keep the plant, which is a natural climber, more compact. Hardenbergia Happy Wanderer is the variety most commonly grown, although other varieties, with colour variations are available. It is well suited to be used to cover a fence or bank.
Grevilleas are also beginning to display their flowers. Those growing in bush areas are more often the "spider" type of flower, so called because of the nature of the individual blooms.
While these types of plants are also available for growing in home gardens, hybrid varieties, with large flowers are more commonly selected. Grevilleas are available in a range of colours including red, cream, mauve, pink and orange.
New varieties are constantly being released for public purchase. Many of these are the result of crossing different varieties.
When selecting plants for the garden, in addition to colour consider the height that the plant will reach, as well as growth habit and leaf style. With the increasing number of varieties available, the gardener will be able to select plants that suit their particular requirements.
The result will be an abundance of colourful flowers that smell sweetly and are very attractive to native birds, growing on bushes that, in general, require a minimum of care, apart from pruning after flowering.
Many bottlebrushes (callistemons) are also beginning to form their flowering buds. These will soon display flowers in a variety of colours. Like grevilleas, bottlebrush are also available to suit a wide variety of situations and purposes.
A green form, Callistemon viridiflorus, produces strong flowers in an unusual green colour.
Bottlebrushes are tough and will grow in many areas including damper parts of the garden, and grow from prostrate forms through to large shrubs and small trees.
CITRUS PLANS
Many home gardeners like to include a citrus tree or two in their garden planting. Citrus fruits are ideal to have in the garden as they are an excellent source of vitamin C, with the fruit being able to be eaten fresh, or as a source of juice.
The most common varieties of citrus that are planted are lemons, oranges and mandarins.
New varieties ideally suitable for smaller garden beds or courtyard planting have recently become available as dwarf-growing versions of the more traditional trees forms.
Winter is an ideal time in which to plant out new citrus trees, except in areas frosts, when late September and early October would be preferable. Lemons are available in several varieties that can be selected according to tree size as well as fruit production time.
The Meyer lemon is a small growing tree with deep-green leaves and large, thin-skinned fruit in a rich yellow colour. The fruit is produced during the winter months and is very good source of juice. Meyer lemons are quite suitable for colder areas.
Lisbon lemons grow into large trees with pale green leaves. Fruit, produced mainly in winter but also at other times of the year, is large and thick-skinned.
A large semi-weeping tree is the growth habit of the eureka lemon. The trees are thornless, making them ideal for areas where children are active. Large thick-skinned fruit is produced throughout the year, but mainly in summer.
One variety of citrus that is available now but is less common than other types is the tangelo. Tangelos are a cross between mandarins and grapefruits. They are very juicy fruits, producing an abundance of sweet juice despite their grapefruit origins. They have a rather thin reddish-orange skin and a thinner neck, similar in shape to a pear.
Two of the more common varieties are seminole and minneola. Minneola produces fewer seeds. Seminole can be ready for harvesting in mid-June.
Tangelos can be used in traditional citrus-based marmalades as well as a juice source for savoury dishes and muffins. The flavour of stir-fries, dressings and soups will also be enhanced by their juice.
Recipes that use oranges can have tangelos used as a substitute. Established citrus trees should be fed now. In order to avoid burning the root system, ensure the soil is damp before applying a fertiliser such as Dynamic Lifter fruit & citrus, specially formulated to promote flowers and fruit.
The fertiliser should be scattered under the tree. The addition of a layer of organic mulch will help.
SALAD VEGIES
There are many varieties of salad vegetables that are available now, including lettuce and Asian vegetables.
Most respond the best if grown quickly, so placing them into a soil that has been enriched with mulch or compost will ensure a good, ready source of food.
Regular applications of water are necessary as the plants are largely water-based. Restricting water, combined with higher temperatures, will often cause the plant to "bolt" or go to seed before its crop can be harvested. Regular harvesting leaves will encourage new growth.