Australian Garden History Society Conference Maryborough 2011
Author: Jerry Coleby-Williams
Freelance curator, sustainable horticulturist, conservationist, writer.
"Sometimes, the only thing more dangerous than a question is an answer."
208th Ferengi Law of Acquisition
Threatened Lunch…‘Convict’ Lettuce And Subtropical Leeks
Today I received confirmation from the head gardener at Buckingham Palace that the Royal Household will be growing ‘First Fleet’ lettuce once more in Britain. Carried from Britain by the First Fleet to be cultivated at Sydney’s First Farm in 1788, this doughty traditional vegetable has since disappeared from Britain’s market gardens. I love this…
Towards International Women’s Day
I’ve just found a snippet I wrote for the Staff Newsletter at The Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney in 1998… ‘The Other Sex – Towards International Women’s Day’ Despite the amount of gardening and botanical research carried out by women, their roles and influences are not shared in recorded history as well as the efforts of…
When A Gardener Considers Moving To Queensland
Sandy, a ‘Bellis’ blog reader, is buying a 5 acre property in the Samford Valley, north west of Brisbane… “I must say I was impressed by your patience in establishing the drainage and improving the soil. I may be organic, but I’m also impatient and that’s been my downfall in the little suburban garden we’ve…
After The Floods
If you need fresh food in a few days, start growing sprouts. You don’t need a garden or any gardening skill to succeed, just view this beginner’s guide first: http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s1857237.htm When the time comes to re-start growing food at home on freshwater flood-affected ground, pay some attention to your soil first. View flood recovery at:…
A Gardening Cycle Is Complete
The most important thing about our garden receiving 594mm of rain this month, (the 50 year December average is 123.2mm), is that I have now lived here and successfully grown food through both extreme, prolonged drought and prolonged, saturating rain, a period covering seven years. December brought no flooding in this property. Some stormwater escaped…
More Yam Please: Growing Alternatives To Potato
Yams are warm climate, winter herbaceous, perennial vines. The swollen, starch-rich tuber is their food store, and this is what most people grow them for – they use them as a potato alternative, baked, boiled, mashed or as chips.
‘Bellis’ – A Model 21st Century Garden
‘Bellis’, Brisbane’s award winning sustainable house and garden, is now seven years old. Last October this place won a national Save Water! Award in the Built Environment category. Since its inception, this 810 square metre property has collected over 7 megalitres of rainwater and recycled over 3 megalitres of sewage water. In the ornamental subtropical…
Review ‘Eat Your Garden’, By Leonie Shanahan
Review: ‘Eat your garden’, by Leonie Shanahan; Publisher: PI Productions Photography; ISBN 9780975217764; 2010. “If they (children) grow it, they will eat it”. Schools are where Australia’s gardening culture is most rapidly developing, and this is thanks to children. Why? They are generally more keenly aware of 21st century global environmental issues than many adults…
A Rare Honour
Our Phillip Island Hibiscus, Hibiscus insularis, has been immortalised in a botanical illustration by Halina Steele. This work is now part of the collections of the National Herbarium of NSW… “Dear Jerry I have finally finished my painting of Hibiscus insularis and as you were kind enough to send me photos of this plant, I…
How Can I Avoid Buying Plastic Bagged Potting Mixes?
Question Hi Jerry, I don’t know if you remember me…I’ve seen you at lots of Save the Mary things and on Gardening Australia, which I love! I have a vege and herb garden in pots and need to find a soil solution. Presently I buy bags of potting mix at Bunnings, choosing one that’s free…
Sloppy ABC Reporting Could Harm Threatened Species
Letter to the editor, ABC News on line: “Regarding ‘Unwelcome bats just won’t beat it’, mere sensational reporting isn’t journalism. This report is misleading, and factually incorrect. The presence of starving, and stressed flying foxes outside their normal range is currently a result of famine in their natural range.
Jerry Coleby-Williams 