I’ve just made Dulce de Tamarindo from tamarind pods, a mouthwatering Mexican sweet that’s guaranteed to stimulate your tastebuds. What could link safer streets, more bees and good food? Here’s a blog on sustainable urban forest management. Let’s start with an end product before making the case to ‘grow me instead’. There is a greater demand…
Category: Ornamental
Looking Back: Autumn Open Day at Bellis
An Open Day is a great way to get feedback from gardeners on what you’re growing and how you’re doing.
Why Do Bat Plants Have ‘Whiskers’?
You know it’s autumn in subtropical Brisbane because the Black Bat flowers bloom their best.
Book Review: ‘The Thrifty Gardener’ By Millie Ross, ABC Books
“Building the garden you want with whatever you’ve got”
Seeking True Cardamom
Can’t find genuine cardamom plants, but want its fresh flavour in your cooking? Grow your own.
Towards Valentine’s Day
For a more sustainable Valentine’s Day, buy your loved one a potted plant. Like love, you can watch your gift grow.
Prince of Wales’ Flower
Question: I’m new to gardening in Brisbane, and I want to grow prince of Wales’ flower. Reply: I reckon prince of Wales’ feathers is one of the most beautiful of tropical ornamental vegetables. It’s often planted at Roma Street Parkland as an ornamental during the warm seasons.
A Taste of Macedonia
When I noticed someone in Macedonia was reading my blog, it occurred to me that food is the easiest way to appreciate a different culture. So I looked up ‘My Macedonian Kitchen’ and prepared some Tavče Gravče.
Open Day At Bellis
Almost 1,700 people visited my garden last weekend. And what a very friendly, gentle, respectful and very inquisitive mob they all were. I found the first visitor snoozing in her car as the dawn mist was rising. People arrived gradually at first, but as Brisbane turned on one of its magical autumn days, things began…
Gardens Of Remembrance
Flora Mortis: Chittagong Commonwealth War Grave A selection of photographs taken when I was guided around by my friend Tanbir, in Bangladesh, July 2011.
‘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…
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…
Jerry Coleby-Williams 