Composting
MY neighbours were laughing at me (again). I didn’t mind, I’m used to it. “So, Suzsi, you working for the Council now?” snigger snigger. I was sweeping the leaves off the street. The whole street! […]
Lifestyle
Backyard Biodiversity in Boroondara
Residents of Boroondara are justifiably proud of their green leafy suburbs and wonderful parks and gardens. The name Boroondara signifies shady place in the local indigenous dialect. The municipality has hundreds of mature canopy trees […]
Pot-bound
Whenever I plant something new, there’s a lot to consider: Will the plant get enough or too much sun? Does it need really good drainage? How big will it grow in the next five years and most importantly – how do I keep it alive?
Watering your garden
One of my neighbours asked me to have a look at her garden. It wasn’t performing well. It was straggly and sickly looking with a lot of yellow leaves; a nasty black fungus on one plant, white mould on another.
Anyone for (Table) Tennis?
The Phoenix Park Table Tennis Club (PPTTC), established in 2014 by Paul Bronstein and Graeme Scarlett, says it caters for players of all abilities – from beginners to hot shots! Their youngest player is six years old and the oldest is 94 years young.
Open Gardens presents Astolat
Astolat is an unexpected gem hidden behind a screen of plants on busy Riversdale Road. The elegant and beautifully maintained two-acre garden surrounds an impressive Italianate Victorian mansion, providing a rare glimpse of life in gracious nineteenth-century Melbourne.
Where: 630 Riversdale Road, Camberwell
When: Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 October, 10am–4:30pm
Umbrella Dementia Cafés
Umbrella Dementia Cafés (UDC), a new independent charity based in Melbourne, has a vision to improve the social health and wellbeing of couples and families living at home with dementia. UDC believe these individuals can be better supported with the provision of purpose-driven social hubs called ‘Cafés’. Ideally these Cafés are close to the home of the person with dementia as they benefit from familiarity within their immediate environment.
Fake it ’til you make it
In winter many of our plants die back and the garden looks bare and stark. But I like colourful flowers, so I cheat. Yes, I do. I buy fake flowers and place them amongst the foliage until the plant blooms again. The trick is to not go too flashy or too colourful. I choose small white flowers and unless you look closely, you can’t tell.