Designer Growers Network

 

And it is a paradox that Ray Henderson’s garden, by the same name, springs from the floor of Glenning Valley with such a rude blast ..

But why not ? It was certainly a no brainer for inclusion in “Planty Fierce“,  a FREE 1 day garden-fest on Saturday 5th March,’16 of 4 fabulous, never before open to the public Central Coast gardens within 30 minutes of each other, so you can easily see them all with lunch at any of the best cafe’s within easy reach – what’s not to like ? Mark your planners now ..

 

At first, “Paradox” rushes at you from the drive like an irresistible, richly encrusted pizza and then, on closer inspection, it  becomes clear there’s a closely woven selection of plants going on here … each located with such great care that a strange cohesiveness binds all into one vibrant whole.

It is a horticultural BLAST, mostly comprising the most sci-fi bromeliads, with complementary daubs of furcrea, aeonium, crassula and kalanchoe. A euphorbia here as ultra fine against a casual rug of oscularia there, with an outcrop of agave over there … you can feel the frisson just standing in front of this garden.

Many of Ray’s exceptional bromeliad hybrids and species for sale, bring plenty of cash and boxes you’ll need them !!!  

“Paradox” FREE Entry at “Planty Fierce”, Saturday 5th March 10am till 4pm

Ray Henderson, 25 Curringa Close, Glenning Valley 0413 345 297

rayhenderson007@yahoo.com.au 

Yes that’s right and species hippeastrum are spear heading the Amarylid Group in showing us designers what a versatile range of warm bulbs they really are ..

Crinums, Amaryllis, Sprekelia, Agapanthus, Clivea, Cyrtanthus and Scadoxus and many more, they all belong to this fabulous lily group and an increasing number of non-general line growers offering these seasonal flares to add to your work – just have to find out where they are !!

Charles Harland is a regular at Fairs like Collectors Plant Fair and Central Coast Plant Lovers together with his son Clayton and has been skilfully hybridising because…. because HE CAN 😮 

Easy to grow and beautiful to look at, these highly ornamental South Americans adapt easily to our East Coast Australian gardens and beyond. Some even lend themselves to Greenwall work as epiphytes or are lithophytic across rock crevices in moist micro-climates with leaf litter and surrounding tree sheltered bright light or morning sun. Undemanding, the only achilles heel they have is the gregarious striped Lily Caterpillar. Otherwise you can set and forget and be rewarded anytime between November and May with swathes of these elegant flowers that bring an easy grace to any garden.

Charles and Clayton Harland, Harlands Nursery 0423 327 700 in Sydney’s south west 

 

 Happy Melbourne Cup and hope you back a winner today. A sure winner for you and your garden is the “Sea-Changer” Launch !  

Its best to have more than one reason to get people out of the city for a “planty” day on the Central Costa. So, together with         “Sea-Changer’s” 19th March Launch here 10am till 4pm  at 21 Lavinia Street, Forrester Beach, you can visit 3 other gardens, 2 of these with plants sales AND one of the best Australian bromeliad growers. You might like to start your day early by leaving Sydney Metro around 8am, onto the Pacific Motorway at Wahroonga. Just 20 or so minutes past the Gosford turn off, take the Budgewoi, Charmhaven & Charlestown exit, then left in Rutleys Road just past Doyalson.  

Bromeliads Australia & Apex Plants – 49 Rutleys Road, Wyee Point  plant sales 9am till 4pm, where you can find the near gammut of bromeliad perfection, from giant hero plants to tiny fascinations for your garden. Owners Bob & Gleness Lanarch and their son Jamie and his wife Jennifer can answer your every question to make sure of bagging a few treasured winners.

 … and don’t forget Peter & Ruth Donnelly will severely tempt you with tables of many treasures for sale here at “Sea-Changer” like these beneath, happily growing at “Sea-Changer”.  

Watch this space in coming weeks, for details of the other three mystery garden & nursery destinations … EXCITEMENT !  

Novelties in ornamental horticulture, meh, we’ve seen them come and go…. right ? Every now and then a good grower comes up with something less of a gimmick and more of an asset though. Stuart & Joy Reiss from the Sydney Frangipani Co.  www.sydneyfrangipani.com 0452 504912 is one such and while you might still be thinking the triple grafts a bridge too far – I wouldn’t mind seeing one of these Rainbow Trees in 7 or 8 years with its beautifully merged yet contrasting flower shades, adding a certain scented je ne sais quoi to even the most tasteful of designs. Call Stuart for details on markets points of sale and cultural information on the best micro climate conditions for your new tree.