How to Grow Cilantro or Coriander From Seed

Spring is a great time to plant Coriander (Cilantro) and it is very easy to grow from seed, in this short video, we show you how.

Lily of The Valley

Did you know that Lily of the Valley comes in a number of forms, some with larger flowers, some with pink flowers and sone with variegated foliage.

All are easy to grow in a partly shaded position in a humus rich soil.

If its fragrance you are looking for, then Lily of the Valley can be planted near Daphne, especially D. odora, which has finished flowering when the Lily of the Valley starts.

You can read more about the varieties, and find out where to buy them on the website.

Garlic

It is getting a little late in the season, however not to late to plant garlic. 

Look for named varieties such as Monaro Purple and Spanish roja (our favourite). 

All varieties taste a little different, some hot and spicy, some milder. 

The different varieties are suited to different uses in the kitchen... it is all a matter of taste.

You can grow garlic both in the garden and  in containers if you wish, we show you how .

Misome

A leafy green that you may not of seen yet, it is from Japan and has a spicy mustardy taste, easy to grow and tolerates warm climates.  The name is Misome. We can't say it is commonly available, however it is well worth looking for.

Campanula Barbara Valentine

New to Nurseries Online

Our ALL NEW mobile friendly web site is up and running, check it out for all of the latest gardening news.

Plants to Consider

Campanula Barbara Valentine is a wonderful new release, flowers late summer to autumn.
See the web site for details

Also - New Plant Catalogues for 2016 from 

Tonkins Bulbs

Riddles Creek Daffodils

Humulus Lupus a versatile climber

Do you know that Hops are ornamental climbers as well as for making beer. Great coverage in spring to summer, it dies back in winter,

Read about them at Humulus Lupus

Iochroma Wooly White

Iochroma Rainbow Lorikeets love it, so will you.

If you like to attract birds to the garden, then you will like Iochroma.

You will pleased to know that Don Teese from Yamina Collectors Nursery has a great collection of colours, including a white one.

Read more about Iochroma on the web site or give Don a call an the nursery.

Dahlias - The perfect flowers for late Summer to Autumn

It is time to buy Dahlia tubers, and with the huge variety available we have found the best catalogue of Dahlia flowers availoable in Australia.

Dahlias flower in late summer to autumn, and therefore spring is the perfect time to plant them.

Sometimes seen as a little 'old fashioned', they are actually a wonderful  plant for colour in the garden in autumn as well as being great for cut flowers.

In Australia, Jenny Parish (Country Dahlias) has the largest selection we have seen. And if you are looking for variety, this is the place to look.

You can grow dahlias in pots, the smaller growing types are easier, however if you stake the plants even the taller ones can be grown in pots.

For long flowering, deadhead regularly. Removing the spent flowers will help produce a second and even third flush.
The best time to plant dahlias in most of  Australia is in early November, in Queensland try September. You can plant as late as December, you will get later flowering usually in March.

Look for a position with good morning sun and shade or filtered sun in the afternoon.
Check out the  Country Dahlias 2014 catalogue for an insight into the wonderful varieties available.

Proteas and their relatives, Geranium and Pelargonium show.

Proteas and their relatives.

If you happen to like Proteas it is worth considering some other members of the Proteaceae family as well.

The well known Proteas such as the King Protea do take pride of place, however Leucodendron,  Leucospermum and the lesser known Serruria are all wonderful garden plants. 

From the top we have : Leucodendron Harvest, Leucospermum cordifolium, Protea 'King White' and finally Serruria florida x rosea.

All like a sunny position and a well drained soil and will flower from mid winter through to spring. Easily pruned and very easy care.

Geraniums and Pelargoniums.

One for the diary, Australian Pelargonium & Geranium Society
Annual Spring Show 2014

Bellfield Community Hall Melways 31E4
Corner of Oriel Rd. and Banksia St Ivanhoe Vic.3081

Saturday Nov 1st 12.00pm To 4.00 pm
Sunday, Nov 2nd 9.30am To 4.00pm

$5 entry fee - includes Morning / Afternoon Tea Good Free Parking at Hall - Plants and cuttings for sale

Time to plant Liliums

Liliums

It is time to plant easy to grow Liliums, they are excellent in the garden, plant the taller varieties beneath a low growing shrub and let them grow up through. You can also grow them in containers, a well drained humus rich soil and a sunny position is all that you need.

Lilium 'Red Sun' is one that lives up to its name and this is an Oriental hybrid.

Shirley and Jane from Tonkins Bulbs have just released the 2014 catalogue, you can check out the wonderful range online. 

Chrysanthemums mean Mothers Day - Easy to grow

Mothers Day means Chrysanthemums, and thats nest Sunday in Australia. So heads up.

You may not be able to buy Mum a Chrysanthemum like the 'Firewheel' pictured, however you can buy her potted plants instead of cut flowers. And after Mothers Day is over, you can plant them for her in the garden.

Chrysanthemums, are very easy to grow, you can rely on them to flower, and if you want to get those large exhibition type flowers, then learn how to pinch them back.

As for varieties, the colours and forms are endless.
You can read about how to grow, and if you want to learn about how to get those exhibition sized blooms, we tell you how to that as well. it's called, pinching back chrysanthemums.

New Catalogue from Tonkins Bulbs

A new bulb catalogue from Tonkins Bulbs has just been released. Lots of easy care bulbs and many rare species as well. Top left is Lycoris sprengeri as well, a rare, but lovely species.
Below is Morea glaucopsis, and look for the Snowdrops or Galanthus, great spring flowering bulbs that naturalise easliy.
See http://www.tonkinsbulbs.com.au 

Marcus Harvey also has a new web site for Hillview Rare Plants, www.hillviewrareplants.com.au 

Fuchsias - Great for the garden as well as hanging baskets

BRENLISSA FUCHSIAS

Fuchsia cultivar – "Peachy"
This is a wonderful double variety with 8 or more petals. Sepals pale pink. Corolla orangey pink. Very large blooms up to 75mm wide!
A free flowering large flowered fuchsia with fancy double blooms in shades of pink and lavender. Good in baskets or staked as a small shrub.
'Peachy' has huge pink skirts, topped with lighter coloured petals. The individual blooms can measure up to 7.5cm (3in) across and are sure to make a colourful impact in your summer displays.

Perfect for hanging baskets or the edges of containers, its lax stems naturally trail making a brilliant standard.

Fuchsias are one of the most versatile and longest flowering plants known. H x W 90cm. Also worth getting hold of some of the yellow clivias all Available from Brenlissa Fuchsias

COUNTRY DAHLIAS
If you like Dahlias, probably the best selection in Australia in the new catalogue from Country Dahlias

And one that you will not see everywhere is Gentiana acaulis, pictured left, a wonderful blue flowering rock garden plant. Look for that on our web site.

Lots of Orchid shows coming up so watch out for them as well on our events page.

LILIUMS
It is also not to late to plant lilium bulbs, check out the suppliers listed at www.nurseriesonline.com.au

New Catalogue form Hillview Rare Plants - Yellow Clivia

Clivia citrina "Yellow" - Rare Yellow & Cream.
Broad, dark green strap like leaves and beautiful dense umbels of large creamy yellow flowers produced in deep shade have made this unusual form of Clivia a most prized possession. A good pot subject, it needs a shady position and thrives on regular feeding in a well-drained humus rich soil.
Imported from their natural home in South Africa, these seventh generation Clivia plants are hard to find in golden yellow varieties.


Their flowers are a delicate pale lemon and have the elegant yet solid appearance of a Frangipani (Plumeria acutifolia). Clivias make great border plants growing around under trees. Flowering in the spring these bright flowers will brighten up any dark spot under trees. H x W 75cm clump forming, easily divided for sharing or spreading throughout garden. Available from Brenlissa Nursery

HILLVIEW RARE PLANTS New 2013 Catalogue

With so many offering in Hillview catalogue it is a little difficult to pick one as a standout, we do love the Liliums, many you will not see anywhere else in Australia. We also love the Primulas and Auriculas, wonderful old fashioned plants well worth a place in the garden. We have however found two that really do deserve a little extra exposure.

The first is Paeonia kesrouanensis, (pictured right) this is a species peony from Syria and Turkey, a wonderful flower.

The second is Lilium duchartrei, a species from China, check out the catalogue and see what you think. Available from Hillview Rare Plants

And while we are talking new catalogues, Post Office Farm Nursery have the 2013 catalogue online now. Wonderful hellebores. Read about them and fond links to the Hellebore Open Days at www.nurseriesonline.com.au

New Catalogues - Liliums - Its time to plant them.

The Daffodils are on the rise, at least the are in our garden, not flowering, but beginning to poke the first signs of life through the ground, so its to late to plant them now. So what is next ?

Well for us it is Liliums, and we are a little fascinated with the Orienpet hybrids, which are wonderfully tough in Australian conditions, we also like some of the species liliums,  including L.wardii and L. langongense, the flowers are fascinating. 

And of course the Asiatics with 'Showoff' with its deep lemon flowers, and 'Sylvan Angel' being wonderful examples.

But enough from us, check out what is  available in the new catalogue from Shirley and Jane Tonkin, all grown on their own property. 

www.tonkinsbulbs.com.au

And you probably have never heard of Primula vialii, let alone seen it. So take a look at that one as well, this one is a lovely little Shade Loving Perennial

Autumn is time to plant Peonies - we tell you how

PEONIES

Now is the time to plant peony roses, so if you like peonies and would like to know how to grow them, we have had Peter and Jess from Whitehouse Nursery put together some notes. 

Peter and Jess and  also have some for sale.

Chinese Peony Rose Care

Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show

Landscaping Ideas From The Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show

It is always interesting to look at the ideas of others when it comes to gardens. The Melbourne International Flower and garden show is a good place to start (especially if you can't get to the big one in Chelsea)

The first garden we will look at is -  Japan - Easy  by the students at Chisholm Institute featured a bamboo water feature (Shishi Odoshi) along with bamboo fence panels. The sand and rock pavers are a simple solution. Acacia cognata is an interesting addition and a good solution.

The second garden is Grey To Green, this one by the students at Swinburne Institute of TAFE. It examines the concept of making use of our under utilised spaces with clever reference to the iconic 'Skipping Girl'. The tree in the background is a Cloud Pruned Luma apiculata, adding shape and form to the garden.

More information on the Flower Show on the Web Site.

New Plant Catalogues

It is that time of the year when the new plant catalogues are coming thick and fast. The latest is from Lynns Rare Plants and she indeed has some really rare plants. For orchid lovers why not have a look at the Cypripedium (see picture right).

Also worth a look are some of the garden gifts she has. We like the copper plant labels, they look great in the garden.
You can check them out at www.lynnsrareplants.com.au

And talking about rare plants you may be interested in the Google Plus Forum on Rare and Interesting Plants

New Rose Releases for 2013

Every year new release roses come onto the market and one of the first for 2013 is LITTLE SUNSET a miniature rose released by Treloar Roses. 
A fabulous patio rose that produces spectacular clusters for yellow blooms with red outer petals. 
A neat and compact growth habit, growing to an average height and width of 40cm is further enhanced by glossy green foliage making this a ideal choice for pots. 
A Silver Medal winner at the 2012 National Rose Trials proves this is one of the best disease resistant miniatures we have come across. 

Treloars also have a number of other new releases along with a great range of Kordes Climbing Roses, all available from May 2013.

New Plant Catalogue from Hillview Rare Plants

The first new plant catalogue for 2013 is now out, this one is from Marcus Harvey at Hillview Rare Plants. 

Pictured right is Iris reticulata "Alida"  light blue flowers marked with pale lemon blotches on the falls. A wonderful iris for the garden, or for growing in containers.

See www.nurseriesonline.com.au for details.

New Plant Catalogues

If you are interested in NEW plant catalogues, stay tuned. We have new lists from Marcus Harvey (Hillview Rare Plants), Shirley and Jane Tonkin (Tonkins Bulbs) and Clover Hill Rare Plants (David Kennedy) all coming soon. Seehttp://www.nurseriesonline.com.au/ for details later this week. 

New Dahlia Catalogue Released.

Jenny Parish is without doubt Australia's number one Dahlia grower. Her new catalogue is now out, with literally 100s of dahlias in every classification to choose from.
Every year Jenny comes up with a number of  new releases and this year is no exception. 


Go to the Country Dahlias catalogue 

Daphne - A look some 'different' Daphne species

Its Daphne time, but we hear you say, thats not a picture of a daphne, they have flowers that are all red and pink not green and yellow. Well what we have here is Daphne pontica, and to tell the truth it's not flowering now anyway, this one flowers in late spring to summer.

Daphne pontica is just one of the many species of daphne, difficult to find, but worth looking for. We provide a look at a few others including the well known D.odora as well as D.cneorum. You can find them through the links on our Daphne Page.

And if you you like you can visit Don Teese at Yamina Collectors Nursery for a look at a few more. And yes Dons Nursery was called Yamina  Rare Plants but now it is Yamina Collectors Nursery.

And daphne that we are trying to get to flower is D.oleoides it is a white flowering species, and it likes sun.  We will keep you posted on that little adventure......

New Catalogue From Hillview Rare Plants

Marcus Harvey from Hillview Rare Plants has just released his new Catalogue and we think that he has some really great plants. Lilium duchartrei (pictured left) is one that we really like. It is known as Known as Farrer's Marbled Martagon. And if you can give it cool soil conditions it is an easy Lilium. Closely related to L. lankongense. View the Catalogue at www.hillviewrareplants.com

Remember that you can join us at google + for up to date information on gardening and new plant releases.

New Catalogues and End of Season Sales

It's always great to get new catalogues and this week we have a couple for you. The first is Tonkins Bulbs, and Shirley and Jane have a good selection of Liliums for you to look at, as well as a lots of other goodies. 

The second is from Pen Lan Plants, and if you are remotely interested in Primulas, or Auriculas then this is the catalogue for you.

We also have a few 'End of Season' Clearances. The first from Tim Drewitt of Drewitts Bulbs, if you are interested in that one we can send you list, simply email us, the second is from Tesselaars and with only a few days to go, be quick for this one.

And of course we will have Marcus Harveys 'Hillview Rare Plants'  new catalogue up and running in a few weeks, stay tuned....

Now is a great time to buy Lilium Bulbs and you can look at hybrids, Asiatic Liliums, Oriental Liliums or species. Liliums are easy to grow and many are fragrant. Check out what is on offer on our Liliums Page. 


You may also be interested in the New Catalogue from Lynn's Rare Plants, see our Rare Plants page for contacts.


Or you might be looking for Daffodil Bulbs in numbers, Riddells Creek Daffodil Farm has a special offer.