DFB's Greenthumb Project

[Tonz]

For the school camp site I manage, or am trying to bring up to standards, I am in need of a plant. here are my list of requirements.
Ground cover
easy to walk on
grows in very impoverished soil
native ??
can be mown if needed.
Drought tolerant
Prefer no flowers....removes chance of bees and their stings

is there such a thing

[Rallye Sport]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

Share away, I have all the time in the world these days.

Ok make a cuppa here we go...

Spuds are a staple around here, they're a part of most meals. For an ingredient so prominent something was missing. I'd pick up the weekly groceries and my choices were whites, reds or blues, all picked from under the fluro lights of the vege section in coloured bags to disguise the flacid, often green spuds within.
Once home and if they hadn't started shooting in the cupboard after a day or three I'd serve them as dry floury lumps on a plate and have to resort to covering them up with salt, gravy or every blokes go too.. tomato sauce.

That was until a chance encounter at a market in South West WA.
A ray of sunshine caught my eye and led me to a small stall with a sign that read 'Gourmet Potatoes For Sale'
And there they were, resplendent in the sunshine, all named cultivars and sold by the kg in old fashioned paper bags by a weathered farmer.

So the next thing I know I'm carting 15 odd kilograms of spuds back to the trusty XR50. On the three hour journey home, from now the best weekend away ever, the still bewildered Mrs, being a chef, started to make plans for my haul. 'Theres different potatoes for different uses don't you know?' She said nonchalantly.

So over the next month I put my apron on and started to explore my new found obsession.

And what a revelation it was.

Theres Mozart, perfect for roasting, crunchy and golden brown on the outside, yet soft and buttery within.

Dutch cream, the smoothest, silkiest mash you've ever had.

Prince of orange, the perfect potato salad, soft yet firm enough to hold shape.

I could go on, I'm an unemployed green keeper with smashed discs in my neck... so I will...

Neptune makes a great stuffed spud with the topping of your choice.

So thats how it all began, I'm like a door knocking Morman nowadays spreading the word and travelling the highways looking for the next farm gate or market stall to further enlighten myself

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Rallye Sport

Ok make a cuppa here we go...

Spuds are a staple around here, they're a part of most meals. For an ingredient so prominent something was missing. I'd pick up the weekly groceries and my choices were whites, reds or blues, all picked from under the fluro lights of the vege section in coloured bags to disguise the flacid, often green spuds within.
Once home and if they hadn't started shooting in the cupboard after a day or three I'd serve them as dry floury lumps on a plate and have to resort to covering them up with salt, gravy or every blokes go too.. tomato sauce.

That was until a chance encounter at a market in South West WA.
A ray of sunshine caught my eye and led me to a small stall with a sign that read 'Gourmet Potatoes For Sale'
And there they were, resplendent in the sunshine, all named cultivars and sold by the kg in old fashioned paper bags by a weathered farmer.

So the next thing I know I'm carting 15 odd kilograms of spuds back to the trusty XR50. On the three hour journey home, from now the best weekend away ever, the still bewildered Mrs, being a chef, started to make plans for my haul. 'Theres different potatoes for different uses don't you know?' She said nonchalantly.

So over the next month I put my apron on and started to explore my new found obsession.

And what a revelation it was.

Theres Mozart, perfect for roasting, crunchy and golden brown on the outside, yet soft and buttery within.

Dutch cream, the smoothest, silkiest mash you've ever had.

Prince of orange, the perfect potato salad, soft yet firm enough to hold shape.

I could go on, I'm an unemployed green keeper with smashed discs in my neck... so I will...

Neptune makes a great stuffed spud with the topping of your choice.

So thats how it all began, I'm like a door knocking Morman nowadays spreading the word and travelling the highways looking for the next farm gate or market stall to further enlighten myself

Love it!

[Citroënbender]

Originally Posted by Tonz

…is there such a thing

Synthetic grass?
If you want it low like lawn, what about a herb such as oregano?

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Tonz

For the school camp site I manage, or am trying to bring up to standards, I am in need of a plant. here are my list of requirements.
Ground cover
easy to walk on
grows in very impoverished soil
native ??
can be mown if needed.
Drought tolerant
Prefer no flowers....removes chance of bees and their stings

is there such a thing

That is a tricky set of requirements. The need to be walked on and the drought tolerance being the hardest to satisfy.

If there was an element of shade, Dwarf Mondo Grass, Dichondra or Pratia would be great choices. All of those need decent watering though.

Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum) could be an option -
https://www.herbcottage.com.au/produ...creeping-thyme

Have a look at Myoporum parvifolium, it will take some foot traffic and is generally pretty tough native -
https://www.gardeningwithangus.com.a...rea-boobialla/
https://plantsinabox.com.au/products...lium-fine-leaf

Running Postman (Kennedia prostrata) could also work -
https://www.cardinia.vic.gov.au/kenn...unning_postman

Another option could be Dampiera diversifolia -
https://www.anbg.gov.au/gnp/gnp7/dam...ersifolia.html



Some good ideas here to consider. I think there will need to be some compromise in your requirements though.
https://www.baag.com.au/lawn-alterna...nting-options/

[Tonz]

knew i could get some great ideas here. Thank you.
While I know what few natives will survive over here, I am not one to stick to protocol, It grows here so everybody grows it. I would love to experiment and give the kids some options.

[Rallye Sport]

+1 for the Kennedia and Oregano.

Grevillea obtusifolia, Gingin gem, maybe. Make sure you specify the prostrate, ground covering variant. Keep the traffic off it whilst its establishing but after that it'll thrive on neglect.

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by Rallye Sport

Ok make a cuppa here we go...

Spuds are a staple around here, they're a part of most meals. For an ingredient so prominent something was missing. I'd pick up the weekly groceries and my choices were whites, reds or blues, all picked from under the fluro lights of the vege section in coloured bags to disguise the flacid, often green spuds within.
Once home and if they hadn't started shooting in the cupboard after a day or three I'd serve them as dry floury lumps on a plate and have to resort to covering them up with salt, gravy or every blokes go too.. tomato sauce.

That was until a chance encounter at a market in South West WA.
A ray of sunshine caught my eye and led me to a small stall with a sign that read 'Gourmet Potatoes For Sale'
And there they were, resplendent in the sunshine, all named cultivars and sold by the kg in old fashioned paper bags by a weathered farmer.

So the next thing I know I'm carting 15 odd kilograms of spuds back to the trusty XR50. On the three hour journey home, from now the best weekend away ever, the still bewildered Mrs, being a chef, started to make plans for my haul. 'Theres different potatoes for different uses don't you know?' She said nonchalantly.

So over the next month I put my apron on and started to explore my new found obsession.

And what a revelation it was.

Theres Mozart, perfect for roasting, crunchy and golden brown on the outside, yet soft and buttery within.

Dutch cream, the smoothest, silkiest mash you've ever had.

Prince of orange, the perfect potato salad, soft yet firm enough to hold shape.

I could go on, I'm an unemployed green keeper with smashed discs in my neck... so I will...

Neptune makes a great stuffed spud with the topping of your choice.

So thats how it all began, I'm like a door knocking Morman nowadays spreading the word and travelling the highways looking for the next farm gate or market stall to further enlighten myself

Good on you. There's a local farmer here who sells from the farm gate all the potato variants, he is so passionate about what he grows.
Those Dutch creams, man I love them, perfect.

[Work Horse]

As a qualified horticulturist with many decades of experience, I do sod all in my own garden!

The wife has a large veggie patch she enjoys playing in. I learned early in the development of her hobby, to give advice only if asked.

One year she planted spuds, Dutch creams I think they were.

Why would you plant spuds when you can buy kilos for a few dollars, I thought to myself.

Well after tasting the spuds she grew I am at her every year, what spuds are you growing this year?

Home grown spuds are on another level to the supermarket offerings.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Work Horse

As a qualified horticulturist with many decades of experience, I do sod all in my own garden!

The wife has a large veggie patch she enjoys playing in. I learned early in the development of her hobby, to give advice only if asked.

One year she planted spuds, Dutch creams I think they were.

Why would you plant spuds when you can buy kilos for a few dollars, I thought to myself.

Well after tasting the spuds she grew I am at her every year, what spuds are you growing this year?

Home grown spuds are on another level to the supermarket offerings.

I get it and you are not alone there. Working in other peoples gardens or advising what to plant all day long, the last thing I want to do is come home and continue to 'work'. That's the reason I overhauled my back garden to join the front garden in being very low maintenance other than mowing.

For many, gardening is their hobby, and I totally understand why. For those who work indoors, being outside in the garden would be a wonderful change of scenery. For me, I have other outdoor pursuits to interest me.

As for buying potato's when they are so cheap in the shops, taste difference aside, I understand not seeing the point. I live in an area surrounded by orchard, fresh fruit is in abundance, especially during the summer. The amount of people who want to buy trees from me to grow their own apples or peaches has me quietly taking their money but shaking me head in private. The cost associated in planting and maintaining fruit trees doesn't seem to make financial sense here.

[DFB FGXR6]

This plant has fascinated me for years.





These bulbs would sprout and flower in late winter and early spring in my parents old 'garden' and are very common in older properties. I have always called them Winter Gladioli although that is not their true name.

A quick PlantSnap lead me to the name of Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora which is apparently a registered weed. It's ability to multiply and pop up anywhere seems to fit my observations.

https://keyserver.lucidcentral.org/w...osmiiflora.htm

I'm not completely confident with my ID of this plant so any input would be appreciated.

[FTE217]

I’ve seen DFB but can’t add anymore to the subject.

I can here being earlier there was some nice spring in the air pics.
I took these around our place couple weeks ago.
Such a great time And with lockdown it’s been keeping me occupied.

Gorgeous wattle blooming.


And some cleaning up


And fixed up the lighting

The boss looking over his kingdom

And what’s popping up round the front

And the other side of the earlier pics



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by Work Horse

As a qualified horticulturist with many decades of experience, I do sod all in my own garden!

Don't worry, everyone thinks I must live in a stone house.

One day I will build that Keep.

[FTE217]

Luv you to build me a stone house rokwiz.

My uncle had a 2storey place lower level was all huge mud brick - so cool too was cedar.
Such a balanced cool looking place…..

On another note.
Not bad for living in the rat race.
This little fella came rustling around the back yard just on sunset tonight




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Tonz]

dang you eastern states guys are so fortunate, good rich soils

Clay, sand and limestone where I live & work. One way its harder than concrete, the next it slides off your spade its so wet boggy and slippery. Plus lack of water.
Where we live the landlords have finally plumbed the biolyticx septic system into spare water tank and once a day this is spray pumped onto our garden the difference is amazing.

[Citroënbender]

Originally Posted by roKWiz

Don't worry, everyone thinks I must live in a stone house.

One day I will build that Keep.

You should look up Mark Scully (competitive fencing teacher) next time you’re in Launceston. He’s been building a stone “castle” for a while, out towards Lilydale.

[DFB FGXR6]

Witnessed another swarm of bees being boxed again today at one of my regulars. Whatever it is, bees seem to know this garden is a safe haven.

Also witnessed a harvest from their Flow Hive.

Tubes are tapped into each cell, allowing the honey to drain into a container.

(Not my pic)

[Work Horse]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

This plant has fascinated me for years.

image

image

These bulbs would sprout and flower in late winter and early spring in my parents old 'garden' and are very common in older properties. I have always called them Winter Gladioli although that is not their true name.

A quick PlantSnap lead me to the name of Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora which is apparently a registered weed. It's ability to multiply and pop up anywhere seems to fit my observations.

https://keyserver.lucidcentral.org/w...osmiiflora.htm

I'm not completely confident with my ID of this plant so any input would be appreciated.

I believe you are correct DFB FGXR6, I call it montbretia but Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora is the correct name. I have a patch in the front garden that I have tried to remove when it gets over grown. It is still going strong 20 years on.

[Work Horse]

Azaleas putting on a show in my regular Friday customers garden.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Work Horse

Azaleas putting on a show in my regular Friday customers garden.
image
image

That's my style of garden!

[DFB FGXR6]

Sping is in full swing now.

This Cercis 'Lavender Twist' is a feature plant of a garden I look after.



Cercis Lavender Twist is a small grafted standard feature tree that will only grow to about 2 mt x 2 mt. The branches weep downwards toward the soil and feature purple flowers during early spring and heart shaped green leaves after flowing. These make great highlighting trees or even a feature in a large pot. The only drawback with these is the cost of them.

https://www.flemings.com.au/products...-trees/cercis/





Several large clumps of Clivia are now in flower also.



And the Maple I planted in early winter is now pushing through with new foliage.





The fresh spring growth on Japanese Maples is especially beautiful. Soft and waxy looking foliage is not only pleasing to the eye but also to pesky Aphids. Maples seem especially prone to attack by Aphids at this time of the year so be sure to keep an eye out for them and treat with an appropriate pesticide or strong jet of water.

[FTE217]

Yes love jap maples - awesum to have look so good.

Here’s our ornament starting to bloom





Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by FTE217

Yes love jap maples - awesum to have look so good.

Here’s our ornament starting to bloom
image
image
image


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Nice Weeping Cherry, assuming Snow Fountains?

[FTE217]

yes mate......
Wife wasn't that happy in the spot we put it thinking it wouldn't fill the space but I told her patience it will grow enough where its needed and in bloom will be perfect.
She loves it now.

I didn't need lockdown to get into the garden but having all the time in the world weekend after weekend so glad getting on top of a lot of maintenace and enhancements.
Good therapy as you know.

[DFB FGXR6]

My sisters garden, that I maintain, is looking great at the moment.



The Liriope's along the footpath will need some feed soon, the yellowed growth is letting the side down.

[Rallye Sport]

Nice to see the Clivias DFB and FTE, ours has almost finished but has been providing a bit of cheer by the front door.



On to a bulb of a different kind, I pulled the garlic this morning. We had a 5kg haul this year with this one coming in a just over 200g.
It won't be going to the kitchen though, I'll keep it as next years seed.

[Citroënbender]

We’ve had a good crop of Clivea, too.

Hippeastrum have done fabulously as well, unfortunately the walk-past plant thieves have discovered them and half the front garden stock has gone since Thursday.

[DFB FGXR6]

More flowers showing off.

This very, very old Weeping Cherry has responded to some additional light and is the best I have ever seen it flowering. I'm not 100% sure of the variety, being the semi-upright growth habit I think it could be Mt.Fuji.

http://jftnurseries.com.au/product/c...rotae-mt-fuji/



Spiraea Cantonensis Lanceolata or Double Flowering May -



Nasturtium's filling a few gaps -



Beautiful smelling Michelia Figo or Port Wine Magnolia -



Kerria Japonica -

[slowsnake]

Wish I could put a few pics of my " Chinese Tomatoes ".....



Cheers Billio

[Tonz]

previous life I was a supervisor at a egg farm for people with disabilities.
we had one regular client would always get couple of bags of chicken po op for his herbal tomatoes.
I always thought herbal stuff was good for you but man his eyes scared the beejeezus out of me.