Australian Botanic Gardens at Cranbourne- April/Autumn 2011

Visited the Australian Botanic gardens in Cranbourne yesterday on a beautiful autumn day. Its still a very young garden with trees not yet mature and part 2 still under construction- to be ready in 2012. Not the best time to visit- lots of plants just about to flower, with the eucalypt festival pending in May. Well worth a visit overall however because of the original planting designs and an unusual chance to see mass plantings of Australian natives.

Great for families with a kids' section, chalk boards, sandpits, a scented garden and a rock-hopping stream, as well as a cafe/gift shop. Its a big walk in a very open space- sunglasses, hats, sunscreen and comfortable shoes recommended.

Stage 2 of the garden under construction

Burdetts banksia

Pimelia Nivea- sensational metallic glitter when backlit

diplolaena drummondii

Acacia aphylla- a wonderfully architectural plant

My Favorite Banksias

Banksia "cherry candles"; this is what the one below is supposed to become

When I first started seriously gardening in the 1990s, Australian Native gardens were regarded as a bit passe. They were generally a bit untidy and frankly uninteresting to a novice who craved big showy flowers.

Thus it is a shock, twenty years down the track to "discover" a whole genus of plants which has been on my doorstep the whole time, quiet achievers; so absorbing to watch the flowers slowly evolve over months from small candles, to big wiry brush like flowers, to amazing seed pods.

Everything I learnt about feeding and planting in drought conditions has had to be discarded as these plants need sharp drainage and low phosphate fertilisers. In fact I have been so warned that I am terrified to even put cow manure on them! The showiest- and scariest to grow are from Western Australia, and I am watching them through their first, very wet season with bated breath.

Banksia "cherry candles" before fully developed

Birds nest banksia, developing; my garden

Same birds nest banksia, fully developed 2 months later

Banksia coccinea with protea in a bunch of flowers; I really want to grow this one day

Banksia Menziesii at the Australian gardens in Cranbourne; I have a small plant in but no flowers yet

Banksia Blechnifolia in my garden; first flower

Banksia Burdettii at the Australian gardens in Cranbourne

Heronswood, January 2011 (summer)

Its been an odd summer here in Melbourne; La Nina has given us rain after 10 years of drought and the grass is extraordinarily green in the middle of summer when we would expect it to be a dead brown. Its always such a pleasure to visit Heronswood, home of Digger's club with its "gothic revival" house set amongst beautiful borders, with a casual symmetry and an emphasis on heirloom seeds and drought tolerant plants. This year was no exception..

Cardoon

Agastache aurantiaca "apricot sprite" in foreground

vegetable parterre

Dry garden