Herbs in the Garden - Chamomile

German Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) is one of my favourite annual herbs

a little left field for a perennial Nursery

but it performs for so much of the year that it is a worthy addition to 

an integrated and productive garden

Very fine seed can be direct sown (or self seeded) to the garden in late Summer

Do not mulch the soil, but leave it exposed to allow the delicate seed to germinate

Failing that open sow seed in a tray outdoors pressing seed to soil, but not covering

Full frost hardy seedlings will grow gently through Winter

once the days lengthen so will the seedlings

and by mid Spring you will be harvesting flowers

pick flowers constantly to ensure more flower production

dry flowers on a piece of paper towel and store dried flowers in a jar 

place in a dark cupboard

Keep adding dried flowers through the season and you will have plenty for Winter 

Make sure to leave some flowers to set seed at the end of Summer 

to start the process all over again

German Chamomile prefers full sun, well drained soil

Establishing naturally in gravel and poorer soils

but water when the weather heats up or plants will wilt

We pick the freshest flowers for tea with petals still horizontal
Let the boiled water rest a few minutes so as not scald the flowers
and tarnish the sweet flavour

Petals can be sprinkled into salads


German Chamomile, like all herbs, should be consumed in moderation
any potential health effects researched for implications in their application
(e.g. consumption during pregnancy, other existing health issues)
LINK TO HEALTH IMPLICATIONS HERE

Black Cahosh - Actaea racemosa

One of our new trial plants - Black Cahosh or Cimicifuga (Actaea racemosa).

Its certainly not one of our regular uber hardy plants, but it does like a damp shady spot in the garden, puts up with extreme cold and seasonal waterlogging - pretty tough after all !
Certainly sounds like it will suite a few places in our neck of the woods. 

Think Southern aspect, shady - hydrangea territory.


Common Names: Black Cahosh, Cimicifuga, Branched Bugbane, Black Snakeroot
Botanical Name: Actaea racemosa syn. Cimicifuga racemosa

Height: 75cm plant, 120cm flowering
Spread: 50cm
Flower: white / blush pink
Uses: ornamental, bee & butterfly attractant, herbal (medicinal)

Aspect (Tasmania): South, South East
Sun: Dappled Shade, Semi Shade
Soil: retained moisture, free draining, enriched organics
Water: regular, do not allow to dry out , mulch well


Image from here: http://www.studiogblog.com/grow/plants/summer-in-new-england/

Sweet Violets

"Rosina" Sweet Violet

Having grown up with traditional Sweet Violets

I'm a bit in love with the splendid cultivars which are appearing again

after another "un-fashionable" hiatus

Delightfully perfumed, perfect in shady damp gardens

working well in pots on an Eastern or Southern side of the home

"Lady Hume Campbell" Parma Violet

"Sweet Violets - Viola odorata"

English origin, very hardy hedgerow variety generally, except where cultivars incorporate white flowers which have a tendency to be more sensitive to dry weather.

(We stock "Charlotte", "Rosina" , Sulphurea and traditional purple violets 
in small quantities. )

"Parma Violets - Viola x alba cv."
Appeared in Italy in the 16th Century, and believed to be a hybridization of sports of 
White Violet (Viola alba). Parma Violets true botanical original are still unknown.

Less tolerant of dry soils, and need regular fertilizing with a rich organic e.g. manure based to thrive. Shady location only, dappled sunlight prefered.

(We stock "Lady Hume Campbell" only)

Ragged Robins

Lychnis flos-cuculi "White Robin"

Winter doesn't offer to much colour in our garden yet

It is such a new garden the Winter flowering plants and Autumn colours

are too small to make in imprint on the landscape at the farm

A little surprise popped up in one of the stock beds.

Planted to harvest seed from we weren't expecting flowers until Spring

but this little white version of the English wildflower species

 of Ragged Robin (Cuckoo Flower)

sent forth a froth of white shaggy blossoms

A -4oC Frost did not damage the blossoms or foliage !

So I'm not sure if our strange warm weather patches through Autumn 

triggered the flowering

or this is just a feature of this plant

either way I'm happy for any flowers in Winter, even white ones !

The advantage now is that these blossoms will produce seed that

will have been through a severe frost

making the next generation of plants assuredly tough !

guelder roses

guelder roses

i've waited nearly two years for these lovely guelder roses to be big enough to cut

they have grown lovely long wands topped with huge pom poms of blossoms

lime green when they are young, turning to a creamy white at full bloom

we have a whole row of them in the flower paddock

they look just amazing

i have even propagated a bundle in the poly tunnel

they should be big enough to plant out next autumn

it's wonderful to see them in a profusion

they are what i'd call "granny's flowers"

they are so old fashioned

yet so structurally startling

i picked a bunch for the house

placed them in a simple ewer

stunning

* * * * * *
GROWING: guelder roses are a deciduous tree/shrub growing to 5m in height and spread.
they become a many branched form, that can be pruned to contain shape.
pom poms of flowers appear in mid spring.
Sterile versions are only sold in Australia, so no berries are set.
grow in full sun or semi shade (woodland).
tolerant a broad range of soil type and pH

fleurs de la semaine

wild gladioli

three bouquet sizes and styles this week

modern or traditional

slender or plump

gentle green wild gladioli, with thier intoxicating perfume that reminds me of ylang ylang, are spiraling out of a slim white acid etched vase made by local ceramicist lisa boyter. 

strong structural spikes of white early poplar leaves give additional height

while the feathery favourite of bronze fennel break the austerness of the arrangement

our second arrangement is all tasmanian wild flowers

golden lilies, riceflower, pultanea with a dash of swamp gum for form

native riceflower and golden lily

and last but not least our regular coffee cup posies!

this week we have a flush of bluebells on the farm, sprigged with the last of the seasons wild riceflower, sparaxis and trimmed with either catnip and burnet or a fluffy bronze fennel

coffee cup posies - loads of bluebells !