Spotted Deadnettle

Spotted Deadnettle
Lamium maculatum 'Anne Greenway'

I can remember when I first started

working in garden centres

how I disliked these plants . . . .

. . . . my how our tastes change !

I have become quite a fan of

Spotted Deadnettles

(and what a name - very hemlock and mandrakes)

A robust, low maintenance perennial 

that is a shade loving ground cover.

Silver strips on a lime green leaf 

topped with delicate lilac flowers 

shaped much like a bugloss (Ajuga spp.).

Growing only 7cm tall on flowering with trailing foliage,

it is well suited to hanging baskets 

and spreading through the cooler garden areas 

where sunlight is not strong.

A single plant will easily spread across a shaded 

or dappled light area 

to about 30 - 60cm. 

I tend to give that as a SINGLE plant measure, 

but as this type of groundcover 

will put down new roots at leaf sections, 

each plant will occupy a new space.

Striped leaves peculiar to "Anne Greenway"

Don't panic, 

it will be burnt off in full strong Aussie Summer sun, 

an aggressive hard frost, 

or suffer trampling set back. 

And also responds very well 

to your favourite gardening herbicide 

(unlike periwinkle) 

if it gets a little enthusiastic !

Suitable for more fertile soils, 

but will grow slowly on heavier soils. 

Waterlogged soils will lead to plants rotting. 

And dry soils will also not support successful growth.

potted plant in the nursery

Cut Flowers from Shrubs

If you are after a luscious and bountiful

cut flower display for home

from Spring blooms

you can't go past some of the woody shrubs

A superb prolonged performer are

the Guelder Roses (Viburnum opulus sterile)

who's blossoms range from early minty green to later creamy white.

Quite a large shrub / tree if let run

so a bit of space is advised and tough pruning to keep

blossoms low enough to pick.

green tints of Guelder Rose

For delicious perfume it has to be Lilacs (Syringa spp.)

and they come in a wonderful colour range

from lemon to deepest blue and red.

An easy care plant that will grow

in tough conditions, just watch

the grafts on cultivars

to prevent the privet rootstock taking over.

lovely lilacs

A surprising cut flower is

Native Mint (Prostanthera rotundiflia)

for both blossoms and foliage

the foliage is edible, though strong

and can also be used in cooking.

Such a tough plant you can slip

them into the garden with little care

and little space.

deep lilac of native mints and strong green foliage

They will provide a delightful period

of cut flowers for home

as well as the volume for a larger

arrangement for a bigger room

or function.

hoary beast at the atrium cafe

sensory posies have taken up a permanent residence at the atrium these days

crush them, stroke them, prod and poke the scented and textured leaves

this week we have thrown these strange hoary little pods in

stop snickering - they are POPPY flower buds !

hoary beasts

added with the deepest purple loosestrife

and sprigged with 

pineapple sage,

licorice hyssop,

rosemary and 

moroccan mint

enjoy an aromatic sidekick with your coffee hit

hoary with a little photoshop

fleurs de la semaine

this week a little modern twist

funny to call this style modern

a new generation of belgian and dutch influence has arrived

it is sweeping the floral world

its pretty spectacular

this arrangement is all foliage

a distinct new zealand bend can be seen

twisted corokia

strappy flax

clouds of hebe

a touch of fog grass

echeveria rosettes

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 !