Paradisus Garden Lovers

Canley Vale … high summer plant mecca

Excitement…. she’s made it to Kim Tran’s

I recently made it out to Kim & An’s delightful Canley Vale Nursery with Judy Taylor my partner in retail crime and essential plant sleuthing…

Around hour’s drive from Sydney CBD and far from disappointment, Kim’s in an old fashioned high street garden centre past an exception array of excellent Vietnamese & Korean cafe’s & restaurants, where you’ll find a cornucopia of “planty” treasures for your warm temperate garden.

Intriguing gesneriad from the African Violet genus, maybe a nematanthus monanthos, perfect for a hanging basket

No matter when I go, there’s always something I’ve been lusting after for years by virtue of Tran’s horticultural eye for the exceptional, interesting and or quirky. Not to mention every type of pot, hanger, stake, fertiliser your heart could desire.

Lush variegated Spiral Ginger (Costus speciosus variegata)

This time I also saw old fashioned tall dahlias, the staking kind that I know will have huge crowns of ruby, gold and flaming orange later this month. Also heliconia the Crabs Claw Gingers both tall like H. ‘Hot Rio Night’ and the dwarf H. stricta from Jamaica. Gorgeous Poysean Hybrid Euphorbia, species hippeastrums, Fireball Lily (Scadoxus multiflorus var. katarinae), medinilla and a new lutea form Golden Umbrella Tree (Schefflera actinophylla ‘Soleil’) I even snaffled a double flowering Rangoon Creeper (Quisqualis indica flora plan) scarce as rocking horse poo peeps !

Booty headed for ‘Sea-Changer’, all now safely in ground

Canley Vale Nursery – 62/68 Canley Vale Rd, Canley Vale 7 days 9723 2688

(between Cabramatta and Fairfield on the way to Campbeltown and its NOT further than you go for holidays )

Christmas Charm for all Garden Lovers

Sobralia xantholeuca – Mexican Reed Lily

Garden Lovers early summer .. and the rush up to Christmas time, always adds a special excitement to the garden. Aside from the usual suspects, lovely as they are; gardenias, agapanthus, Ceratopetalum – NSW Xmas Bush, Hydrangea and Shasta Daisies … there are some new plants to try for this time. Like the lush Mexican Reed Lily (Sobralia xantholeuca) that I can’t recommend highly enough to you for the bright shade garden. Beneath tall Gum Trees, on the south or eastern side. Mine grows as a Christmas companion to ‘Sea-Changer’s’ garden gate, beneath a Weeping Bottlebrush (Callistemon viminalis). Softer in appearance than cymbidium orchids, Sobralia makes a meter or so patch, with stiff bamboo-like stems and leaves with glossy parallel venation.

Looking forward to seeing many of you again here at ‘Sea-Changer’ for ‘Planty Fierce’ come Sat. 6th May ’17 when the garden will open together with ‘Living Edge’ at Peats Ridge and Ray Henderson’s ‘Paradox’ at nearby Glenning Valley. But for now, enjoy your Christmas and wishing you a fab New Year, especially in the the garden !!!

Best Wishes, Peter

Paradisus@No.12

Mark Paul from the Greenwall Co. with greenwall fan Sue Barnett

Cocktails in a Lush Garden

No. 12, in Greenwich for Peter Doherty & Jan Swinhoe, twenty years in the making ..

Last Saturday fortnight on the 5th November, against a rush of high spring, a small gathering of my lovely past clients shared some tasty canapé and a drink or two while savouring the delights of No. 12

Guest Speakers Loretta Maitland from M.E. Lighting told us about here snazzy led’s, Mark Paul from the Greenwall Co. told us about the 9 meter long, double sided greenwall featured in the rear garden. Owners Peter Doherty and Jan Swinhoe helped me Host and Jan was good enough to say a few words, on what its been like to live with all the garden changes over the past twenty years. It doesn’t seem like twenty but time goes fast when you’re having fun in the garden .. !

Thank to all for your interest and friendly company.

Left side owner Jan Swinhoe with Pod & Pod artist Julie Hickson

Plant Lovers Fair ’16 Kariong 24th & 25th September

Busy Coachwood sales tables at Plant Lovers Fair Kariong

Can’t find those special plants to make your garden ? Then PLF ’16 Kariong is for you !! Avoid the cues and get your tixs on line. More than 40 specialist growers of exciting non-general line planting & FREE Speakers Program over both days ..

You can even hear my dulcet tones on Garden “fix -ups” from grow cables to “soft” hard-surfaces, to help with your own garden ideas on the Saturday at 1.30pm, with fellow Designer Barbara Landsberg “in conversation” with Garden Drum editor Catherine Stewart.

Mark your planners now and check currency on the Fair’s planting offer by subscribing to to the new PLF Blog

Good garden plants from PLF grower Charles Harland, like species hippeastrums have done so well at dear client Susan Trathen garden at Balgowlah and would do just as well at your garden !