Garden Clinic Digs Deeper

Linda chats with her dear friend, plant collector, and Collectors' Plant Fair exhibitor, David Kennedy - Nurseryman and owner of Clover Hill and Highfields Gardens. Over the past four years, David has worked endlessly to create Highfield Gardens, an eight acre masterpiece of rare cool climate gems. 100 kilometres west of Sydney is a completely different climate and David has managed to grow cool climate plants with great success. He moved to Hartley after literally running out of space at his delightful Katoomba garden, Clover Hill. David explains that as gardens are getting dryer we must all look to drought tolerant plants, the Mediterranean plants that do very well in dry conditions. David outlines colour combinations and why yellow and purple are his stand out choices for a stand out garden. His tips and tricks include borders and how to put together a brand new garden from scratch. He outlines his philosophy of thrive, survive or just die and no additional irrigation. Linda and David exude enthusiasm and discuss their favourite cool climate plants and how to nurture them. Websites: www.cloverhillrareplants.com.au Read more: Article: 'Meet David Kennedy, Cool Climate Gardener' https://www.gardenclinic.com.au/how-to-grow-article/meet-david-kennedy

Linda talks to Myles Baldwin, award winning garden designer and horticulturist who designs unique gardens with a sense of place, heritage and character, about a stunning show garden he's designed for the Singapore Garden Festival. Singapore Garden Festival is a biennial show held in the grounds of the Gardens by the Bay precinct. It's like a tropical Chelsea Flower Show drawing more crowds than its English counterparts. Each year it showcases 10 international designers in a garden competition. We love it! Singapore Garden Festival runs 21 July - 3 August 2018 with show gardens, orchid extravaganza, floristry and balcony gardens adding to tropical festivities, the cloud forest biome and flower dome. www. singaporegardenfestival.com Books that inspire Myles: Thai Garden Style, Luca Invernizzi Tettoni The Garden Box, Paul Bangay Bold Romantic Gardens: The New World Landscape, Oehme & Van Sweden Books by Myles Baldwin Period gardens: landscapes for houses with history by Myles Baldwin with photography by Simon Griffiths (Sydney: Murdoch Books, 2008) Rural Australian gardens by Myles Baldwin with photography by Simon Griffiths (Sydney: Murdoch Books, 2010) Australian Coastal Gardens by Myles Baldwin with photography by Sue Stubbs (Sydney: Murdoch Books, 2013) You can see Myles Baldwin's work at www.mylesbaldwin.com Instagram @mylesbaldwin Have a gardening or plant question? Hop onto our Facebook page @gardenclinicclub & ask away

This week Linda Ross talks to Paul West, the star of Lifestyle Channel's (now SBS) series River Cottage Australia, who has swapped his bucolic Tilba home on the NSW South Coast for a city life in Thornbury, in Melbourne's inner north. The chef-turned-sustainable-farmer married his partner Alicia in 2016 and moved south, along with their young sons, Otto and Bowie. Fans of the show will be pleased to learn that West's scene-stealing border collie Digger has also made the journey and is busy learning how to behave around busy city roads and make the most of a suburban backyard. "I don't think he's super happy but I still get him out and give him plenty of walks," West says. "And we're lucky, we live near Merri Creek, so there are plenty of places where he can get off lead." Since River Cottage Australia finished filming in 2015, the 36-year-old advocate of sustainable farming has been dabbling with television and radio jobs, as well as doing cooking demonstrations and tells Linda he is in the process of writing a book. West says living sustainably begins with cooking at home. Start by eliminating processed and packaged foods and prepare fresh meals from scratch. Then, try growing your own vegetables - start small with some herbs or salad greens in a pot. Ultimately, though, the move to Melbourne is a temporary one with the family planning to move back to their house in Bermagui, NSW, when Otto starts primary school. Paul will be a special guest at the Queensland Garden Show 13-15th July 2018 on the Sunshine Coast (http://www.qldgardenexpo.com.au) where he will be on stage talking about his sustainable life goals.

Linda interviews third generation Camellia specialist Ross Campbell from Sydney's Camellia Grove. They discuss how to grow camellias- what they like, dislike and how to fix problems and treat troublesome insect attack. For more Camellia inspiration and to find out what Camellia suits you garden best visit Camellia Grove, Cattai Ridge Rd, Glenorie www.camelliagrove.com.au Read: Stirling Macaboy, 'What Camellia is That?' E.G Waterhouse, Camellia Quest and Camellia Trail Visit: Camden Park House and Garden See Australia first Camellia, which arrived in 1831, and is still growing in the grounds today Open weekend in September www.camdenparkgouse.com.au Visit: Eryldene, with its exemplary collection of camellias. Open days are in June, July and August. 17 McIntosh St, Gordon www.eryldene.org.au Have a question? Hop onto our Facebook page @gardenclinicclub ask away and share your favourite camellias with us.

Linda gets excited about the glamour girls of winter... the gorgeous genus Camellia. Walking around her favourite specialist Camellia nursery, in the dead of winter, she introduces you to these lavish yet versatile evergreen shrubs. Linda recounts their fascinating origins and how they left Asia to become the darlings of Europe and then Australia. She explains the difference types: miniature Fairy wings, sasanqua, japonica and reticulata and lists her favourite fragrant varieties. Troubleshooting *transplanting *feeding *mulching *camellia tea mite Have a question? Hop onto our Facebook page @gardenclinicclub ask away and share your favourite camellias with us. Read all about it on the Garden Clinic blog, 'Meet the giant Camellia family' , gardenclinic.com/blog

Linda is joined by Ali Mentesh from Red Cow Farm to talk about his garden, incredible collection of roses, his six favourites plus secrets to success.    Seduced by the colour, forms and perfumes of roses, Ali Mentesh has already collected some 200 to adorn the garden rooms at Red Cow Farm. Can he choose a favourite?    Roses are central to the dreamy delights of Red Cow Farm, a 2.5 hectare garden just outside the village of Sutton Forest in the Southern Highlands of NSW. Gardened by Ali Mentesh and Wayne Morrissey, Red Cow Farm is a series of 20 garden rooms, each with its own mood and linked by subtle, clever planning. And while roses don't feature in every one of the beautiful garden pictures that have been created since Ali and Wayne bought the 1820s cottage in 1990, they are an early, and enduring passion.   Here are Ali's standouts and why! *Jude the Obscure - strong growth, repeats well year after year, strong fragrance of quince.   *Charles Darwin - palest clotted cream to a beautiful mustard colour and similar shape to peonies, delightful cupped shape.   *Rambling Rector - vigorous grower and excellent climber, a generous rose when in flower with a clear luminous froth of white.  *Apple Blossom  - almost like an apple blossom flower and produces single flowers with a mild perfume. Has the ability to cov...

Jog your memory with Linda's list of winter gardening jobs.   Sharpen your tools, clean them regularly and store small hand tools in a bucket of clean sand with a little multipurpose 3 in 1 oil to moisten. Indoor plant care Citrus pruning time Fruit tree planting time Get into the veggie patch as there's still time to plant Brassica vegetables including broccoli, sprouting broccoli, cabbage, turnips/turnip greens, rocket, kale, and all types of lettuce. Also plant shelling peas and sugar snaps now the weather is a little cooler and it's the perfect time for lettuces.Strawberry runners trimmed and cut.Stone fruit spray to prevent peach leaf curl plus her quick 5 second recipe for kale chips Fix for a Sulking magnolia Green Madonna lily & she answers whether grass clippings can be used as mulch Ask a question via our Facebook page  facebook.com/GardenClinicClub/ Keep connected with us on Instagram  @linda_kirin_ross @gardenclinicclub

Linda Ross chats to special guest Peter Thorburn from Honeysuckle Garden (www.honeysucklegarden.com.au). They discuss the secrets to a happy healthy garden and a simple way of preventing plant pests whilst attracting local wildlife and beneficial insects.  With over 40 years of nursery experience, Peter has created a stable of three sensational garden centres in Sydney Australia and came across an organic magic mix that Linda says will not only make plants jump out of their skins but will also prevent pest problems long term. They now want to share it with you!  Magic Mix Recipe:  www.gardenclinic.com.au/how-to-grow-article/how-to -make-up-a-magic-mix  Add to 1 litre of water  3ml Eco-Oil 2ml Eco-Neem 5ml Eco-Aminogro Add a pinch seaweed during summer months only  Spray weekly for the garden including natives and vegetables (except African violets) but you could do fortnightly or monthly depending on your available time.  Magic Mix will help eliminate small bodied pests including aphids, caterpillars, thrips, mites, citrus leaf miner.  Products can be purchased online from  ecoorganicgarden.com.au A 8L or 20L Swagman Sprayer makes it easier to spray the Magic Mix on your garden. Remember to spray both top and underside of leaves until dripping.  (www.gardenclinic.com.au/shop/sample-catalogue/swagman-battery-powered-8l-sprayer) Linda and Peter also reflect on present plant nursery trends like the Instagram sensation of 2018 - The Money Plant also known as Pilea peperomioides and succulents in general.  The popularity of succulents like the crassula - jade plant and bl...

Linda Ross and special guest Tim Drewitt (www.redearthbulbs.com) discuss how to choose bulbs that flower year after year, getting bigger and how to plant them so they bloom in full glory in spring and summer You'll hear: •Why we love bulbs! •What are the best bulbs to plant if you're after more bang for your buck •Linda's favourite bulbs and how to grow them including: •Drumstick Allium •Galdioli •Ixia •Tulips •Freesias •Dutch Iris •Daffodils Red Earth Bulb Farm (www.redearthbulbs.com) ...are a small, family run business in the rich red soils of the Dandenong Ranges. The family has been growing bulbs and perennials, many rare and unusual lines, for in excess of 50 years. Red Earth Bulb Farm is owned by Drewitt's bulbs. For more information... http://www.gardenclinic.com.au/how-to-grow-article/best-bulbs-for http://www.gardenclinic.com.au/how-to-grow-article/how-to-make-a-great-bulb-display Ask a question via Facebook... https://www.facebook.com/GardenClinicClub/

It's all about composting this week. Linda Ross discusses this simple yet important element of your garden. Find out all the dos-and-do-nots, demystify this simple process and start enjoying free soil in your garden today.