Criss made zucchini and basil soup last week. The recipe was sent to us by an old friend of mine. A friend I’ve known for almost all of the 60 years I’ve lived in Australia. Criss was able to make the soup with our own home-grown ingredients. I grow an F1 hybrid zucchini called Nitro. It is by far the best that I’ve ever grown. It knows its place and doesn’t sprawl all over the place. Read more about Italian Style Zucchini and Parmesan Soup with Basil
David: Criss and I bought “Burnside” and its attached 30 odd acres just over thirty years ago. At the time it was a neglected property. Making the garden and bringing the 1860’s bluestone farmhouse back to its former glory over the past thirty one years has been a task that has given us a huge amount of satisfaction and nourishment. Read more about History and Future - Lambley Nursery and Gardens is for sale
Anemanthele lessoniana Syn. Stipa arundinacea is a superb ornamental grass increasingly being adopted by the landscape trade for its visual interest in a massed planting. We're just as happy to include one or two in a perennial border for its textural effects and colours. Read more about NEW ZEALAND WIND GRASS
This outstanding tree which is rare in its native US habitat is even rarer in cultivation as it is so damned hard to propagate. It can be found growing wild in Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Alabama and Tenessee. Read more about The American Smoke Tree
I recently celebrated (if that’s the right word) my 79th birthday. Instead of a birthday card my eldest son Ric sent me two photographs taken in the grounds of the Chelsea Royal Hospital where he is Grounds and Gardens manager. Ric is responsible for the maintenance and development of 60 acres of gardens and grounds surrounding the Christopher Wren designed hospital. Read more about Ric Glenn
First introduced to English gardens from Syria prior to 1596 the Rose of Sharon is actually a native of China and was more than likely brought to the Levant via the Silk Road. Whilst this Hibiscus is frost hardy down to minus 15C it flourishes through Australia’s torrid summer heat. Read more about Hibiscus syriacus ‘Elfin Rose’ (Rose of Sharon)
Waterlilies are best planted in 20 or 30cm pots to control their growth. Place a couple of sheets of newspaper into the bottom of the pot to stop soil leaching out. Holding the waterlily rhizome in the centre of the pot you should then three quarters fill the pot with heavy soil. Read more about Waterlily Cultivation
Time to sow tomato seed Half a century ago I knew this old Melbourne gardener who prided himself on his ability to grow and pick a decent crop of ripe tomatoes by Christmas. No mean feat in Melbourne. He didn’t have any fancy pants propagating systems. During late winter he sowed 2 or 3 tomato seeds 5mm deep in each of half a dozen 7.5cm well watered pots. Read more about Time to Sow Tomato Seed
