'Fred Hollows Vision' Rose

Source: http://www.burkesbackyard.com.au

A new rose has come on to the market to mark the life and work of the late Fred Hollows, the Australian eye surgeon who worked to eradicate cataract blindness.

Les Stratford of Stratford's Wholesale Nursery at Oakville in New South Wales found this rose in 1994 and decided to name it 'Fred Hollows Vision' to honour Fred's tireless work. Thirty cents from the sale of every rose will be donated to The Fred Hollows Foundation to help doctors carry on Fred's work.

Description

'Fred Hollows Vision' is a white sport of the 'Mary Mackillop' rose and has been named 1998 Rose of the Year by The Rose and Fruit Tree Group. This compact, bushy rose has white flowers over a long period from spring to autumn. It is ideal for planting in pots, garden beds or as an informal hedge as it reaches around 1m (3') tall.

'Fred Hollows Vision' will grow in all but the most tropical parts of Australia (see climate map).

Availability

'Fred Hollows Vision' will be available in flower at some garden centres and chain-stores in NSW from March 1998. Winter plants (barerooted bushes) will be available around Australia from May but can be ordered now.

Some nurseries which have this rose in stock now include: Altra Nursery, Peakhurst. Phone: (02) 9153 5176
Corrimal Garden Centre, Corrimal. Phone: (02) 4283 5586
Highland Rose Nursery, Dural. Phone: (02) 9651 1243
Wayne's Home and Garden, North Richmond. Phone: (02) 4571 2036

Roses in 20 cm (8") pots cost from $14.50 to $18.

The Fred Hollows Foundation

For further information about The Fred Hollows Foundation visit www.hollows.org or phone 1800 352 352.

Donations to The Fred Hollows Foundation may be made on a 24 hour donation line: 1800 352 352.

Address: The Fred Hollows Foundation, Locked Bag 100, Rosebery, NSW, 1445.

Did you know?

The Foundation will celebrate its 10th anniversary in September 2002. Since its launch in 1992 the Foundation and its local partners have restored sight to nearly 1 milllion people and trained over 750 local doctors to perform modern cataract surgery.

Other roses

The following roses were also mentioned on 'Burke's Backyard':

• 'Artistry' - Coral orange flowers. Lightly fragrant. 1998 introduction.
• 'City of Goulburn' - A yellow rose with gold and copper tones. Ruffled petals.
• 'City of Newcastle' - Clear red flowers. Fragrant.
• 'Karen Blixen' - A pure white rose with just a hint of pale green. Strong fragrance.
• 'Pink Bloss' - A miniature rose with salmon pink flowers. 1998 introduction.
• 'Pink Iceberg' - A blush pink. A sport of the widely grown white 'Iceberg'. (May still produce the odd white flower.)
• 'Rose of Narromine' - Pale apricot edged with magenta pink. Beautiful perfume.
• 'St Patrick' - A goldish yellow rose with a hint of pink when mature. As a young rose it has an interesting green tone.
• 'St Therese de Lisieux' - An almost pure white rose with a slight hint of shell pink edging.

Availability: These roses were supplied by Swane's Nursery at Dural. Look for them at your local nursery. Bare-rooted roses can be ordered for planting in winter either from Swane's (mail-order) or directly from your local nursery. Phone: (02) 9651 1322. Fax: (02) 9651 2146.

For more information or to receive a catalogue write to:

Reply Paid AAA 46
Swane's Nursery
PO Box 29
Dural NSW 2158

Swane's is at 490 Galston Road, Dural. Open seven days a week, 8am-5pm (9am-5pm weekends). Closed Good Friday and Christmas Day.

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Container Gardening Tips & Plans : Planting a Container Garden: Home Gardening Tips, Ideas & Advice

Boxed In - Hedging

Source: www.channel4.com/4homes

Use box hedging with contrasting foliage to create a subtly formal look.

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The top 10 herbs you need in your garden

Source: au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/better-homes-gardens

It makes sense to plant what your family uses most in terms of herbs. That is the basis for my top 10 herbs.

1. Basil 

This can be thrown into just about anything from salads to the cooking pot. It provides a beautiful smell to the kitchen and adds amazing flavour to so many dishes. I just wish it grew all year round. It will start to die off around autumn after it flowers so cut the flowers off as they appear to get the most out of its growing season, this will also help the pant keep its flavour. There is nothing better than a big bunch of fresh pesto made with the basil from your garden.

2. Thyme 

Is easy to grow and goes well with tomato dishes as well as some seafood dishes. It has a beautiful scent so take some cuttings and tie them into a bunch and hang them somewhere in the kitchen to provide a fresh smell to that space.

3. Rosemary 

Is a fantastic plant to have in the garden because you can take from it all year round and it goes with so many foods. In winter when the selection of fresh herbs in the garden is reduced, it is great to be able to put some fresh Rosemary in your Sunday roast to enhance the flavour provide some freshness to your dish. In a way it keeps you warm through winter…metaphorically speaking.

4. Parsley

Is great because it is one of the few herbs that doesn’t mind a bit of shade and grows well in a pot so it can be moved around and kept in that corner where nothing else does that well. This in theory should be at the top of my list because it can be used in so many ways and in so many dishes. You could just about sprinkle some parsley on everything that you present.

5. Mint

Not only is fantastic to have on hand for summer cocktails but it also goes well in some stir fry and fish dishes mixed with other herbs. It likes to grow in part shade with a fair bit of water. I have seen in thrive in shaded areas under dripping taps. Keep it confined in a pot as it will want to spread throughout the garden.

6. Oregano

Think of an Italian dish with tomatoes and oregano will most likely be a good accompaniment. It grows well in soil with good drainage. Harvest it regularly to keep it dense and prevent it from going woody, this will also promote new growth.

7. Chives 

Chives are relatively easy to grow in a sunny aspect. They will die off over Winter but should come back the next growing season. They add flavour to many dishes including eggs and if you are out of onions, chives can make a good substitute.

8. Coriander

I get mixed reports with this one. Some people can’t kill it and some can’t grow it. It grows well kept moist and in part shade. It grow well from seed also. Coriander is a fantastic flavour enhancer so having it on hand through the summer months is really handy, especially considering it is about $2.50 per bunch in the supermarkets.

9. Lemon Myrtle 

Is a wonderful Australian plant that can be used in cooking or in teas. Its leaf has the most amazing scent. I give it to my kids to keep in their pockets and smell throughout the day. They love it.

10. Curry Plant 
I am cheating a little bit with this one because the curry plant is rarely if ever used in cooking. It does smell like curry so it has a beautiful scent but in terms of flavour it is pretty mild. I use it purely for its aesthetic appeal. Its silver grey foliage adds a different colour to enhance the look of my herb garden and it can be trimmed and mounded and contained in whichever way you wish to create a contrast in textures.

Matt Leacy, Founder & Landscape Designer, LANDART offer complete project management of your outdoor space – from design and construction through to on-doing maintenance and horticulture advice- as well as tailored packages to suit individual needs. With an emphasis on innovative design, quality materials and professional service, our friendly, well-presented team create beautiful, well-crafted gardens that both inspire and impress. We are One Team – designer, building and sustaining beautiful spaces with clear and concise communications with all of our clients.

Spring Into Spring With Gardening Tips

How to Prep Your Lawn and Garden for Autumn

Source: http://www.copyrightfreecontent.com/

As autumn colors set in this season, make sure your all-important home and garden upkeep checklist is ready.

Although the lawn is often overlooked during the fall, it’s actually the perfect time to make sure everything is organized before the harsher winter elements take hold. Paul James, host of HGTV’s “Gardening by the Yard,” advises homeowners to start early – approximately six weeks before the first good freeze.

Here is a list of some of the tasks and items you should add to your fall checklist this year:

•    Maintain the landscape. Tidy up the lawn, flowerbeds, bushes, gardens, etc. Remove unsightly foliage, dead stems, piles of leaves and other debris. Fluff your mulch with a rake so water can seep into the subsoil.

•    Plant fall vegetables. Cool-season vegetable gardens can flourish with the right plants – lettuce, greens, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, turnips, potatoes and loads more. Imagine all the hearty stews and delicious soups you could make from scratch.

•    Keep muscles relaxed, and stay hydrated. Don’t underestimate the fall sun. Summer may be over, but hours of gardening in the sun can still leave you exhausted, strained and parched. Remember to drink plenty of fluids, take breaks and stretch your muscles. If you suffer from backaches and muscle strains, keep some relief like Absorbine Jr. (www.absorbinejr.com) on hand. The natural menthol in Absorbine Jr. helps relieve muscle and back pain to make it a must-have for yard work. Its herbal ingredients also help provide relief from sunburn and gnat and other insect bites.

•    Make room for indoor plants. Your potted or container plants won’t survive the winter outside, so it’s time to make room indoors for tropical plants, herbs and succulents. Potted perennials can be transplanted into a garden after trimming the roots and some top growth.

•    Clean garage, shed or outbuildings. Once you organize your storage space, you can neatly put away all of your summer tools or patio furniture. Plus, your newly emptied planters will have a home next to all the other stuff families accumulate.