Having a devil of a time in Tasmania

One of the more wonderful things about my move to Tasmania is that I am in much closer contact with my old mates Peter Cundall and Tino Carnevale. I have long known that I share an April Fool’s birthday with Peter, but had not realized that Tino is two days earlier on March 30th. And for those who can remember the Victorian gardening program Sow What, with the wonderful Kevin Heinze, he was another gardening person born on April 1st.

Many of you may have seen Peter’s 90th birthday celebrations at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Hobart that featured on ABC national news on the night of April 2nd 2017. The great man was in very fine form and fettle and it was such an honour to be there with him on the day. A highlight for me was a gift of a birthday beanie hand knitted by Tino’s partner Joi, as part of a trio of beanies for the three birthday boys. I am now set for the Tasmanian winter!

The Botanic Gardens in Hobart are a plant lover’s delight by the way, with fantastic collections of very old trees, both native and exotic, as well as a great collection of native plants from all over Tasmania.

Collectors’ Plant Fair 2017 Feedback

Thanks to the Collectors Plant Fair for putting on another top event, and to all the people who stopped by to say hello. It was very gratifying to hear from people who had bought Tall and Tough paws at the 2016 Fair, to say that their plants were performing beautifully. In particular, Peter and Leisa from Winmalee shared photos of their purchase of Tall and Tough kangaroo paws from a year ago. It is a familiar story they told me of never having had much luck with kangaroo paws and being skeptical when I assured them the Tall and Tough paws are designed for gardeners in their situation. Anyway, the proof of the pudding is in the eating and they have very generously sent me photos to demonstrate their success. Here are before and after photos showing one year’s growth for Landscape Lilac, which had also flowered for them last Christmas. It is very gratifying to me that gardeners from Queensland to Tasmania are giving similar feedback.

I love getting pictures like this from joyous native plant growers, but feel free to also send in photos if you have problems as well- problems such as leaf blackening and poor flowering are issues that we can usually resolve quite successfully.