The bells are ringing at Peacehaven

The bells on our wonga vine, Ruby Belle, that is. 

The glorious Wonga Vine, Ruby Belle,
climbing over the fence behind the Old Dairy.

Wonga Wonga Vine Pandorea pandorana is a native of the Darling Downs, as well as most of Australia. Ruby Belle is a beautiful red cultivar. 

The bells of Ruby Belle.

The flower colours of the Wonga vary from cream to brown but all have some purple in the throat. 

It loves full sun as you can see with the specimen at Peacehaven. 

Although it has a short flowering season the shiny green foliage makes an excellent screen at other times of the year.

If it is pruned after flowering its scrambling habit is kept in check.

 To learn more about Pandorea pandorana, click here

What's in flower at Peacehaven?

Grevillea pimeleoides flower cluster

Even though the cooler weather is here, there is still plenty of flower in the park, mainly from the grevilleas. 

Grevillea pimeleodes may not be as showy as some of its fellow species but it is a little beauty. It is an unusual grevillea in that it has soft, hairy leaves and a rather upright growth.  The flowers are a rich golden colour and ooze the feeling of summer days though it flowers through winter to spring. 

Grevillea pimeleoides

In the wild it is only found in south-west Western Australia, and Peacehaven's plant is double grafted which should mean a longer life. More about this lovely plant at this website. 

Grevillea beadleana flower

Another little rarity is Grevillea beadleana. It is found in just a few locations in the granite country of north-east NSW, and is on the edge of extinction.


It is only just coming into flower at Peacehaven but the soft almost silvery foliage is good-looking all year round. You can find both these plants in the garden bed in front of the nursery near the water fountain. 

The soft foliage of the Grevillea beadleana 

There are other lovely floral displays in that area too.

"Fireworks" is showing its first flowers but has plenty of bud. It will grow to about 1 metre x ¾ metre and will tolerate light frost.

Grevillea "Fireworks"

"Burrendong Beauty" in the wildlife garden

"Burrendong Beauty" is a ground cover and a Hakea. It has an unusual history which you can read about on this website, "Burrendong Beauty" history. Both these plants are found at the western end of the rainforest section in the newly planted wildlife garden.  

Davidson Arboretum

Autumn has touched this lovely hidden park in Highfields. The park is signposted on Cawdor and Flamingo Roads, but the entrances are like garden gates, adding to its enchanting appeal.


For more information see the Davidson Arboretum page on this blog.

Down by the Dam

Weeping Bottlebrush, Melaleuca viminalis,
on the island

The dam, or lake if you prefer, is a lovely feature at Peacehaven. The 
Weeping Bottlebrush, Melaleuca viminalis (or Callistmon viminalis as we've 
always known it), is flowering at the moment so attracting the honeyeaters. 
Also flowering is the unusual Woolly Frogmouth, Philydrum lanuginosum. If you go close you can see the wide open "frog mouth" that the petals form. If you are lucky enough to have a pond in your garden this pretty plant will enhance it.

 

Woolly Frogmouth, 
Philydrum lanuginosum

Woolly Frogmouth
at the water's edge

How is the lovely water fern, Common Nardoo, Marsilea drummondi, so important to our early explorers? 

See http://victoria.slv.vic.gov.au/burkeandwills/expedition/lastdays.html 

to discover how this innocent plant killed the famous Burke and Wills! Floating like large four-leaved clovers on the dam no one would imagine their dark history.

Common Nardoo, Marsilea drummondii

Other animal life is plentiful too, and you can easily see the turtles pushing their snouts above the water, and making ripples amongst the Nardoo. They are probably the Common Snake-necked Turtle. Calling from the sedges and other water plants at the edge of the dam are Spotted Marsh Frogs, Limnodynastes tasmaniensis. They're easy to hear, but not to see. More about this frog at  http://frogs.org.au/frogs/species/Limnodynastes/tasmaniensis/. 

Australasian Grebes, Tachybaptus novaehollandiae

The pair of Australasian Grebes are constantly foraging for food. At the moment their lovely chestnut-coloured facial stripe which is from just behind the eye through to the neck glows in the sunshine. Welcome Swallows and Blue Skimmer Dragonflies flit over the water. The swallows rest on the bottlebrush on the island, whereas the dragonflies fleetingly perch on foliage on or near the water.

Blue Skimmer Dragonfly, Orthetrum caledonicum

So when you are at Peacehaven next, it's worth a wander down to the water!  

Pretty as a picture

Female Joseph's Coat Moth, Agarista Agricol, possibly laying eggs. 
(Photo P.Gardner)

Have you seen these flying around at the moment? Although seen during the day and are brightly coloured they are not butterflies, but moths. The Joseph's Coat Moth, Agarista Agricol, male and female are very similar though the female has a larger creamy-white bar across the thorax and running into the forewings as illustrated here. 

These links give more information on the Joseph’s Coat Moth,  http://lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au/agar/agricol.html,   http://www.brisbaneinsects.com/brisbane_noctuidae/JosephsCoatMoth.htm. The caterpillar is amazingly attractive too, with black, white and orange stripes.

The moth larva or caterpillar feeds on Australian Native Grape, Clematicissus opaca, (also known as Small-leaved Water Vine, Forest Grape, Wappo Wappo, and Pepper Vine), and Slender Grape, Cayratia clematidea, (aka Native Grape, Bushy Water Vine, Slender Water Vine, Mor-bir). Both have inconspicuous creamy-white flowers, but dark blue-black fruit which also attract birds. 

Both vines would be an added attraction to a wildlife garden. The Clematicissus opaca is a dry rainforest vine and grows at Gowrie Junction so is most likely suitable for gardens west of Highfields. It is moderately frost hardy, drought hardy and likes full or part sun. Whereas the Cayratia clematidea is found in moist and dry rainforest, and vine thickets and probably more suitable for gardens closer to the range. It resists light frosts, is drought hardy and thrives in full or part sun.

Both are supposedly bush tucker plants and more can be read about them here, http://tasteaustralia.biz/bushfood/bush-tucker-garden/, but be very cautious eating anything you find in the bush. Also this link has more about ‘native grapes’ and bush tucker, http://toowoombaplants2008.blogspot.com.au/2010/05/round-leaf-vine.html. 

From the sublime to the ridiculous

The powder-puff  pink flower
of the Thyme Honey-myrtle, 
Melaleuca thymifolia

Isn't this a delight? It is Melaleuca thymefolia, Thyme Honey-myrtle though I prefer an alternative name, Feather Honey-myrtle. 
It is flowering down by the lake at the moment, and we also have it in the nursery. It is native to Southern Queensland, is drought tolerant, and can survive light to medium frosts. Very popular as a garden plant it grows to about 1 metre high and wide.

If you want to know more about growing it in your garden go to www.anbg.gov.au/gnp/gnp4/melaleuca-thymifolia.html

Melaleuca thymifolia
at Peacehaven Botanic Park

Now to the ridiculous, although another striking local native, in the Giant Spear Lily Doryanthes palmeri. I'm only calling it ridiculous in the comparison of size. This beauty has a flower that is about 12 mm wide, but that is not all. The flower scape or stalk can be up to 5 metres in length with many flowers as can be seen in the photo below.

A single flower

The flower head

The foliage is long and strappy and can grow to about 3 metres high and wide. It is a wonderful feature plant for a large garden, and it is tough being frost tolerant (although emerging flower stalks may be affected) and drought tolerant. 

Looking towards the rotunda
 from the dry creek bed
 with Doryanthes palmeri
and excelsa in the foreground.

There are several of these lilies dotted around Peacehaven with its close relative Doryanthes excelsa. They flower in spring but you can see a huge seed head on one near the low bridge (photo above). The flowers are full of nectar and are very attractive to birds. If you do decide to plant one be prepared to wait as they take 5 - 7 years to flower. 

Want to know more? Go to http://toowoombaplants2008.blogspot.com/2008/05/spear-lilies-in-seed.html

Both these plants are available in the Peacehaven Botanic Park nursery right now!

Nursery News

Remember the little Australian Harebell featured in November? One of our members bought some and planted them in a large pot in full sun. See how delightful they look with the sky blue flowers fading to white. The flowers last for about a fortnight.

There are three harebell plants in this pot.

Close-up

When is a hibiscus not a hibiscus?

Alyogyne hakeifolia

When it is an Alyogyne. This genus is closely related to the hibiscus, and used to be included with them. 

They are only found in Australia, with Alyogyne hakeifolia usually found in the desert conditions of Western and South Australia. However, as you can see, it is growing very happily near the drinking fountain at Peacehaven.

Close up of flower

 According to the Australian Native Plant Society it has no general common name, but I have heard it called Red-centred Hibiscus. It has a long flowering season from November to March. There are mauve, yellow and pink forms. The flowers are tulip-shaped, not opening like a true hibiscus, and the leaves needle-shaped like a Hakea. Hence its name, hakeifolia.  


A well drained, sheltered, sunny spot would be a perfect place in your garden for this medium-sized shrub.

What's flowering this week?

This attractive flowering bush is covered in blooms at the moment. It is the lovely Crinkle Bush, Lomatia siaifolia. You'll find it along the eastern fence flanking the dry rainforest section beyond the Old Dairy. 

It has grevillea like leaves and is of the same family, Proteaceae. It is long-lived and is ideal for an informal hedge, flowering all through summer. It can be pruned to make it bushier. It grows naturally in the Hampton-Pechey area. 

Crinkle Bush, Lomatia silaifolia

Flower spike

Individual flowers

It can be propagated from seed or cutting. Is tolerant of dry periods, light frosts and recovers after bushfire.


There are a few young plants in the nursery just ask for them.


More can be found about this shrub here: http://toowoombaplants2008.blogspot.com/2010/12/crinkle-bush.html

Australian Harebell

The Australian Harebell, Isotoma axillaris. 

Look what's available in the Peacehaven nursery this week: the Australian Harebell, Isotoma axillaris. 

It is one of my favourite wildflowers, flowering as early as October, right through to May.

Here are some tips from the Australian National Botanic Gardens website: It grows in damp crevices or shallow soil in rocky areas, and is particularly suitable for planting in rockeries, containers and native cottage gardens. Isotoma axillaris is easily propagated and requires minimal maintenance, yet flowers profusely and for many months. The plants thrive in well-drained, humus-enriched soil and full sun, but will tolerate dappled shade. They give lasting flower displays in return for very little work. http://www.anbg.gov.au/gnp/interns-2008/isotoma-spp.html  

Be careful when preparing cuttings. The stems exude a white latex that may cause irritation to sensitive skin. However the sap seems to be equally distasteful to potential herbivores.

Isotoma: from iso, meaning equal, and toma, meaning a section, referring to the equal lengths of the corolla segments, helping to distinguish Isotoma from the genus Lobelia.


axillaris: borne in the axil, referring to the position of the flowers in the axils of leaves.