Agapanthus. Toowoomba’s aggies have looked better than ever this summer, reminding all and sundry how gardenworthy they actually are. Recently released ‘Queen Mum’ is a beauty.
Black. Apparently, black is the trendy colour for 2012. So if trend-following is your thing, use it judiciously for strong focal points and highlights. Don’t get too sombre though, will you.
Community. All over the world community gardening initiatives are booming, but it’s a trend that’s failed to gain much traction on the Downs – yet. I hope 2012 is the year.
Digging. No dig is all the rage at the moment, but next year gardeners will rediscover the practicality, and sheer joy, of digging. As long as you don’t overdo it, the soil will be fine.
Edibles. Growing, cooking and eating your own food is one of the most deeply satisfying things in you’ll ever do, full stop.
Front Yards. Unlike in America, where planting vegies in front yards can get you arrested, there’s no reason in Australia why you can’t have a food garden in the front yard. Make the most of what is often a wasted space.
Grapes. Yes, they sometimes suffer badly from mildew in our wet summer climate, but they’re such versatile and useful plants that no garden should be without a vine or two.
Humus. Decomposed organic matter nothing less than one of the essential building blocks of our society. We must compost and build soil if said society is going to thrive in the future.
Ignorance. It’s not bliss. All of us, new and experienced gardeners alike, need to keep learning, keep pushing the boundaries, and always keep our minds open to fresh ideas.
June. It might be high summer, but we’re past the longest day and light will gradually decrease until the winter solstice in June. Don’t panic. Embrace the seasons as a wonderful gift.
Kitchen. The garden to kitchen trend is booming, but with climate change, peak oil and financial stress the themes of the decade, it will become a permanent part of our culture.
Lilies. I grew proper Asiatic lilies for the first time this spring. They were breathtaking. Can’t wait for round two in late November 2012.
Miscanthus. Ornamental grasses are among the most under-rated plants in the garden. Among the best are the various Miscanthuses, especially ‘Gracillimus’. A stunning plant.
Nandina. Plants this tough are hard to come by, but what I love the most about nandina is its beauty. The variety Gulf Stream makes a lovely hedge with stunning winter colour.
Originality. One thing I’d love to see in 2012 is a whole bunch of gardeners abandoning the trends and charting a course that is unique to personality and place.
Poultry. Chooks are rapidly becoming an essential part of the backyard again, and thank goodness for that! Why wouldn’t you want a cheap source of fertility and the best eggs ever?
Quiet. Here’s some prime advice for 2012: find time to down tools and simply sit in the garden enjoying some peace and quiet. Use the garden as a place of refuge.
Radical. Its time for gardening to strip off its conservative tweed jacket (as much as I love tweed) and get radical. To me this means bypassing the industrial food system by growing as much of your own as possible.
Sheds. Once they housed toxic chemicals, but these days they’re being reclaimed for better purposes. As more people grow their own, more sheds are being used to store the harvest.
Tools. I was lucky enough to photograph Cloudlake’s collection of garden tools this year. It confirmed to me that old tools are beautiful and so solidly built they’ll last centuries.
Usefulness. Arts and Crafts designer William Morris once said “Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful”. Same goes for gardens.
Vaccinium. Blueberries (aka Vaccinium corymbosum) do well in the red soil parts of the Downs. They’re highly ornamental, easy to grow and the fruit is a knockout!
Weeds. Plants growing where they aren’t welcome can, literally, be a thorn in the side. Glyphosate offers convenience, but organic options are becoming available. Seek them out.
Xenophobia. As much as I love Australian plants, I see no reason for our gardens to resemble the bush. We’re an eclectic people, and our gardens ought to reflect our cultural diversity.
Youth. Gardening has traditionally been the domain of retirees, but things are changing. More and more young adults are taking up the spade, which is fantastic. To these young gardeners, don’t overlook the wisdom of your elders.
Zingiber. Ginger as an easy plant grow in a subtropical climate, but it’s possible to get an annual crop in cooler areas. Plant a rhizome in rich soil and water regularly. Harvest in early winter.
First published in the Toowoomba Chronicle 31st December 2011.
Don’t forget to visit our new site The Radish, edible gardening from roots to fruits!!
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Justin! Love your blog! Speaking of Vaccinium, I have a Sharpe Blue blueberry in a pot which I’d like to plant outdoors, but I think the spot I have in mind gets hit by frost. Will this kill the plant? If so is there a more frost tolerant variety that would make the spot work?
Hi Pip,
Sharpe Blue is a low chill variety, which simply means that it needs a lower amount of chilling during winter than a high chill variety. The plant itself is just as frost hardy as a high chill variety though, so you will be safe to plant it in the position of your choice.
Hope that helps,
Justin