Re: Can you help me?? (Christine in Geralton WA)

At 09:49 PM 4/22/01 -0700, Christine infanti wrote:
>Hi,
>I found this site online.  I live in Australia (southern hemisphere)
>therefore our seasons are opposite.  Geraldton, Western Australia is 500
>kilometers north of Perth.  We have hot windy summers 30 - 47 Celsius.  We
>are on the West Coast and the in wind during the day is an easterly - hot &
>strong from the inland desert areas.  We occasionally get afternoon westerly
>winds to cool down a little (if we are lucky) off the ocean.  Salt can
>sometimes be an issue but we are about 3 -4 kilometers inland.  I want to
>establish a "low maintenance but "pretty garden on the easterly road front.

Hi Christine -

I'm glad you found us and I hope we can be of some assistance.  We are 
mostly around the world from you but many of us are interested in Western 
Australian plants and if could be very interesting to hear from someone in 
a local such as yours.  We've all hear of or grown the Geraldton Waxflower, 
Chamelaucium uncinatum - does this grow in your local area?  Here is 
someone's site that features some WA wildflowers - maybe you know some of 
them (or this site will help you put names to some)?:
http://wildflowers.ozthunder.com/perth.htm

I know many people are already providing some response to you, but I have a 
few questions:

Are you located in a residential, developed area?  Or out in wild 
lands?  Do you know the flora growing naturally around you?  Can you name 
some of these plants?  This might help us get a fix on your situation and 
suggest possible plant solutions that would be most appropriate.

>Limestone is a big issue - some bits of the front yard are "cap-rock" -
>therefore the soil is poor.  I have discovered I can grow a Pointsiana and
>Triangle Palm if I add Iron phosphate powder & granulated manure when the
>leaves become yellow.  We use a reticulated drip system to water at night.
>That way the water does not blow away in the summer and burn the trees in
>the heat of the day.

Limestone soil can support many things and are not uncommon in 
mediterranean climates.  Someone already mentioned mulching deeply - are 
there resources in your area where you might get some free mulch from tree 
chippers or other people?  A coarse material with lots of woody bits and 
small branches might be more stable in your wind.

>Due to a local weed called "Walkaway" burs (local
>name- doubt it is a true plant name) we gave up on having lawn in the front
>yard after landscaping several times . . .

Apparently 'Walkaway' is a district or town near to you?  Not just a quaint 
name for a burr plant (that sticks to you as you walk away)?  Or perhaps both?

>There is a 2 meter strip of sandy areas down the side of the driveway (that
>did not get bitumised) with pencil pines surviving (variegated) and 2-3
>bushes called "New Zealand Christmas Tree" (variegated with a flower similar
>to the Australian "Bottle Brush")!!  Needless to say they do not grow
>vigorously and the "Burr" is wild among them.  The east wind blows down that
>tunnel and sends sand straight into my bedroom window!

I think I have this same Metrosideros in my garden, which prefer the 
coastal climate here and resents high heat - no wonder it isn't doing well.

Seems to me you need from good native trees/shrubs to help with the wind 
and blowing sand!  You might find the following WA landscape project of 
interest - perhaps some of them are close enough to you to visit and gain 
insight:
http://www.outbacktrees.com.au/projects.html


>Our winter is mild & we can often get cool, crisp sunny days. I am not sure
>of the rainfall but I am sure you would have access to that information.  It
>is not terribly high - we are on the northern edge of what is referred to as
>the wheat belt area.
>
>As you can see from above I am sick of the money & effort spent over the
>years to try & grow a reasonable low water/maintenance garden.  Using
>bitumen, gravel and having lots of paving & roadway around means a lot of
>reflected heat.

You are right to try and reduce reflected heat.  Trees and green cover 
should be encouraged where ever possible.

>I know we are a long way from you but from the quality of your website & the
>great variation of climate in the US, it might be just possible you may be
>able to help me.  I could take some digital photos if that would help.

I would personally be interested in seeing photos of your site.  We do not 
allow photographs to be posted to this forum as it can easily cause many 
people problems with downloads.  But if they might be of interest, I can 
post them on our web site and they can be 'pointed to' there.  You can 
e-mail photos to me directly (not to the group, please).

>Sorry if this has been long & boring.  I hope you can advise me.  Some
>people have suggested using bulbs that do not need to be lifted & are
>drought resistant but then there is the limestone problem.  The soil is not
>good & I cannot afford to ship in more.  If you can help the I know a lot of
>people in this place who would be interested in your website.  I know there
>may be issues of cost for your products & import laws to consider.  If these
>things were not too much of a problem - then you maybe could gain a market
>in Geraldton, as most of the Nursery Supplies are shipped from 500 - 600 kms
>south.  This means they are often cultivated in climatic conditions & soils,
>so when we purchase them (with the greatest intentions) they more than
>likely do not survive.

You might check out the Woorree Wildflower Nursery 
(http://www.wn.com.au/wwn/) which says they specialize in the flora of the 
Geraldton-Greenough area.  I agree, it is best if you can find a local 
resource for plants, grown in conditions like your own.  Growing from seed 
might also be cheaper and the best for establishing plants, depending upon 
what species you can find that are possible to germinate under the 
conditions you can give.

Bulbs might be an idea, but with so many exotic bulbs escaping into the 
outback of Australia I am reticent to suggest before I know more.

Anyway, welcome to the group.  I look forward to hearing more about your 
situation and understanding the conditions you must deal with on your property.

Regards,
Sean O.


h o r t u l u s   a p t u s     -    'a garden suited to its purpose'
Seán A. O'Hara        fax (707) 667-1173     sean.ohara@groupmail.com
710 Jean Street, Oakland, CA 94610-1459, U.S.A.
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