Re: "Britain meets the bay"

Hugo is right, the climate is very difficult to adjust to if your 
only known background information relates to a different climate, 
such as that of England or northern Europe. But one of the real 
problems is that most home owners who own gardens are not 'gardeners' 
in the sense we are familiar with - they have no particular interest 
in growing things, raising seeds, swapping plants, looking out for 
good design ideas; they just want to maintain property values, keep 
up with the Smythes and do as little arduous work as possible. Hence 
they look to populist models of what to do and do it - usually with 
the help of landscapers, jobbing gardeners and a local nurseryman who 
does job lots cheaper by the dozen and with a special homemakers 
mixed selection. Any ideas about gardening are gleaned from those all 
pervasive fashion mags. Getting our message across is our challenge, 
But the advertisng dollar that pays for publications and TV shows 
and radio talk-back likes a sure bet; they will go with what their 
market men tell them is the most sell-able image - and that all too 
aften means misty, dreamy shots of English gardens like HIGHGROVE, 
BARNSLEY, EASLING HALL etc. Impossibly Romantic and misleading when 
it comes to relocating the ideas to other climates. You will note 
that no gardens mag, esp the glossies ever offers any opinion as to 
the likely success of copying the idea shown in inappropriate areas 
where they know, only too well, that the mag is sold. Cultural 
Imperialism is alive and well.

trevor n

PS Cyclamen graecum in bloom now and 20 clones of Cyc. hederifolium, 
also white Plumbago 5m high falling out of an old variegated holly 
and many sedums, catmints and grasses.

-----------------
Trevor Nottle
Garden Writer, Historian,     
Lecturer and Comsultant 
       
    'Walnut Hill'                          
     5 Walker St       
     Crafers SA 5152 
     AUSTRALIA

Phone: +618 83394210
Fax:   +618 83394210
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