About Bellingen Seedsavers

We are a group of like-minded growers of edible and useful heritage plant varieties in the Bellingen area of northeast New South Wales, Australia.

Our climate varies from frost-free coastal areas to inland river valleys and highlands with frosts. Bellingen has an average annual rainfall of 1507ml.

Thursday 13 October 2011

Bellingen Seed Savers Visits Carol's Coronation St Garden



Our group really enjoyed visiting a town garden. This garden was packed with surprises. As we approached we could see that Carol has fully utilised her nature strip.
 Old Man's Beard is draped on a Frangipani branch.




 

Carol has collected many succulents, ...



... orchids and bromeliads.
 Her monster Birds Nest Fern has been growing here for many years.  This fern is native to the rainforest around Bellingen.
 It gathers forest debris, in its spreading fronds, which then decompose to feed the fern.
 Some of us enjoyed a cup of Carol's Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica) tea. Carol grows the nettles in a pot to prevent this invasive plant becoming a weed.


One of Carol's many orchids thriving in the semi-shade.















 Carol grows comfrey and a variety of vegetables in a long raised bed with bird-netting stretched over polypipe. Comfrey is an excellent additive to compost and also makes a mulch rich with the minerals it mines with its deep roots.











This golden day lily loved its sunny northern position.




In this pic you can see an aloe, a rose and a native banksia all growing happily in Carol's front yard. She has also extensively planted her nature strips outside her fences.


Irises grow by the pool with a crucifix orchid in the foreground. We thinks these are Lousiana Iris.










 Here is a blue Lousiana Iris which is growing happily in soil.

Calla Lilies make an easy care groundcover, easily contained in a town garden.



Carol shared her years of gardening experience.












 Carol has collected many succulents and uses them here as groundcover.
 Her raised, netted vegetable area provides a steady supply of vegetables and herbs.

 Mustard grows in the vegetable garden...
 ...as does Italian Parsley.


 A view of the Dorrigo escarpment from Carol's front garden.




 More of Carol's succulents.








The naked branches of the large Frangipani.













A very, large Magnolia (not Magnolia grandiflora) provided shade. On the left is a mature Frangipani still to come into leaf. Click on all pics to enlarge.

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