Useful Link:
The Atlas of Living Australia
Nearly every species is shown with photograph, distribution map and description.

www.ala.org.au

Useful links
Brisbane City Council Website - weed identification tool
http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/environment-waste/weeds/weed-control-methods/index.htm

Plantnet - online flora
http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/floraonline.htm

Plant lists for each shire:
http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/wildlife-ecosystems/plants/index.html

Weeds Australia - Weed identification
http://www.weeds.org.au/cgi-bin/weedident.cgi?tpl=plant.tpl&ibra=all&card=W22

Weed spotters - links to other sites
http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/wildlife-ecosystems/plants/queensland_herbarium/weed_spotters_queensland_network.html

New Land for Wildlife Notes
Download from: www.seqcatchments.com.au/LFW.html

The Creek in our backyard: A practical guide for landholders

Download the free booklet from: www.saveourwaterwaysnow.com.au

Plants for Cyclone Prone areas - See this great article: http://www-public.jcu.edu.au/discovernature/choosingplants/index.htm

2011 excursion schedule
Note that the dates for the CBC garden Awards have been changed and will now be held from 4th to 7th October.
Click on each image and it should open in a new window where you can zoom in to view the details or print it out.

Below is the list of excursions for 2010. Click on the image and it should open in a new window and you can make the text bigger.

Cool Links

the following link is for an article on creating a butterfly garden using native plants.

butterflies

and see this:

more butterfies

and a free on-line gardening magazine

Global Garden

Below is the list of excursions for 2008. Click on the image and it should open in a new window and you can make the text bigger.

Design with Nature - Planning a Native Garden
Excerpts from the PowerPoint presentation prepared by Lawrie Smith landscape architect providing a check list of the principal aspects to be considered in the landscape planning, design and plant selection for your home garden.


FIRST . . .
Record the physical characteristics of your garden whether new or under rehabilitation
Prepare a layout plan showing the size and shape of your block . . .
• Most important – locate north!
• Indicate the slopes and levels
• Indicate the on-site & adjacent structures
• Show the underground and overhead services
• Define the landform, rock & soil patterns
• Locate existing vegetation for preservation

SECOND . . .
Get to know your site and its surrounds, personally
Illustrate on the layout plan the physical and microclimate impacts . . .
• Most important – locate north!
• Assess the patterns of sunshine and shadow
• Identify the effects of storm, wind, breeze
• Identify the effects of rainfall and water runoff
• Identify the positive and negative views
• Assess the quality of the soils & sub-soils
• Identify existing vegetation for preservation, transplant or removal

THIRD. . .
Indentify your principal family needs & functions
Define on plan how YOU want to use the garden . . .
• Assess your budget, priorities & available time
• Plan for interesting arrival & first impressions
• Identify vehicle circulation requirements
• Plan functional & interesting access pathways
• Define and locate areas for outdoor living activities
• Plan for children’s play facilities
• Identify areas for work activities in the garden
Don’t forget – a garden is an artistic creation that evolves over time

FOURTH. . .
Choose a style & theme for your garden
Your preferred garden character will influence the site planning & plant selection.
Is your garden to be . . .
• Formal, informal, traditional, contemporary or for seasonal horticultural display?
• Reflect the architectural style of the house?
• Exciting fusion of plants and materials
• Bush garden, rainforest, coastal, cottage or ?
• Collectors, scientific, experimental?
• ‘Walkabout’ or stroll garden?
• New fresh and uniquely Australian!
• Fundamentally simple, livable & affordable

FIFTH . . .
Now you are ready to select plants for your garden
Each plant has differing attributes . . .
• What is it? – tree, shrub, cover, vine, fern, palm or ?
• Where is it from?
• What conditions does it prefer?
• How big does it grow in nature?
• Does it adapt to horticultural techniques?
• Have you seen it thriving nearby?
• What is its most prominent feature – form, foliage, flowers, fruits, bark or ?
• Where are the most flowers and colourful foliage displayed & when?

LISTEN TO THE PLANTS!
To help you select the right species
They can tell you about themselves . . .
• Large leaves = shade tolerance
• Small leaves = sun preference
• Thick & waxy leaves = store water for later (water wise)
• Swollen trunk = store water (drought tolerant)
• Ligno tubers = fire resistance
• Aromatic = insect resistance
• Massive seed production = weed potential
• Grey & silver leaves = sun tolerant & salt resistant
• Delicate leaves = moisture stress indicator
• Thorns & spines = wildlife protection & habitat

TREES
Trees have a variety of characteristics and functions
• Evergreen or deciduous
• Consider root systems
• Diverse forms: globular, upright, umbrella, irregular, weeping, conical, etc
• Specimen tree as a feature or focus element: form, foliage, bark, flower , fruit or fragrance
• Shade tree locate to control sunshine and shadow
• Multi planted as a grove, forest or windbreak

PALMS & CYCADS
Palm fronds add a special & unique character to a garden
• Size: tall, medium, low
• Self cleaning or persistent fronds
• Feather frond or palmate frond
• Individual specimens
• Formal avenues
• Informal groves

SHRUBS
Shrubs fulfill some important design functions . . .
• Size: tall, medium, low
• Screens & hedges: privacy, conceal, windbreak, filter breeze,
• Feature: form, foliage, flower, fruit, fragrance
• Shrubbery: foliage contrast, water zone
• Aesthetic: colour, texture,

GROUNDCOVERS
Covers are diverse in colour, texture and form as well as functionally and structurally useful . . .
• Dwarf shrubs, mattes, tufts, vines, scramblers, grasses, ferns,
• Erosion control
• Living mulch
• Feature plants, seasonal colour

VINES & SCRAMBLERS
Vines are functionally and structurally useful . . .
• Select & locate to maximize flower display – over canopy, under canopy, along stems
• Shade & shelter: pergola and arbours
• Softening: fence, walls,
• Maintenance: pruning, woody, fire, tree damage


FIVE BASIC PLANTING TECHNIQUES FOR ANY AUSSIE GARDEN
WATER WISE GARDEN DESIGN ISSUES

1. Garden Layout & Maintenance - to simplify & minimise water application;
• Group plants with similar water needs together - Hydrozoning
• Shallow regular watering (unwise) – encourages roots to remain in the drier upper soil levels
• Deep soaking watering less often (wise) – draws roots down to permanent reserves of subsoil moisture
• Apply water deep down in the root zone through a slotted tube (wise) – to replenish subsoil reserves of moisture

2. Soil – aeration, fertility, additives;
• Amend soil texture to improve water absorption and aeration – add sand and organic material;
• Use additives to lock applied moisture into soil so it is progressively available to plants;
• Do not over fertilize and promote soft new growth – can you supply enough water to keep the plant alive?

3. Exposure - sun or shade, air movement;
• Reduce exposure to sun and minimise moisture loss through transpiration
• Utilize available shade from house or trees to insulate plants from drying sun
• Protect plants from excessive air movement to inhibit loss of moisture from foliage
• Plant windbreaks and water-efficient shade trees to create cool shaded conditions

4. Landform - water runoff & harvesting;
• Form suitable landform to collect surface water to absorb into subsoil and minimise runoff

5. Insulate the garden against the sun
• Mulch; Mulch; Mulch;
• A minimum of 100mm of mulch will insulate the soil like a blanket and conserve applied moisture


Choose & use Australian Native Plants
a basic element for landscape design