YOU ARE INVITED to visit Fay’s garden
I first visited Europe in in 1990 arriving in time to admire the cherry blossoms on the trees in Germany and lingering until the first cherries had ripened. Thus I saw the wonderful metamorphosis that is a Northern Hemisphere spring.
Two years later when Eberhard and I moved to live on the Granite Belt, the coldest region of Queensland, I realised I could grow many of the flowers I had so greatly admired in the European gardens. What I hadn’t anticipated was that because we also have severely cold winters, although seldom any snow, we too could experience the same dramatic change of seasons. Yesterday I saw a cherry tree laden with blossom at Thunderbolt Farm http://www.thunderboltfarm.com.au and by the first week of November the cherry orchards of the Granite Belt will be dispatching cherries to the capital city markets and overseas. My own Morello cherry tree is a little slower to bloom and ripen fruit, but I grow it for the superb sour cherries needed to make Eberhard’s famous Black Forest Cake, the recipe for which can still be found on SBS TVs Food Lovers Guide to Australia.
Lilac blooms against a blue Queensland sky
Everyone asks me when my garden looks its best. My bulbs bloom in the early spring under still deciduous trees. The flowering trees like the crab apple, peach and cherries blossom mid September as do my wisteria vines amd the Chinese roses – Banksia and Rosa Lavigata are covered in flowers the first week of October. It is this rapid succession of different flowering varieties that I had first noticed in Europe, for these were the flowers I saw each taking a week to be centre stage during the spring months.
Now the deciduous trees are gaining their leaves and my garden is noticeably turning green. This green period will last no more than two weeks before shrubs begin blooming and the colourful annuals like the poppies claim attention.
Fig tree
In this view you can see that the fig tree is budding out with green leaves and the roses in the foreground have fresh leaves. I have established many permanent features, including various green conifers, all of which, like the Mondo grass lawn, are intended to lesson the amount of work I do to maintain this garden.
Green rose garden
The first buds are appearing on the rose bushes. By the time I begin welcoming bus tours of visitors to my garden on 19th October, this rose bowl will be filled with colour and perfume.
First Flanders Poppy of 2008
Already the one plant has produced a red Flanders poppy, the pink cistus – rock rose is covered with flowers, the blue forget-me-nots are brightening shady areas, the lavenders edging the paths are blooming and I’m hoping you will visit me this year to see my garden reach its full glory. Entrance to the garden is $5.00 per adult. If you want to stay a night phone me on 07-4683 4227 or email helwig@halenet.com.au
Rock rose - cistusBanksia Rose, named after the botanist Sir Joseph Banks.
Banksia Rose, named after the botanist Sir Joseph Banks.
Large variety of forget-me-nots
Lavender edges the paths
