We have Found success growing Grevillea acanthifolia, an endangered Blue Mountains native, despite its reputation for thriving only in boggy conditions. Surprisingly, it’s done well in drier soils. Its sharp-tipped leaves may be dangerous but the vibrant pink and purple blooms are well worth it. This plant brings a rugged beauty to the garden, showcasing the tough yet gorgeous nature of Australia's flora.

I couldn’t resist sharing the beauty of our Tall Bearded Irises ‘voltigeur’, which are in full bloom right now. While they’re not native to Australia, they have become a star of our back garden, a space dedicated to both food and flowers—our own little picking and foraging haven.

When we first moved in, the garden was a wild mess of weeds and invasive trees. In the process of cleaning it out, I stumbled upon a small, neglected patch of Tall Bearded Irises. They were struggling, pale and withered, perforated by snails and slugs, starved of sunlight for what looked like a decade or more. Despite their poor condition, these hardy plants had managed to hang on.

Easy 3 ingredient home-made tool disinfectant spray. Keep your garden tools clean and your plants healthy. Protecting them from pathogens and diseases!

Easily, the most divisive plants in the Blue Mountains local community are Agapanthus, or "aggies" as we call them. As a horticulturist, I have never seen as much division or uproar about a plant in my life. Personally, I have witnessed heated exchanges in the street between residents over their purple verge plantings. I’ve seen neighbors sneaking around in the dead of night armed with secateurs, beheading blooms before they get the chance to unfurl their petals.

A veggie wet start to summer. This week week in our garden we are pulling the veggie patch to pieces and replanting after cabbage moth caterpillar plague.