:) After previous experiences (mine + family) I have vowed never to buy a place next door to liquid ambers, Norfolk pines, very tall gums and my biggest hate ... palms.

Has anyone grown a Chinese Tallow please?

I wonder how quickly they grow normally.  Ours was planted in about September last and it is growing like Topsy.    It grows to 9m we are told.  [It's put on nearly a meter in this time.]  It is getting plenty of sunshine except for today! Have never given it any fertilizer so it must be the vegie mix soil step son put in to create the garden bed.  But how long the goodness will last from that new soil we don't know.     

LOL well they charge like wounded bulls for them in nurseries in WA.  Looking forward to its development to give us some shade.   Thanks for your investigation   RnR perhaps because the East have a higher rain fall than we do.

Think my Protea is going down hill .........

I am told to prune it!   I have already, but I fear that poor thing [and it is a decent size] has soaked up some of the liquid fertilizers from the plants next to it.  My step son came around to have a look to day and he says prune it, but I think the soil is too rich as it is  a new garden and he put in some vegie mix. Everything else is growing like a rocket, but not my dear Protea.   He says he will move it for us but not for another 8 weeks.  He is a Tree Surgeon so I guess he knows what he is doing!

It is a small tree now and I would hate to lose it.....  I am not going to touch it!  He says that this must have happened just before it started to flower as apparently they are very sensitive about that time to anything like fertilizers.

The Chinese Tallow we put in last September has taken off like a rocket, it has grown 1.4m in height since we put it in!  LOL  So now it is about 1m taller than the fence already.

It grows to  9m apparently but we have to trim it when it has reached the height we want it to stop growing.  Step son says it doesn't take kindly to pruning once it has reached it's full height. So we will have to judge the height we want.

The fruit trees we are thinking of pulling out, they are so slow.  Have plenty of food and water and sunlight, but at our age we think the plants.....Orange and Lime willl start fruiting when we are six food under ourselves....not sure what to do with those.

How long would it take a fruit tree to get up to about four meters?  Husband forgot to ask his son that question!

Yes Plan B that is what I thought.....the poorest soils are the best.  He said leave it for another  8 weeks by then I think it will be dead.   

I think I shall get a gardener in and get him to remove it, it cannot wait that long.  It is took big for us oldies to move, too big and heavy.

I have a Bowen Mango tree grown from seed -- there are the best I have every tasted and I have some seeds from this season as it has been a good one -- possoms got quite a few but I don't mind them enjoying them too --- I am going to try and shoot these seeds and give them away, as I won't be around to grown another tree and see it fruit

I have recently lost three of my Moth Orchids I have three left!   I gave them new soil and must have damaged The roots, it is very sad to lose a plant. They Were so beautiful I think I will leave them alone And just feed and water them.   Anyone else had issues with these or any Orchids?

image: http://yatesau-production.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/9354/orchids-main.jpg

Moth Orchids

Phalaenopsis orchids, more commonly known as ‘Moth’ orchids, are native to tropical Asia and are a stunning type of orchid that make a beautiful potted plant. The flowers are long lasting and moth orchids can live for many years, so they’re a worthwhile and very pretty investment. It’s like receiving a bunch of flowers every day for weeks!

The long, fragile looking flower spike can make moth orchids appear daunting to care for, however by using a few simple steps they can be an easy and rewarding plant to grow and can even re-flower for you.

Moth orchids naturally grow within the canopy of trees, attached to tree trunks. When grown in a pot, they need the same free draining environment so are planted into chunky, well drained orchid mix and often their roots will grow spider-like out and over the edge of the pot, similar to the way they would grow over and around tree trunks in the wild.They love humidity and bright but indirect light. Don’t place moth orchids next to an air conditioner, heater or hot westerly facing window.Every one to two weeks, water the orchid below the foliage, as moisture pooling in the crown or remaining on the leaves can encourage disease. A small watering can with a narrow spout is ideal. Overwatering can lead to the demise of your lovely orchid, so allow it to almost dry out between waterings. During particularly hot and dry weather, the overhanging roots can be misted with water every day.You can sit your potted moth orchid on a saucer that’s filled with pebbles and regularly add water to the saucer. This creates a more humid environment around the plant but doesn’t allow the roots to be permanently sitting in water.To keep moth orchids well nourished and give them the best chance to re-bloom, they should be fed regularly with an orchid food like Yates® Thrive® Orchid Liquid Plant Food, which has been specially designed to promote beautiful flowers and healthy green leaves. Any excess diluted fertiliser can be used to feed other flowering plants.Moth orchids are usually sold with their flower spike supported by a small stake. Keep this stake even after the flowers fade, as it can be used again for the next flowering season.Cooler temperatures at night encourage the development of flower spikes so look out for newly developing flower spikes in autumn.Monitor moth orchids for sap sucking insect pests like scale and mealybug, which can deplete plants, cause leaf yellowing and promote the growth of sooty mould fungus. Spraying the foliage with Confidor®will help keep these insect pests under control.

Top tip
Klare, one of Yates’ fantastic horticulturists (and self confessed orchid fanatic) shares this top moth orchid tip: after flowering, encourage more flowers by pruning the flower spike back to just above the second node from the base. A new branch will then emerge from that point, together with flower buds.

Ladies..I thought I would help out and bring up the garden thread for your use...

 this photo is off the net, but the last  6 - 8 weeks we have had yellow Cymbidiums out in flower.  They are much hardier than the Moth Orchids and are kept outside.

LOL

Cutting-hedge art? VERY proud mother lops 12ft tall garden bushes into the shape of her son's FACE

Birmingham mother turns garden hedge into faces of her son"

A mother proved that her obsession with gardening has grown out of hand after she shaped her hedges into the faces of her nearest and dearest. Art graduate Michelle Foley, 48, has trimmed two of her garden hedges into 12ft tall heads based on her partner and son. Michelle, who will have neighbours green with envy at her gardening talents, is now eyeing up a third hedge depicting her daughter. Her son Brennan Black, 21, was the first to be immortalised into a garden hedge (right), before he was joined by Michelle's partner Andrew Batterham, 51 (pictured left). Michelle, who recently started running her own catering business from a vintage campervan, first took to hedge-head trimming six years ago. The keen artist cannot wait to transform her entire garden in Harborne, Birmingham into a gallery of recognisable faces.

Anne,

Try looking at this Google Page to find a Community Garden near you.  They are always looking for plants, if not to keep they pot them up and sell them to make money to keep the garden going.  You should be able to find one near you and you could ring and ask if they want the plants.

When I helped start one up for local people with mental health problems, we were always on the look out for plant donations.  We were teaching them what and how to grow things in their own gardens and how to cook healthy meals for themselves and hopefully encourage them to meet and talk with people from their own area.

https://www.google.com.au/search?site=&source=hp&q=community+gardens+western+australia&oq=Community+Gardens+west+australia&gs_l=psy-ab.1.0.0i22i30k1l3.1711.25118.0.27433.37.34.1.0.0.0.280.5545.2-24.24.0....0...1.1.64.psy-ab..12.25.5553.0..0j0i131k1.k-Zv2tUTdkc