Garden Clinic Digs Deeper

Sandra Ross gives us all the tips on growing lovely liliums.

Sandra and Graham talk about the veggie patch - a great thing to do while at home.

Sandra gives us three topics to get your autumn garden productive - Bulbs to plant now, Magic Mulch, and some tips about autumn roses.

Welcome to the podcast gardening souls! From my forest green heart, thank you for joining me. Today we travel to Tanzania, metaphorically, to chat about a forest groundcover that we in Australia grow inside -a plant you'll see at Nanna's house -the African Violet. My friend Beverley Donsworth has been growing African Violets for forty years and is the President of the African Violet Association and joins me with all you need to know to reflower these frilly indoor beauties. They are one of the only indoor plants to actually flower. Today Bev shares her insider secrets on feeding, pruning, propagation, watering wicks and pest and diseases. With this knowledge I hope your African Violet thrives on your kitchen bench and that impulse buy you grab on the way to the nursery cash register flowers again for you. Connect with Beverley and the African Violet Association at their annual Flower Show. Facebook @African Violet Association of AustraliaConnect with Lindaon socials:@gardenclinicclub @linnie__ross November 2: The African Violet Association of Australia One-Day Show The Show will consist of over 60 classes of African Violets, the other Gesneriads, and some Artistic classes.There are generally about 200 entries so it will be a colourful display. Some of the show entries will be for sale as well as potting mix, pots and fertiliser. To be held at Burwood RSL Club, 96 Shaftesbury Road, Burwood, 10am to 4pm. Entry fee is $5 per person. More info at africanviolet.org.au/diary For more info on growing African Violets go to gardenclinic.com.au/blog/how-to-grow-african-violets

The Garden Clinic heads off to Japan this week for a very special mauve-tinted expedition to see the wonderful wisteria. Much of my love of gardening revolves around the anticipation of a single ephemeral event: winter's sweet lemon scented white daphne, spring's species tulips, streets fleetingly fringed with jacaranda; and wisteria's short-lived lilac lace. • To sit or stand underneath a flowering wisteria vine in full bloom, gazing through the mauve veil of flowers, inhaling the scent, and listening to the bees is bliss. • On the podcast today I revel in wisteria and particularly the Japanese species. I recorded the podcast recently in Japan whilst traveling to the best wisteria gardens on the planet. I touch on wisteria styles, varieties to look for, training, pruning techniques, feeding and finish by sharing my favourite wisteria wonderlands. Article: https://www.gardenclinic.com.au/how-to-grow-article/wisteria Book reference: Wisteria by Peter Valder Travel: To Japan's wisteria festivals with me www.rossgardentours.com/japan-festivals Connect with us on social media. @gardenclinicclub @linnie__ross @lindakirinross @rossgardentours

I have loved frangipanis as long as I can remember. They fragrance transports me back to simple summer days at the beach collecting flowers for float bowls and smelling like sunscreen. Welcome to a new year, Green Souls! Good news: the podcast is back from a long summer break! From my forest green heart, thank you for joining me here for another series. I'm kicking things off with my favourite flower, the fabulous Frangipani Collecting interesting cultivars has been a passion of mine for twenty years. It was a privilege to write the book with one of my mentors and uni lecturer John Stowar and photographer Lorna Rose. We travelled extensively through Bali, Hawaii, Australia and Mexico. Call it a junket, if you will, but we travelled far and wide, trekked up volcanic craters, to collate information for our book (Frangipani by New Holland). Today I share my growing tips for success and the tips I've picked up along the way. Sharing my thoughts on feeding, pruning, propagation, crown lifting, the best varieties to grow and touching on pest and diseases. I hope your frangipani thrives in your patch as a sacred symbol of truth and immortality. Connect with me on Facebook or Instagram. @gardenclinicclub @linnie__ross @lindakirinross

More people grow tomatoes than any other fruit or vegetable. But results can be mixed. Set yourself up with the right advice for a bounty harvest in an Australian environment. There is much joy to be had in picking sun-ripened, richly flavoured sweet tomatoes from your own garden. But it's not easy - with summer temps set to soar into the forties - it's time to get serious about garden grown tomatoes. This week Linda Ross is in her kitchen garden, sharing her tried and trusted tips and techniques from a misspent decade growing all types of tomatoes. From the essential soil prep ingredients to frameworks, companion plants, feeding, sun protection and seed saving. It's all here in a handy podcast. More information: https://www.gardenclinic.com.au/blog/getting-ready-for-tomato-time https://www.gardenclinic.com.au/blog/tomato-tragics-3-golden-rules https://www.gardenclinic.com.au/how-to-grow-article/tomato https://www.gardenclinic.com.au/how-to-grow-article/how-to-fix-your-tomatoes #gardeningpodcast #podcast #tomatoes #growingtomatoes #howtogrowtomatoes #therapeuticgardening #gardeningastherapy #gardenlife #lindaross #gardeningforlife #itallcomesdowntoplants #greentherapy #tomatotime

Geraniums are an excellent choice for our changing, warming climate. They thrive in bright sunny gardens, hanging out of window-boxes and adorning pots on balconies. And scented varieties are wonderful when picked and placed in a soothing hot bath! Linda visits Riva Dale's gorgeous and very popular Geranium Cottage in the north west of sydney. It's a hub of activity with a wonderful selection of hybrids, a delicious cafe and homemade jams and jellies. Linda and Riva discuss how to grow geraniums, the secrets of pinching out, the different varieties from zonal, ivy and scented. We discuss what was Queen Victoria's favourite geranium and give information on pruning and feeding. Geranium Cottage Where: 828 Old Northern Rd, Middle Dural Phone: 02 96520475 Website: www.geraniumcottage.com.au open 7 days a week from 8am - 4pm. Serve breakfast until 11am and lunch from 12pm. Morning and afternoon teas are available in between times. 50 minute drive from the city, so hop in the car and take Mum or Nanna for a spin. Facebook @geraniumcottagenurseryandcafe Connect with Linda - @gardenclinicclub @linda_kirin ross #gardeningpodcast #geranium #geraniums #geraniumcottage #pelargonium #pelargoniums #scented #rivadale #gardeningastherapy #womaninplants #gardenlife #lindaross #gardeningforlife #itallcomesdowntoplants #greentherapy

Linda chats to Milkwood co-founder Nick Ritar about harvesting seaweed for the garden, starting a summer tomato patch and growing your own mushrooms. These helpful topics are featured in an inspiring new book ~ Milkwood - Real Skills for Down to Earth Living. Which I'm sure will get you on the right road for growing, making, foraging, keeping, creating, cooking and baking. As the Milkwood crew says, "The skills that we learn bind our lives together. Do you want to learn how to grow your own vegetables? Or how to keep bees? How to forage for edible seaweed along the shoreline, or wild greens down by the stream? Maybe you're curious about growing mushrooms or how to grow the perfect tomato. We invite you to make these skills your own. Designed to be read with a pot of tea by your elbow and a notebook beside you, Milkwood draws on rich seams of knowledge and experience to bring the essence of these five subjects to you in a friendly, let's-get-going format." Buy the book here https://www.milkwood.net/book/ Connect on insta - @milkwood_nick @milkwood_permaculture Connect with Linda - @gardenclinicclub @linda_kirin ross

In their new book 'The Village', Matt and Lentil describe connecting to your village may just bring the good health, happiness and longevity you seek. Connecting to a simpler way of life where we rely on each other is one of the secrets to the world's blue zones - areas where health, happiness and longevity are at their highest points on the planet. It's about nurturing and being nurtured, it's for everyone who wants to share with the ones you love. Through their insta page and books Matt and Lentil inspire a new generation to start fermenting, baking sourdough, grow a veggie garden from scratch and cook nourishing wholesome recipes from delicious seasonal ingredients. Connect with Matt and Lentil through Instagram @grownandgathered And do grab the book. I loved 'all the Nonna's Stale Cake' recipe and my kids loved the eggplant and chickpea lasagne! Linda x

Do you think there is a kindness deficit in the world? I do! But not in this little corner of Australia. Today we visit a not-for-profit community therapy garden and nursery in the west of Sydney where the bees are buzzing and volunteers are laughing in a brand new safe space. And it's kind and exciting to see it in action. Marianne Farrar is at the coal face of therapeutic horticulture! She is a living, breathing example of it and its benefits for her various able bodied volunteers to work together producing plants in a happy, safe joyous place The Secret Garden and Nursery, Richmond. Connect with Secret Gardens and Nursery at with their Spring or Autumn Fairs or Collectors' Plant Fair @collectorsplantfair where they sell a huge range of salvias, ornamental grasses and beautifully crafted bee hotels. Spring Fair: Sept 8th, 2019. 9am-4pm where hundreds of plants will be for sale at bargain prices, live music all day and Devonshire teas and wood-fire pizza to gorge on. How to get to the Secret Garden The Secret Garden and Nursery is located on the Hawkesbury campus of Western Sydney University. Enter via Vines Drive and follow the signs from Londonderry Road, Richmond. Please note that the Secret Garden and Nursery is not owned or operated by the University. For all enquires please contact North West Disability Services directly. For more information about volunteering or visiting please call NWDS on (02) 9686 4155. Get Involved Western Sydney staff and students, and our wider community, are encouraged to support the Secret Garden through a number of ways: •Visit - come over during your lunchbreak or call in on the weekend •Donate your used plastic bags or plant pots or actual salvia cuttings that can be propagated •Make a donation - all donations over $2 are tax deductible •Have your wedding or children's birthday party there •Set up your own herb or vegie patch on site •Volunteer your time to help in the garden or nursery •Buy lots of plants! They have a huge range of plants including natives, exotics, herbs, succulents, cottage garden, water-wise plants, hedging, grasses, edging and trees. Wholesale prices are available to the public Address: Clydesdale lane, Western Sydney University Campus, Richmond. Enter via Londonderry Rd. Phone 0414 784 460 Email secretgarden@nwds.org.au Website http://www.secretgarden.org.au Connect with Linda @linda_kirin_ross #gardeningpodcast #podcast #volunteering #secretgardenandnursery #secretgardenandnurseryrichmond #therapeuticgardening #gardeningastherapy #womaninplants #gardenlife #lindaross #gardeningforlife #itallcomesdowntoplants #greentherapy

Indoor plants are clever things. They filter toxins from our homes to create healthy and happy green rooms for us to live within. Lauren Camilleri has a degree in interior architecture and graphic design in her bones and a love for foliage, she lives for matching the right plant with the nook where it can live its best life. Her fave plant is Monstera delicosa (aka swiss cheese plant) obvs, those graphic glossy leaves are a designers dream. But it's definitely not a case of style over substance with this beauty, they're also robust and delightfully low maintenance. Lauren and her best friend Sophie Kaplan have written a book about indoor plants and indoor plant people called 'Leaf Supply'. It's simply brilliant. And the photos by Luisa Brimble are as always heavenly and inspiring. Growing plants indoors is not always easy so host of the show, Landscape Architect and plantswoman, Linda Ross chats to Lauren about all aspects of growing thriving indoor plants: water, light and temperature requirements; common ailments; favourite plants + plants for light, dark or misty rooms and the best plants to hang from shelves. They bond over their crazy love or Alocasia and Mexican mistletoe and chat about having weekly showers - WITH THEIR PLANTS!!! Connect with Lauren on insta @leaf_supply. Order her book 'Leaf Supply' or take delivery of your own special indoor plant though her website www.leaf-supply.com. Connect with Linda on insta @linda_kirin_ross Have a planty question? Don't hesitate to reach out to the Garden Clinic to help with ailing plants (indoors included) @gardenclinicclub on social media. Find out more on our website www.gardenclinic.com

What are the therapeutic benefits of gardening in social housing, preschools, schools, health services and aged care? Dr Kate Neale from Southern Cross University is keen to find out, starting with KindyGarden, a program aimed at getting 3-5 year olds growing food. For more information in this field check out the upcoming therapeutic gardening conference on the Gold Coast where Kate will be speaking. Australian Therapeutic Horticulture Conference October 25-26-27, 2018 Speakers: http://www.cultivatensw.org.au/imagesDB/wysiwyg/Pre_ConferenceWorkshops_2.pdf Instagram: Connect with Kate on her inspiring Instagram page @mylittlesheshed Connect with Linda @linda_kirin_ross #gardeningpodcast #podcast #drkateneale #mylittlesheshed #therapeuticgardening #gardeningastherapy #womaninplants #gardenlife #lindaross #gardeningforlife #itallcomesdowntoplants

Meet Sophie Thomson - Garden consultant, media presenter and author of Sophie's Patch In the beautiful Adelaide Hills, this week's podcast guest Sophie Thomson is well known to viewers of ABCTV Gardening Australia who witnessed the evolution of this stunning garden. From a dry landscape, Sophie has transformed her patch of dirt into Hamlyn Cottage with a bush garden and has documented all in her new book - Sophie's Patch. Linda and Sophie share a love of home grown veggies and share recipes for New Guinea beans (www.sophiespatch.com.au/2018/04/23/new-guinea-bean-halva), Tomatillo Salsa Verde (www.sophiespatch.com.au/2018/04/23/tomatillo-salsa-verde-two-ways/) and other delights that will leave your mouth watering. Sophie shares Linda's passion about the role gardening can play in people's lives as a stress reliever. With more people claiming to feel stressed in their daily lives, let alone having to deal with the challenges faced when experiencing natural disasters such as flood or fires, she is convinced that gardening has a vital role to play in individual and community health, which is being backed up by research and engagement worldwide. "I believe gardening provides some of the solutions to life's challenges" says Sophie "because it reduces stress, teaches us resilience, care of our environment and gives us great pleasure and rewards when we see what we can achieve through our endeavours". She is an advocate for the worldwide Nature Play movement, which helps kids develop a lifelong connection with nature, and strongly believes in creating green backyards and green open spaces where kids can play freely, reducing their screen time in favour of green time. Check out Sophie's Patch with us next November when we head to South Australia & Kangaroo Island. Visit Ross Tours for more details or call on 1300 233 200

In this podcast Linda and the Chook Lady, Claire Bickle, discuss everything you need to know about keeping backyard chickens. Gardening, chooks, children and nature are at the heart of everything Claire does. Her love for the natural world stems from many a childhood day spent in the company of her grandmother, an avid gardener and plant lover. Claire lives on acreage in the western suburbs of Brisbane, with three children and her feathered flock and is delighted with her own patch. Here she pursues her love of nature and sustainability in a subtropical climate by helping poultry and growing organic fruit, vegetables and herbs. Her poultry include Araucana chickens - the breed that lays the blue shelled eggs, geese, guinea fowl, turkeys, ducks and quail - all part of her productive garden. Claire has worked in the horticultural industry for over 20 years, teaching horticulture for Brisbane North Institute of Tafe, as well as delivering a Sustainable Living Library. These two happy hens discuss their favourite 'girls' to their feisty 'boys'; the foods they love; how to protect them by providing safe housing and how to keep them healthy and happy in a backyard environment. websites : https://claire-bickle.com https://www.gardenclinic.com.au/how-to-grow-article/meet-claire-bickle www.claire-bickle.com/ Claire's Facebook: Claire Bickle Gardening for the Good Life Ask a question via our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/GardenClinicClub/ Keep connected with us on instagram: @linda_kirin_ross @gardenclinicclub @clairebicklesgoodlife