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What's new
December/January 2003/2004
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Flora - the 'Gardener's Bible'Reviewed by Leigh Siebler.
When I sat down to write this review I asked myself how one could possibly do justice to a book like Flora in such a short space. I guess the answer is that you simply can't, but here goes anyway.
The preparation and thinking that has gone into Flora must have been a mammoth task for so many people, perhaps a 'labour of love'. The two people that I have met, Gordon Cheers and Margaret Olds, were just so enthusiastic and helpful that they dragged you along for the ride. Gordon sent me a copy of Flora and made the following comment:
"If you are looking throughout the book, can I suggest that you spend no more than five seconds per page, then after two hours you will hit the index which doesn't really need much of a read. I suggest this from the experience of a person who spent twenty seconds per page when it first arrived in the office."
Well, I have not looked at every page (Flora runs to nearly 1600 pages and covers more than 20,000 plants and around 12,000 photographs) but I have had a good look through it. Flora is easy to follow with plants grouped by genus and common names included where appropriate. Flora utilises the twelve hardiness zones which is the system developed in the 1960s by the United States Department of Agriculture. It provides an excellent guide.
I spoke with Gordon Cheers again about Flora and his comments quoted below are very interesting.
So why do a CD?
"Firstly, as publishers, instead of ignoring the internet, we have produced a CD-ROM that actually has hundreds of links to the best websites. This is a CD that landscape-gardeners can take to clients on a laptop and show them the types of plants, then later print out a copy.
It is a CD on which gardeners can keep their own garden journal, or if they only want to grow plants that do well in their zone, click on their zone and list the appropriate plants. If you are a specialist grower, growing say orchids, then you can search for orchids only, and you will get a list of all the orchids in Flora.
On the CD-ROM accompanying the book you can see these plants change overtime. The CD-ROM comes free with the first edition of the book.
If you are a student of horticulture, you can click on the spell-checker button and add all the plant names to your computer's spell checker. What can I say, other than to express a wish that we had this before we did Flora!"
The photography is exquisite, the information is accurate and the presentation stunning. Congratulations to all concerned.
'Flora' - published by Global Book Publishing
Tel: 02 9967 3100.
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'Candelabra'Callistemon pallidus 'Emma'
Hardy and colourful bottlebrushes are always in high demand for home gardens and for streetscape plantings. This latest selection for the Austraflora Collection of 'Flora for Fauna' is perfectly designed for such demand. Upright and narrow in habit, reaching a height of 2.5 - 3 metres and a width of only 1-2 metres, its silvery grey foliage is crowned with clusters of highly perfumed acid-yellow candles during spring and summer. It thrives in full sun or light shade and will grow in cold to sub-tropical climates in well drained, moist or even seasonally wet soils. Extremely frost hardy, it is suited to both inland or near coastal gardens.
'Candelabra' may be used for dense hedging and screening, especially in narrow or confined spaces. Cut back after flowering, or trim as required.
Tubestock orders: Faceys Nursery
Tel: (03) 5996 1466.
Wholesale growers: Austraflora Pty Ltd: (03) 5965 2011 or
e-mail: info@austraflora.com.
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Twilight magic from HPMThis summer there's no need for your customers to drag out those half melted candles and kerosene soaked bamboo torches, or spend hours putting up coloured party globes or untangling knotted fairy lights.
With 12 stunning new designs and a choice of different lighting effects, HPM has a solar light to set any style of garden or outdoor area aglow.
Choose from Solar Highlights that emit a unique bright downlight, Solar Mood lights that create a warm amber glow, and Solar Accent lights that emit a subtle white light. HPM solar lights feature new-look, informative packaging which details light output, installation and usage.
Stock up now on the complete range of solar lighting from HPM in preparation for the seasonal rush - around RRP $19.95 to $69.95. Take advantage too, of HPM's garden light marketing and publicity campaign throughout summer.
HPM
Tel: 1300 369 777.
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A 'Smokey' form of Dietes'Smokey' is an evergreen member of the Iris family with handsome sword-like, smokey grey-green foliage and cream flowers. It is drought hardy, frost hardy and shows excellent pest and disease resistance.
'Smokey' makes an excellent landscape plant.
Flowering height is around 80cm with the foliage growing to around 40cm high.
Bau Farm
Tel: (02) 6624 3833
Email: admin@baufarm.com.au
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Home propagating kitIntroducing Aquamiser, a unique, Australian made home propagating kit designed specifically for the dedicated home gardener. Aquamiser has the potential to save home gardeners valuable time and money, given that they should be able to propagate up to eight different cuttings using the fully automatic self-watering tray.
Aquamiser is designed so that any type of plastic bottle or container can be used as a source of water supply for the tray. Also included in the kit are eight pots with humidifying covers and base caps for raising seedlings. Within a few weeks users should be able to propagate and raise their own cuttings and seeds.
The Aquamiser is packaged in a sturdy attractive carton and comes complete with an easy-to-understand instruction booklet. Aquamiser- Just 'Set and forget' and watch your plants grow!
Premium Plastics,
(08) 9302 1633
or visit www.aquamiser.com.au.
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Make a splash without wasting waterAn amazing new Australian product from Eden Indoors is making a splash in the potted plant world. POTTOPPA is a unique curved potting system that enables you to plant an unlimited range of showy annuals, and place them simply and instantly on and around your existing potted feature plants. POTTOPPA's fully patented clever design eliminates problems associated with companion planting in containers. No longer do you have to disturb the root zone of existing plants, nor worry about pH or other cultural aspects in shared environments. Whether indoors or outdoors, your customers can plant selected flowers, ferns, herbs or succulents into POTTOPPA and admire the results. POTOPPA can then be placed onto existing planter and water as normal. A revolutionary water control system transforms POTTOPPA from free draining to a self watering reservoir pot, holding its own water for the under-plants. This easy to operate slide arrangement doubles as a water viewing window, thus eliminating the need for frequent and wasteful watering, with surplus water flowing into potted plant below. So simple!
Eden Indoors
Tel: (02) 6921 5600
Email: edenindoors@actewagl.net.au
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New Stainless Steel Fountains.With today’s water garden market in overdrive, more and more customers are seeking unique water features that will enhance their gardens and property valuations. The general consumer has been in love with the quality, durability and great looks that Stainless Steel has to offer. It features in appliances and many new kitchens today and now, it’s about to move outdoors!
Rain One Australia, have introduced their exciting new range of PondMate Stainless Steel Fountains, and they’re nothing short of spectacular. There are four designs that make up the range; the Olympic, Harley, Voyager and Triumph ranging in height from 75cm to 100cm. All are easy DIY systems and with retail pricing for all models falling under the $500 mark, for Stainless Steel, not only are they great looking, but also affordable to customers.
For more details, or to enquire about setting up a live display on site, call
Rain One
1300 132 302.
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New Ripple Steel Column Light Waterwerks, Australia's leading water feature and home lifestyle specialists have just released their new Ripple Steel Column Light, designed to add a contemporary edge to any home or garden.
Waterwerks' Ripple Steel Column Light stands 710 cm tall and combines soft illumination with the soothing effects of trickling water to provide a spectacular ambience to indoor or outdoor settings.
While it has a contemporary stainless steel finish, it is actually made from lightweight, durable, weather-resistant materials which create excellent natural look finishes including sandstone, slate, bronze and more, without the associated costs and disadvantages.
All Waterwerks lifestyle water features recirculate the same body of water over and over, so despite Australia's dry conditions, people can still enjoy the relaxing and therapeutic effects of water in the home.
Waterwerks
Tel: (toll free) on 1800 552 777
E-mail: ineker@peselandcarr.com.au.
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