Louise Blood, via email
My mother simply called this the mint bush (above). It has been grown in every garden we have had in Sydney, Brisbane and Tweed Heads. Its masses of pale mauve
owers attract many insects during winter when little else is in ower, and its soft, oily leaves emit a very strong odour of mint. What is it?
Ally Jackson says
I noticed this in my neighbourhood and was enchanted.
It is nutmeg bush or Tetradenia riparia (syn. Iboza riparia), from the mint family, Lamiaceae. It originates from Africa, where it’s said to have medicinal qualities but can lead to death if the dose isn’t right.
Peter Berry, Mt Riverview, NSW
ese scary, very spiky, melon-type fruits (above left) appeared in a pot of petunias in my Blue Mountains garden in autumn. e spikes are tiny but vicious! What are they?
Phil Dudman says
It’s difficult to be sure at this early stage. You could have horned melons (Cucumis metuliferus), also known as African horned cucumbers or kiwano. The fruits have an edible jelly-like substance inside when ripe. However, they could also be fruits of the common weed paddy melon (Cucumis myriocarpus). These fruits cause vomiting when eaten. When in doubt, pull it out!
Paula Riggs, Dulwich Hill, NSW
After a trip away earlier this year, I noticed rust on my lawn (below left). ere was very heavy rain the previous month. Can you help?
Todd Layt at Ozbreed says
Don’t worry too much about this as it will not hurt the lawn. Most Zoysia types of grass can get rust in the first season of growth if they are too wet, but it’s very rare when transplanted. When the lawn thickens up, it seems not to happen again. Although rust is unusual on a well-established lawn, it can happen on occasion, especially with wet weather. If the grass has a chance to dry out a little, that will help recovery. You can spray with a fungicide, but it will eventually go away on its own. Mow lightly if needed. Top-dress the lawn in spring with a sandy organic blend, and that will make it much harder for the rust to reappear.