CHRISTMAS? HERE ALREADY?

GRAB SOME LAST MINUTE CHRISSY GIFTS FOR THE GARDENERS IN YOUR LIFE

WITH Christmas only a few days away, it’s no doubt a great time to take all our readers on a quick tour of our local nurseries to help germinate a few ideas for that “better-late-than-never” gift for that special gardener in your family or for a close friend with a green thumb.

1. The Springs Garden World (333 Spring St, Kearneys Spring) has a wonderful range of indoor plants on offer, just like this spectacular maidenhair fern. Why not repot your gift into one of their gorgeous glazed pots, just like the one pictured here?

2. Nothing quite matches the cheeriness of a summer Dahlia display, so this mass planting of dwarf dahlias at True Blue Garden Centre (127 Hursley Rd, Glenvale) will brighten up a sunny patio or entertainment area for Christmas day.

3. There’s a startling range of dwarf bougainvilleas on offer at Coroneos Nursery (266 Herries St, Newtown) at the moment. This is a little ripper – a variegated variety called ‘Pixie Queen’. Growing to 1m x 1m, it’ll bloom almost all year if in a warm, sunny spot.

4. For those who love native plants, this is a “no-brainer” Christmas gift choice! It’s Grevillea ‘Jingle Bells’, grafted onto a tall standard, and it’s available at Sungrown Nursery (17 Prescott St, Toowoomba).

5. Continuing the Christmassy plant name theme…..here’s the NSW Christmas bush, Ceratopetalum ‘Albery’s Red’, showing off its red calyxes (bud coverings) which persist after the actual flowers have dwindled. At Highfields Garden Centre (cnr New England Hwy and Recreation Reserve Rd, Highfields)

6. A stunning red perennial Lobelia, this is ‘Starship Red’. It’ll do well in containers or the garden bed, provided it has a full sun position. Springs Garden World.

7. Nothing says “summer” in December like the hardy Agapanthus. This is ‘Twister’, its bicoloured flowers turning heads wherever it blooms. It’s also a deciduous variety, making it a toughie for the really cold areas of our region. True Blue Garden Centre.

8. A drought and cold-tolerant, sun-hardy plant, Sedum ‘Pure Joy’ is the perfect gift for those who can leave it in a pot on their pergola table, or patio plant stand. Coroneos Nursery.

9. Flowering from spring right through into summer, a daisy plant is the perfect Christmas gift to help brighten a sunny summer garden spot. A great range of colours and sizes, mostly Margeurite daisies, at Sungrown Nursery.

10. Know someone who has a contemplative corner in their garden where they go to simply sit and chill? Why not let them share it with this very quiet Buddha statue? Highfields Garden Centre.

Thank you to all who have read, contributed to, and supported this gardening page over the last five years.

Wishing you all a very happy and safe Christmas, and a fulfilling New Year.

Looking forward to the next five years!