The perfect Christmas gift for those who have no idea what to get! We will post your Gift Voucher at no charge to anywhere in Australia once your order is received. IMPORTANT NOTE! The days of Australia Post delivering mail the next day are long gone… we are getting reports from some customers that the gift vouchers are taking anywhere up to 10 days to arrive. If you need it urgently it may be best to come in and grab one here at BAAG!
Long summer evenings, friends over for dinner, weekends reading outside in the shade, gardening with the radio on…..finally summer is here.
I love Christmas because I don’t stress over it. I can always grab a plant from work for a last minute gift, and the current preoccupation with indoor plants and decorator pots has made it soooo easy. You can tailor the choice to the person’s personality: sleek modern, folksy rustic, quirky handmade, its all available. Just slip a plant into the appropriate pot – job done.
The word climber is used rather loosely when describing plants. Many plants that fall into this category do not strictly climb, but would be more correctly designated ramblers or trailers. A true climber ascends using a variety of clinging methods. Some have aerial roots, which attach themselves to a support, like Ficus pumila. These are also known as self-clinging climbers. Some climb using tendrils, these are tightly curled and once wrapped around something are impossible to pull away without breaking. Eg. Passionfruit. The majority simply ascend by means of the soft young shoots which twine around their host. Eg. Climbing beans. These are also known as twining plants or sub climbers.
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New work from some of our favourite artists (and also some new artists)
From 24th November
Works include a large metal Christmas Tree sculpture by new artist Issa Ouattara, Textiles by Carlie Leech, Jacie Malseed and new artist Bigitte Haldeman, Ceramic sculpture by Meredith Plain, Heather Wilson, Jack Latti, Ann Jackson, Raine Edwards, Ann Maree Gentile and Lee Goller, Pottery by Jane Dubsky and Jenny Stokes, Metal sculpture by Tim Read and Nicola Hoyle, new artists Tanya Korin and blacksmith Paul Cacioli and baskets by Jeanette Carter.
Make sure you come and have a wander through – to look for presents for those who like something unique and handcrafted, a special treat for yourself, or to escape the Christmas rush and see how others are using their creative skills.
More pictures and info at http://gallery.baag.com.au/?p=3993
Who doesn’t love a tomato? Delicious home grown tomatoes are easy to grow, taste great, and you control what gets sprayed on them, if anything at all. Late October to early November is the perfect time to plant your tomato seedlings. Many different varieties are available including heritage varieties, from which you can collect your own seed to sow next season, and dwarf varieties suitable for growing in pots. Tomatoes are great for kids to grow, as they grow fast and produce lots of delicious fruit, especially cherry tomatoes. So even if you only have a balcony for a garden, you can grow delicious fresh tomatoes. You can raise tomatoes from seed or as seedlings, however to grow from seed you will need to have planted them by mid-September.
This is probably the busiest month of the year for gardeners. Warmer temperatures and the recent rains make for perfect planting conditions. As you can see from the pic above, it is also Tomato Time! Cup Weekend is traditionally the ideal time in Melbourne to get your tomatoes into the ground. In the rest of your garden, plants are either busily flowering or pushing out new growth. Birds, spiders, lizards and ladybirds are feasting on aphids, whiteflies and other sap sucking insects that love to feed on new spring growth. Allow predators to thrive in your garden by reducing or eliminating spraying, planting lots of flowers and creating a diverse and nature friendly garden.
Basil is one of the best known herbs in the world, and with good reason. It’s tasty, attractive and very easy to grow. With over 100 different species to choose from, Basil is never faulty!
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An Australian themed art exhibition by Darren Gilbert of new black ink artwork and rusty metal sculptures.
26th October to 18th November
Darren Gilbert’s striking pen & ink artworks celebrate Australian fauna, beckoning viewers to stop and really “see” the fascinating and often overlooked characteristics of our natives. The amazing patterns of plumage & fur, soulful expressive eyes, the unique curve of a beak, the gnarly texture of a claw is juxtaposed with bold gestural black ink brush strokes.
More pictures and info at http://gallery.baag.com.au/?p=3941
Bulleen Art & Garden is under serious threat from the proposed construction of the North-East Link. We are now asking our community help us to survive. BAAG is an innovative garden centre which provides a visitor experience not found anywhere else in Melbourne. Some people in the garden industry even say we are unique in the world with our focus on art, environment and a wide range of rare and unusual plants.
The planned path of the North East Link threatens the existence of not only Bulleen Art & Garden, but that of over 100 other local businesses… everything from pie makers to mechanics. Approximately 1000 jobs are at risk. Thanks to all who have signed our petition (It is below if you haven’t), but if you would still like to help there is more you can do.
We are asking as many people as possible to send an email to the North East Link Authority and let them know why you think these businesses are vital to the local community. We know we don’t have to say this as all of our customers are wonderful… but please be nice when emailing! Reasoned and calm arguments always go further than anger!
You can email the North East Link Authority on this address: community@northeastlink.vic.gov.au
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Every garden is its own (or is a unique but connected) ecosystem containing an extraordinary array of living organisms including plants, fungi, bacteria, microbes, insects and animals that all impact on the health and resilience of the living network. We are each the stewards of our gardens, the actions that we take can positively or negatively impact on this ecosystem.
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A decorative, fast-growing shrub with attractive, deeply-lobed, dark-green leaves. Becomes straggly with age but is easily rejuvenated with heavy pruning.
Clusters of violet flowers in January, followed by orange-red egg-shaped fruits. Fruits were eaten by Indigenous Australians, but only when very ripe as they are said to be poisonous at other times.
A very interesting structural plant – good in shrubbery plantings.
Small stiff light green leaves borne on gently arching branches. Masses of fragrant golden yellow flowers from late winter to early summer. Suprisingly hardy!
Flowers profusely in bright, fragrant yellow balls from August to November.
Good low screening plant when planted en masse. Grows well in our shallow local soils. Is moderately frost tolerant and drought hardy once established.
Bushy shrub with bright yellow flowers, contrasting with fresh green foliage. Vibrant yellow blooms make good cut flowers. Needs regular pruning to maintain compact habit.
Sprays of yellow flowers most of the year, with peak flowering through spring and summer.
Useful understorey plant especially in boggy areas. Fast-growing but short-lived coloniser for revegetation. Will grow under trees provided enough moisture. Ideal for slopes and embankments.
Austral Indigo, Australian Indigo
Flowers are sprays of soft purple through to pink from mid-September to November. Lovely soft blue green lacy foliage. Form can be variable, pruning will give a neater dense form, leaving alone will lend to a more delicate open arching form.
The flowers are an excellent pollen and nectar source for many native insects. Butterfly attracting.
Frost hardy (light frosts). Fast growing. Sun to part shade.
