We are very happy to announce we will be re-opening tomorrow morning at 9am. If you plan to visit BAAG please be aware that the following are non-negotiable conditions of entry. We look forward to seeing you all again!
Oct 272020
Oct 062020
BAAG is privileged to operate in one of the most culturally significant regions for art in Melbourne, often referred to as the Valley of the Arts. The two most important Australian art movements, the Heidelberg School and the Angry Penguins, originated in this area. Heide Museum of Modern Art, which is just across the park from BAAG is an iconic art venue.
BAAG has placed emphasis on the arts and creativity in response to this location, and also the passion of the proprietors and some staff for the arts. This has enabled us to develop a unique identity, atmosphere and experience at BAAG. One way of furthering those aims is shown by incorporating an increasing array of artworks in the structural fabric of BAAG and adopting a creative approach everything that we do.
For more pics and information on the permanent artworks at BAAG, head to http://gallery.baag.com.au/?p=4526
Oct 012020
At BAAG we place a high importance on the parklands which surround us. We are fortunate to be located in an area with high environmental and cultural significance, and are keen to make our contribution to this important area. We have been a partner in numerous revegetation and public awareness projects in the local parklands for over 25 years.
Currently there are two things which may impact on this important area, looming North East Link works, and the Bulleen Cultural Precinct advisory Committee (we will let you know more about this soon). Therefore, we thought we would let you know more about this “jewel in the crown” of our local area, and BAAG’s role.
BAAG has worked with Parks Victoria, friends groups, community and school groups, water authorities, local business and state and local governments to produce strong outcomes for the environment and the community. BAAG has built into its Environmental Policy and meeting topics a policy of actively promoting the expansion of the Yarra Valley Park wildlife corridors through habitat creation in private spaces and residential gardens. We plan to further develop our understanding of the urban ecology, connecting public and private spaces with indigenous plants and native fauna.
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Sep 302020
The soil is warming, and plants are loving it. Enjoy spring with its blossoms and fresh new leaves, and go out and get your hands dirty. The nursery is now fully stocked with plants for every situation, and as far as months go, they don’t come much more ideal than October for getting into the garden.
Sep 252020
Bulleen Art & Garden and the Bolin Bolin Gallery have been closed since the start of the stage 4 lockdown, but we have lots of art & craft by many local artists & craftspeople waiting for our doors to open again. We also expect a lot of new works from artists who have been busy in lockdown… we can’t wait to see what they have been creating!
Click through to see some of the works we have waiting. http://gallery.baag.com.au/?p=4495
Sep 012020
September is possibly the most hope filled month for gardeners, and never more needed than in the Year of the Lock-down. Lots of walks and peering over front fences, has led to plenty of inspiration. Gardening is such a fun journey to be on. You can borrow ideas from neighbours, friends pass over cuttings, advice is generously given. Spring is the turning point for planting options….so many new plants become available over the next three months, it is paradise for gardeners! Winter is behind us, and the sun is on our face.
Aug 012020
Well, the last weeks of winter are finally here, with the scent of Wattle signalling the promise of spring just around the corner. The first Magnolias are in flower and the gold and purple of Acacias and Hardenbergias create a dramatic floral display. The cold, frosty mornings are a prelude to the burst of new growth that heralds the coming new season of life. We have already had our fair share of frosty mornings and more are likely, so continue on with those frost damage prevention measures for a few more weeks yet.
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Jul 282020
Finally we have a new preventative for the infuriating gall wasp that has been decimating our citrus, lemon trees in particular, across Victoria.
‘Overhaul’ is an organically* rated kaolin clay (used in papermaking and ceramics) and has been used in broad-acre agriculture to reduce heat stress and sunburn in tree and horticultural crops (e.g. tomatoes) for 18 years; in that time an unexpected secondary benefit has become apparent: the fine coating of clay resulted in less insect damage to crops. It is hypothesised that the clay works in a variety of way depending on the insect: repelling, reducing egg laying, impeding grasping, restricting movement, altering behaviour, inducing paralysis and mortality, and camouflaging the plant. Whichever way it works, trials by the NSW Dept. of Agriculture in the Riverland and Sunraysia have found it significantly reduces the incidence of galls (from Citrus Gall Wasp) in their citrus trees. Both number and size of galls are reduced (70-90%).
Jul 272020
Citrus gall wasps (Bruchophagus fellis) are small (3mm) shiny black wasps native to northern Australia. There they have natural predators (two parasites) which keep the number of gall wasps under control. As the wasps have gradually moved south (thought to be via the movement of infected citrus trees), they have appeared in many areas without their natural predators, and consequently have exploded in numbers and caused considerable damage.
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Jul 202020
The chemicals commonly used to control codling moth also kill beneficial insect species, which contribute to biological control of other pests. Consequently increased chemical sprays are required for control of other pests. The most successful way to avoid this problem is to use Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Using a combination of pheromones and sticky traps, good orchard hygiene and traps will help you avoid the revolting coddling moth.
Jun 302020
Winter can be a challenge, but it sure puts a rosy hue in your cheeks when you rug up, brave the elements and go about doing some of those winter gardening tasks which have been beckoning from outside. Enjoy a warm drink – and the satisfaction of a job well done – when you come inside.
Jun 262020
Bare rooted plants are field grown plants which have been dug up from the soil in their dormant state, no soil remains attached to the remaining root mass, hence the term ‘bare rooted’. Read on if you’d like a head start on all things bare rooted.
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Jun 012020
We have been run off our feet in the nursery with the Covid 19 garden rush. However, I finally got time to fertilise, and plant some more spring bulbs. Nearly all the leaves are raked up, so now there is just the fun of a nice cut back and shaping prune left to do. I just love this time of year: the satisfaction of a major clean and tidy up in the garden, planting for spring with all the hopes and promise ahead, the camellias in bloom and debating squeezing in just one more gorgeous tree only available in the bare root season. Read on!
May 012020
Autumn foliage at its most stunning. The cold days and nights bring out the deep reds, translucent oranges and butter yellows in our wonderful deciduous trees. Take the time to enjoy autumn’s late flowering salvias, wonderful quince fruit (with their heady scent) and savour the late season apples. Normally I would recommend driving to the Dandenongs to enjoy the autumn colours and the flowering camellias – but these days it will have to be a remote visit. I just love this last hurrah before winter. So rug up and enjoy May in your garden!
Apr 012020
Our customer base is a pretty savvy and well informed one, and this is always reinforced in autumn as sales of native plants soar. Good gardeners are well aware that this is the ideal time to plant natives, and suddenly Claire is doubling orders for natives as they walk off the bench. The weather can still provide us with warm days in April, but without the hot sun and with rain happening or imminent it’s an ideal time for gardening and planting. Now is also the perfect time to start preparing your winter vegie patch. There’s plenty to do in the garden in April, so put summer behind you and get cracking!