Gone Native....

Hello Dhaaarings...

I've recently had another adventure...

I'd just like to show you some snaps of my trip to the local

Yellow "Paper Daisy's"

"Native Plant Nursery"

The Nursery specialises in cultivating and raising native plants that are indegenous species to the local region within a 100 km radius.

It developed as a direct result of the past 10 long years of drought in southern Australia 

The absence of rain over that time and crippling water restrictions played havoc with the established gardens full of exotic plantings like roses, lilies and other water hungry plants.

Causing many an avid gardener like myself to throw their arms up in dispair and give up on the never ending cycle of losing favourite plants to the ravages of drought

All the plants on display are for sale and arranged in a manner that is very pleasing to the eye 

And although their main focus is on cultivating indigenous species they also have a very large range of plants which are Australian Native but are grown all over the country.

As a result of the constant losses many people became interested in growing native plants that would survive in the harsh conditions and needed little in the way of regular watering or moisture.
So these enterprising folk set up their nursery and it has taken off.
They now get orders for plant stock from all over the country a particularly from rare species  collectors
Their seed is sourced locally and once they have established a specimin the seed is gathered and germinated on site.

Even the local council got in on the act replacing their public garden beds of tulips, lillies and other annuals with hardier native flora.

Don't ask me to name them all here as I didn't go there to research.... just to look at the pretties



Pink "Kangaroo Paw" in close up



Apart from the rows of small plants in little pots...

The owners have established a native walk which displays the plants in their natural setting showing in a practical way how the plants might be grouped or planted around the home garden.

The plants on the Native Walk do not get watered by the owners ever!

Apart from occasionally when they first go in... But once established they survive purely on the moisture that falls infrequently from the sky.

I had been to this nursery before but not when all the flowers were in bloom

I thought they were pretty Spectacular

I was really stunned by the variety of flowering natives indigenous to the area...I had no idea!

I love the different foliage.. the shape and form of the plants and the colours of their blooms.

The idividual shapes of their flowers are also quite amazing

We Came home with one of these...

No not the concrete Kangaroo...

I just couldn't pass up the vibrant Blue Flowers.

And... Don't worry I plan to re-visit when I'm a little more cashed up....