Gawd.... I Just love a good Grevillia....

And this Dhaarlings would have to be my absolute favourite...

of the over 360 types of "Grevillea"

Grevillea "Peaches and Cream"

I just adore the pale lemon and apricot blooms.

The form is of a more medium size and it responds well to a light pruning

The grevillea's are a wonderful addition to a garden... not only for the visual delight that they bring but also in their innate ability to attract bird life for both shelter and as a food source during the flowering season...

The range in flower colour shape and size is quite astonishing..

Check out the following feast for your tired old eyes dhaaarlings...

In recent years they have become popular as topiarised standards...

And some low growing ground cover types are great for that difficult spot!



A multitude of growth shapes and forms interesting foliage shapes and colours  and a range of flower colours to delight even the laziest of gardeners!

They are quite good as a cut flower too...

There you have it... my adoration for Grevillea's...

"The Wonder Wall"... or... "Displaying Your Junk"....Tastefully....

Hello Dhaaarlings...

And welcome to the second instalment in my series of Water Wise Gardens...

Is your house full of "Object(ionable) de yart's" that are cluttering up your Palais?

Don't know what to do with that hideously ugly vase that dear old demented Aunt Dorothy (I always said that her taste was all in her mouth) gave to you for safe keeping?.... "Because...I know that you have always admired it Dear"

You know... the one that you deep down in your heart of hearts rally can't stand... and ...you just wish that one day a clumsy houseboy would knock over and smash but it never ever happens? 

Well has Princess got the Ideal solution for you Dhaaarlings!

Create your very own "Water Wise Garden"...

"Wonder Wall"...

(People will wonder... "What the hell were you thinking?")

(Well... I'd be thinking of somewhere to display Aunty Dot's Rubbish Vase that wasn't anywhere indoors)

Just gab some old timber that you have left over from that do it yourself "Palais Extension"

We all have some of that laying about now don't we?

Bolt it all together adding some shelving and a couple of lovely panels of stained glass... (nicked from the church demolition site up the road... late at night... with your trusty torch in hand at the ready)...

Once it's erect...

Have a ball... Go crazy... Fill it up with all those "fugly" pots and vases that you have been gifted over the years and really cannot abide...

[via]

 and yet...  guilt ... sentimentality... prevents you  to part with... for fear of incurring the wrath of the giver... particularly Aunty Dot...

[via]

A handy hint is to fix the objects in place using a cement of some type so that they will not be bothered by the weather and will survive stray children wandering in off the street and into your garden, using your "Wonder Wall" as a climbing gym...

(I find a slingshot and a small pile of pebbles kept nearby comes in handy for just such an occasion)


And as far as cleaning goes... just give it a quick squirt with your hose when the neighbours aren't watching... to rid it of dust

Et Viola!

You have the perfect place to display dotty old Aunty Dot's

Crap Vase.

An eye catching addition to any garden don't you think?

The best thing about it is that it will not add to your water account... as it needs no watering to survive! Ideal for a Water Wise Garden 

 Aunty Dot will just be delighted to see that you have her precious vase out on display on her next visit while you take tea with her outdoors in the garden....

Make it your own little Oasis...

Photography By Princess {unless otherwise credited}

Garden Feature Wall Display:- Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne, Victoria

The Can... Can.....

Hello Dhaaarlings


Ever helpful... Princess will be posting a series of handy hints and ideas for a water wise garden... With ideas gleaned from a recent adventure to the...


 Royal Botanical Gardens: Australian Native Garden 
in Cranbourne Victoria.

Princess couldn't resist snapping some marvellous new hybrids that will grow anywhere in a drought... or a flood for that matter....

They don't require any watering and even if they are over watered will continue to thrive and survive ... 


They are ideal for that "difficult to get to grow in" space in your garden and can tolerate any type of light conditions... Making them ideal "all year rounders"


They will continue grow unaffected by fluctuations in extreme temperatures...

 Any Light condition from full sun to full shade will not effect them adversely... I even found one growing in total darkness in the garden shed on our return to "The Palais"...


They can however at times become subject to rust and a good gardener will regularly check for any sign of it developing. Rust can usually be treated by topical application...

They do add a lovely touch of colour to an otherwise drab and dusty...or soggy and waterlogged garden... 

Here they are planted in a small clump to provide some colour accent and brightness to a shaded nook...

Waterbukketus Allweatherii "Ratsarse Red"

They look fabulous planted in swathes, adding some vertical height and vibrancy to an otherwise bleak and rocky patch..

Waterbukketus Allweatherii "Pussy Piss Yellow"

Currently available in primary colours of red yellow and blue...

New colour releases are scheduled for the Spring/Summer and consist of a do it yourself paint pot with a cute little brush...

  

Waterbukketus Allweatherii  "King George Blue"

Here's a multi planting of blue.. amid a pile of drought resistant rocks...

Looks quite stunning..don't you think?

 Create that all weather focal point that you have always wanted for your garden... by adding a flash of creativity and colour to your parched patch!

So get planting now Dhaaarlings...

Available from all good gardening stockists

Photo's by Princess


Courtesy link to the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne
"Australian Garden"