It’s now the Noongar season of Djeran which covers April through to May. The days have become shorter with dew drenched mornings and cooler nights, a welcomed relief to the scorching heat of summer. The winds have lost their intensity and swung around to the southwest which helps bring the night temperatures down. The first of the rains are on their way and are a sign of what’s to come. With the rains come the ants in abundance which is why Djeran is also known as the ant season. Banksias are coming out in flower providing nectar for birds, native bees and small mammals. This season is also known as the season of red flowers as Silver Princess (Eucalyptus caesia ssp magna), Pin cushion hakea (Hakea laurina) and the Red Flowering Gum (Corimbia ficifolia) bring forth their red blooms. The cones of the Sheoaks (Allocasuarina fraseriana) are also turning a rust red as they mature.
What to expect in this issue:
- What’s Happening in Our Garden
- Up and Coming Events
- Gardening Jobs During this Season: April – May
- What to Plant Now
- This Issues Native Plant – Coastal Daisybush
What’s Happening at the Patch
Last month we had a wicking bed workshop for all those who wanted to attend. It was lovely to see one of our neighbours from the nearby retirement village getting involved. We now have four wicking beds read to be planted late autumn with our winter veggies. City of Stirling also organised a composting workshop, with Peg Davies, which was very informative. If you would like to find out more on Lessons with Peg you can follow the link.
Lots has also been happening behind the scenes too. Grants have been put in to apply for much needed funds to continue the next phase of the garden structure as well as a mural for our shipping container/shed. A local paver is coming in to pave the area beside the shed which will make this a very functional area for future fundraisers and gatherings. We are now having fortnightly busy bees at the garden to help maintain and establish the gardens.
It’s now time to put the spades to the dirt and backs into the labour. If you are available we would love for you to join us, come on down and get involved.
Up and Coming Events:
Mark your calendars for these up and coming events:
April 7: We are looking for helpers to move some pavers in preparation for them to be laid later in the month. Please contact us via return mail or through our Facebook page.
April 13: Biodiversity Open Day at Henderson Environmental Centre – far end of Groat Street, North Beach. Follow the link for more information. We’d love to see you there.
We hope to send out a reminder email for these and other events.
Gardening Jobs During Djeran Season:
Although it is autumn we may still have some very hot days. Please continue to remember to slip, slop, slap and keep hydrated. In fact keep out of the garden during the heat of the day. Our days are getting shorter so take advantage of the cooler mornings and evenings as this is the best time for gardening.
Committee Meeting March 2024
Cluster outdoor pots together so that they can protect each other and help prevent them drying out. Check regularly by sticking your finger into the top 50cm of soil and if your finger comes out clean, your pots will probably need watering. It is also a good idea to make sure the top layer is covered with mulch to help retain the moisture and prevent evaporation.
When the weather has cooled and native shrubs have stopped flowering, trim by about one third. Rosemary and lavender hedges can also be pruned at this time.
On days when temperatures are reaching high 30’s, protect your more sensitive plants with a shade cloth where possible. Beach umbrellas and make-shift covers can easily be dismantled during windy days. Hand watering may be necessary during long periods of hot dry conditions. As the weather becomes cooler, prune and repot plants that have overgrown their pots.
Continue to check that soil both in the garden and in pots is not hydrophobic; if it is, a wetting agent should be applied. Those with lawns, now is also a good time to aerate with a garden fork.
If you have fruit trees, remove any dead or diseased fruit from on and under the trees to prevent the spread of fruit flies. Bag and dispose of them; do not add them to compost bins. Prune summer fruiting trees after cropping; this reduces the risk of fungal disease and gives the trees a chance to put on some growth before winter.
Empty your compost bins before filling them again with fallen leaves. Do not put diseased leaves or plants into the bin as this will only spread the problem. This is a good time to use your compost to prepare your vegetable gardens ready for autumn planting.
What to Plant Now:
APRIL – MAY
Flowers: alyssum, cineraria, cornflower, snapdragon, stock, statice, pansy, poppy, primula, sweet pea and viola.
Vegetables: Jerusalem globe, Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Garlic, Kale, Leek, Lettuce, Onions, Parsnips, Peas – Snow and Sugar, Radish, Shallots, Spring onions, Silverbeet, Spinach and Turnips.
W.A Fruits and Vegies in Season:
Apples including – Fuji, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Jonathan, Bananas, Figs, Grapes, Guavas, Kiwi Fruit, Kumquats, Mandarins, Nashi Pears, Olives, Passionfruit, Pawpaw, Pears, Quinces, Rockmelon, Watermelon.
Beans – climbing, dwarf, Beetroot, Broccoli, Cabbage, Celery, Chillies, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Jerusalem Artichoke, Kale, Lettuce, Onion, Parsnips, Peas, Potatoes, Pumpkins, Radish, Rhubarb, Silver Beets, Spring onions, Squash, Swedes, Sweet Corn, Sweet potatoes, Tomatoes, Turnips and Zucchini.
This Issue’s Native Plant:
(for our coastal region the Bassendean and Spearwood dune sands Perth)
Our plant for this issue is the Olearia axillaris or Coastal Daisybush
With its distinctive grey foliage Olearia axillaris is one of Perth’s most iconic coastal shrubs. Although a member of the Daisy family (Asteraceae) this bush grows to a height of 1-3 metres, occurring naturally in the sand dunes and along our limestone coast.
It is a compact plant producing insignificant small yellow flowers throughout the year including shortly after summer rains but commonly between March and August. The flowers attract pollinating insects while the bushes provide habitat for invertebrates and small reptiles.
With its highly ornamental foliage it’s great for cut flower arrangements. Can be formed into a hedge.
It is believed to have been eaten as a herb by the Dutch sailors and Willem de Vlamingh when they anchored off Rottnest Island in the 1690s.
Plant care
Drought tolerant, no fertiliser is required tip prune a couple of times a year to keep it compact.
Easy to propagate from cuttings taken at any time of the year or from seeds.
In the near future we are hoping to include a calendar of events on our website. I do hope you enjoy looking around the site. These updates will be posted under the heading ‘The Patch’. This is where we catch up with activities we have been involved with in our garden patch, and read past Blogs and updates from the Archives.
As a part of our gardening family we would love to hear your thoughts and what you would like to see in our newsletter.
Thank you for being part of our gardening community.
Yours in the garden,
The Coastal Community Garden team
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