Home & Garden | Sydney Observer

Applause for Paws

Oct 31, 2020 | Brian Roach, Home & Garden |

Kangaroo Paw (Anigozanthos) is certainly one of the better-known native plant species within the broader gardening community. Although there are many varieties around these days, they all come from only eleven species that are endemic to Western Australia. That being said, very few of those eleven species can be successfully grown over here on the eastern side of the continent. Our wet summers with high humidity are in stark contrast to the dry summers in the west with fungal problems often besetting the WA beauties when grown over here. The tell-tale sign of trouble is ‘Ink Disease’ with black...

Fun Interior Trends this Season

Oct 14, 2020 | Home & Garden |

Eliza Cusack With warmer days quickly approaching, now is a great time to incorporate some interior design trends that can create that effortless summer vibe in your home. Bring the Outdoors in: Bringing a variety of indoor plants into your home can really help to improve the mood and feel of a room. Try Mother-in-Law’s Tongue, String of Hearts or Monstera Deliciosa as these plants are great for surviving indoor conditions. These larger plans are best for the corners of rooms, whereas smaller plants and flowers look great on coffee tables and even windowsills. Pops of Colour: Colour doesn’t...

The Best Indoor House Plants

Oct 9, 2020 | Home & Garden |

Eliza Cusack Studies have shown that indoor plants can increase mood, productivity and concentration as well as reduce stress and tiredness. Indoor plants can also improve the air quality within your home by absorbing toxins, boosting humidity and also producing oxygen. It can be difficult however, to know which types of plants can survive indoor conditions and how to properly take care of them. Here are three of the some of the best indoor plants that will thrive in your home. Devil’s Ivy Devil’s Ivy is an excellent fast-growing vine that can thrive in any area of the house....

The best flowering plants for summer

Sep 30, 2020 | Home & Garden |

Eliza Cusack With scorching summer days quickly approaching, it is important to understand what types of flowers can survive our harsh conditions. The key to selecting the right variety is to look for plants that have the ability to withstand the hot sun, without withering away. This is why native Australian plants are an excellent choice. These plants are drought-resistant and are used to harsh temperatures. Native plants also help to attract birds and bees to your garden. Here are the top 3 plants to let flourish in your garden this summer. Kangaroo Paw Kangaroo Paw is a native...

Fabulous Flannel Flowers

Sep 30, 2020 | Brian Roach, Home & Garden |

A truly iconic native plant in its area of natural distribution between Ulladulla on the South Coast of NSW and Southern Queensland is the Flannel Flower (Actinotus helianthi). Growing primarily on coastal heaths and in woodlands, it can produce a stunning, massed display with its large, star-shaped white flowers from early spring to late summer. Occasional flowers at other times of the year are not unusual. Close examination of the soft, downy petals reveals green tips. And no, it’s not a member of the daisy family as one might expect, but rather of the carrot family. Crush and smell...