Mallee Native Plants

Tasmannia lanceolata (Mountain Pepper Bush)

6 Comments »19th May, 2006; Category: Bush Tucker, Using Australian Natives

This is a rounded shrub to 2 metres high by 2 metres wide. It has dark green, shiny elliptical (like an ellipse) leaves to 7 cm long and cream flowers in summer. The fruits (berries) are almost black and the stems red. It sounds a most attractive plant to grow. As it is alpine, it would probably do best in a pot here, although Tasmannia species are adaptable according to my reasearch. A shade house would be a good place to try one of these plants.

The plants are frost hardy and prefer a well composted soil and half to full shade. Definitely won’t cope with the high pH soil in the garden. Sounds like a pot specimen to me. They are usually grown from cuttings, but it is worth trying seed.

All parts of the plant have a hot flavour. I think the leaves are quite mild, but the flavour is very good. I still haven’t tried the dried berries yet but they are bound to be much hotter in flavour.

Native Pepper and Wild Peach

No Comments »18th May, 2006; Category: Bush Tucker

Daughter gave me a packet of Native Pepper (Tasmannia lanceolata) leaves and berries to try. Haven’t tried the berries yet but the leaves give a tasty lift to savoury custard type dishes. I tried some in a tuna dish made with eggs and evaporated milk. I added a good pinch of the dried leaves which I crumbled over the top of the mixture and stirred lightly in, to moisten them. I could smell the scent of them and the flavour was good. There is a slight taste of ‘heat’ as you would expect with pepper but there is definitely another flavour there which I found very nice. Scrambled eggs could do with some of this.

Included in the package was also a jar of Santalum accuminatum Quandong (Wild Peach) jam. This had a slightly tangy taste and I think is like marmalade in that it is better on toast rather than bread. I noticed that the ingredients included orange concentrate. There would be a number of recipes around for jam. However I do prefer the fruit in a pie. I remember one Australian Plant Society Christmas ‘Do’ very well!. One of the members brought along a large Quandong Pie to share, complete wth a container of cream. Pure decadence and absolutely delightful.

Windmill Cottage at Blyth

No Comments »17th May, 2006; Category: General

Ian Roberts, the artist who runs Medika Gallery, runs a Bed and Breakfast cottage called Windmill Cottage situated between Blyth and Clare. He gave us a map to find it in order to admire the view and check out his arboretum.

What a great place. The view over the Balaklava Plains was marvellous. It was a clear and sunny afternoon so we enjoyed our thermos of tea sitting at a strategically placed table, where we could enjoy the view. The weekend clients had checked out so we were not interfering with their enjoyment of the place.

Later we wandered for a while through the arboretum, disturbing a family of kangaroos who were not too worried at our presence. They are obviously used to Ian being there. He has planted numerous Eucalypts (Gum Trees) in the four corners of a five acre (2.2 hectares) patch on two sides of a valley. In each of four corners he has dedicated arboretums to Melaleucas, Grevilleas, Banksias and Hakeas. We had a look at the Grevilleas for a while before we had to go. Some are coming into flower now and will be a picture soon. There will be great photography opportunities as the season progresses.

This cottage would be a great place for a break. See the Medika Gallery website for contact details.

Clare Valley South Australia

No Comments »16th May, 2006; Category: General

We went to Clare in the midnorth of South Australia to ‘dogsit’ for our daughter last weekend. She had a friend from the UK staying with her and they had the unexpected opportunty for a trip to the Flinders Ranges. In particular they were staying at Rawnsley Park in a cabin. From there they were able to visit Wilpena Pound, Appealinna Ruins, Bunyeroo Valley and drive along the Razor Back.

This is a lovely area to visit at any time of the year. At the moment, as a result of early rains the place is very attractive. Becky got to see the glorious colours of the sunset against the ranges, the morning light on Rawnsley Bluff and a lot of wildlife. Fourteen kangaroos on the side of the road between Craddock and Hawker. They are such unpredictable animals in car headlights.

Meanwhile we visited Medika Gallery at Blyth, only a few Kilometres down the road from Clare. This is the studio and gallery of artist Ian Roberts. He paints Australian native birds in natural settings, usually on the plants that they feed from. Beautiful work. His gallery also exhibits work from other Australian artists. It is certainly worth the visit. This is his website.

Lime Water and soil pH

No Comments »15th May, 2006; Category: Caring for Native Plants, Propagating

Having watered the young stock with lime water yesterday and given all the new transplants some seaweed solution, I went out to check on everything this morning. My imagination is probably too vivid, but those plants did appear to look happier. I will continue the lime water and seaweed solution next week and then do another pH test on the mix in the little pots. I feel quite hopeful that I have the solution to the problem.

The potting out seems to be never ending at the moment. There are so many pots of rooted cuttings waiting to be separated. The weather is cooling fast so I need to get them into their pots as soon as possible. Next week promises to be warmer and sunnier so hopefully all will work out and the plants will have a fighting chance.

There are seeds popping up in pots. It really is exciting when germination takes place. Some seed that I had give the hot water treatment to, I had forgotten about. When I â€˜foundâ€™ them some had sprouted. I had intended potting them directly into their individual pots but lack of time dictated the one pot and separate them later.