The Dodonaea genus, commonly called Hop Bushes, are a valuable habitat plant in the garden for insects and small birds and a good size for urban gardens. Whilst their form is more subtle than many other showy native plants, they provide hardy reliable complementary backdrop planting that contributes to diverse habitat niches, and attracts insects and birds other than honeyeaters.
If you visit the Cooroy library during June, you will see another aspect of what’s in YOUR garden.
The past year has provided me with a challenge. In 2024 I took an on-line course in weaving with natural materials by Harriet Goodall. It set me wondering about the potential of the native plants in my own small urban garden.
Today I visited an urban residence where I had tea on the verandah overlooking a small front garden.
To one side was a fence with espaliered shrubs. The other side catered for two vehicles.
We hope you have been enjoying the quieter colours of autumn, washed clean by all the rain. Ferns and sedges are sparkling and growth is slowing down as our short winter approaches. Time to take stock and enjoy the season’s gifts.
There is a lot of activity in the garden with wildlife visiting fruiting plants. Bangalow Palms featured last month are now producing berries. The last of the fruit from the Midyim Berry has disappeared. Cordylines have flower spikes as well as fruit still hanging on.
Plants of the Hibiscus genus are naturally found in many different localities across Noosa and can be very useful and decorative habitat plants for our urban gardens. They attract a wide variety of native birds and insects.