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We're on the telly!! They made a TV show about a garden here!

bernieh

By bernieh

24 comments


One of our country’s most popular TV gardening shows visited a fantastic garden right here in my city … not something that happens everyday I might add! This area of Australia rarely gets mentioned on any gardening show – they usually visit the wet tropic areas further north around Cairns.

The garden featured on the show is in the same outlying area that I live in … about half an hour outside the city up in the ranges. As a matter of fact, their property is about a 15 minute drive away … so the conditions such as soil quality and drainage are exactly the same in my garden.

The lady who owns this garden is just such a brilliant gardener and has created a magnificent garden … something I aspire to but will never achieve. (I just don’t have the time … work gets in the way there … and I’m sure I haven’t quite got as many spare dollars! – I know it was an expensive exercise getting the garden started when they first moved in.)

But all that aside … take a look at this short video and you will get some idea of the conditions here and what can be achieved when you have the passion.

Gardening in the Dry Tropics of Townsville

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Comments

 

That's fab, Bernieh..
Which TV email address do we all write to, to request that your garden can be the next one on TV ?

17 Feb, 2010

 

Very interesting video.

17 Feb, 2010

 

That is really interesting Bernie. Near Townsville, in the jungly bits, they have to resort to using a screw 'thing' to remove enough soil to put a plant in, because of the rocks and thin soil.

If Gardening Australia had known that you were there and so close, I am sure you would have had a visit.

Did you notice that the lady did not look for breath after leaping up the hill. She is superfit.

17 Feb, 2010

 

I agree, a really interesting clip, it's fascinating to see how people garden in hot climates.

17 Feb, 2010

 

"horticulturally hellish" - loved this phrase! I reckon you could give them a run for their money, however. :-))

17 Feb, 2010

bjs
Bjs
 

Great video
And I though my ground was hard work,at least i can find a bit of soil.

17 Feb, 2010

 

Wow, I never really think about the downsides of living and gardening somewhere tropical. Mind you, a friend from Trinidad told me that the snakes and scorpions are enough to put anyone off digging over there! So, I guess I should be much more content and accept that British weather is what makes British gardening such a Joy! Loved the programme and the views are spectacular! I hope you got some really good tips and inspiration bernie, the Frangipanis.....mmmm I can smell them now!

17 Feb, 2010

amy
Amy
 

Very interesting Bernieh , I can see the conditions that my cousin has to contend with in Queensland ......!

17 Feb, 2010

 

Hi Bernieh
Your neighbours have a wonderful garden and are obviously very proud of it. Don’t underestimate your own achievements though your garden is as beautiful as theirs. You have put in so much love and passion into creating your oasis be proud of your garden :0)x

17 Feb, 2010

 

Fascinating video looks a very high maintenance garden. I would prefer yours as its more informal/relaxing with work in progress which makes it livable.

17 Feb, 2010

 

Lol ... Good Lord TT ... thanks for sentiment but I don't think my garden is quite ... um trying to think of the word ... picture perfect enough or finished enough for a visit from this national gardening show! Thanks for the lovely thought though!

18 Feb, 2010

 

Hello Heather ... haven't heard from you in ages. How's your garden going over there? I think I know what the screw thing is ... is it the post hole digger that you're talking about? I've often wished I had one of those!

Thanks for your lovely comment too ... I think my garden is not quite up to standard!

As you noticed ... that lady is indeed very fit. She's not that young anymore and is still as spritely as a teenager!! She didn't mention on the show that they do have a guy that comes in to help keep the garden clean and tidy ... but I know she does a lot of the hard graft herself.

18 Feb, 2010

 

Thanks Clarice and Louise ... he describes better than I can what it's like to garden here.

18 Feb, 2010

 

Hi David ... yes he certainly does turn a great phrase doesn't he. While I do must certainly admit it's difficult to garden here ... I'm not quite sure it's hellish! I would think there's other places far more difficult in the world. Thanks for your nice comment as well.

18 Feb, 2010

 

Hi Bjs ... yes there's really no soil out here in the foothills. The people who live down on the flats as you come into the ranges are far more lucky ... they at least have some fairly viable soil ... not great but viable.

Up here we have to bring in soil ... it can be an expensive exercise. That's why my whole property is not covered in garden areas!!

18 Feb, 2010

 

Hi Karensusan ... I think there's downsider no matter where you live ... it's just a matter of 'where's there's a will'! I certainly did get inspiration from her garden ... it amazed me just how much she had growing.

18 Feb, 2010

 

Thanks Homebird ... you are being very kind. I am trying hard to get some variety in my garden areas ... anything to get away from all those hardy green plants!

18 Feb, 2010

 

Thanks as well Sueb ... another very kind and loyal fellow GOYer. Appreciated your kind comments.

18 Feb, 2010

 

Oh so right Drc726 ... my garden is definitely a work in progress. Not at all a finished piece like the garden featured in the show. I think you may be right ... mine would not be as high maintenance ... I know they have a guy who comes in every week to do all the trimming and cleaning up that's necessary to keep it looking so neat and tidy ... around here that would be me!

18 Feb, 2010

 

Thinking about it now, she would have to have a gardener. She should have acknowledged this as it would not take away what she has done there. I wish I could have one as this large garden gets on top of me at times, but I would be too interfering.

18 Feb, 2010

 

Ha ... I think I'd be the same Heather!.. although I would love it if someone else could go round picking up all the the golden cane palm fronds! That is one job that I get so sick of doing! Unfortunately I have around 30 of these golden cane palms now and while they're great in every other way ... they do leave a bit of a mess when the fronds all drop.

Actually I know the gardener that pops in to this lady's garden does that job ... she has quite a few golden canes as well.

18 Feb, 2010

 

What a transformation,beautiful plants in a wonderful location.Thank you for sharing this Bernieh :)

18 Feb, 2010

 

watched the video and what a stunning garden bernieh, a tropical paradise, love the area you live in, :o))

18 Feb, 2010

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