16th Sep 2008: Spring Update

Welcome back to Alec and Jackie
It’s good to be back in the west enjoying spring and the best wildflowers in Australia. Our trip around Australia gave us a much needed break before returning to the busy spring season. Dan and the team have kept the nursery looking so good, I suspect we are no longer needed!.

Kathy says farewell
Some of you may be aware that Kathy has been planning a move to the country for some time. Alas, that time has finally come. Kathy leaves Zanthorrea this spring for a six month trial in the country to see if she and Matt cope with the heat and the flies.

Yummy yards
Growing food with the children is good for the family in many ways. They may even eat their veges raw straight from the garden! Don’t miss our Yummy Yards workshops for the kids in the school holidays. Yummy Yards Workshop What’s good for you and fun too? Growing veges is growing in popularity as families seek to reduce their food bill and eat healthy pesticide free foods. Come and join us for a Yummy Yards workshop. Kids, remember to bring your parents. $5 per child. Wed 1st October 9.30am and Monday 6th October 1.30pm. Bookings essential. Call 94546260

Kings Park Wildflower Festival
On all through September! Join Jackie in the speaker’s tent Sunday 28 September as she talks about “Bring in the Birds”. 3.15pm. For more details: http://www.bgpa.wa.gov.au

9th Apr 2008: April 2008: Congratulation to Zanthorrea ..

.. winner of the prestigious Nursery & Garden Industry Association award for “Best medium garden centre in Australia”. The award was presented to Alec Jackie and Ross at a gala dinner held in Adelaide on the 28th March 2008. The NGIA judge described our garden centre as “utterly delightful” and “immaculate”, with “absolutely faultless general plant lines”. Zanthorrea has now won this award five times: 1995, 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2008. Well done to the award winning team!

Sustainable Vege Gardening
Forty or so people braved record breaking rain (67mms in two hours!) to listen to Jackie's talk on sustainable vege gardening. The interest in this topic was so great that we have re-scheduled a second talk on the 12th April 2008. If you missed out or couldn't hear for the rain beating on the atrium roof, Jackie's talk with background notes is now on the website, head to the Gardening Info section.

13th Mar 2008: Autumn, Time to Plant

Although Easter is early this year, it is still a great time to make a start on autumn planting. Ross and Alec have put together a great range of starter plants so pop in over Easter for the best choice. Plant these with a little soil improver for great growth over the winter months.

Plants for your autumn garden:
Native fuchsias are a wonderful autumn flowering plant with plenty of nectar for hungry birds. There are a number of new varieties such as 'Federation' as well as the old favourites: Correa 'Dusky bells', Correa alba, Correa 'Kalbarri Carpet' and many more. Other plants looking fabulous are the Grevilleas with many varieties ready to burst into flower. It's time to plant everlasting seed and there's now plenty in stock.

The food garden:
Food gardening is becoming increasingly popular as a way to combat rising prices and provide organic food for the family. Near the children's play area, we now have bantam chooks and a demonstration raised garden. The seedlings have been moved up near the starter plants and the new demo garden is nearby too. Check out the working Aerobin composter. It's 'International Year of the Potato" so plant your potatoes soon to celebrate.

Wish us luck!
Alec Ross and Jackie travel to Adelaide after Easter to receive Zanthorrea's state award for "Best Medium Garden Centre". We won the National prize in 1995, 2002, 2003 and 2005. Can we do it again? Wish us luck! (The winner will be announced at a Gala Dinner at the close of the national industry conference.)

12th Dec 2007: Summer update

Congratulations to the talented team at Zanthorrea Nursery who were announced State winners at the 2008 NGIA Garden Centre awards. National judging takes place in February 2008 and winners of the National prize announced at conference in late April. Wish us luck! Congratulations too, to Ross Hooper who was awarded WA Young Leader of the Year. Ross will compete with other finalists around Australia for the National title.

Wollemi pine
Good news! Due to freight subsidies, Wollemi prices have been reduced. 100mm @ $34.50. 150mm @ $57.50 200mm @ $89.50. These rare trees are selling fast.

Grevillea standards
A few are becoming available by mid December, grown locally by accredited wholesale grower Domus Nursery. Varieties include Grevillea bipinnatifida and G. Royal Mantle’ and will sell at $175. Numbers are limited so call to reserve your standard grevillea.

Summer gardening
Although winter is the recommended time to plant, summer plantings do well provided the soil is improved with organic material and the plants are watered over summer. Choose the early morning or cool evening and use plenty of mulch. The production team have many interesting plants now in stock, so check out the summer Bush Telegraph for information, or better still come in and visit.

10th Aug 2007: Welcome to Spring

It’s been a wonderfully wet few weeks, enough to inspire gardeners to don their wellies and plan, plant and prune! Rainfall is still below average and we are told that water will continue to be in short supply. What better time to replant your garden with hardy Australian plants.

Last year’s Australian Open Garden event was a huge success with a wonderful carnival atmosphere and thousands of dollars raised for our local charities. We hope you can come this year and ensure it is even better, the more the merrier! Its on again the weekend of August 25th/26th, 10am-4:30pm.

Bring your friend
We are a dog friendly nursery. Well behaved dogs on short leads are welcome to visit with their families. Harry, our young Border Collie, roams freely, so if you are nervous around dogs, please advise a staff member who will take Harry to the staff room for a spell!