Climate Change
Read how Katandra
Gardens is adapting to climate change
The changing climatic conditions and drought that have affected vast
areas of Australia over the past decade have caused many people to
redirect their thinking regarding their home garden. At Katandra Gardens
in Wandin Bob and Dot O'Neill have not had to change their thinking
dramatically.
In 1989 after bulldozing a declining 8 acre orchard, Bob and Dot started
out on what has now become a full time occupation. They have created
an 8 acre wonderland featuring a vast number of Australian native
plants.
Their first acre of garden had been lovingly planted with a blend
of exotics and Australian plants during the time they were farming
their small orchard, but by 1989 the couple had changed their thinking
and looked towards Australia's native flora. They started to create
Australiana on the remaining 7 acres. A number of eucalypts were the
first to be planted and soon after a very diverse range of "middle
storey" and "lower storey" plants were added.
The rich acidic soil, an excellent regular rainfall plus Bob's green
propagating thumbs meant a wide range of native plants could be selected
from. Bob's particular enthusiasm for correas and the wide collection
of correas he set out to obtain earned him recognition by the OPCAA
and he now proudly displays the Ornamental Collection's plaque for
correas.
Correas, croweas, isopogons, acacias, hibbertias, derwentias, banksias,
prostantheras, boronias, leptospermum, tetrathecas, verticordias,
eremophilas, grevilleas and ever so many other Australian species
have been planted throughout the garden.
Changed weather patterns have had some effects at Katandra Gardens
but today, Bob and Dot, now far more experienced than when they first
started the Australian plant garden, choose wisely where they plant
their plants. "Dry area plants such as eremophilas are being
grown in the best drained areas whilst plant species requiring a little
more water must now be located elsewhere in relatively heavier, moister
situations; correas being a genera in question," Bob states.
"In earlier times some of the lower areas were too wet for most
correas to grow happily, but the drier climatic conditions have turned
the situation around. Now open sunny situations and fertile moist
soils provide perfect conditions for the development of some of the
healthiest correas that one could wish to see. Interestingly, a number
of correas have flowered well beyond their normal flowering season,
which possibly relates to the health of the plants."
To obtain many of the species grown at Katandra Gardens it has been
a matter of searching out native plant enthusiasts from throughout
Australia. Membership of the Australian Plant Society has meant that
Bob and Dot can collect cuttings and seeds from various plant study
group members. "Native plant nurseries just don't, and cannot,
carry the full range of forms of plants we are looking for,"
Bob says.
"We have been fortunate in obtaining some very special plants,
says Dot. "Many of these are generally regarded by others as
very difficult to grow. In fact we have been told some would most
likely not survive at our place, but they have."
" When looking at a new species we had not grown before, we initially
positioned plants where their assumed requirements could best be met,"
said Bob. "As time went by and additional specimens became available
(mainly by means of struck cuttings), the additional specimens were
experimentally planted in differing general conditions in the attempt
to push the boundaries. For example, a number of arid area eremophilas
that normally are only available commercially as grafted plants, have
been able to be grown on their own roots, at times with soil modifications,
at times without."
Climatic changes are definitely happening according to Bob and Dot
but the garden is also changing. Bob comments, "Before the recent
lessening rainfall experience, there had been a noticeable modification
in the micro climatic conditions about the property. Commencing from
an open paddock situation 16 years ago, there has been a substantial
maturation in the overall vegetation cover. The wind, frost, shade
and drainage factors have been significantly changed to the point
that some species that initially could not survive are now finding
a niche in which to do so, eg Banksia coccinea.
"With the onset of drier climatic conditions this change has
continued to the point that plants are no longer lost through 'wet
feet', but rather from being too dry in locations where 2 years earlier
there was adequate moisture levels. It is noted that there are at
least 2 aspects of a lower rainfall. Firstly, there is less moisture
available, but equally as significant here are the more extended periods
of little or no rain in the hotter parts of the year, and that can
be most damaging."
Because of the planting regime put in place in the garden, the current
levels of climate change have not been damaging. Most plants are now
placed where they are likely to succeed, even in drier times, and
extensive mulching which has been practised garden wide on an ongoing
basis has been an essential element in water conservation. Watering
of new plantings is done for one summer only if necessary by bucket
filled mainly from a tank or from the lake, after that there is no
more supplementary watering.
The garden has moved with the times and the climate, and is in very
good heart. Times of freely flowing taps are gone but Katandra Gardens
demonstrates that by adapting to times of change, gardeners are able
to practice their passion and skills with satisfying outcomes.
A link to
our home website
Hosts: Dot & Bob O'Neill.
49 Hunter Road, Wandin, Victoria, Australia.
Ph: +61 3 5964 4523 Email: Click Here
Katandra Gardens is known for its magnificent
range of Australian Native Plants.
For any bookings or enquiries,
Contact us through our main website
Click
here
|
Back
to Home Page