Mark’s Beehive Grow Zone at Crystal Waters, Conondale

THERE’S something about Mark Healy’s labyrinth and beehive gardens that instantly draws you in. The patterns, shapes and lines seem to register somewhere deep in the psyche, creating a different relationship than we would normally have with a standard garden.

Mark launched his company Kitscape in Sydney last year. Now living in Conondale after years as a pioneer of the organic movement in Tasmania , the horticulturalist of 30 years is now bringing his magical garden ideas to the hinterland community.

His intention is to make gardening easy and enjoyable for everyone, with his two primary products: the Angel Wing Labyrinth and the Beehive Grow Zone.

The Angel Wing Labyrinth is a three circuit walkable ‘go slow zone’, offering a path that facilitates a space for reflection, contemplation and inspiration. Being modular it can fit into any space, from a small courtyard to a large public space.

The Beehive Grow Zone is a modular and expandable vegetable or herb garden set in a hexagonal shape that can be expanded into various configurations. Available in various height profiles, it can be installed on any surface, whether lawns, paving, decking, concrete or rooftops.

A long-time landscape designer and artist, Mark became interested in labyrinths after reading a book in 1995 called Walking a Sacred Path, by Dr Lauren Artress, a global authority on labyrinths. He’d also trained as a rebirther, and saw a way to connect his passion for horticulture with his interests in healing and art. He went on to train with

Dr Lauren Artress and another labyrinth authority, Robert Ferré, and became a representative of The Labyrinth Society.

Conducive to contemplation: the Angel Wing Labyrinth

“The Angel Wing Labyrinth makes for a beautiful sensory garden experience,” says Mark. “As you’re walking the labyrinth you can smell the plants and feel into their special qualities. I’ve done that with special needs kids where the interaction with the plants plus the beautiful, peaceful setting of the labyrinth worked well together.

“With the Beehive garden, there is one design, the hexagon, from which you can make all these different layouts depending on the size of your garden. You can start with one and as your budget and materials come together you can keep growing cells out from that single one. It’s great for rotational gardening as well.

Mark followed his heart to the hinterland after meeting well-known local permaculturalist, Robin Clayfield at The Joining Gathering last year. Both workshop facilitators, they have created workshops for couples called The Love Feast, in which they use a ‘Sacred Union’ labyrinth of their own design and a special mapping process to facilitate relationship transformation.

“I’m also about to offer my designs to the retirement village market in this area,” says Mark. “Elderly people like to congregate somewhere and a labyrinth is such a beautiful place, a connecting point in a community or village, where we can get together and meet other people on life’s path. The labyrinth has such great metaphors for our journey in life.

“A labyrinth is different to a maze — it has no dead ends. It’s about following a path to a central point. You don’t have to engage the mind. Walking into the labyrinth is about letting go. You might have worries or deep emotions that don’t serve you anymore. As you come into the centre, letting go of it fully, a quiet space invites in the new. You might receive insights into something you’re questioning or looking for. If you’re feeling sadness, the opposite of that is joy, so as you walk out of the labyrinth, you contemplate how to bring that into your life in your next five minutes, your next day, your next year.

Mark’s future plans include further co-facilitating with Robin, offering retreats, workshops and ceremonies that incorporate labyrinths, and creating more magical paths and gardens that bring peace and inspiration to people’s lives.

For further info on Mark and his wonderful gardens ph: 5494 4707 or 0407 042 405 or visit the website: hello@kitscape.com.au

We know that our continent is old with generally poor soils but on the Sunshine Coast, recent volcanic history dates back only around 31 million years. It is well worth reading “Rocks and Landscapes of the Sunshine Coast” by geologist Warwick Wilmott. The red soils on the plateau and the dark clays downslope along the edges are both basalt soils derived from the lava flows but have different properties largely because of different weathering times but also the detail of the underlying rock type.

We had an incredible wet season providing high soil moisture levels suitable for planting but the more recent dry spell resulted in deep cracking of the dark clays which are a part of the downslope colluvium, or slope, deposit. These are very fertile soils but planting time can be critical. Fortunately the very recent rain has moistened the soil profile but it can be advisable to avoid planting during the dry season. Added water tends to disappear down the deep cracks rather than wetting the root ball of precious tubestock.

The older red soils have lower fertility but at least they don’t have the same capacity to shrink and crack; and these are only two of the many soil types residents will come to know. One thing is certain; they are all improved by the addition of organic materials.

Organic matter improves soil fertility, encourages important soil micro-organisms and improves water holding capacity. The basalt soils are generally acidic but do a pH test if growing plants which have a clear preference for acid or alkaline soils. The availability of some nutrients will vary with pH.

The locals will naturally be adapted to the local soil. Don’t necessarily expect true rainforest trees to grow well in eucalyptus country and vice versa. The underlying soil type will be different. The diversity of our soils has much to do with the fascinating diversity of our vegetation. We are very lucky.

BARUNG NATIVE PLANT NURSERY Phone 54943151

Porters Lane Nursery opening times: Tuesday – Friday – 9am -3pm George St Caloundra Nursery: Monday 9am-3pm

LAST Saturday, Karen and I went for a walk in a great patch of rainforest at Flaxton. The amazing thing about this rainforest is that most of it was planted or regenerated over the last 5-15 years!

Surprisingly, this isn’t a national park or undertaken by a large organisation or community group. This is the work of a passionate and dedicated couple and the skilled bush regenerators they have assembled to help them with their project. Truly inspirational! So in this article I’d like to pay tribute to all those great landholders out there who are revegetating the landscape and the great benefits these dedicated people bring to us all.

The hills and valleys of the Blackall Range have been fertile ground (pardon the pun) for a developing culture that appreciates the diversity and richness of our local ecosystems. Many local people now make a living in the bush regeneration & revegetation industry and work far afield using skills developed and honed on the Blackall Range. For example, Brush Turkey Enterprises has grown from a team of two dreamers 13 years ago, to a skilled team of 14 making a living and saving our local biodiversity! But I digress…for the real heroes are all those folk out there who call the range home and who put their time and resources into revegetating their land in a selfless act of generosity from which we will all benefit.

Corridors have been planted that will link isolated remnants and help the animals and plants that call those remnants home to survive. Creek banks have been planted that will reduce erosion and improve water quality – a shared resource to us all. Forests have been planted that will absorb carbon from the atmosphere, stabilise landscape, improve soil quality. Habitat has also been increased to provide homes for wildlife through the installing of nest boxes, snags in creeks (dead trees, not sausages – just in case you were wondering!) and revegetation.

We are all fortunate to be part of this community, but there’s so much more to be done. Many of us are concerned with the loss of Rainforests in South America or South East Asia, but what we often forget is that a little closer to home we are fortunate to live with one of the most diverse subtropical rainforest ecosystems on earth and the fate of these ecosystems and their diversity is in our hands. So thank you to all those local heroes out there who are busy restoring these ecosystems and remember, the rainforest needs you!

Ph 0428 130 769 spencer.shaw@brushturkey.com.au

www.brushturkey.com.au

Magnolias are native to America, East asia and the Himalayas. The plant was named after pierre Magnol, a famous director of the Mont

Pellier botanical gardens two centuries ago. Early gardeners fell in love with this tree that bloomed profusely with such flamboyant flowers on bare branches.

It wasnt long before magnolias found there way around the world to places such as New Zealand. The range of colour has expanded to bright pinks, lemon yellows, vivid purples and irridecent ivory. Flower shapes are now available in goblet, chalice, bowl, champagne flute and cupped forms.

Magnolias prefer a sunny spot that provides shelter form the wind and afternoon sun. North or eastern aspects are desirable. humous rich soils that are well drained with a neutral to slightly acid pH is ideal. It is important to provide the tree with a thick layer of organic mulch extending at least as far as the drip line of the tree.

To encourage profuse flowering and healthy growth, incorporate into the mulch a mixture of the following formula- five bags of cow manure, a cup of sulphate of potash, one cup of blood and bone and three cups of dolomite. For a mature tree this mixture can be applied twice a year just after flowering in spring and again in autumn.

When working around magnolias care should be taken not to disturb their shallow root system. Watering may be necessary in dry periods but once well established they are quite hardy and need little attention. Magnolias naturally form a robust and aesthetically pleasing shape and there for require little to no pruning.

Do yourself a favour and plant a magnolia that will reward you with an exquisite show every year.

Loors Landscaping

GARDEN DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND CONSULTANCY Tel: 5445 7615 Mob: 0412680801

Apparentlyregenerated tropicalforestshaveaverylarge capacity to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Sub-tropical forests may not grow quite as fast but we could probably assume that they would remove somewhere between the 2.9 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide for temperate forests and 3.7 billion tonnes for tropical forests. That’s a lot of CO2.

Our tree planting efforts and the value of natural regeneration are valuable in a global as well as a local sense. The Blackall Range is not a large area in itself but it does contribute. We have yet another reason to retain and link our patches of existing forest. There is also of course the add-on benefit for biodiversity, erosion control, water absorption into the soil and the list goes on. Let’s keep planting. Day length is increasing and spring is just around the corner.

BARUNG NATIVE PLANT NURSERY Phone 54943151

Porters Lane Nursery opening times: Tuesday – Friday – 9am -3pm George St Caloundra Nursery: Monday 9am-3pm

Gum Trees (Eucalypt spp.) are the iconic Australian tree. Gum trees occur in almost all Australian ecosystems from deserts, to the edges of Rainforests, from beach sides to mountain tops, from the tropics to the Australian Alps. Gum Trees literally frame the Australian character.

There are a few Gums that are small such as the Plunkett Mallee (Eucalyptus curtisii), but the vast majority of Gum’s are big, some very big. The Mountain Ash (Eucalyptus regnans) – tallest flower plant in the world, from Victoria & Tasmania is recorded historically at over 120 metres. Closer to home we have Flooded Gums (Eucalyptus grandis) & Blackbutt (Eucalyptus pilularis) which can grow to over 60m.

Where am I going with this I here you ask, well Gum trees as discussed are often big. They are Big trees for a “Big Country”. However most of us don’t live in the “Big Country”, most of us live in small backyards and although Gum trees are a national institution, they might just be too big, for your average backyard. Too often Gum trees are planted as a fast growing, windbreak or privacy barrier, close to houses and fences. Within a few years the privacy barrier is quickly gone, as the trees race upwards leaving a bare trunk. Also within a decade or so, there starts a rain of branches, with the associated hazard of heavy sharp bits of timber plummeting earthward in your backyard! Then there’s the gum leaves clogging gutters if planted within 20-40 metres of yours (or your neighbour’s house). On the Blackall Range two non-local gum trees have also been extensively planted and they are Gympie Messmate (Eucalyptus cloeziana) & White Gum (Eucalyptus dunnii), they grow ridiculously quickly and ridiculously big, due to the higher than average rainfall of the range.

So where am I going with this I hear you say? Am I challenging the iconic status of the great Aussie Gum trees – Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi! No, far from it, just trying to save you a lot of money when it comes to tree management, through not planting gum trees in small backyards and too near infrastructure.

However, all the attributes that make gum trees bad for the backyard are their greatest assets in the bush and for growing timber. They are fast growing, hardy trees and great habitat for wildlife. They can live for hundreds of years and the hollows that form in the trunk and branches are the ultimate in high rise accommodation for so many of our unique Australian wildlife. They produce some of the finest durable timbers in the world. Just don’t plant them next your hills hoist!

Ph 0428 130 769 spencer.shaw@brushturkey.com.au

www.brushturkey.com.au

THE RECENT floods have had a massive impact on the people of South East Queensland. The flooding along the mighty Brisbane, Lockyer and Mary Rivers, has had a huge impact on those communities within the flood zone. There has been widespread loss of infrastructure, homes, crops and sadly, lives.

Those prolonged wet periods when it rains hour after hour, and day after day, can also impact severely on the local wildlife. Just like we need shelter from the storm, so too does our local fauna. I’m guessing most of us think animals can survive all that nature throws at them, even the weather, but habitat loss combined with extreme weather can have major impacts on local fauna populations.

You as landholders can help restore habitat for fauna to help get them through extremes in the weather and ensure their survival and ecosystem health.

Many animals such as possums, gliders and a large number of birds need hollow trees to nest, but also to shelter during extreme weather events. Unfortunately for them , the old growth trees that provide habitat hollows have largely been cleared from our landscape and many trees are too young to provide hollows. However nest boxes are a great solution. We have installed many nest boxes from Hollow Log Homes over the years, and they are often immediately inspected by Lorikeets at the very least!

Many animals such as bandicoots, snakes, echidna and skinks live their lives on the ground and also need somewhere to hide from the heat of the sun, predators, fire or storms. Ground habitat is often lacking in young revegetation or regrowth areas, but can be developed and maintained by stacking fallen branches or killed woody weeds into piles, installing rock piles or logs. Too often felled trees are burnt when they could be used to create great habitat, for ground dwelling fauna.

Habitat connectivity is also lacking throughout the landscape. Habitat connectivity can simply be described as the ability of fauna and flora to move through the landscape to ensure the viability of their populations. We often retain or establish habitat along rivers and creeks, which is great to allow for habitat connectivity along creeks and rivers, however these areas are often completely inundated by floods, which can be disastrous for some fauna, unless they can move to higher ground. We can ensure this habitat connectivity by making sure we plant and create habitat outside the flood zone.

Just like we need to build resilient communities ourselves that can adapt and survive in this land of extremes, we also need to ensure that our local ecosystems that have evolved over millions of years can continue to survive, by assisting the natural processes rather that disrupting them.

Ph 0428 130 769 spencer.shaw@brushturkey.com.au

www.brushturkey.com.au

Grant and Marlene Mayfield first came to the Montville Macadamery in May 2004. The house is an original 1926 Queenslander with some additions during the early ‘90s, situated on a 20 hectare property.

To the south there was 13 hectares of natural rain forest while the other 7hectares contained some gardens with mature plantings of Poinciana, Frangipani, palms and tree ferns, and the remnants of an old macadamia orchard.

Many hours of love, sweat and effort has been put into establishing the current garden over the last 7 years. With careful selection Grant and his team have added plants such as variegated Trachelospernum repens and perennial Dianthus for edging. Photinia, Sasanqua and Syzygium hedges were added to create some structural aspects, and recently we have extended the Photinia robusta along the western boundary. Clivia, Hippeastrum and Daylilys add colour when in season. Potted Pandanus, Yucca and Cordyline add bold lines to the over all effect; an individual garden which is a joyous mixture of textures, colours and aromas.

A row of deep purple Bougainvillea have been clipped to shape them into large spheres- a creative and modern solution to include this reminder of early pioneering days into the current garden.

Our productive organic vegetable garden of raised beds is fenced to prevent invasion from brush turkeys; the 70 metre board walk is now complete, allowing a gentle stroll to a cool and shady rain forest haven; and we have recently planted over 150 rainforest trees to enlarge the existing forest. A new dam has just been constructed to assist with the garden water supply.

This is the third time that Montville Macadamery has been in the Open Garden Scheme. Catering will be provided by the Anglican Ladies Guild and there will be plants for sale.

The garden is at 41 Mill Hill Road, Montville and is open Saturday and Sunday November 6 & 7 10am to 4.30pm. $6 entry (over 18s)

DESPITE spring rain and wind a beautiful Blackall Range garden was able to put on a colourful show for Australia’s Open Garden scheme.

Montville’s Arts Connect joined forces with Enid and Graham Cooksley, owners of Beaufort, to present a magical blend of landscaped gardens and 40 selected examples of the best Range art and sculpture.

Above: Joseph McCarthy’s house – Beaufort – built in the late 1880s

About 200 visitors to Beaufort discovered that it was first owned by Joseph McCarthy and is one of the first and oldest private homes built on the Range. It is still lived in by its present owners, the Cooksleys, who bought the property in 1987.

Right: Professor Graham Cooksley welcomes visitor to Beaufort.

Over the intervening 20 years, Micro-biology Professor Graham Cooksley and his wife Enid have carefully and selectively planted native and exotic trees from around the world in four distinct rooms around the garden: the Arboretum, the Creek Bed, the Mediterranean Garden and the Home Garden (for fruit trees and vegetables).

All told, there are 70 labelled species of trees and shrubs on show.

Joseph McCarthy came to the Range in 1879 and was the second person to select a 640 acre, or one square mile block.

Joseph McCarthy and his descendants were among the key pioneer familes in the Maleny district, the great- grandson becoming a local MP and in time, Premier of Queensland.

In Maleny, officially declared a town in 1888, the McCarthys built the first house, school, butchery, butter factory and Post Office. Joseph Snr. founded the Maleny Dairy Co-operative in 1904.

The Cooksleys are justly proud of their historic house and country garden, which merges the native eucalypts pines and hardwoods of Queensland with deciduous exotics from around the world that give Autumn a feel of the northern hemisphere.

Proceeds from the Beaufort public weekend went to the Australian Open Garden Scheme and to the Maleny Historical Society – whose members provided the catering for the day.

Whatever you do this spring and summer, don’t miss this growth season, for undertaking revegetation work on your block. By the same token, don’t cut corners just to make sure you get your plants in the ground ASAP. Don’t forget to do your site planning and preparation! Ensure that you get the weeds under control first, because as well as a great time for planting and growing trees … it’s also going to be a great year for the weeds. This isn’t necessarily bad; as long as you are controlling them (even weeds are helping to improve conditions with the organic matter they will return to the soil).

One of the revegetation “extras” that we always use these days, are tree guards. Even something as basic and cheap as a carton guard (BTE is a supplier… yes shameless self promotion!) is fantastic for protecting small plants from sunburn, grazing animals, and spray drift from weed control. Doesn’t really matter what mulch you use as long as you use some, but tree guards can make all the difference. We also use Core-flute guards when the budget allows as these help get your plant off to a great start and can be potentially used several times over.

This spring and summer are also going to be a boom time for rainforest regeneration (plants popping up all by themselves). Our local rainforest plants are sensing the growth season ahead and are busy making babies, to take advantage of the great conditions. It’s always a good time to be undertaking revegetation and regeneration work, but if we slow down and observe what nature is telling us at the moment, it’s that this is a great time for replanting rainforest!

In last month’s column, I mentioned that I’d seen a Satin Flycatcher. However it appears that they are far more likely to be either Restless or Leaden Flycatchers.

Ph 0428 130 769 spencer.shaw@brushturkey.com.au www.brushturkey.com.au