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Gazania flowers in Ballarat and Melbourne

Gazanias ballarat markets all colours pottedGAZANIAS- DESCRIPTION, GROWING & CARE GUIDE

The gazania flower, named after the 15th-century Greek-Italian scholar Theodorus of Gaza, is a low maintenance South African annual (perennial in Australia) that will brighten up your hard-to-landscape areas, particular those with poor soil, or suffering from dry conditions

Origins and nomenclature of Gazania Flowers

Gazania flowers are a member of the daisy family Asteraceae, genus Gazania. Also known as the treasure flower, the ​​gazania is a hardy annual, or perennial (depending on the strain), and will bounce back from a light frost.  There are over 16 distinct species, but the majority of plants in cultivation are hybrids and crossbreeds, selected for their best traits.

In Australia, including Ballarat, gazanias typically perform as perennials, though some are technically an annual.

Gazania flowers thrive in full sun. Morning or afternoon shade may cause the flowers to stay closed for a portion of the day, and may cause the plants to grow lanky, exceeding their normal height of six to ten inches.

EASY TO GROW, AND UNKILLABLE

The leathery foliage of gazania plants is a clue to the high drought tolerance of this flower.

They quickly develop into small clumps of narrow lance-shaped leaves that can be downy and lobed near the base, often with lighter coloured undersides. Their showy flowers, which appear throughout the warmer months, are large, brightly coloured, often interestingly marked, and the ray florets tend to be darker at the base, with a contrastingly coloured central disc.

The species usually have yellow or orange flowers, but the garden forms are available in a wide colour range

IDEAL SOIL CONDIITONS- They grow well in any old rubbish soil of low fertility. Cheap-O $3 potting mix is fine

Gazanias do extremely well in pots, and look great on your deck and patio.

Their preference for sharply drained soil makes them a natural choice for the rock garden, low maintenance, or often neglected and drought affected gardens, such as rental properties, or holiday homes.

How to Plant Gazania Flowers

Gazania is easy to grow to a fault: it’s hard to make a mistake and kill these.

Plant young gazania plants about a foot apart, allowing them to reach their eventual spread of 25cm without crowding, which promotes mildew. If your soil is heavy, plant your gazanias in containers.

Gazania plants don’t mind the heat that radiates off the pavement, so you can include them in your footpath garden or alongside your driveway.

How  to Care for Gazania Flowers

In their native habitat of the rocky cliffs of South Africa, gazanias grow in soils of low fertility. Compost and supplemental fertilizer aren’t necessary. Deadhead gazania flowers to extend the blooming time of the plants.

Gazania plants are adaptable enough to overwinter indoors so you won’t need to purchase new plants or seeds for the next growing season. Cut the plant back and keep it in a cool, sunny window. Water when the soil surface is dry. Check the plants regularly for pests like mealybugs that may proliferate on indoor specimens.

DIVISION AND PROPOGATION

Perennial strains of this plant, most common in Australia may also be divided or can be grown from basal cuttings.

Rubbish Design- Very Clever repurposing- Portable Cafe outdoor dining space

Saw this outside a cafe in geelong.. It’s a parkable outdoor cafe dining module that takes up the space of a couple carparks. 140520161924

I was impressed with the clever, sustainable and thoughtful design employed, where it started out life as an old  builders rubbish skip, and thought it worth sharing.

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No indications as to the manufacturer and architect, but if you know something about it, please comment and we can flesh out this story a bit more!

Melbourne Poster Art- “Fizza”- by artbygeorge

Saw this on the securtiy wall of the demolition site just up fro300520161969m the galleria arcade & food court on 385 bourke street.

Apparently these posters are popping up everywhere, right across the country.

I love the artwork, and i’m not a fan of pollies in general.

Facebook- Fizza campaign page

www.whatafizza.com

Article in the saturday paper on the fizza campaign.

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