Time for tea, Gingko that is...

Gingko biloba (or Maidenhair tree) is the national tree of China and is the single living species of the Gingko genus, plants that evolved in an era before flowering plants. Moreover, Gingkos are of ancient origins with fossils found of them that date back to the early Jurassic period.  And hey...it's a plant growing at Kallista that isn't poisonous!

I have a Korean friend who was very excited when she discovered that I had a Gingko tree. Apparently the plants are very highly regarded in Asia for their medicinal qualities, particularly when you use their leaves to make tea or a tincture. Well, being the curious person that I am I had to give the tea a go, didn't I? After finding a recipe I proceeded to inspect my poor little trees; there are two. Again the usual story at Kallista whereby the plants have to compete with one and other for the basics in life and so both of these lovely little trees are probably a bit stunted in growth and are growing in unusual postures to find some light. So I thought. However after a little research I discovered that 'erratic' branches are not uncommon and gulp, they can grow as big as 35 metres.



Anyway, I made the tea (only a half quantity as I didn't want to denude the trees). Conclusion: I think that it is not an unpleasant taste but perhaps it is one where you have to convince yourself that the Gingko is doing you some good. I also tried a commercial tea which was of a green tea base and had 15% Gingko leaf as well as fennel, licorice, peppermint, cinnamon bark, vanilla and caramel flavours. This was far more exciting, if not therapeutic.


Gingko tea recipe: 
Add 1 cup of boiling water to 1 teaspoon of dried Gingko or 1 tablespoon (~5 leaves) of fresh Gingko. Sweeten as desired. (The tincture recipe had 500mls of vodka in it!)
But be warned. There are claims that Gingko will enhance your memory, ward off dementia and help your circulation however, there are also medical warnings regarding its anticoagulant and allergenic effects.

In Autumn the leaves of the Gingko tree turn bright yellow and are very pretty. So, when the time comes, I will include a picture of them along with the other spectacular deciduous trees. Now what was I saying? Yes, the Gingko biloba is great for your memory....
G.

Yews

Wow...when you research specific plants the information that you uncover is always fascinating. In the case of Yew trees the human history and beliefs associated with them, as well as their use historically and in present day medicine is incredibly interesting. I will give a very brief introduction to Yew trees here and you may search the wonderful (if not always accurate) internet if you would like more substance.

Yew trees are conifers. They grow as a small to medium sized tree and, depending on what sources you use, they can be divided into two broad groups: European Yews and Pacific Yews. Some botanists would argue that they are all subspecies of the one widespread variety. At Kallista there are four yew trees. We believe them to be Irish yews (x2), one English yew and one Japanese yew. I am happy to stand corrected if anyone visits. There is an Irish yew in the centre of this photo and another behind, with a different type of conifer in between them. They are slow growing trees and are very long lived, although dating them is nigh impossible. This is because the central core of them deteriorates with age and so there are no central tree rings with which to assist in dating them.


The history that I found fascinating that I alluded to earlier is thus. Yew trees have long been in the human imagination. For example there are copious literary references to them as far back as 'Beowulf' and as recent as 'Harry Potter'. In Asturian (of Spanish, celtic origins) tradition Yew branches were taken to the tombs of the recently departed so that they would find their guide to the Land of the Shadows. It appears that this association promoted the planting of Yews in many churchyards and cemeteries especially in Great Britain.

Another point of historical interest was the use of mature Yew trees in the production of longbows in medieval England. Their springy wood was in such high demand for these weapons that it resulted in the depletion of these trees over vast areas. Yews were also sought after as many parts of these trees were used to treat various maladies. It is now known that all yews contain highly poisonous toxoids known as taxanes, and the refined products have been developed for use in chemotherapy. Deer are one of the few animals that can eat Yew and survive. Here endith the history lesson.

My experience with Yews at Kallista is minimal as we've only had the place for 6 years. Like most things in this garden the Yews define their own existence. The Japanese Yew struggles as it was planted in a very shady spot with lots of competition from other plants for light and nutrients, whereas the other varieties receive more sunlight and are far happier. I don't have a picture in my file of the small cones and pretty red berries that they produce but when they appear I will add one to the blog.

G.

Kalmia latifolia / Mountain Laurel / Calico bush

Due to the dark and cooler nature of our part of the Dandenongs the plants flower a little later than in the flatlands of Melbourne. Today I worked in the garden and took some photos for you of the beautiful Kalmias. They bloom here in late Spring .

Members of the Ericacaea family, and a close relative of rhododendrons and azaleas, these unusual shrubs/small trees are native to North America and Cuba. How pretty are these flowers? The flowers are arranged in dense clusters and as you can see in the photos they almost explode when they open. I've found that the flowering time for these plants is relatively short and they can be difficult to propagate. Also I've read that the foliage is highly poisonous to livestock (not an issue here). Whatever the shortfalls, they win Brownie points for their sheer beauty!

There are four different coloured Kalmias in this garden as the photos demonstrate. I think that we are very fortunate as Kalmias are not readily available in most nurseries. I only know of a rare plants nursery in nearby Monbulk that sells a different variety to these. The Mountain Laurels seem to enjoy the acidic, volcanic soil of this environment as well as the cooler conditions. I think they're great!
G.

A little piece of paradise in the hills

I am lucky enough to be the custodian of two gardens; two very different gardens. One of them surrounds a little 1940's cottage and is in Kallista in the Dandenongs. The name Kallista is derived from the Ancient Greek superlative noun for "the most beautiful", and it is. The garden is on the shady side of a hill, adjacent to a small, rambling creek. It is a private place with low light and much dampness in winter. It forms the backdrop for this website.

I would like to introduce you to the broader constitution of this garden. When I think of this garden I think maple, conifer, rhododendron, camellia, yew, pieris and mountain laurel. There is something of interest for every season of the year, even if winter is a little blander than the rest. Birds love this garden and I am lucky enough to have a pair of yellow robins who keep me company when I'm digging.

The Green Rose / Rosa chinensis 'Viridiflora'

            Well here is another gem from Ivy's garden! I had never heard of green roses until recently when Ivy brought me a bunch. I have since discovered just how unusual this plant is. Apparently the mutation is caused by a genetic abnormality which results in a bizarre bloom that is made up of sepals, not petals (the sepals are the leafy-looking bits where the stem joins the flower heads). Green roses are known to have been cultivated since 1743 but I am suspicious that they are now hard to find. When I asked a nurseryman/grower in Keysborough about them (as of course I decided I must have a plant of my own) he was keen to find my source of green roses with a view to propagating them. Don't worry Ivy, your secret is safe with me!

G.

A visit to Ivy's garden

My lovely nonagenarian friend Ivy has a rambling, cottage type garden out Ringwood way and during my visit I was introduced to some very interesting plants that I was not at all familiar with. Ivy's encyclopaedic knowledge of plants is awesome. The plant pictured above is a Peruvian Lily (no, not Alstromeria). It is otherwise known as Scilla Peruviana; an evergreen perennial that is a native of Portugal and Spain.

Another gem from Ivy's garden is this Cantua buxifolia or Scared-flower-of-the-Incas (also called Magic Flower). These are poor photos that were quickly taken early in the flowering season of the plant; they do not do this exquisite plant justice. I've read that you can grow a plant from seed or from a cutting however the seed will only produce a monochromatic flower. It is the national flower of Bolivia and apparently Bolivians adorn themselves with the flowers on special occasions.
G.

Mum's cactus flower

How's this for a cactus flower?!?
My mother has this type of cactus growing in a pot on her balcony and recently potted a piece for me. She can't remember where she got it from but thinks that Dad might have brought it home from an elderly lady's garden in Flemington. Any ideas on what it is?

                         Update from Ivy  (see "Ivy's garden"). This apparently is an Orchid Cactus: EPIPHYLLUM. They are jungle dwellers, needing semi shade and a rich fast draining compost of sand peat and leaf mould. They strike easily from cuttings (as per the example above). Good in large pots or hanging baskets. Slugs and snails love them so keep watch!
G.