Roma Street Parkland

Episode: Saving Your Backyard 8/4/07
Presenter: Phil Dudman

Queenslanders are blessed with lots of beautiful parklands and in the heart of Brisbane city, you will find the magnificent Roma Street Parkland. It is a showcase of the best of what local horticulture has to offer and a great place to see good water wise principles in action and learn about what we can plant in these difficult times.

In Roma Streets succulent garden everything you see survives on nothing more than natural rainfall, so there is no need to water. If you are new to succulents and other arid plants you will get some great ideas on what might work in your backyard. The plants offer lots of interesting colours and textures that you can play with.

Euphorbia called Crown of Thorns is closely related to the poinsettia and just like the poinsettia it is the bracts, or modified leaves, that give the colour and they seem to go on forever. They make a colourful show and Phil was told that they can survive without being watered for 7 months, now that is tough.

If you are looking close to home for ideas don’t forget to look to our own native plants for colour as well. Grevilleas are Phil’s favourites and the birds certainly love them too. They come in all shapes and sizes with a superb range of blooms and because they are native and well adapted to local conditions.

It is not all natives and succulents. Bromeliads are extremely hardy too. They have brilliant colours and textures in the foliage and the flowers are just delightful. If you need something to plant under big hungry tree then bromeliads will look fantastic.

If you are looking for stunning effects don’t overlook some of the old favourites like the bougainvillea. They can be thorny but for colour you can’t ignore them and there is no doubt they are tough. Just prune them regularly and you will keep them looking great.

Good old plumbago is a real drought buster. The best way to display them is to hedge them up and when they finish flowering chop them back hard it keeps them neat and tidy and they will flower for you on and off throughout the year.

Plant selection is very important but water wise gardening is also about finding the right position. You can have a lush tropical look if you find the right spot and planting them where there is protection from the hot sun and wind will help them survive the dry times.

Drought or no drought you can still have lots of colour and variety in your garden so make sure you get out and explore your neighbourhood and your local parks and gardens. You will find it very rewarding and worthwhile.




Episode: Saving Your Backyard 8/4/07
Presenter: Phil Dudman

Queenslanders are blessed with lots of beautiful parklands and in the heart of Brisbane city, you will find the magnificent Roma Street Parkland. It is a showcase of the best of what local horticulture has to offer and a great place to see good water wise principles in action and learn about what we can plant in these difficult times.

In Roma Streets succulent garden everything you see survives on nothing more than natural rainfall, so there is no need to water. If you are new to succulents and other arid plants you will get some great ideas on what might work in your backyard. The plants offer lots of interesting colours and textures that you can play with.

Euphorbia called Crown of Thorns is closely related to the poinsettia and just like the poinsettia it is the bracts, or modified leaves, that give the colour and they seem to go on forever. They make a colourful show and Phil was told that they can survive without being watered for 7 months, now that is tough.

If you are looking close to home for ideas don’t forget to look to our own native plants for colour as well. Grevilleas are Phil’s favourites and the birds certainly love them too. They come in all shapes and sizes with a superb range of blooms and because they are native and well adapted to local conditions.

It is not all natives and succulents. Bromeliads are extremely hardy too. They have brilliant colours and textures in the foliage and the flowers are just delightful. If you need something to plant under big hungry tree then bromeliads will look fantastic.

If you are looking for stunning effects don’t overlook some of the old favourites like the bougainvillea. They can be thorny but for colour you can’t ignore them and there is no doubt they are tough. Just prune them regularly and you will keep them looking great.

Good old plumbago is a real drought buster. The best way to display them is to hedge them up and when they finish flowering chop them back hard it keeps them neat and tidy and they will flower for you on and off throughout the year.

Plant selection is very important but water wise gardening is also about finding the right position. You can have a lush tropical look if you find the right spot and planting them where there is protection from the hot sun and wind will help them survive the dry times.

Drought or no drought you can still have lots of colour and variety in your garden so make sure you get out and explore your neighbourhood and your local parks and gardens. You will find it very rewarding and worthwhile.




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