Yg Aut 92 95 Martin

8/6/2019 Yg Aut 92 95 Martin

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92 Your Garden Autumn 2008

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Autumn means something different toeveryone. Many like the richness of changingleaf colour, which is great if you happen to

live in an area with a satisfactory show. However,I would rather observe such displays ... most of which are a little too garish for my taste but niceto view in passing. Deciduous tree and shrubplantings remind me too much of the NorthernHemisphere, and I begin to wonder what ourtrue values are in gardening this southern land.

From late summer to autumn the majority of gardens startto look somewhat tired and battle worn; especially thosethat rely heavily on added water to keep them alive andwell. Even with extra water in summer, many garden plantslook as though they need a good rest by the time autumnrolls around. In fact, most plants grown in our Australiangardens are far too removed from their preferred conditionsand struggle to perform well for much of the year.

Set aside from these more traditional gardens, autumnat ‘Wigandia’ is comprised of quite a different blend of attributes with just a sprinkling of deciduous foliage, yet stillthe most magnificent colours unfold. Most plants thrive ona low water regime. Only infrequent rains reach ‘Wigandia’and they must sustain the entire garden year-round.

Autumn at Wigandia

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8/6/2019 Yg Aut 92 95 Martin


William Martin has been internationally acclaimed for his garden ‘Wigandia’

at Mt Noorat in Victoria where he gardens in communion with his local

climate and conditions, eschewing artificial watering. Here he tells it like it is

1. Miscanthus sinensis ‘variegata’

set in the splendid company of

Agave mexicanus.

2. A medley of foliage, form and

colour. Agna feuis nos nulla

faccumsandit il il dunt autat ad

tat. Duip et autat. Acipsum in ver

sis ad enim quisit wisi.

3. Allocasuarina verticilata

provides a mysterious backdrop

for Miscanthus, which is in

full Autumn flight. t acip ex eu

facillaortin euis doloborer

4. Autumn’s bounty of Sedum

‘Autumn Joy’ (bottom,left),

Miscanthus sinensis ‘Variegata’

(centre), Salvia Canariensis (top

right), Calamagrostis x acutiflora

‘Karl Foerster’ (top centre).

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8/6/2019 Yg Aut 92 95 Martin



Dabbling in the deciduousSome of the most reliable plants inthis garden include the wonderful, butrarely seen, medlar ( Mespilus germanica) – a perfect small-scale tree usuallyreaching the size of a large fruit tree,and which performs all year round.Spring presents simple white flowers ingreat abundance, followed by a mostcurious fruit that makes delightful jelly! Autumn leaf colour varies fromreddish to yellow with age.

On a larger sale, Ulmus parvifolia ‘Frosty’ gives a reliable dash of subtle yellows. Tilia europaea (linden or limetree) contributes a ‘buttery’ look, asdoes wisteria and a small-growingclimber, the porcelain berry vine Ampelopsis brevipedunculata , which isall the more special if it holds itswonderful jewel-like berries whilethe leaves turn a vibrant golden.

But enough of this deciduous stuff – all of which I use in moderateamounts to offset a mass of showyevergreens. The autumn ‘break’ (thefirst rains after summer for those of

you unfamiliar with rural sayings)triggers the wonderful Cape bulb

Amaryllis belladonna (Naked Ladies) intoflower, and what an amazing sight! Iwill never tire of this exquisite flower.Generally seen in hot pink and white,I have acquired forms that rangefrom the palest pink to bright cerise.

Sternbergia lutea , another Capebulb, can survive in a baking hotposition (as do the nerine speciesand cultivars), and bravely puts upa rash of yellow flowers in autumn.Originating from South Africa, asimilar climate to our south easterncoastal belt, I always prefer theseautumn flowering bulbs over springflowering ones, with the exceptionof sparaxis and freesia.

Subtle attractionsThere also many subtle contributorsto this autumn scene, too, and theseare my favourite “autumnites”: theseed heads and leaf colourings of grasses, including miscanthus, poa,purple fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum

‘Rubrum’, a sterile form), Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’ and those

indispensable sedums. I have grownSedum ‘Autumn Joy’ for over 25 yearsand it still gives me great pleasure.

I often think the dry seed heads arethe most interesting phase. Rarely doI cut them back until the new growthof next season kicks in, and then onlyreluctantly. So, too, the seed heads of cardoon (Cynara cardunculus )

The succulent tribe, though not inflower, offer an interesting stage aftersummer and before the autumn rains.The rosettes of aeoniums, a wonderfulgroup of plants from the CanaryIslands, are closed and tight, showingoff as little leaf surface as possible topreserve moisture. After a good rain theymiraculously open. These small detailsprovide far more interest to me than allthe great and wonderful colourationsof the “big picture” plants. Sadly,succulents are often mollycoddled bymulching, watering and fertilising sothey become bloated and characterless,and experiemce little seasonal change.

8/6/2019 Yg Aut 92 95 Martin


Your Garden Autumn 2008 95

Flowers too are part of the‘Wigandia’ autumn. Salvia canariensis

(Canary Island sage) is a very reliablemedium-sized shrub, reaching around1.5m tall and it can be counted on tooffer up its dusky mauve flowers, justas it does at other times of the year.Leonotus leonurus (‘Lion’s Ear’) is evenmore beautiful, producing a woollysplay of vibrant orange flowers.Mine was grown from seed andhas stronger colour than commonlyseen. Following its floral display areknobbly seed heads that provideongoing pleasure throughout winter.

Among my absolute favouritesare two rarely cultivated South American bromeliads that are cold-tolerant and as tough as old boots.They are the pineapple relativesOchagavia carnea and Fascicularia bicolor .Both plants flourish in the mostinhospitable conditions and flowerin autumn when one least expectsit. Their amazing flowers are almostindescribable! Perhaps a photo tellthe story better than words.

1. Morning dew creates a

saturated look on this far from‘dead’ Miscanthus. sequis nullam

dolum dit amet, velismo dignit

ullandit auguerilit, volutpat.

2. Pennisetum setaceum

‘Rubrum’ Purple Fountain Grass

(sterile) swaggers with the

slightest breeze. et autat.

Acipsum in ver sis ad enim quisit.

3. My very vibrant seedling form,

of Leonotis leonurus (Lion’s Ear)

eu facillaortin euis doloborer

4. The incredible flower of SouthAmerican bromeliad Fascicularia

bicolor . veros nisim verosto odip

ex eugiamet wisi blaor sequat.

Ummolut nulluptat, si. Lessequip

eugait, venit ad et praese etue

consequisl utat volortin vullan

U

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8/6/2019 Yg Aut 92 95 Martin



8/6/2019 Yg Aut 92 95 Martin



8/6/2019 Yg Aut 92 95 Martin



8/6/2019 Yg Aut 92 95 Martin



8/6/2019 Yg Aut 92 95 Martin


Idea:

Take one idea Making use of what’s readily available


8/6/2019 Yg Aut 92 95 Martin



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Yg Aut 92 95 Martin