My Garden - Frenchs Forest
by Edna Cossill
I have lived in this garden for about 25 years now and it keeps changing.
I have always been passionate about Bromeliads and have quite a collection which I use as under planting for palms and shrubs. Hoyas are another favourite, I have a couple growing up my Agonis flexuosa, or my Bromeliad Tree as I call it, and they flower quite well. I also have quite a few in hanging baskets on the patio where they thrive.
My latest craze is for clumping Bamboos and I have 3 coming along well. The Purple Jade Bamboo is now 10 feet high and weeping beautifully. I must admit the speed of its growth is amazing. I do keep my Black Bamboo in a pot.
Orchids are another love, I have put quite a few on trees and tree fern trunks. Brassias, native Dendrobiums, Soft Cane Dendrobiums, Oncidiums and others are used this way. Large leaf plants are also an obsession and I collect them too.
My block does get quite cold in winter so I have got to be careful where I place plants and cannot grow any that won't live below 10 degrees C. Brugmansia are another well loved shrub and I find their perfume wonderful as it covers the whole area.