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October 2016 | Nell Carr

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“IN SPRING when the wattle gold tremblesTwixt shadow and shine,And each dew laden air draft resemblesA long draft of wine”

Adam Lindsay Gordon wrote this piece of hyperbole, when writing about the vegetation of his adopted country.

He went on to say that Australia was a “land of songless bright birds and scentless bright flowers”, so it seems that his experience of the sounds and aromas of many of Australia’s native species must have been seriously limited. In the months of July to October it would be hard to miss the native flowering acacias in the countryside, and even in home gardens.

Observers have noted the more than usually profuse blooming of Blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon) trees this year. These are prized as paddock trees by farmers as shelter belts for summer shade and winter protection for livestock, and also by builders. The dark red/brown timber of Tasmanian Blackwood makes attractive house fittings. These trees live for between 90 and 100 years when they begin to die off limb by limb, but they are very easily propagated from seed to ensure continuity.

While the prolific Blackwood and Wattle trees are far too large for home gardens, there are several of smaller proportions which would enhance the shrub beds.

Acacia mucronata - Although quite tall, this species is a graceful slender tree which grows along the streams in the foothills of the Western Tiers, and should not be too intrusive in the native garden. Most Tasmanian Wattles are frost and drought resistant .

Vegetables

Most vegetables can be sown in October, but not onions. Later, some garden stores will have composite trays, containing in 6 separate pots Broccoli, Cauliflower, and Cabbage (two of each). Very useful for small households.