We’re back! It’s a Christmas miracle!

Before I begin, an apology; there’s been a bit of a lull in posting the past few months, primarily due to me being overseas - sorry for our absence! We’re back into it now though, and posts will be coming through every second Sunday. Mark your calendars and cancel plans accordingly.

So it’s Christmas again; time to dig out and unravel your tangled mass of fairy lights, then drape the blinking fire hazards all over your home. Time to buy your family gifts they don’t want and you can’t afford. Time to visit the in-laws...

Thank god for the trees!

Nothing looks, feels or smells like Christmas quite like a freshly cut Christmas tree. Try and be a Grinch standing next to one - it can’t be done. They lift your mood, they create the right atmosphere, they bring excitement to the kids and nostalgia to the grownups.

There are, around the world, a number of tree species used for the honorary role of Christmas Tree, though if you live in Australia chances are you’re using a Radiata Pine (Pinus radiata). These evergreen conifers can reach up to 30m high (and they get there fairly quickly), which is why they’re often planted as wind breaks in rural environments. As every year, we have heaps for sale at Four Seasons Nursery; we carry a range of sizes, from hatchback-friendly cuties to Jurassic monsters you’ll need a trailer for. Our staff can help you pick the perfect tree for you, as well as answer any questions you may have about caring for it.



Now some of you may feel that the Radiata Pine has become, over the past several decades, a little stale. If you are looking for an interesting alternative then we’ve got the perfect home-grown option; Adenanthos sericeus select, or Albany Woolly Bush.  It features feather-soft grey foliage, not unlike a pine’s in appearance, with orange tubular flowers throughout the year. You can keep it trimmed as a tight little shrub or let it stretch out into a 7m tree, thriving in full-sun to part-shade environments. We have a variety of sizes available at Four Seasons Nursery, though they are moving quickly so you’d better hurry if you want one for the 25^th!

Before I log off, a final Christmas present for you all; launching this year is our brand new website- australianchristmastrees.com.au/. There you’ll find all kinds of Christmas goodies, including info on our cut trees and other seasonal favourites. Check it out!

Cheers,

Mike.

New varieties of an old favourite...

The calendar may say it’s time for Winter but Autumn arrived late this year, and in the garden it still has some unfinished business. Most notable on its still-to-do list are the Salvias- some of the season’s flowering superstars, who are still looking amazing despite it being June.

Salvia is a massive genus in the Mint family (Lamiaceae), with around 900 different species of herbaceous perennials and annuals, including the edible varieties of Sage. Here’s a fun fact to impress (or annoy) your friends with- all Salvias have square stems! They have low water requirements, thrive in a full sun position and are covered in flowers from March until May (or even later, as we are seeing this year). A hard prune and a decent feed in Spring will ensure the best display of flowers next season; other than that they need very little attention.

[caption id="attachment_191" align="alignright" width="150"] Salvia leucantha 'Velour White'[/caption]

Salvias are a very traditional plant, commonly found in cottage and formally styled gardens, though they make an eye-catching addition to any sunny spot. Four Seasons Nursery has some newly developed cultivars in stock right now, which are fast growing, easy to maintain, and come in a range of vivid colours.

Salvia leucantha ‘Velour White’ grows to 1.5m high and about 2m wide. It features a mass of white flower spikes and is reasonably drought tolerant when established.

Salvia leucantha ‘Velour Pink’ is essentially the same as ‘Velour White’, but its flowers are a soft pink colour. The two form a lovely and subtle contrast when planted together.

Salvia mexicana ‘Lolly’ is a touch smaller than the ‘Velours’, growing 1.4m high by 1.4m wide. It features cool blue flowers on darker stems, and is known to be bird-attracting.

[caption id="attachment_195" align="alignright" width="150"] Salvia leucantha 'Santa Barbara'[/caption]

Salvia leucantha ‘Santa Barbara’ is the smallest of this bunch, at 0.9m high and roughly 1m wide. Its flowers are a similar colour to lavender, which stand well clear of the light green foliage.

These and many more Salvias are available now at Four Seasons Nursery, stop by any time to check them out!

-Mike P.