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Sign Up to Our Newsletter!.Welcome to Winter! This is the season of Makuru, the 'fertility season' in the Nyoongar calendar. With some rain and cooler temperatures (and some chilly mornings!!) we've definitely waved goodbye to warm weather for a few months. When it comes to gardening in Perth, it's a whole new ball game - and the good news is that it's A LOT easier to have a lush garden and get vegies producing over the next six months. Nature's on your side with a little rain keeping soil moist and (provided you're planting in season crops) - things generally perform well with little interference.
Welcome to May! We're well into Autumn at last - with some welcome rains finally arriving as a taster; let's hope there's more to come. These mild and sunny days are just wonderful though - it's such a great time to be in the garden - so we aim to inspire you this month to get busy. It still seems that gardening - and in particular - growing some of your own food is still a high priority for many families, given the rising prices of so many commodities that have flowed through to the supermarket shelves. If you'd like advice on how to get started, or on how to improve your vegie garden - please feel free to talk to us and bring in a small sample of your soil for us to pH test and have a look at.
Welcome to April! Finally, we're having some cooler weather; the season's are definitely changing. We've passed the Autumn equinox which means that the nights are now longer than the days - so plants will be responding. Deciduous trees will be storing up their nutrients before shedding leaves and going into dormancy. Bulbs will be waking up and ready to begin their growth cycle. There's always lots to observe and enjoy in the changing seasons.
Hello & welcome to AUTUMN! It's an interesting time to garden - with lots of guesswork as to WHEN to plant things. We know interest is intensifying in winter veg seeds & seedlings - but seedlings will still be some weeks away. Wild Gaia Plants (who grow our lovely organic seedlings) grow to season and nothing's artificially forced in greenhouses. Buying many commercial seedlings that have been raised this way often leads to disappointment; when planted out 'real life' gardens - often they simply can't cope. So patience is a virtue when it comes to gardening; but I'm sure you already know that. It's time to start off many winter seeds though, and we've got lots of tips & inspiration to get you out in the garden this month.
Well, summer is definitely here - in fact, we're more than half way through. While we know February will have some hot days ahead - the milder weather these last few days has left us with that feeling of change of seasons - there was even morning dew at our place today. With "supply chain issues" hitting some of our grocery stores (I note much local produce is still available in many others!) it's a reminder not to take our food security for granted. Growing even a bit of our own food to eat and share with others is handy - and coming into our Autumn/Winter season - it can be a hugely productive time for growing.
It's hard to believe, but this January marks TWO YEARS that we have been at our 'new' premises. What an interesting two years it's been for everyone - who could have anticipated the changes that we've faced in that time. 2022 is looking to be a rollercoaster too - at times like this, our gardens are our sanctuary. If we can grow a little bit of our own food, it helps too! At GLSC we really believe gardens are vital for our physical and mental health. We trust everyone had a little chance to relax over Christmas. The weather made it less conducive to get garden projects done - many plants have fried in the heatwave conditions we've had and I know how disheartening it is. Unfortunately the next month or so won't be a lot better - the height of summer means survival mode for most gardens. If you've managed to keep things thriving, you're doing well. Hopefully we've got some useful tips to help you & your garden cope.
Welcome to December - it's officially SUMMER! It's also about now we enter Birak - the Noongyar first summer season; with warmer days and cooling afternoon sea breezes. This regular weather pattern made it the time to do cool burns through the landscape; enabling rejuvenation of the vegetation, and making areas easier to traverse. This time of year sees many fledglings and younger animals abound. The WA Christmas tree, Nuytsia floribunda, is flowering - the striking orange flowers are sacred to the Noongyar people - and look amazing in areas of bush right now. In our suburbs, the Jacarandas are awash with purple. The native Blue Banded Bee is active & being spotted all over town - have you managed to find one yet? (You need some patience and perseverance - they're quick!) We've got lots of great summer ideas for you - and our CHRISTMAS TRADING HOURS; so read on!
Hullo and welcome to NOVEMBER - weather is gorgeous and it's the perfect time to be in your garden, preparing it for the summer months to come. It's a super busy time, but spending a bit of effort in your garden now will certainly help your plants cope with the coming summer (and it also means you get to enjoy the fruits of your labour come entertaining season!). We've had a lot of rain throughout October, good for the garden, but the wildly variable temperature conditions have made it very tricky for seedlings. Now's the perfect time to be getting mulch on your garden - while the soil is still a little damp (hopefully!) and before the temperature climbs into the 30's regularly. We stock a wide range of mulches suitable for vegetable gardens, ornamental gardens and natives - ask us for advice! For those of you who love the Moon Planting Calendars, these are on their way - we should have stock within a couple of weeks. They make great gifts for gardening friends & family; so why not grab one for you and one for a friend?
Hello & welcome to October - Spring is definitely here; this month sees us transition into Kambarang - the Nyoongar season of birth. Days are getting warmer and dryer - many more native plants start to flower, reptiles are on the move, and you're more likely to encounter a swooping Koolbardie (Magpie) as they get protective of their nests & young. In our gardens, it's a real season of transition. Winter crops may be starting to bolt to seed, broad beans are coming on strong to harvest, garlic is getting closer. It's time to get planting all the summer crops - but more on that in the 'What to Plant Now' section below. Weeds are all flowering (and setting seed) so do make sure you get on top of them as much as you can! October marks a special anniversary for GLSC. 2021 marks 20 YEARS that Paul & I have owned the business. A few customers lately have commented on the 15th birthday celebration day we had (our Spring garden fair) - so maybe we need to plan a big celebration next year for our 21st!!! Who's in??
Hello & welcome to SPRING! We're enjoying some gorgeous weather, and all the rain has certainly made things GROW! If you have chance to check out wildflowers this year - I believe it's a spectacular season out there. Spring is the perfect time to get planting. We've got loads of heritage seeds for your summer crops, still some rhubarb & asparagus crowns (be quick!), and there's more seedlings starting to trickle through. They take a while to get going in early spring because the weather (especially nights) are cool - so please be a little patient.
Howdy, Green Lifers! Welcome to August. In the Nyoongar calendar, we're heading into Djilba - which is when the seasons begin to change (towards what we'd call 'Spring'). It is the time of conception; many native animals are breeding now so their young are born into a season of plentiful food. I've noticed some wildflowers like Hovea making an appearance; but others seem a little slower; no doubt the cold & wet we've experienced is a sign somethings are a little later this year. That said, some of the fruit trees are in blossom, and the daffodils are out - so Spring can't be far away! It's a fabulous time to get busy in the garden right NOW to get ready for an abundant harvest in the Summer months. Work you do now to prepare your soil will make all the difference once the hot weather kicks in.
Hello and welcome to July - wow, what a start... We’ve passed the Winter Solstice so days are getting longer. We've had another lock down, freezing cold temperatures and... RAIN!! So. much. rain. I know we need it, but it tends to scare the customers away!!! And we've had a number of frosts up our way already - with a few ornamental plants suffering as a result, but they're hanging in with new growth coming through. a
Welcome to Winter! Chilly nights and mornings have arrived ~ and some good rainfall; with the May monthly average reached just in the nick of time! How is your garden going? Ours is thriving; but we definitely need to keep on top of weeds; as the rain has also given them a boost and they seem to grow overnight!
Hello & welcome to May! Autumn is well & truly here - with Winter just around the corner; officially at least! There are always some gorgeous days in May - sunny but not hot; the perfect combination to get outside and enjoy your outdoor space. It doesn't matter how big your area is - you can make it a pleasing sanctuary - your own happy place! Perth Garden & Outdoor Living Festival was on 6-9th May at Langley Park in the City. It was pushed out a week due to Covid restrictions - but luckily the event went ahead & the weather was great! Although GLSC didn't exhibit this year (taking a year off after attending for at least the last 13 years), I did a talk on Sunday on "Overcoming the challenges of Perth's sandy soils to create a healthy garden" - a subject that many of our GLSC customers are very familiar with, I'm sure!
Welcome to April and welcome to Djeran (Noongyar season). Djeran season at last sees a break in the really hot weather. A key indicator of the change of season is the cool nights that bring overnight dew. Breezes come from the south, and it's the time of ants - on the wing to begin new colonies. As the season progresses, the nights will become cooler and damper, and there's rainy days to come - which means that traditionally mia mias (houses or shelters) were now repaired and updated and made waterproof in readiness for winter. Banksias start to flower, producing nectar for many small mammals and birds. Traditionally, foods at this time of year included stored seeds, along with the root bulbs of the Yanget (Bullrushes), fresh water fish, frogs and turtles. We trust you had a great Easter long weekend. So far the weather has been warm and very humid; so although it's officially Autumn, it still doesn't quite feel like it. The good news is that you haven't missed your chance yet for Autumn/Winter crops - there's still plenty of time to get your seeds planted and/or buy seedlings ready to grow.
Welcome to Autumn - well, officially anyway! In the Nyoongar calendar, we're still in Birak - or 2nd summer. Their knowledge of the land and how it changes with the seasons is quite accurate - we know there's usually some hot days in March. However, I'm sure you've noticed that the days are getting shorter, and the angle of the sun is changing ever so slightly. We can tell we're on the cusp of a change. Gardeners get quite excited in Autumn - it is a FABULOUS time to be growing!
Happy New Year! We hope you had a great Christmas and maybe had some down-time to relax. We're back in full swing for 2021; and let's hope it's a great year! We've been at our "new" Wilson Road site for a full year - can you believe it? While there's a lot we've accomplished in that time, there's still more developments & improvements coming as time and budget allows - so watch this space! How has your garden coped with the heat? We've certainly had some hot days; and I know our garden has suffered. And as for these easterly winds... urgh! So drying and damaging. At home, we were very overdue with getting shadecloth up, as we had some structural improvements to the framework to do - and you know how one thing always leads to another, right? Well finally we've got over half of our vegie patch protected. We've got cucumbers, pumpkin, tomatoes and basil that have been struggling, and strawberries that have barely hung on - but they should all do much better now, and I can think about a few more things to get in the ground. [Never too late to have a go, right??]
Hello & welcome to DECEMBER! In the Noongyar culture, it's the start of Birak - the first summer season of easterly winds and cooling sea breezes - the regularity of which made it suitable for cool fires to burn the land; which aids germination, cleared areas for access and hunting (while regrowth provides grazing for native animals), and to reduce fuel for wildfires. The rains are easing up and temperatures are rising. Many young animals are around - fledglings have left the nest, and reptiles are shedding skin as they grow. Spring was certainly strange in recent weeks - with cooler days (and very cool nights!) and more recorded rainfall in November than ever before! (more rain than in July and almost as much as August!). Plants are definitely confused - cooler weather will delay germination of seeds, delay ripening of crops, and we're seeing a fair bit of blossom end rot in tomatoes due to the rainfall. And then there's the powdery mildew on cucurbits...ah - the joys of gardening! There's always SOMETHING to keep an eye on!!
Hello & welcome to NOVEMBER! As we steamroll towards Christmas and Summer and the end of 2020 - what a year it's been... More than ever before our gardens have become places to help us get in touch with nature and its rhythms; and for some, the love of gardening has been ignited for the first time. As I write this, the weather has returned to a Winter-like temperature, and we've received a very nice drop of rain which helps the new plantings along nicely. And a big THANK YOU for voting for us in the 2020 Organic Consumer's Choice Awards - we WON the title "ORGANIC SPECIALIST" thanks to receiving the votes from so many of our lovely customers. It's an honour to have such amazing support.
Hello and welcome to October! We're right in the heart of Spring - and I've been amazed (again) at the speed of growth in the garden at the moment. It seems the minute you turn your back, things are doubling in size. We've gone from waiting weeks and months for cauliflower heads to form, to being overrun with them - but it's a nice problem to have!! I hope you've been enjoying your garden, too! We've been exceptionally busy at GLSC this Spring - Remember we're open 6 days 8.30 - 4.00pm (closed Sundays) so come on in anytime for in store shopping. There's no charge to borrow one of our trailers (just remember to bring in your drivers license) if you want to pick up bulk soil or mulch.
Such a busy time in the garden & life seems to ramp up at this time of year too. It won't belong before we start seeing Christmas decorations in the shops - but between now & the traditional festive season, there's LOADS to do if you want to be harvesting fresh garden produce by then, and enjoying a healthy, green outdoor space over the summer - when you're entertaining outside and can really enjoy it. This month we hope to inspire you to get out there and get dirty!
Welcome to August. In the Nyoongar calendar, we're heading into Djilba - which is when the seasons begin to change (towards what we'd call 'Spring'). It is the time of conception; many native animals are breeding now so their young are born into a season of plentiful food. In our local bush, Acacias are flowering, and some of the other wildflowers like Hibbertia and Hovea are beginning to flower, too! Every week at this time of year, the bush comes alive with something else flowering. It is the time of year in the South West of WA that we're still having rainy days and cold weather, but there's also cold, clear days that can bring gorgeous blue skies and perfect conditions for gardening.