Hi Mary,

Now you have really pushed my hot button- Gardening is my passion.I am secretary of a large gardening club here in South Australia.and just love gardening.

I took to gardening a few years ago when my daughter left for 2years overseas I knew I would miss her ,so took up the challenge of getting my garden ready for the local council garden competition . I won a higly commended for my garden that year and have been hooked on gardening  ever since. 

The past month has presented problems we have never had occur before.Heavy frosts and cold has really challenged us like never before.

We also have had  water restrictions for several years now so our whole gardening ideas in Australia  are changing and new garden concepts and designs  emerging as a consequence of the water restrictions.Succulents are very "in" vogue at the moment and we are changing from European type plants to Australlian Natives , that are better able to survive with less water.

So saying that -As I write, would you believe the heavens have opened and it is pouring with rain .the first heavy winter rain for several months. Hurrah !! Hurrah!!!!

I love my back garden, which is an oasis of green tropical ferns and palms and a spa pool.A wonderful ,cool relaxing place  especialy when the temperature climbs to over 40% in the middle of summer.

My front garden is a mass of roses- that blend happily and harmoniously with the other plants  Oh I love roses - I have chosen whites,blues and Magentas , to compliment the colour of the house.Their Summer  perfume  is deliciously enticing .

"I dont know whether lovely people grow roses ,or growing rose makes lovely people."

I'm off to listen to the local Saturday Morning gardening programme on the radio and grab a mug of  hot Chocolate-it's freezing outside.

Warmest Regards Jenny

Just a quick note on the dangers of Geraniums.

There are many many plants in our garden that are either toxic to humans or animals if digested.

Even some of the vegetable we harvest to eat can be very toxic if certain parts are eaten.

The best advice is to supervise children and pets in a garden if you dont know the plants, and washing your hands after touching any plants.

the garden can be fraught with dangers , use common sense and dont get hung up on it.

Happy Gardening

Jenny.

Wayne,

Scented gernaiums are the leaves used in the Gernaium Cake recipe you mentioned. This recipe appears in the Adlandpro cook book---cake page.

http://community.adlandpro.com/forums/thread/361700.aspx

According to my herb book, Meadow cranesbill, the wild geranium,  flowers are edible ---nice and colorful for salads.

If you read the first post it tells  that the geranium used in the cake is scented.  The different scents are listed.  The leaf is more feathered than the annual we plant in our yards which has no scent. Crush a leaf (rub) between your fingers and you will see what I mean.

Household plants should be something parents of young children should be monitering.  Know the names, and keep them away from children.  If a problem arises the emergency room will want to know what  the child ingested---take a leaf or the plant with you if you don't know the name.

Jennifer,

It is a delight to meet you and I know you are going to be getting a lot of new friends here. 

Could you share the names of some of the native plants of Australia.  Since Australians are not too apt to migrate to the Americas your plants were not brought here like the Eurpeon and Meditranian plants. 

I do not recall seeing  in nurseries, any plants that were named as native of Australia.  Help us out here, please. Help me with geography also. What types of climates are we talking about.

Jennifer,

Your name says it all......Green.

Thank you for your answer to Wayne.  If I had read your post first, I would have seen that you answered it nicely and concisly.