Episode: #2 09/09/2006
Presenter: Phil Dudman

One hour south of Brisbane, you will find the gardeners paradise of Tamborine Mountain. The magical thing about the place is the climate. It is much cooler than other parts of the state, so it allows the locals to grow all sorts of beautiful flowering plants more commonly seen in temperate gardens.

“Tallaringa”, the garden of John and Christine Youngman, has one of the most delightful private collections of Magnolias seen anywhere in Australia. There are lovely pinks, whites, creams, purples and even yellow blooms all perched on these bare branches like living sculptures. They simply are breathtaking.

Michellias are very close relatives of magnolias. The shining star of the garden is Michellia'Maudia'. When you see it placed against this backdrop of dense rainforest, it really jumps out at you.

Japonica and sasanqua camellias are quite common in southeast Queensland, but it is rare to see because it's just too warm. On Tamborine Mountain they thrive and if you take a stroll around Tallaringa, you can stumble across all kinds of gems that love the cooler conditions. Bulbs, rhododendrons, flowering peach trees; the are all on Tamborine Mountain and they're all magnificent.

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No large garden would be complete without a fruit orchard to supply the family with fresh organic produce. A problem that many gardeners face is how to harvest the last of a delicious crop, when the fruit is just out of reach.

A tool like the handy 'flower and fruit picker' makes it easy. It's got a long reach handle, with a clever'cut and hold' action, so that when you make your cut the fruit doesn't drop and get damaged.

If you would like to see the stunning “Tallaringa” garden for yourself, you can over the weekend starting Friday the 29 th of September. It is a part of Tamborine's annual Springtime on the Mountain Festival that showcases many beautiful gardens.

Tallaringa

Long Road

North Tamborine QLD

Email: spring05@bigpond.net.au

www.tamborinemountaingardenclub.com

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