Jo Richards spoke about designing with Indigenous Plants. Indigenous plants are not only native to Australia, they are plants that occur naturally in your local area. Jo explained she is working with Boroondara Council to encourage the planting of native plants in the area, which then can create havens for insects, lizards, butterflies, and birds. When your garden and neighbourhood is mostly native or indigenous it will attract a greater diversity of native animal species. Providing a range of habitats and protecting these plants and animal species in your garden makes an essential contribution to conserving and enhancing our local biodiversity.
Jo also runs her own business called “Summerhill Botanics”. She showed photos of garden make-overs she has done in the local area, designing gardens with native plants. When designing a garden to enhance local biodiversity , things to consider would be a large variety of plants to create layers of habitat and different food sources. Tall trees and shrubs for birdlife, cottage type gardens with daisies for butterflies, water pond for frogs, bird baths with clean fresh water for birds and bees and rocks for lizards.
Jo showed photos of birds, frogs and lizards commonly found in the Boroondara area and the plants that offer a source of food and protection for them.
Local environmental sites to visit are: Maranoa Australian Native Botanic Garden, Parring Rd, Balwyn. Beckett Park, Parring Rd, Balwyn. Willsmere Park, Willow Grove, Kew. Nettleton Park, Dawson Drive, Glen Iris. Welfare Parade, Glen Iris.
For more information: City of Boroondara website www.boroondara.vic.gov.au
Jo kindly donated two native potted plants to raffle.
