Accommodating Variety in my Australian Garden

 Accommodating Variety in my Australian Garden

If we become gardening philosophers we can see the world in our gardens, and it would be nice to think that we can also learn how to better live in the world about us.

Some time ago I wrote something about how plants that are newcomers arrive in gardens, be they encouraged immigrants or unexpected or even unwanted arrivals. Just recently I've started thinking about the way the gardener accommodates their various plants and makes room for them.

These thoughts came after my last blog about our recent multi-cultural lunch! I began to think that a garden is very much like that dinner party with various ‘cultures’ represented in it. And then, after watching a series on TV about the place of four English Gardens in time and history, I got thinking about how I as a gardener manage to integrate plants from other places into my garden.

The sunken terrace close to the house is my 'theatre', a place that we look out on  and I decorate more dramaticly. 

Sun, Position, Water

I've realised its all about sun, position and water. In my Emerald Garden I basically place plants in places on the garden block in relation to how much sun or how little sun they’ll get as even the sunnies spot only gets 5 hours of sun. But I also note how much shelter they'll get from the strong winds, and how much water I’m able to give them in that position.

Half way down the garden is an arch, covered with clamatis, that divides the areas I water from those I don't.

My garden taps are fed from a large water tank, and the taps are close to the house. So plants that need a lot of sun, but also a lot of water (vegetables, and most flowers for picking) are in a sunny spot where they will get about 5 hours of sun, but also where my hose can reach them. 

Herbs are in a raised bed, again in very sunny spot, but though close to the tap I give them very little water. 

These are the accommodations I’ve made for plants that come from a variety of places and climates.  

These do best in my garden in Emerald if I place them where there is...

Most Sun

A. In a level and open setting close to water

Flowers for picking: Dahlias from Mexico, Irises from Greece, Carnations from the Mediterranean, Chrysanthemums from Asia, Lemons and Oranges from Australia and Asia,

My Picking Garden

Vegetable Beds

 B. In a level and open setting near the house but given little water

Herbs and other Mediterranean plants: oregano, sage, thyme, bay, rosemary, and cistus. From Africa Crocosmia, and from Europe lavender.

And Herb Garden

Morning Sun

A. In a sheltered and sloping position next to the wall of the house, and given quite a of water.

Peonies and Liriope muscari from Asia, Pineapple lilies from Ease Africa, and nasturtiums from America. And in another narrow bed, Fuchsias from the Caribbean

Fuschias

B With no water in a bed a long way from the house.

Acanthus from Greece, Agapanthus from South Africa, Bougainvillea from South America, daffodils from Europe, Geranium and Pelargoniums from the Mediterranean, Arum lilies from South Africa, plus a number of native Australian bushes.

Salvias

Geraniums plus Arum lilies etc.

 Afternoon Sun

A.  Narrow bed next to a fence, partially shaded and given quite a lot of water.

Climbing roses from Asia, Camellias from Asia.

This was once a carport.

Hopefully soon a rose bower!

 B.  Narrow bed, next to a fence, given no water

Agapanthus from Australia. 

Never watered, agapanthus, and even some orchids

 Shady

A. In the front garden under tall trees and on a slight slope, given a little water.

Tree ferns from Australia, Dogwood and Hydrangeas from America,

When this area wilts I give it a little water

B. But under tall trees at the end of the garden the plants only have water in their first year. 

Tree Ferns and Mint bushes from Australia, Japanese Maples and Japanese Anemones from China and Japan, Hart’s Tongue ferns Asia, Silver Birch from Europe.

This is not the right position for a day lily!

And I'm still finding that some are uncomfortable just there, and may need to be moved into more, or less sun, or given more water or protection. Its an interesting job keeping them all happy.

And these early irises have to be moved away from the path

 

While these plants are experimentally placed where I might have a sheltered fernery one day!

A Multi-Cultural Xmas Lunch

A Multi-Cultural Xmas Lunch

History of the Group

 

Takis and I have just met up with a group of friends from Emerald. These are folk we’ve known for the last four years and though we might bump into each other in the village and perhaps we go to the same functions we make a habit of meeting up at least four times a year.  It all began because on of the friends we met when we first moved to this Australian village expressed sadness that she no longer met with her old friends for a good discussion as most had moved away from this area. I suggested we start up a new group and we decided to include a few people that we both knew. And as for a ‘good discussion’ we would only allow talk about those aspects of life polite society banned, sex, religion and politics!

Various Cultural Backgrounds

 

The core of this group is only seven in number and we try to add a new couple at each get-together to add spice and freshness to the debates. But really we hardly need any newcomers as those seven represent such varied backgrounds. Though we are all Australians we are all immigrants. None of us was born in Australia; four came in their twenties and two when only young children. 

One comes from Malta, one from Venice, Italy, one from Spain. One was born in China of English and Russian parents, another was born in Egypt of Greek parents, and two of us are from England. But we have all been here long enough to speak English well (even though some still have very strong accents) and most of us have done some schooling in this country.

Conversations and Arguments

 

As you can imagine, with TV, aches and pains, family matters all banned subjects, the conversations can be very lively. We may all be considered ‘lefties’ but do not always agree with Labor politics, and certain we have different views about the actions of our current Liberal government. You might be shocked at the vehemence of some of the opinions expressed, and refuted. 

Once I thought two of the men would come to blows. But after strong discussion, because we are friends and do not really take offence we often find that disagreements are more about how the idea was expressed, rather than the idea behind that expression, and the argument often collapses into laughter or into an agreement that there might have to be a compromise.

Menu for This Christmas

This Sunday was our last meeting for 2015 and it only included the basic six and was at our house. I had suggested each family bring along food that was celebratory, and perhaps something they served for Christmas.

The menu included: champagne, a small platter of handmade gnocchi for starters, roast pork and roast vegetables for mains, and a tropical fruit salad, a chocolate cake and macaroons for dessert.

 

We meet in each other’s homes. And really with the sort of spread laid on we could not afford the place that would offer us that kind of glorious food, or a padded room to ourselves where we can shout ourselves hoarse.

It was great fun, as usual, but what I really want to tell you about this lunch is that it was a time when we shared, and we argued. This is what can be great about multiculturalism.  

We were willing to share. I asked them all to bring along a quote, joke, a poem, a personal story about Christmas. Some of the jokes we did not all ‘get’ as humour does not always readily cross cultural lines. But stories of personal experience we all sympathised with.

And we were also willing to accept ‘New Australian Xmas Traditions’,  (cards, trees, xmas pud., etc.) even though not all of us had these memories, in fact for some in their places of origin Christmas was not a big celebration and New Year and Easter were more celebrated.

And we were willing to disagree. Some of our arguments were about how the new government in Australia was doing, how best to integrate ‘Anglos’ and ‘Aboriginals’, and whether the ‘West’ had brought the ‘Muslim Problem’ on themselves.

While newcomers often want to share something special about their culture often they are not willing to take the next step in integration, that of expressing an idea even if the other person disagrees. And then not just listening to the disagreement but being willing to try and explain the idea in words the other might better understand. And, not only explaining, willing to take on the chin the laughter that might ensue, about something that still sounds strange to the other.

And then, even further, being willing to shake hands and agree that, as you want to live in a multicultural society, you can live with different ideas.

Greeks in Melbourne

 Greeks in Melbourne 

Melbourne in Victoria is a Greek cultural center in Australia. And there is more than one area in this city where Greeks congregate.

One is Lonsdale Street in the city centre. This is an area that runs adjacent to Melbourne Chinatown on Little Bourke Street. According to the 2001 Australian census Melbourne has the largest Greek Australian population in Australia and indeed it has the largest population of Greeks of any city in the World - outside of Greece.

The annual Melbourne Antipodes Festival is held on Lonsdale Street one week in March and has been held since 1987. The festival is renowned for its Lonsdale Street "Glendi" (Greek for "party") - a weekend-long event that is held to coincide with the Greek National Day on the 25^th March.

An annual Greek Film Festival is also held in Melbourne over two weeks in September, and has been held since 1990.

However recently Greek community life has dispersed from Lonsdale Street to the suburbs and a number of Greek cafes have closed down in this street. To counter this trend recently a Greek entrepreneur built a $15 million, 15-storey beacon of Hellenism on the site of the original three-level headquarters of Melbourne's oldest and biggest Greek community organisation. Papastergiadis said it was important to ‘maintain a central, visible presence as a symbol of a mature, diverse and successful

migrant community that has become part of the city's cultural fabric.’ He added that, ‘During the Lonsdale Street Festival we get 100,000 people through here over two days. The prime minister last year said it was the biggest street festival in Australia, and half the attendees are not Greek.’

Chef  George Colombaris

Also in the city, as poster boy of the Greek community, is Chef George Colombaris. The Press Club and Gazi are two of his restaurants.  He has done a lot to help raise the profile of Greek cuisine in this city. 

Photo: Simon Schluter

Oakleigh is one of those suburbs where Greeks now congregate.

 

Oakleigh is 15 km southeast of Melbourne's central business district. In the 2011 census Oakleigh had population of 7,535. Once a large independent city, Oakleigh was absorbed into Melbourne as part of the eastward expansion of the metropolis in the 1950s. As a result, it once had its own large historic municipal buildings. The area’s strong Greek cultural influence is largely due to the influx of Greek immigrants to Australia in the mid-20th century. Fourteen per cent of those now living in this suburb speak only Greek at home.

 

 Evidence of Greek cultural influence can be found in the football club, Oakleigh Cannons, established in 1972 by Greek immigrants. Further evidence of Greek cultural influence can be found in the Greek Orthodox church of Agio Anargyroi

Plus a very strong presence of Greeks from Lemnos!

 

Thus this area contains many older commercial buildings including banks and retail complexes dating back to the early days of the city. But it is the cafes on Eaton Street, which is a pedestrian mall that most visitors come to visit. The thriving shopping district has an abundance of Greek butchers, bakeries, beauty salons, and specialty shops selling Greek sweets, but more and more there are shops representing other ethnic groups – Korean, Vietnamese, Chinese.

 

Oakleigh is an important shopping and eating area for Takis and me. We drive there at least once a month to stock up on Mythos, Greek beer, and Greek cheeses. And while there we are sure to have a souvlaki or a coffee and Galtibouriko. We have just now returned from stocking up with Greek goodies prior to Xmas!

 

A Busy Time of Year

A Busy Time of Year

Writing and Other Projects

 

One reason I’m taking out time and not doing two blogs a week is that it takes time from my writing schedule. At the moment I’m writing a whodunit about Lemnos. I’m finding this great fun and hopefully it will be finished soon so I’m trying to get most of it finished before Christmas.

Its set in the year just before Syriza was elected, and a time when folk in Greece knew that great changes were ahead but could not guess what they were. But I won’t say anything about these ongoing writing projects, as I feel to talk about them too early is bad luck. (Am I becoming Greek, with a belief about the evil eye?)

Library Talks

Takis also signs the books as the story is as much about him as me.

 

I’ve mostly done these in the form of an interview, with my Emerald friend and teacher of a writing group asking the questions. She’s read the book and can prompt me, letting me ramble on for a while and then bringing me back to what she thinks the audience would like to know about the book. We cover the main stories of the retirement adventure, the house renovation (including those about mice, hidden fireplaces and discovery of the well.) I included a slide show as folk gather for nibbles and buy books after the talk.

Garden Club Talks

Recently I’ve also done some garden talks (with slides) of the garden in Lemnos, and of the Lemnian natural flora. I’ve really enjoyed this last venture, into talks for garden clubs. They are great folks and very curious about gardening situation overseas, as well as fascinated by tales of other people’s gardens.

Before picture of Pergola

After picture of Pergola

The slides however are the main feature when giving the garden talk. I chat while the slides are showing. I have three slide shows that follow each other. One shows plants seen on walks through the island early and later in the year. Another about the planning and setting out of our garden and the last showing the house and garden today.

I tell folk that I’ve found its not always easy being a gardener in the Mediterranean. As I tried to point out one ‘Med’ place is often very different from another. On Lemnos the problem is not just of the hot dry summers, that can extend for three or even four moths, but the frosts and winter snowfalls, and also the very strong winter winds, which mean a root system is weakened and a plant that looks OK suddenly dies as the weather warms. And I tell folks that the plants I use in Greece are survival plants, found along roadsides, or plants that do well in neighbour’s gardens. Nursery plants I often have to replace year after year.

I tell them …

There were a few trees in the garden when we arrived, olive, almond, bitter orange (naranzi), fig. Most of the almond trees were very old and have since died of old age. The olives and figs survive well. The orange, though old and tough, nearly died one cold winter BUT it may be coming back And as we use bitter oranges to make marmalade I’ve planted another two trees, hoping they survive. 

While island nurseries are limited in their ‘Mediterranean’ offerings I’ve bought pomegranate, pine, box, rose, bougainvillea, citrus, agapanthus, bottlebrush, lantana, gaura, wisteria, yucca, fan palm and agave. Some of these do not survive the winter cold, especially the bougainvillea, though I have one of the hardy purple variety in a very sheltered corner and even if cut back by the cold so far it has regrown.  The lantana too is cut back by the cold but often revives. I’ve had to retry lemons several times!

But that plants from the roadsides do well, like euphorbia, hemlock, daffodil lilies, oleander, obviously they can cope with the summer and winter weather but when put in a garden situation they can take over! However mostly I check out what was doing well in other gardens and asked for cuttings or roots. I got my, honeysuckle, rosemary, bay, Iris, canna lilies, pampas grass, jasmine, basil, pittosporum, Virginia creeper, lilac, pelagonium and grapes in this manner. And then there are plants that I started with seeds, or have just arrived and continue to self-seed. These I happily keep and include, fennel, marigolds, pokeweed, zinnias, nasturtiums, alyssum and chamomile daisies.

And then there is Christmas to Plan!

 
Another reason, I’m afraid, my blogs are getting put on the back burner is that Christmas is drawing closer. 

In Greece Christmas is not as important as Easter, and in America the importance of Thanksgiving means that some of the business is taken away from Christmas. But here in Australia Christmas is the BIG holiday. It falls at the beginning of the summer holiday. It’s that time when works places close down for the long holiday and everyone has Christmas parties. So Friends meet and exchange present, Families have to decide who’s home will be the one that will be visited this year (often this planning involves going to one family home in the morning and another in the afternoon.)

As I look at my diary I see I have already six Christmas get together parties at our house to plan for.

We have already done preliminary menus and had one early shopping expedition. I’m pleased that Takis loves cooking, and so he’ll make a ham, and a roast lamb, and a couple of fish dishes, for these various occasions. I really love the traditional English Christmas pudding and cake but no one else in the family does. But whether anyone else will eat them it would not be Christmas with out mince pies and a trifle, so I’ll be making them.