Interview With A Gardener - Sianne

I love talking to other gardeners, finding out what they love about it, what made them passionate, and generally providing different ideas and maybe a plant I've never heard of or considered.
Today, we are talking to Sianne, another lovely lady from BUG - Bunbury Urban Growers (Facebook). Enjoy!

Interview with a gardener - Sianne.

What is your favourite thing to grow?

Cactus and Epiphyllum

Epiphyllum, or the Orchid Cacti are absolutely beautiful, especially when in flower, which can reach up to 23 cm across! Plus, they are amazing in hanging baskets or pots. Bonus.

What do you find most rewarding thing to grow?

I get so excited when I see one of my many cactus or Epiphyllum start to flower. Especially those that I have saved from the side of the road or off the green waste. Watching them start new arms is so rewarding after being previously unloved or thrown away.

What first inspired you to get into gardening?

My family are all gardeners. My sister’s liliums, dahlias and roses are unbelievable. My mother’s jungle garden of cottage flowers is something to behold, always a swathe of colour. 

What is one tip you'd like to give to a fellow Green thumb?

Always check out the green waste! There are so many treasures that just need some love.

What is the most useful tool or accessory that you have?

A moisture meter probe. I have a tendency to over water and this has been awesome. It doesn’t need to be expensive.

How do you decide what to grow?

I rarely have a plan. It’s about opportunity. What I find on the green waste, left on the kerb, or on the throw out counters. I love a self seeder or something I can take slips from. 

This is very true! So many beautiful plants are tossed away in green waste collection, or found at bigger chains in the discount section, where, usually, they only need a light prune and some water.

Can you tell us a bit about your garden?

We bought this house about 6 months ago and it was neat, but had a myriad of issues. Rickety old chook pen, old rusty shed, water run off from the lawn towards the house and a bricked in area around the house that leaked, held water and was making the house dark and stuffy.

We wanted low maintenance and decided to remove the brick walled area, opening up everything however we left a small area where the kitchen sink looks out, to make an atrium. We ran hanging rails and shelves for plants. Its amazing and I move plants around to highlight flowers or plants that I want to highlight.

We removed the grass, sheds and chook pen area and Greg built 5 large raised garden beds. We try to make everything do multiple things or leave scope for improvements and changes, so he added a roof frame that current holds shade cloth, but will be the trellis for the grape and passionfruit. Later on a solid roof can be added as there is sufficient fall.

The area behind the double gated side entry was levelled out with fall away from the house and gravel laid down. Small informal gardens were dotted along each side, however there is enough room for a trailer, car or caravan to be moved into the backyard at any time. There is a complete section dedicated to my cactus and succulents. The windmill is the climbing tower for the dragonfruit. This section is not under reticulation so I can regulate the water. 

We found 4 large wooden planter boxes on the hard waste. We got them home and use 2 for lettuce and herbs and two for shade loving plants. Bargain find.

I got a big bay leaf tree off the side of the road, all sick and covered in scale. I hand removed the scale and planted it in one corner and it has never looked back. My latest acquisition was a huge Epi on the side of the road, dry, root bound, sunburnt and yellow. A bit of TLC and she is looking do much better.

Wow, that is such a massive amount t of work done in such a short time, but boy it is definitely paying off, Sianne's gardem and collection is looking absolutely lovely!

Tell us a bit about you?

We have just relocated from Qld. Gardening is so different here. Summers dry and winters wet. Even when it does rain it’s not the 50-200mls we usually get, so we have been learning what works as we go. We recently retired, so we have more time to dedicate to projects.

What do you find is your most useful resource ?

Owys Nursery is an endless source of advice. I am a regular. Always looking out for the damaged but still beautiful trays under the benches.

Its interesting thay Sianne mentioned Owys, as I actually hope to have Owys on here sometime soon, so watch this space...

How do you control your weeds?

I generally just pull them out. I have been known to carefully nurture a seedling only to find it’s a weed of some sort. A weed really is only a plant in the wrong location.

How do you start your seeds?

I am a bit hit and miss with seeds. Vegetables I just sow in-situ, and I was raising seeds in tube stock pots and old seedling containers but found it hard to control moisture levels, so I now just raise them in larger pots. 

What is your all time favourite plant?

Cactus - the spikier the better!

Well, I don't know ow about everyone else, but hearing the transformation of Diqnnes garden, how much hard work she's put into it has really kicked me in the butt to fight the heat and get back into my own garden. Amazing, thank you Sianne! I loom forward to seeing what you achieve over the next few years!