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25.01.2022 Indoor Plant Friday This morning I thought I’d do a Jungle Cactus to keep with the theme of succulents and Cacti as Mountain Man will be joining us on Sunday to talk about one of his favourite topics at our Cacti and Succulent Workshop! If you want to join us the link is in the comments! I am totally in love with this one. It’s so easy, really requires no input from me and is super kooky. ... Downfall it’s slow for this impatient plantswoman! Epiphyllum monstrosa AKA Curly Sue Epiphyllums are commonly called Jungle Cacti. Why? They are often found growing up in trees alongside orchids and other epiphytic plants. Curly Sue is believed to have come from Guatemala, where it is believed it morphed its normal foliage into this spectacular curly nature in an effort to capture more light and moisture. The foliage isn’t the best part. It has scented white flowers at night that are pollinated by moths and bats and if pollination happens you get red edible fruit .... loving this plant .... except mine haven’t flowered yet! Being a jungle cactus or epiphytic plant these plants prefer more of a shade or indoors position. I have found they grow best in orchid bark which you can keep moist but it’s very free draining so no over watering. I think they’d look great as hanging basket specimens or tumbling down from a high shelf. I would be spraying the leaves with a liquid fertiliser like Triple Boost every fortnight. Allow Curly Sue into your life. She may be slow to get going but give her a chance and she will be a conversational piece with her twisted, curving limbs. Chelsea Trevallan Lifestyle Centre

24.01.2022 Pretty much everything you need to know about keeping Cacti and Succulents in the subtropics. I love unpacking the myriad of forms useful in our homes and gardens. This is one of my favourite workshops to lead. There are a couple of spaces left for Sunday, link in the comments.

23.01.2022 I'm a little bit heartbroken today. It was Ashley's last day as a Horticulturist with the Mountain Man. For the last fourteen months Ashley has been putting up with his royal grouchiness (that's me). We've had plenty of fun along the way though. Ashley has proven to be tough, capable, intelligent and wise in the ways of natural sciences. Perhaps also, a little bit fiery but that has been a grounding force. I wish Ashley all the best in her future work which is something that is definitely coming from her heart. MM.

21.01.2022 It is still too early for a lot of words... but I have a nursery. This goes far beyond my small home production nursery that has served myself and clients so faithfully. This is much bigger. This is MMHQ, a staging point for gardens, a stream of essential plants to supply retailers and landscape Gardeners. A place to run and host Horticultural workshops and talks. There is a lot of work to do yet... So very much work. I look forward to getting plants in and on the ground and seeing some of you here to continue honing our craft. MM.

19.01.2022 Some plants really need to be partially hidden to be truly delighted in. The bizarre and exotic Parrots Beak Impatiens, Impatiens niamniamensis is one such plant. It can throw long, rangy stems but also flowers through the warmer months (so 9 months of the year give or take). Ideally then it cannot be more than lightly pruned coming into Spring so as not to slow flowering. I use this Impatiens as a mid bedding, tucked away behind and amidst other tropical bedding. That way the arcing stems poke through (with leggy stems camouflaged), flowering in wild abandon. MM.

18.01.2022 Indoor Plant Friday While some of us are lucky enough to have animals that don’t eat our indoor plants, there are a few crazy cats (and dogs) out there that love to have a nibble on our indoor plants! Today’s plant has been declared non toxic to cats and dogs by ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals). ... All Peperomias including Peperomia caperata Red Ripple is safe for dogs and cats. Peperomia caperata Red Ripple looks exactly how it sounds. It has a blood red leaf that is wrinkled or rippled. The healthier and happier the plant is the more wrinkles the leaf gets. It’s a very tactile plant. Red Ripple can be a bit harder to find at your local garden centre as it’s sister Emerald Ripple is a lot easier to grow. It’s worth trying to find one though as it’s not often you can find a plant that has such a distinctive leaf colour like this ... Trevallan Lifestyle Centre has some in stock now but they don’t last long! Red Ripple is a small and compact plant that’s usually grows about 20cm high and can get to about 40cm wide. It has the ability to form this perfect dome shape making it the perfect table top plant. It has really cool flowers that are often called rat tails. As they look like long greenish rats tails poking up through the foliage. This plant requires very little care and attention and any problems with it usually occur due to excessive love/overwatering! It doesn’t need a lot of water. At the moment mine get a good soak once a week and I don’t let them sit in any water. During winter I can reduce watering to once a fortnight/month depending on where it is in house. Always check your soil first though as your conditions my be different to mine.... How do you check your soil for moisture - stick your finger in it, if it’s dry, water, if it’s wet, leave another day! Very technical I know! I have found Red Ripple hates dark spots, the more light the happier and more deep the red on the leaves will be. They are very slow growing and don’t like to be over potted. I only ever pot up to next size pot and only when the original plant is very pot bound. Most of mine are still in their original pots. They do love a bit of humidity. You can either spray the leaves at least once a week. I mix a little liquid fertiliser into my spray bottle so I’m liquid fertilising at same time or you can soak the entire plant in a bucket for a few seconds so soil and foliage gets wet. I also fertilise all my indoor plants at turn of every season with Organic Link, a certified organic slow release fertiliser. Peperomias are usually very easy to care for but I have found red ripple can be a little touchy, only because it’s hard to get the watering right on them. They just hate to be over loved. If you have a bright spot in your home and you are a forgetful waterer than maybe this is the plant for you Happy indoor gardening this weekend Chelsea Trevallan Lifestyle Centre

18.01.2022 Dombeya update! Good morning propagators, not every plant was made equal or is as simple as a Coleus. I have been working on Dombeya for a couple of months now. I have 2/16 left in the propagation box but they are looking promising. I have now hedged my bets with a couple of air layers. Damping off (a fungal problem) has been the main issue. When I first prepared the cuttings the day/night temperature was consistent, about 20C either way.. Since then the nights are cold (6C-9...C) and the days are hot and humid (28C-30C, 50%-60%). This is prime weather for fungal bloom. It does not help that the stems are covered in tiny hairs (the perfect place for spores and moisture to hide)! As part of my hygiene practices I have removed failed cuttings to reduce the chance of spreading fungal infestation. I am also going to attempt some semi hardwood cuttings further down the stems where there are no hairs. Cheers, MM.

17.01.2022 Have you ever dreamt of strolling through the garden and plucking a delectable and sweet plum from the tree? Do you live in Queensland and this is not very likely? Let me introduce you to Pleiogynium timoriense or Burdekin Plum, one of the most moreish bushtuckers I have sampled in a long time. This beautiful spreading tree to 20m in cultivation is a feature with substance. Pleiogynium timoriense produces these plum-like fruits in late spring/early summer which are both delightful to behold and delightful to nibble on (or typically for bushtucker cook down into jam, sauce or chutney). Sample these rich black fruit once soft or simply enjoy observing them on the tree! MM.

16.01.2022 Hydrangea time! At Norfolk the white garden, so white Hydrangeas of course! I had already pre-worked this soil months ago and cultivated and composted again today. I believe that Hydrangea can be a little marginal in Brisbane, every effort has been made. Plenty of organic matter, a mound for drainage, cultivation, irrigation and a light but protected position all comes together to get these beauties off to the perfect start. For small plants, they already own this position in the garden. This time next year they will command adoration. MM.

16.01.2022 The end of a long week of gardening, propagation and things. Getting back to you all soon. Please enjoy these Hemerocallis as much as I did! MM.

15.01.2022 Spending plenty of time at the desk, in the books. - Louie.

15.01.2022 Indoor plant Friday I was asked the other day what my favourite houseplant was and I had to really think about it but the one plant that won on every level was the Zamioculcas zamiifolia ... The sign at Trevallan Lifestyle Centre reads no care, no fuss house plant. He can grow in any light situation from my sisters office hallway which receives no natural light to my bedroom bedside table which has light all day long. This guy handles it all with abomb. Don't even have to worry about shinning his leaves - he does it himself. His leaf is naturally thick, dark green and exceptionally glossy and shinny. He just looks lush and tropical all the time. Don't worry about water restrictions with this guy. He doesn't like a lot. A good drink every few weeks and he will repay you by continuing to look awesome. Don't worry if you are a bit like Boss Lady and tend to over love your plants he can handle that too (he just doesn't like continually sitting in water). It actually grows from these potato like tubers that store water so even if by some ungodly chance you think you've killed your Zanzibar gem through lack of water when the rains come it will reshoot! This guy is amazing and the best house mate you will ever find. He has a sexy brother called ‘Jungle Warrior’.... this guy has green new growth that turns black as it gets older and is just as fabulous as its older brother but a little sexier and just recently a new baby was born to this family .... Zenzi is as a cute as a baby brother should be. It looks very similar to its older brother with lush dark green foliage yet its leaves form closer together up the stem making it seem more compact and thicker looking. Honestly if you get one house plant in your lifetime buy one of the Zamioculcas zamiifolia brothers. You’ll never regret having this guy in your house! All three are available at Trevallan now Chelsea from Trevallan

15.01.2022 G'day everyone, I have had a lot of new likers recently so I thought I would take the opportunity to re-introduce myself and let you know a bit about The Mountain Man. My name is Rob and I am a third generation plantsman. I am a Brisbane boy and spent some time growing up on my Grandfathers Rose farm which was situated in Eight Mile Plains (once fertile farmland). While I am known by many as a Rose Man, I have a keen interest in, and knowledge of, a wide range of Sub-tropical... plants; particularly South American, African and Native Australian plants! I am a career Horticulturist and perpetual student of Horticulture as both an art and science. My background in Horticulture is long and varied from learning floriculture and Rose grafting from my Grandfather in my teens, studying Horticulture in High School and honing bushcraft and revegetation as a boy scout through to my first few jobs as a gardener and lab technician in plant tissue culture. I have been head gardener and nurseryman for retail nurseries in Brisbane, craft gardened for premiere landscape companies and media personalities, sojourned to many of our vast countries Botanic gardens and natural areas and continue to develop Brisbane gardens to be elegant and to give something wonderful back to their owners, a love of being in and using the garden again. In 2011 I completed my Diploma of Horticulture at Grovely and The Mountain Man was born! The Mountain Man started simply as a vehicle to drive my aspirations to become a great gardener but it has morphed into a complete set of Horticultural services. I largely have been providing scheduled garden maintenance and development but in recent years I have begun to offer workshops and masterclasses on Horticultural sciences and the practical art of craft gardening. I have continued to expand on my services to domestic Horticulture by offering consultancies and small garden design packages. My motto is Excellence and Ingenuity in Horticulture. And I strive to develop tough, beautiful and long lasting gardens with a focus on soil improvement and ecologically sound plant selections. I have mastered many physical skills to become a great landscape gardener but the learning never ceases. There is more knowledge available in Horticultural disciplines than I can ever hope to unpack in this short lifetime, even with the determination to learn a few more plants, techniques and information every week for the past ten years! The facebook page is primarily focused on sharing plants, their culture, vistas, gardening techniques and special workshops and events. So to all of the likers new and old, welcome to a marvellous summer for gardening!

15.01.2022 Beat any weather pattern with Roses. Easily amongst the toughest plants I've worked with in my career. Manage them correctly and they'll give you tremendous joy!

14.01.2022 This space is tentatively reserved as the speakers area. So far it has proven to be the coolest place in the nursery. I have spoken to a few of you about sneaking in a couple of workshops this calendar year. It will be in late November and they'll most likely be Soil nutrition/fertilisers and propagation. If I can get a general sense of who might like to visit MMHQ early on for a technical workshop or two please comment here! Otherwise I am both open to suggestions and also preparing a host of speakers and workshops for next calender year from April. Cheers, MM.

14.01.2022 I have recently acquired (after years of searching) the gorgeous Strelitzia juncea, a threatened form of Strelitzia with reed-like foliage. This structural beauty is useful as a feature in a pot or in the garden and imparts a spirit of wild adventure. Imagine exploring a riparian gorge in South Africa and stumbling across this graceful plant quivering in the evening breeze! https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strelitzia_juncea

14.01.2022 James bedded out some of the water plants yesterday. Including this beauty Houttuynia cordata 'Chameleon' , Fish Mint, which as the name suggests is a South East Asian edible water herb. It is excellent for salads and stir-fry, amazing in a bowl, pond or bog and even has a charming little flower!

13.01.2022 Are you cooking? Better hold onto your ladle and glass of wine. Calathea makoyana is being a total drama queen! I was blown away when I saw her today... Those markings! Of course she is commonly known as peacock plant or cathedral windows but there is nothing common about this Calathea. With an Award for Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society and no wonder. Obviously I'm having a little bit of a thing for Calatheas right now. MM.

12.01.2022 I love Bardon and apparently Bardon loves me! Native Cordyline, Cordyline stricta going absolutely nuts. Oh and the Broms are decent enough...

11.01.2022 The nursery stock is growing in size and numbers! I have the pest inspection next week and then I will be open to Horticulturists throughout December! I will be available at the nursery by appointment from 1-4 pm Tuesday to Thursday (you can phone, email or message the page). I am really looking forward to hearing from industry people; Designers and decoraters looking for feature plants for clients. Media people scouting venues for workshops. Or seeking plants for clients or ...display. Landscape gardeners looking for vigorous plants for the sub-tropics. Plant retailers looking for high quality retail ready green stock. A space for me to prepare those special plants for clients gardens! For members of the public, my beautiful followers; all of my plants will be available from Trevallan, ten minutes down the highway. A production nursery performs a vital function within industry. A place for plants to be propagated, grown up and hardened off for your garden. A place to trial untested plants. A hub to service local Horticulturists with plants and advice. Of course if you want to visit, as so many do, workshops will be implemented from April next year and I propose that plants will be available on the workshop days in keeping with the workshop theme! MM.

11.01.2022 Bolusanthus speciosus, Tree Wisteria, spotted at Waratah today. A native of Africa, this delectable tree is greatly underused in South East Queensland. Height generally hovers around 6m depending on conditions, aspect and treatment. Being a member of the FABACEAE family makes this tree an excellent Nitrogen fixer, tough and relatively low care. Striking purple Wisteria-like flowers pop against the bright lime green foliage. Another great tree for our European gardening traditions in the often dry always hot SEQ. MM.

11.01.2022 Mountain Man is pretty busy right now. He’s working hard making gardens beautiful but he is also working hard on something really exciting ... he will no doubt reveal all soon He asked me to bring back Indoor Plant Friday. He sprouted all kinds of niceties about how much you all missed it and how much you all appreciated it... I of course believed him and said Yes!! So show me some love if you really want it back! Another silly thing that happened recently is he mentioned t...o me that he loves doing workshops and told me to book him as many as I could think of. Unfortunately for him I thought he was serious and I booked him every week until November Lucky for us after he fell over in shock he agreed! You can catch Mountain Man at these workshops Creating Amazing Hanging Baskets We share all our secrets with you in a workshop where you will get to create your own multiplanted hanging basket and you get to create your own. Native Edible Plants We will be detailing Australian native bush tucker plants growth, use in garden design and highlighting their uses in the Kitchen Cacti and Succulents We will look at the adaptations of these mostly dry land plants (and a few of their humidity and shade loving cousins). Ways to propagate them, use in containers and bedding and many more tips for you to get the best out of these beautiful and intriguing plants! All about Australian Native Plants Why use natives at all? Is the first question we’ll tackle and then discuss the top performers in Ipswich and Greater Brisbane regions. Seasonality and care of Native plants to ensure your garden flourishes. Lastly, we’ll discuss not just the use of natives in the landscape but as indoor plants, pot specimens, cut flowers and hanging baskets. Soil Nutrition and a Garden Fertilising regime From basic plant requirements to the benefits of more organic compounds and a look at some pros and cons of commonly used household fertilisers. Becuase Facebook is playing silly buggers with me the link to the workshops is in the comments

10.01.2022 I wouldn't want to miss out on showing off my Hippies, everybody's doing it! One of my favourites, Hippeastrum 'Rosalie.'

10.01.2022 For anyone wondering a bit about the crazy lady who has run the scented garden and indoor plants portions of the page. Trevallan is where some (soon to be a lot more) of my plants go to be enjoyed by enthusiastic gardeners!

09.01.2022 Phwoar, hey there big boy!

08.01.2022 I love these stark but rich colours and textures depicting the vast beauty of the Australian landscape.

06.01.2022 So I guess native bees really love Cunjevoi, Alocasia brisbanensis.

04.01.2022 We had so much fun developing our hanging baskets for the garden in today's workshop. Everyone did such imaginative combinations and I hope you remain inspired to keep growing plants out in the air, experimenting and utilising available space and materials. Oh and the secret formula for success! MM.

03.01.2022 Indoor plant Friday Yesterday I got in some glorious Calathea varieties and I was asked what’s the secret to growing these temperamental beauties. There is no hard and fast secret with these plants. They kind of remind me of my kids ... they will chuck a full blown tantrum because the sun came into their room the wrong way one morning but be ok with the sun every other morning. ...Continue reading

03.01.2022 For effective garden solutions to dull areas consider a cluster of multiplanted pots. I am really pleased with this installation in a pool area in Bardon. It includes Calathea zebrina (RHSAGM), Strobilanthes dyeriana (RHSAGM) and the vulnerable Dypsis lanceolata endemic to Comoros. RHSAGM - Royal Horticultural Societies Award for Garden Merit. While this cluster is tropical themed as it is in a humid but protected position with plenty of spillers and fillers, the world is your oyster in terms of how you theme your pots!

02.01.2022 Ready class? We have a lot to get through on Propagation this morning! See some of you soon.