| Author | Content |
weed_woman
Coffs Harbour
Australia
November 08, 2009
03:14 AM Post #7252395
| I've been on a road trip to visit a bromeliad nursery, a Bromeliad show and sale in Qld, and a private bromeliad garden.
What a blast! My friend and neighbour came with me to keep me company and score some bargains for herself. We left the husbands at home so as not to slow us down or hold us back, you know what I mean! he he.
We left on friday morning and travelled a couple of hours north to Pinegrove bromeliad nursery
http://www.pinegrovebromeliads.info/
We got there around lunchtime and browsed the nursery and gardens untill it got dark. The nice couple that own the place were really hospitable and let us camp overnight and looked after us well.
Sue
This is part of the gardens at Pinegrove
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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weed_woman
Coffs Harbour
Australia
November 08, 2009
03:15 AM Post #7252397
| This is the bromeliad tree, one of many amazing ideas of things to do with bromeliads! Theres lots of ideas at Pinegrove 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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weed_woman
Coffs Harbour
Australia
November 08, 2009
03:30 AM Post #7252415
| The next day saw us up bright and early and on our way to Queensland. After an interesting tour of Brisbane, thanks to the Navman, we got to Mt Coot-tha botanical gardens around 8.30am ! he he.
The place was packed with people shopping for plants, and we bypassed the bromeliad display in favour of finding a bargain. As we passed through the door, we were handed a box to put our purchases in and we entered the world of maniac bromeliad enthusiastic shoppers. To be fair, they were all very polite, and I wasn't pushed or shoved once, and only bumped into unintentionally, which was always followed by a quick apology.
It was going to be very hard to find Leisa in the crowd, so I cupped my hands around my mouth and called "LEISAAAAAAA" and sure enough, there she was! The man behind me said, "you wouldn't be from the bush would you?" What did he mean? he he.
So, we continued shopping and chatting and we found heaps of great plants at great prices, and chatted away like old friends. It was really good.
Next thing I know, someones calling out "SUE, FROM COFFS HARBOUR?" and there was Mike! He had gotten in early, and already loaded his car with his many beautiful bargains! The three of us headed outside (after hiding our boxes of plants from the other shoppers) and Mike showed us his purchase, before turning into Santa, giving both Leisa and I a large bag of beautiful broms each! (thanks again Mike)
Heres a pic of some of the sale plants
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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weed_woman
Coffs Harbour
Australia
November 08, 2009
03:33 AM Post #7252417
| We headed back inside and checked out the beautiful displays and I tried to get pics, but indoor shots of bromeliads never look good with the flash! At least thats my experience.
Following that we had a sit down and a cuppa, after which Mike had to head off as he had a huge drive in front of him.
Some of the display (Titled bromeliad magic)
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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weed_woman
Coffs Harbour
Australia
November 08, 2009
03:35 AM Post #7252419
| The plant in the centre of this display is a foliage vriesea, but I am not certain of the name 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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ctmorris
barmera
Australia
November 08, 2009
03:36 AM Post #7252420
| That is truly beautiful Sue and "oh my gosh" no wonder you had an overdose. I would have loved to be there with you but I'm afraid that the plane wouldn't have been able to take off after I got back on with my purchases. LOL. Colleen |
weed_woman
Coffs Harbour
Australia
November 08, 2009
03:46 AM Post #7252423
| So off we went again, checking the tables for plants we might have missed and slowly but surely filling our boxes. New plants kept appearing to fill the gaps left from plants purchased, so there was always something new to look at each time we went back! It was alot of fun!
We met alot of people whose names were familiar from bromeliad publications and other associations, and it was like meeting royalty! I wouldn't tell them that though, they might get big heads! I have to say it was a very friendly and casual relaxed atmosphere.
We left there just after midday, Qld time and headed off on another 45 minute tour around Brisbane, to get to a private garden about 20 minutes away! (thanks navman)
This gentlemans place just blew my mind! It is an 800 mtr2 block and is covered with shadecloth, front to back and side to side! I thought it was just his front garden full of broms, but on stepping out onto the back veranda, I nearly fell over! It was awesome!
No lawns to mow here
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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weed_woman
Coffs Harbour
Australia
November 08, 2009
03:49 AM Post #7252424
| Colleen, I can tell you we were pushed for room to take back the plants we bought! If you ever hear of a brom show in adelaide, I suggest you make the effort to get there. It would be everything you dream of and more!
Here, have another look in this back yard!
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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weed_woman
Coffs Harbour
Australia
November 08, 2009
03:57 AM Post #7252428
| We left Brisbane late in the afternoon, and after an overnight stop, got home about 10am this morning. Its been raining since, so I haven't had much chance to play with or organise my new babies, but heres a quick look at my scores!
I managed to get quite a few things from my wishlist, and a few impulse buys, along with some freebees and gifts, that are always welcome here!
So thats it, that was my weekend! I'm almost sick of the sight of bromeliads...almost! he he
Sue
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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tropicalsydney
Sydney
Australia
November 08, 2009
07:00 AM Post #7252472
| Sue,
You are bringing back memories from when we called into Pinegrove last July. It was only supposed to be a short stop as we had people waiting for us at Tweed but I don't think there is such a thing as a short stop at Pinegrove. The garden full of broms is really worth seeing. |
chrissy100
Sydney
Australia
November 08, 2009
08:21 AM Post #7252561
| I can just picture you there counting all your little treasures ...glad everything is ok at home.
what a time you had! good for you!
thanks for letting us look
are you measuring up how much shade cloth it will take to cover your grounds?  |
weed_woman
Coffs Harbour
Australia
November 08, 2009
04:09 PM Post #7253593
| he he! |
sammut
western sydney nsw
Australia
November 08, 2009
05:14 PM Post #7253782
| Hi Sue Thanks for sharing your weekend away It all looks like a corner in heaven looking in your boxes you made some good buys .-----------Elaine. |
ridesredmule
Barnesville, GA
(Zone 8b)
November 08, 2009
05:30 PM Post #7253840
| Oh, Lordy!! I know what I want to do. Clear out all the furniture , put in growlights and start growing these marvelous plants.
That was amazing. Love them all and you for taking us on your wonderful journey.
Charleen
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ctmorris
barmera
Australia
November 08, 2009
06:31 PM Post #7254065
| That's what you call a brom garden.It is beautiful. I hope some of mine colour up like that. I loved that tree with them all growing up in it. I'm scheming to see what I can come up with. [when the weather cools down] Colleen |
ridesredmule
Barnesville, GA
(Zone 8b)
November 08, 2009
06:35 PM Post #7254075
| Drift wood, would be great!
Don't you think? |
ctmorris
barmera
Australia
November 08, 2009
07:16 PM Post #7254179
| Yes Charleen driftwood would be perfect. It will give me something to ponder. I also though a nice ornate arch way would be lovely. I'll see what I can come up with. It's nice to dream. Colleen |
77sunset
Merino
Australia
November 08, 2009
07:19 PM Post #7254191
| Sue. that is an awesome yard there. How fantastic. You will be busy for months with your bargains. I am not going to cover my yard with shadecloth but I would love to. My minscule brom area is quite inadequate now. I must look for more. Next time you find a large brom show, I am getting the carpet out and coming. I may need 2 carpets , one for me and one for plants.
Loved looking at all you beautiful photos. Thanks for showing them. Colleen , did you call your son back to enlarge the shadehouse after seeing those ?
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ctmorris
barmera
Australia
November 08, 2009
08:15 PM Post #7254343
| Jean Poor John hasn't got over this one yet. It was very hard trying to look after everything else and the boys as well.[ I wouldn't dare ask , for a few months anyway] It is quite warm even in the shadehouse. I think it will be better when the pond is running Colleen |
ridesredmule
Barnesville, GA
(Zone 8b)
November 08, 2009
08:43 PM Post #7254419
| Can you run a fan in there to get some air circulating?
Make it feel like a tropical paradise. Have you got the
tadpoles yet for the boys?
Charleen |
shelly61
townsville
Australia
November 09, 2009
12:01 AM Post #7254918
| WOW |
LeisaD
Brisbane
Australia
November 09, 2009
03:01 AM Post #7255190
| Great travel log Sue!! I'm glad you both came to Bris & we could all catch up! Thanks again for the lovely plants. And Mike too.!!
As much as broms are wonderful, yes I know what you mean being a bit overloaded by seeing so many of them! The shade garden above is just a riot of colour - incredible! And the brom trees are wonderful too!
I worked at the show on Sun, but it was a lot quieter (thank goodness). I don't think I've ever come home with so many plants, but hubbie turned a blind eye. I kept telling him about the 2 santas in the car park :-) I've got a big job cataloging them all now.
I'll also post some pics via facebook when I get a chance. |
weed_woman
Coffs Harbour
Australia
November 09, 2009
03:37 AM Post #7255209
| Hi Elaine, thats a good description..."a corner in heaven". I did make some good buys. I did my homework before I went and got some very good plants for very reasonable prices.
Charleen, seeing gardens like this does tend to turn people on to bromeliads. the variety is incredible. Driftwood is good for mounting broms on, but it needs to be soaked, or left out in the rain, to leach out the salt. Tree fern trunks are also good for growing plants on, but they do soften and rot over time. I think the tree pictured was a big paperbark (melaleuca), which most aussies can grow.
Jean, you are most welcome to come next time, and two carpets would definitely be advisable! I don't have enough shade house room either, but I am finding protected spots in the garden to place the overflow. Keep posted, as I think I'm about to start planting them.
Colleen, it gets very warm in my bromhouse too, which is quite ok as long as the air flow is good. Try not to block it with solid objects or dense growth. A fan is not a silly idea, but where one gets a weather proof one from, I'm not sure? BTW, Check your mail near the end of the week.
LEEEEIIIIIIISSSSAAAAAAAA! he he. I knew you'd hear me! That garden is in Salisbury. I can probably get you a name and number if you want to arrange a visit. The gentleman was lovely, and quite happy to sell on a few of his darlings. He had some nice cordylines there too.
I'm glad the sunday wasn't as busy. It was quite an amazing event, and my only gripe was a small number of wrongly named sale plants . I expected a higher level of nomenclature from a society sale, but I guess it would have been a major effort to check every label. I'm glad I had an expert to check my purchases with, just to be sure I got what I thought I was getting. Alot of people don't really care about the naming of their plants, and just impulse buy for the aesthetics of the plant, but when you have researched a plant and are buying something because it has the right name, you want to be sure thats what it will grow into. Other than that
it was FANTASTIC
Sue
Another Pinegrove bromeliad - Deuterocohnia Spp. (I think D. brevifolia)
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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ridesredmule
Barnesville, GA
(Zone 8b)
November 09, 2009
08:53 AM Post #7255437
| It almost (don't hit me!) looks like
a succulent. It is cute. It blooms too?
That is cute as csn be.
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weed_woman
Coffs Harbour
Australia
November 10, 2009
01:45 AM Post #7258933
| You are right Charleen, it does look like a succulent, and I'm sure some people own it , not even realising its a brom. I'm not sure what the flower looks like, I've never seen it. I tried to get a pup growing some time back, but I had no success. Apparently they're quite hard to get to strike.
Sue
This is Aechmea blanchettiana at Pinegrove
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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sammut
western sydney nsw
Australia
November 10, 2009
04:34 AM Post #7259078
| Sue .
I have some logs then I chip holes in the top can I just put potting mix in and then plant the broms or do I put the pot in the log .
To day I chiped a deep hole and filled with potting mix and poped a fishbone fern in as a tester I did not think about drainage so Iam going to drill a hole up the side on a angle so the water can run down and out .-------------Elaine
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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ridesredmule
Barnesville, GA
(Zone 8b)
November 10, 2009
09:39 AM Post #7259469
| Pinegrove has someone with an eye for drama. That is so pretty.
The fern in the log is nice. You did a great job.
Charleen |
weed_woman
Coffs Harbour
Australia
November 12, 2009
03:27 AM Post #7266135
| Hi Elaine, either way for putting broms in logs is fine. I've been lucky enough to find some half hollow logs, which makes it much less work. Good idea to test on the fern first, that way you won't lose something beloved if it doesn't. Neoregelias are tough little blighters to put in logs.
Charleen. The two owners at pinegrove are mad, keen gardeners. I was there back in April, and quite alot has changed in the garden since then, and there are a lot more plans in the pipeline, so I will have to visit again in the not too distant future to check it out again. Of course i will share my photos, but nothing beats being there in person. I mean, you are right amongst the bromeliads, and you can walk through a whole forest of them.
This is what I came home to. The road was like a running river during the recent heavy rain event. I found lots of nice bits of wood for mounting broms on though! 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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weed_woman
Coffs Harbour
Australia
November 12, 2009
03:29 AM Post #7266136
| This is my mulch from up the other end of the yard. It now had bits of horse poo from the neighbours paddock, so will be quite enriched when I rake it up and put it back! he he. I have moved half of it already, but its been so hot and humid here that its hard to get motivated.
Sue
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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ridesredmule
Barnesville, GA
(Zone 8b)
November 12, 2009
08:53 AM Post #7266393
| See, now You have Drift wood, How grand. You don't have go looking for it, It came to you.
You got added benefits to your mulch. I use longear poo, my plants love it.
Your brugs will reach for the sky even more.
It's nice to be a little mad and know what you are doing for those folks had some fantastic gardens.
The smells would be interesting, sort of a woodsy smell in the Brom Gardens, huh?
Yes, I love your pic.
thank you.
Charleen |
