MAILBOX
82 MAY 2019 GARDENING AUSTRALIA
Clockwise from below A rescued ox-tongue lily bulb has rewarded
spadeandtrowel with vibrant autumn fl owers, while a harvest of
sweet corn and Jack Be Little pumpkins has done tinyveggiepatch
proud, and rhyllpearson felt lucky to snap this blue tiger butterfl y
having a rest. Meanwhile, Sophie from littlegracefarm says the fi rst
olive-coloured egg from her Araucana x Maran chook is a cracker.Your Insta posts
Beerightathome
An easy way to save bees and
keep them pollinating your garden
is to build a simple ‘homeless bee
hotel’. It will provide a home for
different varieties of bees who
have strayed from their hives. Fill
a small wooden box with pieces
of wood, with holes of different
sizes drilled into them, along with
some fl orist foam and hollow
twigs. I used recycled items: the
roof is a plastic supermarket tray,
the box is a budgie breeding box,
and a large plant saucer forms the
base. Hang your ‘hotel’ in a tree for
shelter, facing east, and wait to see
who moves in. Don’t paint it or use
any chemicals in or around it.
Patricia Verden, Earlwood, NSWClever recycling
My daughter-in-law, Sara creates planter boxes from
discarded pallets. She even re-uses the nails and screws
that she pulls out of them. The boxes are made to fi t
any size required, and are an excellent way to recycle
pallets. You can see how effective and neat they are.
They have certainly made a difference in Sara’s garden.
Jenny Ferguson, Chelsea, VicWOOLLY BUSH PHOTOTHE GARDEN COLLECTION