"Subtropical Gardening" by Walker and Hanly is the one I keep coming back to. Capturing broad garden vistas in a book-sized format is difficult to do, much more difficult than framing an individual plant for a close-up. Subtropical Gardening has a lot of these panoramic shots of landscapes and that's why I really like it. Too often, gardening books rely on photographs taken by the authors of the text...who tend to shy away from composing such shots. Subtropical Gardening used a professional (Gil Hanly) and it shows. It's also a very affordable and easily digestible book. Despite the title, most of the ideas are equally appropriate for tropical gardens as well.

Hello you all..An interesting little discussion happening here..'wigandia' is my wee creation..All I can say IS..Garden yer latitude with attitude..ignore the 'style council' (including my 'look') I am not long back from an extensive lecture tour of the west coast of North America (the so called mediterranean parts) Many of the younger garden types are looking at this more sustainable equation.. a wee excerpt from my talk notes "We, of Australia (and perhaps the west coast of North America) in this 21st century, in cultural and social terms, have embraced this Âalien land. Our identity is stamped on almost all facets of the ÂArts with the possible exception of Âornamental gardeningÂ. Few inroads have been made into the climatic/cultural sensibilities of our garden making Âunder the sunÂ. The lust for the unsustainable Âlook seems ingrained. How odd for seemingly modern and proud nations, of high Âindependent aspirations and competitiveness. In recent times the realization that we must consider the impact of overuse of natural resources for not only local existence but global existence has spurred a move towards a more sustainable approach, My garden ÂWIGANDIA and others are playing prominent roles in the Âpseudo ecological garden stakes. I have long believed that the somewhat Âslavish adherence toÂhosepipe culture has rendered us rather impervious to the true opportunities our climate presents. Some of us have Âtuned to the notion Ânative plants are best, a simplistic but positive step forward!" and "Many of us live in a climate far removed from the source of the majority of our most frequently used plants. Whilst many of these plants grow reasonably well in our rather diverse climatic range, many do not. Traditional irrigation habits have allowed a broad range of Northern Hemisphere woodland plants to be cultivated. These plants often require copious amounts of water during our long hot and dry summers that can extend into autumn and sometimes beyond! The disturbingly complex issue of water shortages and conservation will in the coming years alter our lifestyles. Garden culture as we know it could well be relegated to the archives filed under nice folly but hemi spherically bizarre! The opportunity to strive towards a garden culture that is of our climate offers endless possibilities. Let us look to our own social and cultural values in the creation of a garden that reflects who we are and more importantly where we live!" Nothing more and nothing less!! Best Billy William Martin. Gongoozler. +61 3 5592 5349 Email: williammartin@wigandia.com Web: http://www.wigandia.com "The plant never lapses into mere arid functionalism; it fashions and shapes according to logic and suitability, and with its primeval force compels everything to attain the highest artistic form." Karl Blossfeldt (1865-1932)

Dead easy unless you get massive frosts.... I have a rich tropical garden in Melbourne no frosts here though. Big abysinnian bananas or real bananas grow really fast and look fantastic. They are brilliant to begin...Almost any palm will do but not the Queen or cocos palm you will regret the day you put them in. I have lots of small and tall phoenix roebellini which are stunning and bangalows. a few other sorts but they are slow to get going. Bamboo clumping type is brilliant or even running kept in a root barrier cannot be beaten. try the big culm sorts in a small grove...do not be put off by the small plant large price tag they grow stupendously fast I got mine from Bamboo oz and they are nearly 2 and very big and juicy. Fruit trees...well I went mad from Daleys and have 47 varieties...may as well get something from all that green Cannas fast and spectacular especially the coloured ones Hibiscus from Perrys SA(they also have fruit trees and bananas)coleus, corylines, gingers, brugmansias...anything with fragrance big leaves and colour...they all live with one another happily...there are great books about like "palms won't grow here and other myths' " and "the new exotic garden " by will giles Also his website (just google on will giles) they have built fabulous gardens where it is under snow for part of the year. Ah also water gardens papyrus and I even have a big pond of lotus...anything is possible have fun

If you are using slow-release or pellet form fertilizer, now is not a bad time to do it and mulch, mulch, mulch! Liquid fertilizer really would be wasted right now. Despite the (somewhat) balmy days and recent winds, my yard plants are standing up OK after the deluge. More tender things are getting by on a weekly watering. Don't kill them with kindness or you'll be in trouble in summer. I temper that advice considering you have a spear pump you may be in a sandy area that drains fast? In which case keep adding as much compost as you can and check the quality of the water from time to time in some areas it can get very brackish. Once you have your micro-climate going, and have seen your garden through another growing season, I think you'll have worked out all the answers you need for your particular situation and a successful garden. (Oh and don;t forget the gallery, we LOVE to see pictures!!!!)