Is it a Syzygium or a Eugenia - and what sort? Most of them are 'full sun or part shade' plants so some sunlight each day would be an idea. Start with morning sun - somewhere it won't get too hot because it won't be hardened off at all. Have you got a porch you could put it on? Or under a garden tree that lets dappled light through. You might be overwatering, too. If it is drying out really quickly between waterings - it might need repotting - and possibly some root pruning if it has run wild in the pot. If it's OK, then put it up on feet in the protection saucer so the surplus water can drain away and air can get to the roots. Wait until the soil feels dry as deep down as the first joint on your finger - then water thoroughly. If the pot is not too big - put it into a bucket of water and wait for the bubbles to stop - but get it out within ten minutes, and let it drain before putting it back on its feet. And some of it could also be 'changing leaves' for spring. A lot of the evergreens do a leafdrop around now. Another possible is being in a cold draught. Easy-fix, that one!

The photinia are narrower than the others but mine, and I've planted 3 I think (or maybe 4) and they completely cover at least 10 to 15 metres in width, I reckon. If you have a chance to visit the Sydney Royal Bot. Gardens there's a couple of very good examples of the Acmena and Syzygiums, they are quite old and gees, I reckon would easily cover the width you need and probably more. They are both quite attractive trees, acmena and syzygiums, more pleasing to the eye than the photinias but slower growing. You really need to see them, maybe Google might help there, to decide. There are other varieties of syzygium that would suit but if you do select other than above just be aware they may suffer psysillid attack, which while it won't kill the tree, can be quite ugly. Varieties of Syzygium Austral (I've been informed) are particularly prone. When you go to the nursery, just check the leaves for blistering, easy to detect, unless they've carried out a spraying programme. B

Breynia oblongifolia is very popular with Brown Pigeons. I haven't seen anything eat my lillypilles, though. I think that the problem with might be that our "bird-attracting" gardens have focussed heavily on nectar production. It's great to see native birds returning to gardens, but so far we get more nectar-eaters than anything else. The native fruit-eaters have retreated with the rainforest, and may not find their way back to the suburbs unless you are in an area where a goodly number of like-minded souls are providing food for them. We probably need more fruit varieties for year-round supply, too. There are lots of suitable garden species among the dry rainforest trees and shrubs. Bird-feeders are typically filled with seed, attracting a second range of birds. Occasionally we see people whose bird-feeders are filled daily with fresh fruit. I've seen koels come to these and have been told they attract a range of things but can't remember what. Getting balanced bird populations is something we native plant growers could work on. Trish

Gosh, it seems there's huge ecological restoration needed in your neighbourhood, blckrose. You've certainly described an environmental disaster zone of monumentous proportions. All of those factors you mention have had enormous negative impacts on native wildlife thereby causing many people to reach for the sprays because natural controls are no longer present. As you would be aware, Noisy Miners have proliferated because of the massive clearance of native understorey thereby creating their preferred open woodland conditions. You might also be aware that a number of communities are now conducting Indian Mynah eradication programmes in order to encourage the return of native woodland birds, many species of which are threatened but provide wonderful environmental services such as control of insect pests if given the chance. Cat controls are also slowly gathering pace but, of course, much more is needed if we are to have a cat-free, native wildlife restoration culture in Australia. So if we are to reduce the impact & cost of sprays in our environment then the issue needs to be tackled on a very broad, multi-pronged front, as you are perhaps implying, blckrose.