Why take the risk? Macbirch, I understand exactly what you're saying. Planting natives does sometimes/often seem like a risk because we just don't have the collective knowledge about natives as we do exotics. About 2 years ago, I wanted to plant a hedge along the boundary between my native garden and my neighbour's property. I really liked the idea of using waratahs, but at that stage I'd never tried to grow one, and, since you don't see them around that much, thought they must be difficult. I decided not to take the risk and planted callistemons instead, at least they where natives. Anyway, I've since had great success growing 2 waratahs (even moved one), so I've decided to take out the callistemons, which aren't getting enough sun anyway, and replace them with waratahs. My point is that if I'd had the confidence in the first place, and got some decent advice from my local nursery, I wouldn't be now, 2 years down the track, going to all the work and expense of replacing the callistemons with what is afterall, a plant indigenous to the Blue Mountains! You'd think there'd be a waratah nursery here wouldn't you? No, I have to drive 40 minutes just to get to a native nusery, and that looks like it could close down any time soon. Waz, young people like you are the key. I hope you never grow exotics, never learn about them or decide you like them. Oh, and I hope you and Artie continue to be outspoken about people like me who grow roses. If I build another house and start a garden from scratch, things will be different.

I had this recipe in my last school garden club newsletter. I found it on Jackie French's site. She also has a lot of good recipes and advice. Hope it helps. LILLY-PILLY JELLY - A Jackie French recipe I prefer to make this recipe from the small leafed lillypilly (Syzygium leuhmannii) which produces large quantities of fruit around Christmas time but you can use a mixture of lillypillies when quantities are limited. Collect fresh, firm, ripe fruit from trees and wash well. If you do not intend to make the jelly immediately, you can freeze the berries for later use. Wash and chop (no need to core or peel) a small quantity of granny smith apples. I use six large apples for a whole bucket of berries. Adjust quantities according to your supply of berries. Add berries and apples to a saucepan with enough water to cover the bottom half of the fruit. Boil uncovered for around 30 minutes, stirring regularly until the water shows good colour and the berries and apples are soft. Strain the mixture through a sieve for a cloudy jam or through muslin cloth for a clear jelly. Add 1 cup of sugar for each cup of strained liquid, re-boil. Bottle while hot into warm, clean jars and seal well. This recipe makes a clear, soft jelly. For a firmer consistency add a jam setting agent according to directions. *If you add extra water during the fruit boiling process, you will make lillypilly cordial. Add a little of the pink lillypilly cordial concentrate to water, mineral water, soda water or champagne!

The fastest growing tree I have planted is the Brayleyana flindersia ( Queensland Maple ) is height would be around 240cms (8ft) I got two of them as small plants early last year as two of the three free trees a year from my Council. This year I got Stenocarpus sinuatus ( Firewheel Tree ) Xanhostemon chysanthus and Backhousia myrtifolia (Grey Myrtle) apart from the penda the others are at a standstill. But the fastest I have ever seen is one of my neighbours has planted three Grevillea robusta about 4-5 ft from the side boundry fence in the one hole would you believe and it is about 5mts ( 15 ft ) tall already in three years, Thank goodness the other two are stunted I wish it would go away.I wish they would all go away including his chinese elms. I cannot grow Lillypillies on my block so have given up after loosing about ten though one has survived Syzygium oleosum ( Blue Lily Pilly ) it has only grown about a metre in four years, it got it first flowers last year and I planted four of the berries and now have four healthy looking plants about 20cms tall to give to one of our members. So I think soil and conditions have more to do with the fast growth of trees than the species. Cheers..MM.

Hi Kris, I guess I do have a 'collection', but I'm sure it would be laughable in the eyes of 'serious' plant collectors: Waterhousea Floribunda : 'Weeping LillyPilly' Acmena Hemilampra : 'Blush Satinash' Acmena Ingens : 'Red Apple' Acmena Smithii 'Rheopytic Race' Syzygium Alatoramulum : 'Tinkling Satinash' Syzygium Angophoroides : 'Yarrabah Satinash' Syzygium Oleosum : 'Blue LP' Syzygium Leuhmanii : 'Riberry' Syzygium Wilsonii : 'Powderpuff LP' Syzygium Boonjee : ? Syzygium Australe : 'Aussie Southern', 'Aussie Copper', 'Express', 'Hinterland Gold', 'Compact Form' No Syz. Francisii - just too big for my block - but I think I've got most of the commonly available varieties. I wont mention the exotic Syzygiums and Eugenias, as some readers may be offended :) Cheers, Artie