Madspinner, I was driving up to Mt. Baker a few weeks ago and thought of how cool it would be to live in the mountain foothills... of course a lot of the plants I am growing wouldn't last too long up there! On Olearia phloggopappa, I have sent seed to a few people and no one has had any luck with it yet. I will collect fresh seed and try it myself this summer. It's possible that it needs cold stratificaiton. Anyone who wants to discuss this further please do so via email. I'm glad you enjoyed the photos.

Yeah not looking too good Pal, Aussie natives, and I reckon even South Africans, (leucadendrons) can be difficult outside of their native habitat. Having said that both of those like similar conditions; neutral to slightly acidic soil, excellent drainage, and they hate root disturbance. In fact you can easily over care for them - both are very tolerant of dry conditions. Many also are not happy in humid conditions. Lime, by the way, will yellow the leaves and eventually kill them so I reckon the first thing Id do is check the ph. in the soil. Oh, and if you feed them use only fertilisers suitable for Aussie natives, and use it sparingly. Other than that good luck with 'em B.

Prune the shrub, and maybe the deeper roots. The bit that Grevilleas really hate is having the surface and near-surface roots disturbed. Your chances are better if you can get a good wide cut, and don't even disturb the mulch layer. Keep the surface good and moist for a while after the move. Don't fertilise at all at all! Trish rish

Thank you for all the feedback. I'm not sure what happened when I posted this but it 'disappeared' so I posted the other one a few days later. I think I'll plant 2 callistemons, a grevillea and look into the melaleucas seeing as I love them as well. I don't see a lot around here though so perhaps that's not a good sign. Any favourites you'd like to recommend? I know the ones Flora for Fauna recommend for this area but I'd be interested in hearing opinions of other people. I think I'm turning into an native plant addict. I look at my native babies and they look so 'right'. I look at my non-natives and want to rip them out. Maybe living overseas for 6 years made me really appreciate what truly unique plants we have here and how much those plants contribute to my idea of 'home'.