WHILE the recent cold spell, plus snow and wind, might have been uncomfortable for a couple of days, just think of the wider benefit for the garden.

The substantial rain will keep the garden ticking over for several weeks without any need to water, except for plants in containers. With regular rainfall, it is more than two years since I turned the drippers on to any part of the garden.

Talking of snow, as I write this I am looking at our magnificent Prunus padus, or Bird Cherry, with its long, semi-double white flowers creating the effect that it is indeed covered in snow. The flowers have a distinctive almond fragrance and the fruit is very small and bitter tasting. As an ornamental tree with a distinctive upright growing habit of 7m-10m tall, it presents a wonderful sight in spring.

WHILE on the subject of fragrance, this is the time of the year for the tantalising fragrance of citrus flowers. Now is an ideal time to plant citrus and, at this time, they are just coming into flower.

The strongest fragrance is just as the flowers open. Citrus originated in China, although oranges have been grown in the Mediterranean region for more than 2000 years. Oranges have been grown commercially in China for more than 3000 years. The plant hunter Meyer in 1911 noted more than 80 kinds of edible of oranges grown in China. Citrus, particularly kumquats, are a traditional house-warming present and for the Chinese New Year.

DURING the Cultural Revolution, Christian missionaries and the citrus industry associated with them were viewed with disfavour. In fact, the Communist Party chairman Mao Zedong called for the destruction of all orange trees in China! The land was cleared for growing rice. However, commonsense prevailed and when Mao died in 1974 and was succeeded by Deng Xiaoping, he took a completely different view of the citrus industry. He proclaimed that citrus research was of central importance to the Communist concept of self-reliance and self-sufficiency. Replanting commenced beginning with 150,000 hectares planted by 1978 rising to 526,000 hectares by 1988 and now plantings run into many millions of hectares.

THERE are many varieties of citrus ranging from the smaller-growing Meyer lemon introduced by Meyer to the larger-growing Eureka and Prior Lisbon. The Meyer, along with kumquats, is ideal for growing in containers where space is an issue, such as where balconies or small courtyards are the only areas for growing.

The Lemonade tree is another favourite with its distinctive flavour of the juice. Check the many varieties at your local garden centre and enjoy the fragrant flowers as you select your plant.

IT distresses me to see supermarkets selling live plants in a business that they should not be in. As a prime example, I was walking past Woolworths in Kippax last week. At the front there was a range of live plants for sale. Live plants, did I say? The callistemon were totally dead and bougainvillea not far behind.

Bougainvilleas for here? Except for a very isolated position with no frost, they will not survive in our region.

At another branch of the same store on another occasion, almost every plant was dead. I drew it to the attention of one of the staff, suggesting some water would be useful. “It’s not my job,” was the reply. “The girl who looks after them has been off sick for a while.” Need I say more, why do they bother? They should leave the live plants and gardening advice to garden centres.

The spring spectacular

THE Iris, Rhododendron and Azalea Spring Spectacular by the Horticultural Society of Canberra is at the Wesley Churches Centre, National Circuit, Forrest, noon-5pm on Saturday, October 27 and 11.30am-4pm on Sunday, October 28. Admission is free. Rare bulb sales and plant sales are a feature plus floral-art displays. Lunch and afternoon teas available. A show not to be missed.