Most gardening magazine articles feature magnolias when they are flowering in spring, but when planting now, even with no leaves, the shrub’s labels show exactly the flower colour and size.

Two varieties that have caught the imagination of gardeners are bred in the North Island of NZ – Magnolia felix, bred by Felix Jury and Magnolia Black Tulip, bred by his son Mark.

Autumn planting enables the roots to get well established through late autumn and winter before the hot desiccating winds of summer.

Deciduous shrubs can all be planted now and perennials can still be divided and used to fill gaps in the garden.

NOW is an ideal time to plant delicious, easy to grow blueberries, Vaccinium corymbosum. They like an acid soil and can be grown in with azaleas, camellias and daphne.

While they are self-fertile, it’s advisable to plant two different varieties to ensure cross-pollination and larger crops. They can be grown in containers on sunny balconies.

IT’S time to complete planting spring bulbs, but how much would you be prepared to pay for a single bulb, even if it is rare?

In Britain, gardeners go bonkers about Galanthus or Snowdrops and in the early spring “Galanthomania” breaks out as gardeners try to find the rarest Snowdrop. An unusual Snowdrop with yellow blotched white petals named Galanthus plicatus “Golden Fleece” recently sold on eBay for a staggering equivalent of $2668!

I OFTEN refer to articles in “The Garden”, the magazine of the world’s premier garden organisation, the 110-year-old UK Royal Horticultural Society. Almost all its advice is applicable here by simply adding six months to bring it in line with our seasons.

Anyone off to the UK should consider visiting the society’s gardens, of which they have no equal. Its stunning principal garden is at Wisley in Surrey (rhs.org.uk/wisley).

The society, with a membership of more than 430,000, welcomed a record 1.76 million visitors to its four gardens last year. More information at membership@rhs.org.au

PETER Bindon, the former head of Archaeology and Anthropology for more than 20 years at the WA Museum in Perth, has self-published a book titled “Backyard Bush Tucker”.

In his museum role he travelled extensively throughout the outback, studying Aboriginal culture and bush foods.

His book is profusely illustrated with lists of native plant nurseries in all states. Bindon has a garden in Yass plus his mother’s garden in Nowra, now an extensive bush garden.

Buy the book for $39.50, including postage. Email to pbio4985@ bigpond.net.au for details.

I HAVE a copy of this book to be won. To enter, write your name, suburb and a contact phone number on the back of an envelope and post to Bush Tucker, “CityNews”, GPO Box 2448, Civic 2601. Entries close Friday, May 22. The winner will be announced in my column of May 21.
Jottings…

• Trim evergreen shrubs before the frosts arrive in earnest. New growth will appear if the weather stays and will be quickly burnt by frost.
• If possible, always water container-grown plants with rain water.
• Raise containers on bricks or feet to prevent water logging.
• While the new stocks of roses don’t arrive until June/July most garden centres have excellent potted roses at bargain prices for planting now.
• Pot up cyclamen for winter colour, small cyclamen hybrids are ideal.