Although I’ve had native bees visiting the garden for years, I’ve not had a hive – until now. Many thanks to Dianne from Brisbane Local Food for letting me have one from splitting her hive. The hive has been placed on an upturned pot under the acacia at the back, in the shelter with the… Read more

This is reason enough to grow sunflowers. https://youtu.be/cYSLYrHalOs This sunflower is beside the pond and gets the morning sun. It has lots of tiny native bees and a single larger one. I’m not sure what type of bee it is.And here are some more against the fence facing west. https://youtu.be/UxJxmnMzVu0 Note to self: get some… Read more

The Brisbane City Council have finally given in to pressure from green-fingered residents and now has a policy to allow gardening on verges or native strips in front of houses. Their guidelines were announced in August 2016 and updated in March 2017. They can be accessed here and the Brisbane Times article with some interesting… Read more

When I started this garden and looked around at options, there was talk about low maintenance, sustainability (a much misused word), permaculture, and even using a garden as an extension of the house – with massive outdoor kitchens. So much choice, opinion, and conflicting advice. What to do? Priorities The first thing to consider is… Read more

Blue tongue in the back garden near the cycad. They have a burrow near the post of the retaining wall.

I think we have at least 3 lizards of different generations but this is the first time I have seen two in the same place at the same time. It is a sunny spot in the south-east corner. The sun comes through under the wattle tree and they have found a spot with a heavy… Read more

This not so little bug – about 1.5 cm long – is enjoying the sun on the native hibiscus out the front. Cotton Harlequin Bug (Tectocoris diophthalmus) See more about them at http://www.brisbaneinsects.com/brisbane_stinkbugs/Harlequin.htm  … Read more