Booyong Conservation Retreat - Wauchope Port Macquarie

18/04/2023

The Greenhood Orchids are looking stunning again this year.

When we first purchased Booyong Dave and Beryl asked if we’d seen the Nodding Greenhood Orchids. My curiosity was triggered, and I’ve been on the lookout ever since, to be honest not quite sure wha…

17/04/2023

The Greenhood orchids look stunning again this year!

When we first purchased Booyong Dave and Beryl asked if we’d seen the Nodding Greenhood Orchids. My curiosity was triggered, and I’ve been on the lookout ever since, to be honest not quite sure wha…

11/04/2023

Our resident Gecko has shed his skin, he looks amazing!

15/03/2023

The persimmon tree delights us all year round, the leaves are lush and green one minute and a bright red the next. The greatest challenge is getting the fruit before the birds and the native wildlife.

One of our favourite trees in the Orchard is the established persimmon tree – such a bonus as they take many years to establish and bear fruit. It is a very hardy tree that is self-fruiting and app…

13/03/2023

The Water snowflakes are so pretty at this time of year.

Common Name: Water Snowflake Scientific Name: Nymphoides indica Upon the surface of the main dam at Booyong lay the beautiful water snowflake. The submerged roots of the Water Snowflake usually gro…

12/03/2023

The Bunya nut tree is fantastic and we have some in the Native food forest also. They are amazing!

When we first met the original owners of Booyong we were advised to beware of the Bunya nut tree – “Don’t park your car under it”, they said. We suggest visitors follow this advice too. We’ve notic…

09/03/2023

I've recently started to explore cocktails inspired by what's growing in the garden and discovered a mango chilli cocktail. It's been added to our Birds Eye Chilli page, it's got lovely heat and is a perfect accompaniment to a Summer meal. Follow the link for the recipe!

Birds Eye Chilli’s are a staple in our garden. My father loved chilli and myself and brothers all acquired the taste, it’s always given me great pleasure to make chilli sauce and Harissa for my fam…

08/03/2023

This has become a staple at our dinner table, lightly blanched it is a fabulous baby spinach alternative. An added bonus is that the wallabies and roos don't eat it!

Warrigal Greens (Tetragonia tetragonioides) are an Australian native spinach that was popular with early settlers. They are fast becoming a popular green with Aussie chefs too and can be used in th…

07/03/2023

Very Excited to discover these berries are edible and have even found a cocktail recipe to try. This picture doesn't do the lovely blue colour any justice, they are stunningly vibrant!

The striking blue berries caught my eye when walking along the path at Booyong recently. They are the berries of the edible Dianella Blue Flax Lily (Dianella caerulea). The flax lily star shaped fl…

04/03/2023

What to do in the Food forest/garden in March.

SEWING SEEDS
• Sow Amaranth, Beetroot, Broccoli, Broad beans, Brussel Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Carrot, Chicory, Daikon, Endive, Garlic, Horseradish, Kale, Kohlrabi, Leeks, Lettuce, Loofah, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Warrigal Spinach, Radish, Rocket, Salsify, Shallots, Spinach, Turnips, Onions, Pak Choy, Peas and Oriental salad seeds
• Plant Legumes - Crimson Clover in late March to April for nitrogen under pecan trees and Red Clover March-June or August-October.
• In the Herb garden sow Calendula, Chamomile, Chives, Chervil, Coriander, Dill, Echinacea, Fennel, Feverview, Lemongrass, Mint, Oregano, Parsley and Thyme.
• Some great pollinators and flowers to attract beneficial insects to the garden this month include Alyssum, Candytuft, Forget me nots, Poppy’s and Sweet peas

PLANT
• Plant out cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and spinach seeds for winter harvest
• Water pecan trees (1300 litres per day)

ROUTINE CARE
• Remove any dead foliage and clean out veggie beds
• As the crops finish prepare the beds for winter seedlings, add compost and manure and look at improving soil structure where possible.
• Fertilize Seville Oranges
• Fertilise Macadamia nut tree - When fertilising use a native or citrus plant product as they are sensitive to phosphorus
• Fertilise Dragon fruit with light fertiliser (Chicken manure) and lime. Make sure it is mulched well in preparation for summer and take any cuttings from Ariel roots on pole. The Dragon fruit has also been tidied up as it’s growing so much.
• Reduce watering as weather cools and hopefully rainfall increases.
• Cut back perennial herbs and flowers once they have finished flowering.
• Continue weeding where required, most of the food forest has been done – just the berry patch to go.
• Stone Fruit Salad Trees and Apple Fruit Salad Trees will start to shed their leaves, check to see that trees are balanced and prune where necessary. Cut off any dead wood.
• Remove roots from under graft of fruit trees
• Leaves will start to fall of Persimmon tree after fruiting.
• Fertilise all citrus trees, keeping away from the trunk,
• Top up mulch on orchard trees
• Add coffee grounds to Blueberries
• Finally the grape vine is growing – so happy.
• Blueberries - while fruiting it doesn’t hurt to feed every couple of weeks with seasol or liquid fish.
• Avocados - Searles Kickalong Fruit & Flower organic plant in early autumn with a bit of extra potash
• Mangos - Withhold water for the three months prior to flowering
• Rhubarb - regular feeds of cow and chicken manure in autumn.
• Fertilise Apple tree
• Grapefruit – apply iron sulphate. I put one tablespoon in 4 and half litres of water
• Chickens – Scrub water containers daily to prevent algae. Check net litter weekly and replace if soiled. Add crushed garlic to drinking water monthly to reduce internal parasite (1 clove per 2-3 hens)
• Mulch and fertilise Passionfruit vine with chicken manure and a little blood and bone

30/01/2023

Very excited to discover this gecko living in the crevices of the shack. Thank you to Liz for assisting with identification, a new addition to our species list

http://www.booyongconservation.com/southern-leaf-tailed-gecko/

27/11/2022

So pretty in the Conservation area during Spring and early Summer

The Happy Wanderer, what a lovely name! This lovely delicate climbing purple pea flower can be found throughout the conservation area in springtime at Booyong. It is also commonly referred to as th…

26/11/2022

The Native Frangipani is flowering at Booyong at the moment, such a lovely fragrance!

In spring, outside the cabin windows you’ll find a Native Frangipani which has cream and yellow flowers and a lovely gentle fragrance, it’s quite beautiful! The flowers will extend into the summer …

12/11/2022

Peaches, plums and nectarines growing well at Booyong this spring

19/10/2022

The bees are loving the borage flowers in the Herb Spiral at the moment, they look lovely in frozen ice cubes too!

After several attempts, we have finally had success growing Borage at Booyong. The poly tunnel and netting are what helped get us over the line, in previous attempts the little marsupials and nativ…

16/10/2022

The flowers on the Brush Kurrajong look pretty at Booyong at the moment

Growing around the black swamp and on the edge of the meadow lies the Androcalva Fraseri (formerly known as Commersonia fraseri (brush kurrajong). It is in flower at the moment and is so pretty. Gr…

12/10/2022

The dogwood flowers are lovely this spring, delicate pea flowers scattered throughout the natural bush.

The Jacksonia Scoparia (Dogwood Tree) was a mystery to us until it recently started flowering. It’s actually quite stunning and a favourite spot for the elusive Kookaburra in the early mornings. Th…

10/10/2022

So excited to see the liquorice herb re-emerge naturally in the Herb Spiral, honestly the leaves taste just like liquorice. So delicious.

This delicate Liquorice herb (Tagetes filifolia) was actually difficult to propagate but so worth the effort for its strong and delicious anise flavour. It’s an annual herb that is part of the Mari…

09/10/2022

Busy harvesting Nasturtiums at Booyong this week!

Nasturtiums are annual edible flowers that are a wonderful addition to any garden and we have so many uses for them at Booyong. They are currently growing in a pot in the bunny enclosure (the bunni…

01/10/2022

The flowers on the Macadamia trees are amazing this year.

24/04/2022

Very impressed with a temporary outdoor shower created by Brett and our friend Stew. Hot and cold water with soap dish attached.

24/04/2022

Congratulations to our lovely friends Cookie and Leah!

24/04/2022

The Chamomile is looking so lovely and green, can't wait till the flowers emerge so we can make our own tea!
http://www.booyongconservation.com/roman-chamomile/

Roman Chamomile is a perennial shrub that producers aromatic daisy like flowers and grows along the ground. Growing – Chamomile likes to grow in a sunny position or afternoon shade in soil with goo…

29/03/2022

The Horseradish has floursihed in the garden and we will definetely be making Horsradish cream this winter! They are harvested after the first frost, so please let us know if you'd like a tuber for your garden!

http://www.booyongconservation.com/horseradish/

Our lovely Sydney neighbour Mette gifted us some Horseradish and its flourished in the Booyong Herb Spiral. Growing – Horseradish grows vigorously, up to 1.5 meters tall and is best in temperate cl…

14/03/2022

This flower is so incredibly pretty who knew there was a native turmeric, we will be harvesting this winter and making a Turmeric face mask with honey.

http://www.booyongconservation.com/cape-york-lily-native-turmeric/

This stunning flowering tropical plant is known as the Cape Your Lily or Native turmeric (scientific name Curcuma australasica). It is not actually a Lily, but a ginger belonging to the turmeric fa…

13/03/2022

Our Loofah's are growing really well along the herb spiral fence. Just in time as we need more Loofah's for the shower and kitchen!
http://www.booyongconservation.com/loofahs/

Who knew loofahs grow on a vine and not the ocean floor! We were excited to discover they are a plant, not a sea sponge – a beautiful green fibrous gourd grown in your garden. I received some…

21/02/2022

If you're interested in some farm grown honey, please let me know and I can collect a jar for you when I visit Byabarra this weekend. Support a local community, rather than a large grocery chain. We can attest to the taste, it is golden and delicious! https://blanchsrest.com.au/produce

We are currently concentrating on building a continuous supply of pure local honey from the bees we keep on Blanch's Rest. The honey is extracted and placed in jars on the farm, ready for sale direct from the farm to from one of our local suppliers.

30/11/2021

Jack and I had a productive weekend mulching the herb spiral!

Now to determine what to do with the paths as the sawdust washed away. Any ideas welcome!

30/11/2021

Lovely at Booyong following the recent rains!

05/09/2021

SEEDS TO SEW IN SEPTEMBER
• Go through all seeds and organise for planting and storage.
Wash post thoroughly with detergent and a couple of drops of Eucalyptus oil to disinfect.
• Sew in pots or directly in ground depending on species and protect from frost or winds if necessary. We’ve made a variety of toilet paper roll seedling pots.
• In Sydney, we’ve planted a variety of seedlings we intend to bring to Booyong (if the lockdown ever ends) - amarinth, globe artichokes, asparagus, asparagus pea, climbing and bush beans, scarlet runner beans, beetroot (white, choggia and golden Detroit), broccoli (Romanesco, purple sprouting), cape gooseberry, capsicum, cabbage, carrot, celery, chicory, cucumber, chilli,’s, daikon, eggplant, endive, Jerusalem artichokes, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce (wasabi, green and red), loofah, mustard greens, peas, parsnip, potato, sunflower, pumpkin (butternut), radish, rhubarb, rocket, rockmelon, watermelon, warrigal spinach, silver beet, spaghetti squash, sunflowers, sweetcorn, tomatoes (sugar lump, cherry tommy toe, peddersons beefsteak, dougs tomato, yellow pear and periform), turnip and zucchini,
• Sow herb seeds of chives, coriander, basil (sew late in Sept), dill, fennel, horseradish, liquorice herb, mint, oregano parsley, sage, salsify and spring onions.
• Cosmos flowers, marigolds, cornflower (blue and redball) sunflowers and yellow calendula have been grown from seed to attract beneficial insects.
PROPOGATE
• Propagate Oregano Cuttings
• Lemongrass roots and replant for Booyong, friends and Neighbours
• Propagate Pineapple sage from cuttings
PLANT
• Plant Legumes - Red Clover August - October for nitrogen under pecan trees