Flowers and Plants
with Marge Szabo

It is lovely to see the winter flowers such as azaleas and camellias starting to bloom.

I find it fascinating to see these typically cold climate plants flowering beside tropicals such as strelitzea, heliconias, acalyphas and monsteros.

Available now at the florists are some of the winter bulbs flowers such as dutch iris, jonquil, freesia and early tulips. Recently my husband Steve and I joined the Australian Cordyline Society for visits to two nurseries in Nambour.

Many people grow the usual red or green leaf cordylines in their gardens but there are many more with cream, gold, red, green, purple and black leaves - some small others large - it seems an endless variety.

They would make a colourful addition to your tropical garden. Some will grow in full sun, mostly in dappled shade, especially in association with palms and they appreciate good drainage.