Erica Morgan – Page 3 – Neutrog Australia

The National Rose Trial Garden of Australia

Situated in the Adelaide Botanic Gardens is The National Rose Trial Garden of Australia. The NRTG was initially established to simply trial roses not yet commercially released in Australia – be they bred in Australia or overseas. This charter remains today and incorporates the identification and promotion of roses best suited to Australian growing conditions. Other aims are to develop and promote Australian Rose Breeding and to be a source of general information on roses, to the public. Finally, the garden is also a source of feedback to rose growers, breeders and retailers about the roses judged by the public, to be the most popular.

Planting Strawberries

Strawberries are such a wonderful fruit with a very diverse range of uses. Here at Neutrog, some of our favourite ways to enjoy them are freshly sliced over pancakes, mixed into a smoothie, or bobbing around in a glass of champagne.

One of our Neutrog team shared with us a story that we felt you all deserved to hear. This team member received a surprise delivery on their doorstep from a very kind neighbour, a whole bag of strawberry runners ready to be planted. Sadly, after recently losing their beloved family dog, our team member was a little down in the dumps and the idea of planting out these strawberries was a little overwhelming.

Growing Turmeric

People with a passion – regardless of what that is – inspire others. It would be difficult to think of anyone more passionate about a Neutrog product than Allan Lane who lives in Perth W.A. and loves Seamungus. But hey, we are open to finding that person!

Allan grows turmeric, bamboo, ginger and rosemary in pots, as well as in the ground. His passion is turmeric, followed closely by bamboo. We asked Allan what led him to taking such an interest in this member of the ginger family.

Plant growth promoting microbes

Plants naturally produce five major plant hormones (phytohormones) including auxins or indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), cytokinins, gibberellins, abscisic acid and the gaseous hormone, ethylene. It is a combination and balance of these hormones that regulate many aspects of plant growth, development and reproduction. The first three hormones are recognised as being plant growth promoting, whereas abscisic acid and ethylene are considered to be growth inhibitors due to their effect on plant abscission (the shedding away or cutting off of different parts of the plant)

Mirambeena & Yala Yala Springs

Twenty-five years ago, Paul Neighbour & his family had a 10HA bush block on the Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia. It was a wonderful place to retreat to, relax and enjoy. The family realised that they wanted more land. Two hundred acres became available, which was part of a larger property, so they made that purchase. Over the next few years, more land came onto the market which eventually allowed them to extend the farm to encompass over 800HA. Many years of planning & hard work have made the beautiful Mirambeena and Yala Yala Springs, into the thriving cattle property it is today.

Fertilising non-flowering plants

Often when we think about fertiliser we only look at things like flowers, fruit trees, vegetables and lawns, but what about all of the plants in your garden that you may be growing as a privacy screen, hedge or as ornamental foliage plants? People often forget that these plants, just like any other, also need fertiliser.

Neutrog Site & Grounds

There is so much happening at Neutrog Head Office and we are proud that many of our long-term plans are coming to fruition.

Our biggest project will be the conversion of our 2 former mining silos into a 9 story high tourism hub. Our visitor’s hub will be
complete with viewing platforms, allowing our visitors the chance to observe the Neutrog site and our fertiliser fermentation process. We have so many visitors to Neutrog and it will be tremendously exciting to host them in a “cutting edge” facility.

Living Legends, Melbourne

Situated in the outer northern suburbs of Melbourne, lies Living Legends, home to many retired champion racehorses.
A visit to meet the horses at Living Legends will have you saying hello to Apache Cat and other old favourites too; including Who Shot the Barman, Tom Melbourne, Fields of Omagh, Brew and many others.
Living Legends is not only about the horses, but also about the historic homestead and the beautiful gardens which surround it. Andrew Clarke, CEO, and veterinary doctor at the property has been a driving force in the development of the entire site, including the gardens around the homestead. Neutrog is delighted to have been along for the entire journey.

Mica Grange, Victoria

Perched amongst granite rocks on the foothills of Mount Alexander in Victoria sits Mica Grange, with its stunning panoramic views across the Sutton Grange valley. Mica Grange is a 40 hectare property and the pride and joy of Mary and Bede Gibson.

Fourteen years ago, Mary and Bede had just sold their house in Sydney when they received a phone call from their daughter asking them if they would look after Mica Grange while she resettled in Melbourne. Reluctantly they agreed, but only on the basis that it would be for no longer than a year. Instead, they fell in love with the property, purchased it and set out on a project to create a studio/catering facility and a vast garden using the contours of the land.

September Birth Flower

Much like birthstones, birth flowers signify the month someone is born. Many people believe the flowers reflect certain personalities. September babies are lucky to have a few options as their birth flower.

First is the gorgeous Aster which is well recognised as the September birth flower. Asters are a group of perennials and annuals with starry-shaped flower heads. They bring delightful colour to the garden throughout late summer and autumn when many other summer blooms may be fading. The name Aster comes from the Ancient Greek word άστήρ meaning “star”, referring to the shape of the flower head. There are many species and varieties, all of which are popular garden plants due to their attractive and colourful flowers. The Aster flower comes in many shades of pink, purple and white. Various butterflies and moths will find the flowers a great food source.