front line coastal – Mallee Design

A tough and useful Bushfood: Lomandra longifolia

Lomandra longifolia, or Common Mat Rush, is abundant along the NSW coast growing and in SA, Victoria and Tasmania in a range of environments from coastal dunes to dry Sclerophyll forest. It can also be seen growing in median strips and… Read more ›

29/09/2022

Kath Gadd

Bush tucker, Coastal, Drought hardy, Illawarra natives, Ornamental grass

Bushfood, clay soils, Common Mat Rush, Edible native plant, first nations knowledge, front line coastal, Indigenous to the Illawarra, Lomandra longifolia, sandy soil, small bird attracting, spring flowering, understory planting, weaving fibre, weeping habit, wind tolerant

Trialling Banksia ‘Sentinel’

This is a favourite coastal hedging plant of mine which I have been including in my planting designs for the past 7 years or so….sorry, I’m finding it difficult to keep track of time ? I say it is on… Read more ›

17/07/2020 10 Comments

Kath Gadd

Coastal, Drought hardy, Formal gardens, Frost tolerant, Hedge, Screening plants, Shade tolerant, Small tree

Banksia 'Sentinel', coastal garden, dense habit, front line coastal, silver foliage, wind tolerant

Camera Trap Basics for Bird-Spotters

Recently, we’ve been using camera traps to capture videos of birds using our birdbaths. One of my favourites is the video of these wonderful silvereyes flocking around a dish in some coastal habitat below! Silvereyes migrate in large groups, feed… Read more ›

17/07/2020

Kath Gadd

Bird attracting, Coastal, Illawarra natives, Products

bird-attracting, birdbaths, dense habit, front line coastal, Grey Fantail, habitat garden, Little Wattlebird, Silvereye, small bird attracting, small birds, trap camera, water bowls

A Favourite Coastal Heathland Plant: Leucopogon parviflorus

This is a tough medium sized shrub which grows all along the NSW coastline and interstate to Victoria and South Australia. I love this plant for its dense habit, tasty fruit and grey green leaves. I occasionally use it in… Read more ›

12/05/2020

Kath Gadd

Bird attracting, Bush tucker, Coastal, Drought hardy, Hedge, Shade tolerant

Bush Foods, Crested Bellbird, dense habit, drought tolerant, edible fruit, fragrant, front line coastal, grey green leaves, Leucopogon parviflorus, native currant, Prickly, Rosella, sandy soil, Scrubwren, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, Superb Fairy-wren, understory planting, white flower

There’s nothing quite like Maireana oppositifolia

There truly is nothing quite like Maireana oppositifolia, the strange and intriguing habit of this silver foliaged beauty is unique. It has a strong upright habit with its branchlets compact and forming points giving it a sculptural affect. In the… Read more ›

06/10/2018 3 Comments

Kath Gadd

Coastal, Drought hardy, Shade tolerant

eremophila 'Kalbarri Carpet', foliage contrast, front line coastal, grey green leaves, Maireana oppositifolia 'Smokey', silver foliage, WA, wind tolerant, year round flowering

I went walking in Bouddi National Park

I went walking last week along the stunning coastal track in Bouddi National Park, and was blown away by the winter flowers in the bush. The track winds along the sandstone cliffs, dipping into moist forest and creeks providing a… Read more ›

25/07/2018

Kath Gadd

Bird attracting, Coastal, Drought hardy, Shade tolerant, Winter flowering

bee attracting, Eriostemon australasica, front line coastal, Grevillea sericea, pink flowers, Pomaderris lanigera, sandy soil, Styphelia species, Sydney Sandstone, wildlife habitat, wind tolerant, Woollsia pungens

My Favourite Native Hibiscus

Many people are not aware of the range of native hibiscus species that grow here in Australia, they are often not seen in cultivation or mistaken for exotics. I have a few favourites that I like to incorporate in my… Read more ›

22/02/2017 9 Comments

Kath Gadd

Butterfly attracting, Coastal, Drought hardy, Feature shrub, Hedge, Small tree

coastal garden, foliage contrast, front line coastal, grey green leaves, Hibiscus 'Barambah Creek', Hibiscus insularis, Hibiscus tiliaceus rubra, large flower, pink flowers, Reddish foliage, spring flowering, summer flowering, well drained soil, wind tolerant

Enjoying Pig Face: Carpobrotus glaucescens

Carpobrotus or ‘Pig Face’ is one of my favourite bush foods to eat, it tastes like an over-ripe Kiwi fruit with a salty edge, delicious! This morning as we were rambling through our local sand dune and beach my son… Read more ›

31/07/2016

Kath Gadd

Bush tucker, Coastal, Drought hardy, Groundcover, Illawarra natives, Kids gardens

Bush Foods, Carpobrotus glaucescens, front line coastal, pink flowers, sandy soil, well drained soil

Portfolio: Coledale Consults

I have been consulting on this coastal garden for about 3 years now maybe a bit more, and it has really begun to settle in, some of the growth especially in the rear garden is amazing. The client has installed… Read more ›

16/12/2015

Kath Gadd

Coastal, Hedge, Illawarra natives, Portfolio, Screening plants

Baeckea imbricata, Casuarina 'Green Wave', clay soils, Correa alba, foliage contrast, front line coastal, Grevillea 'Golden Lyre', Juncus usitatus, Kunzea baxteri 'Scarlet Jack', Leptospermum 'Lemon Hedge', Leptospermum laeviegatum, Melaleuca hypericifolia, Modern Australian Native Garden, Ozothamnus diosmifolius, street address, Trema aspera, wind tolerant

Trialling Casuarina ‘Green Wave’

I love Casuarinas, all of them, from ground covers through to trees, their rusty red hue when they are in flower or lush green shaggy habit. They are tough, versatile and very varied in their shapes and forms. I discovered… Read more ›

28/06/2015 8 Comments

Kath Gadd

Coastal, Drought hardy, Formal gardens, Hedge, Screening plants

Casuarina 'Green Wave', clay soils, foliage contrast, front line coastal, Leucophyta brownii, wind tolerant

Prostrate Woolly Bush

This is the Albany Woolly Bush or Adenanthos x cunninghamii, it is a most apt name for it as everyone is drawn to the soft feathery looking foliage to feel it and see if it feels as fluffy as it… Read more ›

15/05/2013

Kath Gadd

Bird attracting, Coastal, Drought hardy, Groundcover, Natives for containers