Bringing the rainforest back | Native plants | Gardening Australia

Jenny Adams has created a rainforest and garden oasis from “the cheapest block in Kiama that nobody wanted” – a weed-infested piece of former paddock. Subscribe: http://ab.co/GardeningYouTube

Clarence is at Kiama, on the NSW south coast, where he finds out what’s possible when a gardener follows her dream.

About 28 years ago, speech pathologist Jenny Adams bought “the cheapest block in Kiama that nobody wanted” – a weed-infested piece of former paddock – but she has created a rainforest and garden oasis.

A small creek had become a drain, but she and husband Warwick dug a channel around it and planted its banks are now covered with native ferns, many self-seeded. There is a rainforest section, a fern section, some vegies, some cottage garden and herbs close to the house.

Jenny's family on both sides were local farming and sawmill pioneers. She now aims re-create some of the rainforest that they cut down.

Featured Plants
Red cedar (Toona ciliata)

White cedar (Melia azedarach)

Bangalow palm (Archontophoenix cunninghamiana)

Sandpaper fig (Ficus coronata)

Giant stinging tree (Dendrocnide excelsa)

Brush pepperbush (Tasmannia insipida)

A large culvert still brings a lot of water to the creek when it rains, but because the banks are now stabilised by dense plantings, there is minimal erosion.

Jenny sourced many of her plants second-hand, as cuttings off people, or from a community garden.

She also gets advice from her sister in law, ecologist Jedda Lemmon.

“My rule is, it has to be recycled,” she says. “So I'll look in fetes or on the side of the road and the tip.”

The garden has lots of dainty pieces of art hidden around it too, which the children who come for speech pathology enjoy.


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