Native Haven Garden
1 Kiara Close, North Sydney
This garden was a neglected corner of the overall Iora Apartment complex.
A resident suggested to the Body Corporate that the site would be a good candidate for North Sydney Council's Native Havens program. It is very sunny and has fairly shallow, well-drained sandstone soil - perfect for natives. The council provided the seedlings and mulch free.
Not much to lose and everything to gain!
A recent Bushcare article reads:
"The small streetside native garden next to the Iora Apartments at 1 Kiara Close North Sydney is a mass of blossom as we come into Spring. In what was once a neglected area on a dry ridgetop, pink and white spider flowers (Grevillea sericea) are thriving, as well as wax flowers (Eriostemon myoporoides), Heath Banksia (Banksia ericifolia) and Wonga Wonga vine (Pandorea pandorana).
From Spring through to Summer other shrubs that come into flower include the red bottlebrush (Callistemon citrinus), white Kunzea (Kunzea ambigua), and native Fuchsia (Correa reflexa). Beneath the shrubs, tufty groundcovers and grasses including Lomandra, Dianella and Isolepis nodosa have helped stabilize the soil on the steeply sloping site.
Exotic shrubs once struggled in this well drained north west-facing garden, but natives have thrived despite having received very little attention – just an occasional hand watering until established, and a thick layer of mulch. The garden is also a magnet for insects, especially bees, as well as native birds.
This project shows that you don't necessarily need a large land area to participate in Council's Native Havens Program. Council's Bushcare Officer is available to advise on what are the most suitable plants for your chosen site and the plants are provided free of charge."
Our Native Haven Garden - |
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2014 |
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| 1. Pandorea pandorana | 2. Grevillea sericea | 3. Angophora hispida | 4. Lomandra longifolia |
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| 5. Callistemon citrinus (Bottle Brush) | 6. Correa reflexa | 7. Grevillea linearfolia | 8. Isolepsis nodosa |
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| 9. Eriostemon myoporoides | 10. Kunzia ambigua | 11/12. Lomandra longifolia & filiformis | 13. Callistemon citrinus (Bottle Brush) |
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| 14. Grevillea linearfolia | 15. Eriostemon myoporoides | 16. Corymbia ficifolia "Little Sweetie" | 17. Lomandra longifolia & Dianella caerulea |
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| 18. Angophora hispida | 19. Banksia ericifolia | 20. Banksia ericifolia | 21. Grevillea linearfolia |
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| 22. Pandorea pandorana | Crowea saligna | Angophera costata | |
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Fauna:
Native Birds sighted: Magpies, Tawny Frogmouth, Noisy miner, Currawong, Lorikeets, Kookaburras, White Cockatoos, Sacred Kingfisher
Insects: Blue banded bees
Reptiles: Blue tongue lizard, Skinks
Our second native haven - July 2014:
In July 2014, with seedlings and mulch provided by North Sydney Council, we created a second native garden. It is in a position that is difficult to water and so we planted waterwise natives that hopefully will not require watering once they are established.
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| Planted: | |||
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Banksia ericifolia |
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Link to North Sydney Council's Native Haven Program:
http://www.northsydney.nsw.gov.au/Waste_Environment/Bushland_Wildlife/Wildlife/Native_Havens
We would like to thank the council for its help and would recommend the program to all.
To contact us at IORA apartment complex, click here.