TJs gardening Works

27/10/2026

💜 JACARANDA SEASON! WHEN THE WORLD TURNS PURPLE! 💜

There's something pretty special about a tree that spends most of the year quietly minding its own business, then suddenly decides to put on one of the most spectacular floral displays you could ever imagine!

And that's exactly what the beautiful Jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia) does!

Those enormous clouds of lavender-blue flowers, delicate fern-like foliage and carpets of purple beneath them are simply breathtaking!

And we're so lucky here in South Australia to have some magnificent specimens growing throughout Adelaide.

In fact, this is one of my favourite times of the year to visit our beautiful capital city!

My family seems to think I'm not particularly confident driving around Adelaide (and they're not entirely wrong! 🤭).

But hey, while I can milk that excuse and have someone else do the driving so I can sit back and admire all those gorgeous trees out the passenger window, I'm certainly not going to argue!

🌿 A FEW THINGS WORTH KNOWING ABOUT JACARANDAS!

💜 They're BIG trees! Growing around 10–15 metres tall with an equally impressive spreading canopy, they need plenty of room to become the magnificent feature trees they're destined to be.

☀️ They love sunshine! Full sun, well-drained soil and a little organic mulch will keep them happy. Once established, they're reasonably drought tolerant too.

✂️ Less pruning is better! Allow them to develop their beautiful natural shape.

🥶 They're not particularly fond of frost! Especially when they're young. Here in the Limestone Coast, particularly around Naracoorte, growing a jacaranda can be a bit of a gamble. A warm, sheltered position will give them their best chance.

💜 And patience is a virtue! Jacarandas can take several years to begin flowering, so don't be disheartened if yours hasn't put on a show just yet.

And yes, they're a little messy when those flowers, leaves and seed pods begin to fall (so perhaps not the best choice for right beside the pool) ...but my goodness, what a beautiful looking mess!

One of the things I love most about planting trees is knowing we're not just creating something beautiful for ourselves to enjoy today, but something that might be appreciated for generations to come. 💚

So, if you're heading into Adelaide over the coming weeks, keep an eye out for those magnificent purple canopies, particularly around Unley, Goodwood and North Adelaide.

Or better still, find yourself a chauffeur and enjoy the view! 🤭💜

Happy gardening! 🌿💚

https://www.tjsgardeningworks.com.au/post/jacaranda-season-growing-jacaranda-trees-in-south-australia

TJ's Gardening Works

27/10/2026

18/10/2026

🦇💚 OUR FRUIT BATS NEED OUR HELP, NOT OUR FEAR!

There's been a lot of talk about fruit bats in the media lately, and while it's important to understand the risks, I think it's equally important that we understand just how precious these little creatures really are.

Did you know that our flying foxes are some of Australia's most important native pollinators?

🌿 They pollinate our native forests, travelling enormous distances carrying pollen from tree to tree.

🌱 They spread seeds far and wide, helping our forests regenerate and providing food and habitat for countless other creatures.

🌳 Without them, our ecosystems really are in serious trouble.

Right now, so many of these beautiful animals are struggling to find enough food.

It's heartbreaking enough seeing what's happening to our bees, and now our bats too. 😢
They do so much for our environment, and I can't help feeling we should be doing a whole lot more for them in return.

I've decided to do what little I can. 💚

TJ's Gardening Works has just donated $160 to Hills Wildlife Sanctuary to help provide food and care for rescued flying foxes.

I'm not sharing this for a pat on the back. I'm sharing it because I'm hoping it might encourage a few others to do something too.

According to the sanctuary, just $40 can provide enough fruit to feed one rescued flying fox for an entire week!

Now imagine what we could achieve if a whole lot of us chipped in just a little.

Whether it's $5, $10 or whatever you can comfortably spare, every little bit can help.

And if donating isn't possible, simply sharing this post can help spread awareness, encourage understanding and perhaps reach someone who is in a position to help.

🌿 A little reminder for our fellow gardeners:

If you have fruit bats visiting your garden, please remember they're simply looking for food. Use wildlife-safe fruit netting, give them space and NEVER attempt to handle or rescue a bat yourself. Always contact a trained wildlife rescuer if you find one in trouble.
Click through to read my full article, including details for who to contact if you find a bat in trouble, and also if you'd like to make a donation as I have.

🦇 Read it here:
https://www.tjsgardeningworks.com.au/post/fruit-bats-in-your-garden-what-to-do

https://www.hillswildlifesanctuary.org/donate

Surely, if we all do just a little, together we can make a difference. 💚

Please share, and thank you from the bottom of my heart to anyone who can help. 🦇🌸

15/10/2026

Ever stood in the fertiliser aisle holding two products… let's take Iron for our citrus for example...

One says Sulphate... the other says Chelate.

What's the difference?🤔

Here’s the simple version… the Tam version.

Think of the nutrient 'Iron' as a parcel.

📮 Sulphate, it's going by Regular Post.

It might be a little slow but most of the time it gets there just fine.

A bit of heavy rain, sandy soils or alkaline conditions can slow things down or send it off course and bam... it's lost in transit!

📦 Chelate on the other hand, sends exactly the same parcel…

…but by 'registered courier'.

It wraps it in bubble wrap, gives it a tracking number and keeps it safe the entire journey the until your plant is ready to use it.

So yes…

Chelates usually cost a little more, but sometimes they’re worth every cent!

🌱 And here’s another little misconception…

Liquid doesn’t automatically mean Chelate.

Granules don’t automatically mean Sulphate.

That’s simply how the product is packaged.

Milk comes as liquid in a carton in the fridge... or it's powdered long life on a shelf down aisle three... but they're both milk. same thing, different delivery.

One last thing…

Before spending more money on fertiliser, ask yourself…

Have I actually checked my soil pH?

Because sometimes the nutrient is already there…

Your plant just can’t unlock it.

It’s a bit like having a fully stocked pantry…

…but losing the key to the door.

Healthy soil first…

Everything else follows. 💚🌱

👇 Have you ever stood in the fertiliser aisle wondering which one to buy? Let me know in the comments!

https://www.tjsgardeningworks.com.au/post/difference-between-sulphate-and-chelate

08/10/2026

Please feel welcome to share and invite! It promises to be another great informative night with proceeds going towards a wonderful cause💙🪴💙🪴💙

A fun-filled evening at Naracoorte Mitre 10 for all garden gurus! $5 entry per person supporting Naracoorte Su***de Prevention.

28/09/2026

A big thankyou and shout out to Adrian Gale, and the wonderful staff at the Naracoorte Library for hosting two hugely successful events, a ‘Meet and Greet the Author’ on Saturday, and today’s ‘Become a Junior Gardener’ with a very enthusiastic group of young ones.
From those who’ve been getting their hands dirty for years, down to the littlest ones just discovering the joy of planting their very first seeds.
I think the future of gardening in our community is in some very good hands!

Gratitude and thanks again,
Tammy 👩🏻‍🌾🫜🌻🌱

Big Thankyou to Brookie Johnson too, I couldn’t have done it without your help Blossom 💖🌸

23/09/2026

The sunshine is here and we are excited to present Tammy Johnson, local author and horticulturalist to the Bordertown Public Library to talk about her latest book and all things gardening. Call the library to book you place on 8752 1473.
Libraries SA What's On Tatiara

23/09/2026

The school holidays are just around the corner-take a peek at what we have happening at The Library! More information on individual posters-come on in and take a look!

19/09/2026

Ever stopped mid-snack and wondered… where on earth do dates actually come from? 🤔🌴 cue me — turns out those soft, chewy, caramelly Medjool dates have a far more interesting story than I expected! From enormous bunches hanging high in date palms to dates being grown right here in Australia, come down this completely random little rabbit hole with me. You might never look at your afternoon snack quite the same way again! 😂
https://www.tjsgardeningworks.space/post/where-do-dates-come-from