Carla’s Organic Gardens

17/08/2026

Under the shade of the old gum tree…. You can still grow stuff!

I often get asked the question what can I grow in shady areas? Well here is a list of 20 unusual shade loving plants for your perusal.

Native Violet – Viola hederacea
Dicondra- Dicondra ripens
Lettuce – Lactuca sativa
Ginseng (snails love)- Panax spe.
Ginger- Zingiber officiale
Turmeric- Curcuma longa
Comfrey- Symphytum officinale
Lemongrass- Cymbopogon citratus
Gotu-Kola- Centalla asiatica
Pennyroyal- Mentha Pulegium
Brahmi- Bacoma monnieri
Lemon Balm- Melissa officinalis
Oregano- Organum vulagre
Mints- Mentha spe.
Vietnamese (coriander/laksa) mint- Persicaria odorata
Bog Sage- Salvia uliginosa
Salad Burnett- Pimpinella saxifraga
Sorrel- Rumex acetosa
Mizuna- Brassica rapa
Rocket- Eruca stavia
It may be noted that most of these shade lovers also love a good drink, don’t worry about shouting them a beer, we just mean give them a good drink of water, especially over our hot summers. And don’t forget to prep the soil with a well-draining rich medium, try adding some peat and compost for the best results.

Need a hand? Then call us, Our Garden Doctor Consultation Service can help get your garden growing today!

We would love to hear your favourite shade loving plants, Email us on [email protected].

https://www.gaiasorganicgardens.com.au/20-shade-loving-useful-plants/

17/08/2026

🌱 10 Reasons to Hire an ORGANIC Gardener

1. We look at the whole ecosystem, not just the weeds.
Your garden is a living system. Soil, plants, insects, microbes, birds and water all interact. We look at how those pieces work together.

2. We work WITH nature. 🌿
Instead of constantly battling pests, weeds and diseases, we look at why they’re happening and address the underlying conditions.

3. We care about your soil.
Healthy plants start underground. Organic gardening focuses on building healthy, living soil rather than simply feeding plants with quick-fix fertilisers.

4. We encourage the good bugs. 🐝
Not every insect is an enemy! Ladybirds, lacewings, bees and other beneficial creatures can become valuable members of your garden workforce.

5. We don’t reach for chemicals first.
Organic gardening prioritises physical, biological and cultural solutions before resorting to chemical controls.

6. We can help you reduce garden waste. ♻️
Prunings, leaves and organic material don’t necessarily belong in the bin. Composting, mulching and reusing materials can turn “waste” into garden resources.

7. We choose plants with your garden in mind.
Right plant, right place. Considering your soil, sun, water availability, microclimate and lifestyle can save you money and heartbreak later.

8. We can help you grow food naturally. 🥕
Herbs, vegetables, fruit and edible flowers can become part of a beautiful garden, not something that has to live in a separate veggie patch.

9. We look for the reason something isn’t thriving. 🔎
Yellow leaves? Poor growth? Constant pests? Plants dying? Rather than simply replacing the plant, we investigate what’s happening underneath.

10. We’re thinking about the garden LONG TERM. 🌏
The goal isn’t just to make the garden look good today. It’s to create a healthier, more resilient garden that becomes easier and more rewarding to care for over time.

And the real difference?

A conventional garden service might ask:

“How do we make this garden look tidy?”

An organic gardener asks:

“How do we make this garden healthier?”

And when you get the health right, the beauty tends to follow. 🌿✨

16/08/2026

schotcher the lizard 🦎 Meet Schotcher, our resident garden guardian. Say hello to Schotcher, our resident lizard. We first spotted him last year and we’re pretty sure he’s back to call this garden home. Every thriving garden has its stories, and sometimes its own little wildlife crew. He’s a native West Australian crevice skink; shy, harmless, and great for keeping pests in check. Nature really does her own maintenance. Welcome home, little mate. Do you have any other resident garden visitors?

15/08/2026

COMPETITION TIME 🙏🙌✨

14/08/2026

🎉🌿 THE ULTIMATE LOCAL GIVEAWAY! 🌿🎉

We’re celebrating local creativity, community and small business… and one lucky winner is taking home an incredible prize bundle! 💚

✨ WIN:

🫖 A beautiful handcrafted Succulent Teapot Arrangement by Seas The Day & Carla’s Organic Gardens

🕯️ A gorgeous selection of artisan Candles & Wax Melts from Costal Stays. Perth & HTCL cleaners

🌱 50% OFF Carla’s Organic Gardens workshops for 12 months!
Discover organic gardening, succulent creations, fermentation and so much more while saving all year long!

How to Enter

💚 Like this post

💚 Follow:
• Carla’s Organic Gardens
•
• HTCL Cleaners
• Alkimos Studio Collective

💚 Tag a friend who’d love this prize bundle (every tag = another entry!)

💚 Share this post to your Story and tag us all for a bonus entry!

🍃 Winner announced: 1st September

This giveaway has been lovingly put together by local businesses proudly supporting Alkimos Studio Collective, a growing community celebrating creativity, collaboration and connection right here in our neighbourhood.

Every follow, share and tag helps support local makers, educators and small businesses. Thank you for being part of our journey. 💚✨

Good luck everyone! 🌿

This giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by Facebook or Instagram.

09/08/2026

06/08/2026

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT:

Please care for our wildlife

I know personally how frustrating rats can be for gardeners, but please consider our precious wildlife in your pest control choices!!

This barn owl has a severe systemic bleeding disorder caused by eating mice poisoned with Second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs.)

She's receiving intensive care in our hospital and receiving fluid therapy, medications to combat the poisoning, very careful handling (so she doesn't bruise further) and assisted feeding.

Owls are effective pest control in urban areas throughout Perth, however they are not immune to strong rat baits. 😔

If you are looking for rodent control, please seek alternative rodent control options and avoid second generation anticoagulant rodenticide poisons that harm our wildlife.

Read more here: https://birdlife.org.au/sgars-frequently-asked-questions

05/08/2026

🧅🌱 One punnet… dozens of onions! 🌱🧅

Today my little gardening assistant (aged four! 💚) and I were out in the veggie patch planting onions using one of my favourite gardening tricks.

It’s incredibly simple.

We make shallow trenches about 10 cm apart, gently separate each individual seedling from the punnet, lay them into the trench, and cover them back over.

That’s it!

Even a four-year-old can do it… and he absolutely loves helping. 🌿

One of the biggest misconceptions I see is that people assume plants should stay exactly as they come from the nursery. But nurseries are designed to grow and transport plants efficiently, not to grow them to their full potential in your garden.

Knowing little techniques like this can dramatically improve your harvest while making the most of every square centimetre of your veggie patch.

Sometimes it’s not about working harder… it’s simply about knowing how to plant smarter.

These are exactly the kinds of practical, easy-to-follow tips I’ll be sharing in my upcoming Organic Gardening Masterclass. Together we’ll cover simple techniques that anyone can master, whether you’re completely new to gardening or looking to grow more food in a smaller space.

And the best part?

They’re simple enough to teach your kids, creating beautiful moments together while building confidence in the garden. 🌱💚

I hope you enjoy today’s little gardening tip! Let me know… what are you growing in your veggie patch this season? 👇🥕🧄🥬

🌿 Follow Carla’s Organic Gardens for practical gardening tips, sustainable inspiration and workshops that help you grow with confidence.

04/08/2026

We are getting warm early this year, so it’s already time to plant your spring crops:

What to plant in July & August…

Artichoke

Asparagus

Broad Beans

Beetroot

Carrot

Chinese cabbage

Coriander

Kale

Lettuce

Mizuna

Onion

Oregano

Parsley

Parsnip

Peas

Potatoes

Radish

Rocket

Rhubarb

Silver beet

Spinach

Swede

Turnip

Thyme

Watercress

Edible Flowers:

Marigold

Calendula

Alyssum

Viola

Nasturtium

Edible Weeds:

Sour Sob

Wild Rocket

Fat Hen

Prickly Lettuce

Nettle

02/08/2026

🌿✨ Have you been thinking about joining us?

These beautiful photos are from our last Zen Succulent Workshop, and honestly… what a gorgeous afternoon it was! 💚

From vintage teacups transformed into thriving little gardens, to an incredible grazing spread, plenty of laughs, and a room full of creative souls, it was everything we hoped it would be.

Next weekend, it’s your turn.

Come and learn Carla’s signature technique for turning almost anything into a successful succulent planter, while creating TWO beautiful arrangements to take home:
🌿 A stunning Zen Succulent Bowl
☕ A charming Teacup Succulent Garden

You’ll also enjoy:
✨ All plants, materials and tools provided
📖 A copy of my “Don’t Suc at Succulents” Ultimate Care Guide
🥂 Bubbly kombucha on arrival
🧀 Delicious nibbles throughout the afternoon
🌱 A relaxed, beginner-friendly atmosphere where you’ll leave with new skills, new confidence and two gorgeous creations.

📍 The Wonderland Retreat, Padbury
🗓 Saturday 8 August
⏰ 2:00pm to 4:00pm
🎟 $120 per person

Places are intentionally limited so everyone receives plenty of one-on-one guidance.

Come for the plants… stay for the creativity, connection, delicious food and the joy of making something beautiful with your own hands. 🌿💚

👉 Secure your place via the Eventbrite link before the workshop fills.