THE BIG CHILL

July beckons as the garden becomes a midwinter wonderland

- Adam Woodhams

June saw the shortest day of the year, and while the coldest spell is still ahead for many of us, that's not always a bad thing. Many garden plants need that chill to develop their spring blooms and, in the case of the stone and pome fruits, the delectable harvest that will follow.

FLOWERING NOW

• SPRING FLOWERING BULBS will be showing colour right about now. Their flowering times can vary but the early jonquils, commonly known as paperwhites, are the first to show. They'll soon be followed by hyacinths, daffodils and snowflakes.

• PROTEAS from South Africa, close cousins of our Aussie banksias and waratahs, are flowering superbly now. Given extremely good drainage and lots of sun they are very hardy plants.

• Speaking of proteas, many of their Australian cousins, GREVILLEAS AND BANKSIAS, are putting on fabulous flowering displays. They're perfect for birds and night-time visitors such as small possums and gliders.

• Quite a few spring blossom trees, namely the FLOWERING APRICOT, QUINCE AND PEACH will be bursting into bloom now. They are the true harbingers of spring and look absolutely wonderful as their petals gently rain down.

• In warmer areas, deciduous MAGNOLIAS will be coming into bloom. Look out for gorgeous deep magenta flower forms such as Vulcan, they are just breathtaking.