Ferns are a useful and attractive addition to the understorey of any rainforest garden. They give an immediate feeling of coolness and moisture, they do well in the shade and they protect the soil. Terrestrial ferns may also add a colour accent along with variation in height, form and leaf shape.

The first 2.2km of the Sunshine Coast Hinterland Great Walk, starting at Baroon Pocket Dam near Montville, is a great area to look at the extraordinary range of ferns which adorn the forest floor. Many are thriving under tall trees with several tolerating fairly dry conditions.

Our native frogs are looking for new homes and your garden could be just the place. Australia’s frog population is on the decline with the Queensland Conservation Council reporting the loss of eight frog species and diminishing numbers of another fourteen species – all in the past 30 years. There are 210 species of native frogs in Australia, 114 of these are found in Queensland.

I have been asked several times about mosquitoes breeding in bromeliad tanks (or wells) and research into various answers and remedies.

The two main schools of thought are:

1. Bromeliads secrete a substance that prevents the mosquito larva from maturing; and
2. That mosquitoes breed in the well of bromeliads.

What is a sustainable garden? This is an unusual term and one which is hard to define, but let’s have a go… A sustainable garden complements your house, your lifestyle and the natural environment, avoiding toxins and non-recyclable waste whilst minimising harm to the environment and people.

A sustainable garden contributes to the health of your local area, to the environment as a whole and to the health and wellbeing of all who enjoy the garden.