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Cabbages bringing cheer to Winter streetscapes

By Latrobe City Council - 21st July 2005 - Back to News

It’s the middle of Winter. Most of Latrobe City’s deciduous streetscape trees are stark, leafless skeletons, and Gippsland skies more often than not have taken on hues of grey. But amidst all of the seasonal gloom there are vibrant splashes of life and colour to be seen, bringing a little cheer to Latrobe’s Winter streetscapes.

While many of Latrobe’s roundabouts and garden beds are sporting nemesia, calendula and violas, a less traditional display of colour can be experienced when passing some of the municipality’s roundabouts - in the form of cabbages!

Latrobe City Mayor, Councillor Bruce Lougheed, said the displays of colourful cabbages, or more correctly ‘kale’ were one of the innovative ways Latrobe City’s landscaping and gardens team are providing attractive streetscapes for Winter shoppers and passers by.

"Streetscapes across Latrobe City are showing a vibrant spread of colour making the shopping streetscapes in our towns and townships inviting and welcoming," Cr Lougheed said.

"I’m also impressed with the innovative use of ornamental vegetables in Council garden beds to provide mid-winter colour. I’m sure many home gardeners would not have considered what seems to be a very practical and colourful idea," Cr Lougheed said.

Latrobe City’s team leader gardens and landscaping, Kathryn Stolk, said that apart from the kale, nemesia, calendula and violas, displays around the municipality also incorporated alyssum, chrysanthemums, polyanthus and primulas.

"Hosts of daffodils and jonquils are also blooming or coming into flower. A sign that Spring is not too far away," Kathryn said.

Kathryn said the coloured kale was doing particularly well at the moment as the weather had been cold. "However, ornamental vegetables, fruits and herbs had been incorporated into Latrobe City’s garden bed displays for several seasons now," Kathryn said.

"In summer plantings in the past few years a number of colourful varieties of lettuce, and even strawberries have been incorporated into displays. Many varieties of vegetables, fruits and herbs provide an extremely attractive showing, while also serving the practical purpose of providing food," Kathryn said.

Kathryn said that now was a good time for home gardeners to prepare beds for summer displays by digging in fertiliser and compost for planting in Spring. "And why not incorporate ornamental vegetables into the home garden?" she suggested

"Many vegetables have ornamental, as well as food value. In fact, when tomatoes were first introduced to Europe, they were believed to be poisonous and were used only as ornamentals. Using vegetables as ornamentals is not just for those without space for a traditional vegetable garden. Incorporating vegetables into the landscape and using them as decorative container plants for porches and patios can make vegetable gardening more fun," Kathryn said.

"Most hot peppers have colourful fruit which can brighten up a border. Squash, gourds, pumpkins, and cucumbers have lush foliage and showy blossoms, as well as interestingly shaped fruit. With its bright crimson stalks supporting crinkled red-veined, dark green leaves, varieties of silverbeet or even rhubarb can make attractive foliage plants.

"Other vegetables as ornamental choices include the many types of leaf lettuces available. Both red and green leaved cultivars make good borders in front of taller flowers or herbs. Look for cultivars with curly leaves to add texture to the border. By inter-planting with annual flowers, you can remove a lettuce for the table without leaving open spaces in the garden," Kathryn advised.

"With a little imagination even the front garden can be colourful yet take on a whole new role," Kathryn added.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com