ARS Tasmania Newsletter – May 2017

• Date: 4th May 2017
• author: Lesley Gillanders

IN MY GARDEN

As autumn proceeds towards winter I ask myself what is there to write about in the garden. The deciduous trees are gradually turning gold or red. The first to turn was Nyssa sylvatica. For a few weeks we enjoyed its brilliant orange-red colour before the leaves fell away. This was followed by Rhus typhina 'Dissecta' which turns the same brilliant red as the Nyssa. This is a suckering shrub but can be easily kept under control by removing any pieces not wanted. Years ago when we lived in Boronia in Victoria, the house we moved into had a pretty garden with a Rhus succedanea in it. When it turned red in the autumn Ken cut it out as he discovered it was known to have toxic sap and we did not want it near the children. I saved some pieces to place in a vase but both Ken and myself broke out in a dreadful rash on the arms, so every piece was destroyed. At that time the nurserymen banned the plant for sale. R.typhina 'Dissecta' is quite safe although in the same family.

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