On The Verge
I F$%^# LOVE verge gardens. If you want a way to show off to the neighbours whilst simultaneously building community, encouraging wildlife and growing something you can truly be proud of, then verge gardens are the thing for you.
Caring for your neighbourhood is super powerful. Often these forgotten spaces are left to fade into a barren wasteland of cracked soil, wheelybins and loathsome turf that looks like it’s seen better days. Verge gardens are a simple, beautiful way to transform underused street space into thriving habitat. They can support local wildlife, improve biodiversity, help absorb rainwater, reduce runoff and create greener, more connected neighbourhoods.
And guess what? It’s easy to do; with the right plants, verge gardens can be both low-maintenance and incredibly rewarding.
Verge friendly natives to consider:
Blue Flax Lily (Dianella) — A hardy versatile clumping grass that produces blue berries and is great for attracting birds and butterflies.
Creeping Boobialla (Myoporum parvifolium) — a dense, flowering groundcover that helps suppress weeds.
Native Leek (Bulbine bulbosa) - An attractive yellow flowered perennial with edible stems that is bee and butterfly attracting.
Fan Flower (Scaevola) - A herbaceous groundcover that produces blue, purple, pink or white flowers. Native bee and butterfly attracting.
Bellingen Shire Council has also developed a Verge Gardening Guide to help residents choose appropriate plants and create verge gardens that work with local conditions and community needs. https://www.bellingen.nsw.gov.au/files/sharedassets/public/v/1/files/environment/bellingen-shire-council-verge-gardening-guidelines.pdf
Ready to turn your verge into something more?
We can help you create a verge garden that’s beautiful, practical and suited to your space.
Book an in store or at home consultation through our website today. https://www.bonvillenursery.com/garden-consults
or if you’re ready to get planting we can do that to!
Check out all the Amazing Verge gardens our customers have built!
A native meadow in Bello
What if the best thing you could do for your garden is get rid of your lawn?
This is the conversation I had at the end of last year with our clients Kerry and Chris. They were sick of the constant mowing and caring for their tired Rose garden in Belllingen. What started out as a consult turned into one of my favourite plant led design and install projects to date.
We replaced the lawn with a thriving Native Meadow style front garden. Now… one thing to know about meadow style and naturalistic garden design is that whenever something looks effortless….the reality is anything but.
So it was crucial that plant selection was very specific and focussed on local species that are able to self colonise along with hardy yet showy, longer lasting native perennials. This approach was to ensure that ongoing maintenance is kept as minimal as possible.
What resulted was a beautiful patchwork of flowering species like; Pelargonium australe, Coronidium elatum, Kangaroo Paw, Themeda and Poa. All fantastic local species that support wildlife and complemented the extraordinary mountain vista of Ngali.
Our whole team loved working on this project and it’s truly a gift to watch it grow.
We love transforming old lawns into thriving wildlife gardens so If you’re looking for help we would love to be involved. Get in touch today to chat more about our design and install service.
Photos - Beautiful Chaos Photography
We’re Hiring!
Senior Horticulturist
Help Us Grow Better Gardens, Better Plants & Better Habitat
At our core, we're passionate about reconnecting people with Australia's incredible native flora. We believe residential gardens can be beautiful, ecologically rich spaces that support biodiversity, create habitat for wildlife and inspire more people to embrace Australian native plants.
We're looking for an experienced Senior Horticulturist to join our team and play a key role in delivering that vision.
Working closely with the owner, you'll oversee plant health, production and horticultural excellence across every part of our business—from our production nursery to our retail nursery and our portfolio of high-end residential gardens.
This is an exciting opportunity for someone who wants more than just another horticulture job. It's a chance to influence the quality of every plant we grow and every garden we maintain while helping shape a business dedicated to outstanding horticulture and meaningful ecological outcomes.
Applications open til 25th August.
Winter Is the Best Time to Plan Your Native Garden
Think spring is the best time to start gardening?
Think again.
Winter is the season for planning. While your garden slows down, you have the perfect opportunity to design a beautiful, thriving native garden that will be ready to burst into life when the warmer months arrive.
The best gardens don't happen by accident—they start with a plan.
Get Organised Now, Enjoy Spring Later
Instead of rushing to buy plants in spring, use winter to ask the important questions.
Where do you want more birds and butterflies?
Which areas need colour, shade or screening?
Could your garden be more water-wise and lower maintenance?
What native plants will thrive in your space?
A little planning now means healthier plants, smarter choices and a garden you'll love for years to come.
Winter Checklist for Native Gardeners 🌿
Winter is one of the most productive seasons in a subtropical native garden. Use this simple checklist to get ahead before spring.
✅ Walk your garden and note what's thriving—and what's not.
✅ Observe where the winter sun and shade fall. It's the perfect time to plan new planting areas.
✅ Remove weeds before they seed and compete with your natives in spring.
✅ Top up mulch to protect soil, retain moisture and support healthy soil life.
✅ Improve your soil with compost where needed—healthy soil grows healthy plants.
✅ Make a list of gaps in your garden. Could you add more flowering plants for pollinators, shrubs for small birds or trees for future shade?
✅ Clean out bird baths and check nest boxes before the breeding season begins.
✅ Book a Garden Consult if you're planning a new garden or a major makeover.
✅ Register for our FREE Hot for Habitat workshop and discover how to create a garden that's beautiful, resilient and full of wildlife.
A little planning in winter means less stress in spring—and a native garden that's ready to flourish.
🌸 3 Perfect Pressies for 3 Kinds of Plant-Loving Mums This Mother’s Day 🌿
Mother’s Day is nearly here, and we’re celebrating all the amazing mums out there — especially the ones who love getting their hands dirty in the garden!
Whether your mum’s all about growing food, filling the garden with flowers, or creating a backyard haven for birds and bees, we’ve got you sorted with three gift ideas she’ll actually love.
🥕 The Veggie Queen: The Bokashi One System
If your mum’s the type who hoards veggie scraps like they’re treasure and has a worm farm named “Wendy,” she’s going to LOVE the Bokashi One.
It’s a compact, easy-to-use kitchen composting system that turns food waste into garden goodness — fast. No smell, no mess, just sweet compost juice she can feed to her veggie patch.
Why it’s a winner:
Sits neatly under the kitchen bench
Makes composting super simple
Mum gets to save the planet one banana peel at a time
🌱 Hot tip: Pair it with a bag of Bokashi mix and a cute card — “Thanks for always feeding us, Mum!”
🌷 The Flower Fairy: Mother’s Day Plant & Sip Workshop
If your mum melts over tulips and can name more flowers than most florists, give her an afternoon of pure joy at our Floral Bulb Plant & Sip Workshop.
She’ll pot up a gorgeous selection of spring bulbs, sip a wine or two, nibble on sweet treats, and have a whole lot of fun while doing it. No experience needed — just a love of blooms and a good time.
🗓️ Sunday 12th May @ Bonville Nursery
🎟️ Limited spots available
What she gets:
All materials, bulbs + a stylish pot
Expert guidance from our garden crew
A drink on arrival + something sweet to eat
Time out in the garden with other fab women
🌼 This is a gift AND a memory. And honestly? You should come too.
👉 Book her spot now before it fills up!
🌾The Wild & Wonderful Mumma: Grevillea Flowering Trees
Got a mum who can’t stop talking about birdlife and native pollinators? Grevilleas are calling her name!
These Aussie legends bloom like crazy, feed all the right wildlife, and look stunning year-round. We’ve picked three standouts she’ll love:
Honey Barbara – Soft grey foliage, pink flowers, and attracts butterflies like magic.
Yamba Sunshine – Bright yellow blooms and happy vibes all round. Great for screens and sunny spots.
Sylvia – Bold, upright grower with rich red flowers. A real standout in the garden.
🌿 Growing tips for happy Grevilleas:
Choose a sunny spot
Mound the soil if it holds water (they hate wet feet)
Only use low-phosphorus fertilisers — they’re not fans
🪻 Want to really spoil her? Bundle it with a native wildflower seed mix and a handmade plant label. Sorted.
👉 Come visit us in-store — we’ll help you pick the perfect one.
Gardening Is Activism
Make your garden resilient and future proof!
It’s easy to forget that your garden is one of the few things you can actively participate in to create a better future for everyone. Digging & improving the soil, planting those native flowers and establishing trees are the best ways to garden for the future. Here are our top tips:
PLANTING FOR BIODIVERSITY
The more the merrier for improved pollination, reduced pest load and simply the joy of watching birds! Dont forget to add in the ever important middle canopy layer in your garden. Open, scrubby shrubs loaded with flowers and places for birds to perch and feel protected are a great place to start.
PLANT PICK: Bursaria spinosa
Fast growing and great in poor soils
Excellent small bird shelter
Masses of nectar rich creamy flowers
Medicinal use for ailments like skin conditions, coughs and fevers
PLANTING FOR SHADE
Introducing shade trees to your residential garden will future proof your home; creating a comfortable and liveable space. When placed correctly they will also help to reduce prevailing winds and cool your home. You just have to get the right tree! Stick to smaller, dwarf species or look at large shrubs that can be crown lifted like Callistemons and Grevilleas in smaller yards.
PLANT PICK: Eucalyptus Little Spotty
Small gum 5 - 7m H.
Excellent shade canopy and beautiful ornamental bark.
Great for coastal gardens.
PLANTING NATIVE BUSHFOOD
Placing food plants that are meant to be here improve your garden and our environment on so many levels: nourishes our bodies, reduces water usage, our wildlife are adapted to their food sources and there is less chance of pest and disease if specified correctly.
PLANT PICK: Pipturus argenteus (Native Mulberry)
A fast growing medium to large shrub.
Masses of small white to translucent berries that you can snack on almost all year.
Grows well in heavy and moist soils that we often experience in our region.
Bring the Bush Indoors 🌿
Love Indoor Plants? Make It Native!
Looking to liven up your home with greenery that reflects Australia’s unique flora? 🌱 Often, we overlook native plants when choosing indoor beauties, assuming they won’t adapt to indoor life. But guess what? Many Australian natives make stunning and hardy indoor plants—with the bonus of being better suited to our local climate!
Here’s why it’s worth going native indoors:
Low Maintenance: Natives are often accustomed to thriving in tough conditions, making them fuss-free.
Unique Beauty: These plants have a charm that can’t be matched by imported varieties.
Eco-Friendly: Choosing natives supports our biodiversity and reduces the demand for imported plants.
Switch out the same old exotics with these Aussie alternatives for a fresh, sustainable twist:
Randia (Native Gardenia):
Forget the fussy Fiddle Leaf Fig—Randia offers glossy, lush leaves and occasional delicate white flowers. Perfect for making a statement!
Kangaroo Fern (Microsorum pustulatum):
A gorgeous alternative to Peace Lilly and Boston Ferns, this beauty features quirky, textured fronds that thrive in bright, indirect light.
Alocasia brisbanensis (Native Elephant Ears):
Love dramatic leaves? This lush alternative to exotic Alocasias will wow you with its bold, arrow-shaped foliage.
Cordyline petiolaris (Broad-leaf Palm Lily):
Swap your Happy Plant for this striking native! Its vibrant foliage brings a tropical feel indoors without compromising on sustainability.
Image sources: Mallee Design, Spruce
🌞 Pro Tip: These natives enjoy filtered light, minimal drafts, and a bit of humidity—making bathrooms and kitchens an excellent choice for their new home.
Visit us at Bonville Nursery to find your perfect indoor native, and let us show you how to care for them like a pro. Let’s bring the bush indoors and create eco-friendly oases in every home. 🌿
Love indoor plants? - learn how to propagate your own!
Embrace Winter Gardening on the Coffs Coast
As winter settles in on the subtropical mid-north coast, many gardeners might think it’s time to hang up their gloves and wait for warmer days. However we have the luxury of beautiful sunny, warm winter day up here and it’s full of unique opportunities for garden growth and transformation. Let's explore some winter gardening tips and trends to keep your garden thriving through the cooler months.
Winter Wonders: Native Plants to Shine This Season
Winter is a fantastic time to focus on planting and caring for Australian natives that are perfectly suited to our climate. These resilient plants not only withstand the subtropical winter but also provide critical support to local wildlife during the colder months. Here are a few standout winter flowering natives to consider:
Grevilleas: Known for their stunning, spider-like flowers that bloom in vibrant reds, pinks, oranges, and yellows, Grevilleas are a must-have for any garden. These versatile shrubs are hardy and drought-tolerant once established. They thrive in well-drained soil and full sun, making them ideal for various garden settings. Additionally, their nectar-rich flowers are a magnet for birds and bees, providing essential food sources through winter.
Phebalium woombye prostrate: This low-growing ground cover features attractive, dark green foliage and clusters of small, star-shaped yellow flowers. Phebalium woombye prostrate is perfect for adding a splash of color to your garden floor. It prefers well-drained soil and partial to full sun. Its dense growth habit helps suppress weeds, making it an excellent choice for ground cover and erosion control.
Wattle (Acacia species): Wattle is a quintessential Australian native, known for its bright yellow, fluffy flowers that bring a burst of sunshine to winter gardens. These hardy shrubs and small trees thrive in well-drained soil and full sun. They are incredibly versatile and can be used as windbreaks, ornamental features, or for erosion control. Wattles attract a range of pollinators, including bees and butterflies, and the species even fix nitrogen in the soil, improving soil health.
Eremophila glabra prostrate: This hardy ground cover features grey-green foliage and tubular flowers in shades of red, orange, yellow, or green. Eremophila glabra prostrate is well-suited to hot, dry conditions and thrives in well-drained soil with full sun exposure. Its flowers attract nectar-feeding birds, adding life and color to your garden through the cooler months. Its spreading habit makes it an ideal choice for covering large areas or creating a lush, ground-hugging display.
Above: Grevillea, Phebalium, Protea (not native) & Acacia are excellent flowering natives in Winter
Credit: Mountain Nursery Flower Farm
Seasonal Gardening Tips
Mulching and Soil Care: Winter is the perfect time to mulch your garden. Mulching helps retain soil moisture, suppress weeds, and protect roots from temperature extremes. Choose an organic mulch but remember during the winter months especially slugs and snails take refuge in mulch so hold back from laying it too thickly.
Pruning and Maintenance: Take advantage of the slower growth period to prune and shape your plants. Remove any dead or diseased branches to promote healthy new growth. Then work your way through removing any crossing branches and aim to always prune to an outward facing bud to help keep an open canopy. Winter is also an excellent time to tidy up garden beds and pathways.
Planting for Spring: Start planning and planting for spring now. Winter is an ideal time to plant many hardy trees and shrubs, allowing them to establish roots and burst into life when the warmer weather arrives.
Water Wisely: Even though our winters are mild, it's essential to monitor your garden’s water needs. Water deeply and less frequently to encourage robust root systems. Ensure your plants aren’t sitting in waterlogged soil, as this can lead to root rot. Signs of a waterlogged garden include:
sour smelling or sulphur like smell in the soil
Pale or grey coloured soil
When the ground is watered the moisture doesn’t drain away easily and squelches underfoot
Plants are yellowing and browning off. Showing signs of fungal disease such as spotty foliage.
Winter Workshops and Events at Bonville Nursery
At Bonville Nursery, we believe winter is a season for learning and growing. Our winter workshops are designed to inspire and equip you with the skills and knowledge to make the most of your garden year-round.
Warm Up with a Visit to Our Café
The Lazy Daisy Coffee Cart is the perfect spot to warm up. Winter specials will be hitting the menu with $5 soup specials every Fri, Sat & Sun. We’re the perfect casual lunch spot while lazing in the sun and taking in the beautiful surrounds.
Get Ready for Spring with Bonville Nursery
Winter is not a time to retreat from the garden but a season to prepare and nurture it for the vibrant months ahead. Visit Bonville Nursery for expert advice, a wide selection of native plants, and all the supplies you need to keep your garden thriving through winter. Got a project you want to start? get in touch now to start planning.
Stay warm, stay inspired, and happy gardening from all of us at Bonville Nursery!
Bonville Nursery - Inspiring the next generation of gardeners and environmental protectors.
Rooting for the Future: Why Natives Strengthen Our Gardens
It all begins with an idea.
At Bonville Nursery, we're a community of passionate gardeners and environmental stewards dedicated to nurturing our planet, one plant at a time. As we delve into Autumn, we turn our focus towards the unsung heroes of our local ecosystems - native plants. Autumn is the best time to be planting natives! Not only do these resilient species embody the beauty and diversity of our Australian landscapes, but they also play a pivotal role in supporting our native wildlife, including bees, butterflies, lizards, and birds, all of which are essential to maintaining the balance of our delicate ecosystems.
Why Natives Matter
Australian natives, adapted to our unique climate and conditions, offer an array of benefits for your garden and the environment at large. By incorporating these plants into your garden, you're not just creating a beautiful, low-maintenance space; you're providing crucial habitats for native wildlife and contributing to the preservation of our natural heritage. Let's explore some of the remarkable natives we're spotlighting this season:
Our current faves
Melicope Rubra (Blush): With its striking, Lime foliage and clusters of hakea like flowers, Melicope Rubra Blush is a magnet for pollinators like butterflies. This small tree not only adds a splash of colour to your garden but also supports the local ecosystem.
Hibbertia 'Lil Rocker': A ground-cover marvel, Hibbertia 'Lil Rocker', is known for its vibrant yellow flowers that brighten any garden. It's particularly favored by our native bees, providing ample foraging opportunities plus it doubles as a weed suppressant like all good groundcovers.
Poa Poaformis 'Kingsdale': This lush, tufted grass is a haven for a variety of insects and ground-dwelling creatures like lizards. Its adaptability to a range of conditions makes it a fantastic choice for gardeners looking to add texture and movement to their landscapes.
Callistemon 'Reeves Pink': The soft pink brushes of Callistemon 'Reeves Pink' are not only visually striking but are also bustling with bird activity, particularly attracting nectar-feeding species. It’s a wonderful option for adding color while supporting our feathered friends.
Planting for a Cause
Incorporating these natives into your garden is more than just gardening; it's an act of environmental stewardship. By choosing natives, you're contributing to a larger cause: the conservation of our native flora and fauna. Here at Bonville Nursery, we're committed to supporting this cause, not just by offering a wide range of native plants but also by providing the knowledge and expertise to help them thrive in your garden.
Join the Movement
Come & visit us at the Nursery to explore our native plants. Whether you're looking to create a haven for wildlife, add some local flair to your garden, or simply contribute to the conservation of our beautiful Australian landscape, we have something for everyone. Our knowledgeable staff are always on hand to offer advice and share their passion for the natural world, helping you make selections that will thrive in your garden.
