Bringing the rainforest back | Native plants | Gardening Australia

Jenny Adams has created a rainforest and garden oasis from “the cheapest block in Kiama that nobody wanted” - a weed-infested piece of former paddock. Subscribe: ab.co/GardeningKZbin
Clarence is at Kiama, on the NSW south coast, where he finds out what’s possible when a gardener follows her dream.
About 28 years ago, speech pathologist Jenny Adams bought “the cheapest block in Kiama that nobody wanted” - a weed-infested piece of former paddock - but she has created a rainforest and garden oasis.
A small creek had become a drain, but she and husband Warwick dug a channel around it and planted its banks are now covered with native ferns, many self-seeded. There is a rainforest section, a fern section, some vegies, some cottage garden and herbs close to the house.
Jenny's family on both sides were local farming and sawmill pioneers. She now aims re-create some of the rainforest that they cut down.
Featured Plants
Red cedar (Toona ciliata)
White cedar (Melia azedarach)
Bangalow palm (Archontophoenix cunninghamiana)
Sandpaper fig (Ficus coronata)
Giant stinging tree (Dendrocnide excelsa)
Brush pepperbush (Tasmannia insipida)
A large culvert still brings a lot of water to the creek when it rains, but because the banks are now stabilised by dense plantings, there is minimal erosion.
Jenny sourced many of her plants second-hand, as cuttings off people, or from a community garden.
She also gets advice from her sister in law, ecologist Jedda Lemmon.
“My rule is, it has to be recycled,” she says. “So I'll look in fetes or on the side of the road and the tip.”
The garden has lots of dainty pieces of art hidden around it too, which the children who come for speech pathology enjoy.
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[@graceaxisa4213]

One of my favourite stories on GA. It is amazing how, when the conditions are right, indigenous plants have the ability to reappear on their own accord. I can imagine that visiting Jenny's garden would make one feel as though they were far away, deep in the forest. Lovely!

[@introtwerp]

I really find that so interesting though I'm not sure this would work in suburbs as only weeds pop up 😦

[@RobinLewisMakes]

Great episode. Found a local council nursery here in Townsville, absolutely changed what I plant. Would recommend everyone investigates if they have one

[@amiepetracek7290]

I love this idea of supporting the land and listening to what it wants to be!

[@khakicam5400]

Great effort Jenny and that's some beautiful soil you've grown as well. Thanks GA for more inspiration

[@fCLEF007]

Jenny's outfit is perfect and awesome, bloody love it :D

[@thelamegoat8035]

Nice I'm trying to do a bit the same on 53 Acer in Tasmania growing back the forest

[@p.howell6064]

Awesome! You should take a little video each year to document the progress

[@thelamegoat8035]

@@p.howell6064 good idea iv planted 200 trees this year's iv got 400 native trees coming from the nursery next Artem

[@p.howell6064]

@@thelamegoat8035Wow! Definitely grab a good camera and upload it.

[@thelamegoat8035]

@@p.howell6064 it's habitat nersey at Liffey in Tasmania I'm get my plants off the best nersey in Tasmania

[@Aashiqz]

_Good on you Jenny !! More power to you !!_ 🌳🌳

[@La_Space]

Mate, you are a champion.... I love watching your videos. So knowledgeable and really personable. Keep it up.

[@hilaorganics9280]

Inspiring! Love this xo

[@chezgirlrose7654]

What a wonderful video Clarence, what a peaceful place to be, away from all the Hustle and bustle of the city life, just what I need atm 😉

[@benjaminj283]

I just stumbled into native gardening by chance and really disappointed with so little info on internet for native gardening. If I want to know about a specific native and how it looks at different stages and If it will grow in my specific area, it's almost non existent barring a few handful.Also have noticed that the native gardening videos have so little views, is it because Aussie sites are not that social media savvy or because Aussies in general are not interested in Native gardening at all? If this were USA, Aussie natives would have so many hybrid forms and be in every corner of the world, so much untapped potential.

[@tanguyen11]

Im only beginning my gardening journey too this year starting the Sydney lockdowns and trying to be focussed on native gardening as well. On the internet, I'm sure you've investigated by "gardening with Angus" seems to be the most well researched and thorough home gardening with natives internet resource. As to the popularity, I think there was a boom in Australian native gardening in the 70s that have fallen by the wayside as fashion trends do, and perhaps as Australian natives enjoy harsh sunny conditions and with most of us moving into high density living, there's more emphasis in indoor planting. Hope that helps!

[@jamshidnikkerdar2074]

Great 👍 👌

[@GundamrussGaming]

Great episode enjoyed :)

[@likhi13]

Such an inspiration! One day I would love to do the same in my country.

[@VanajaManiKitchen]

Like3, fully watching video super 👍👍

[@zalehaburude7752]

Truly wonderful....

[@cabeshonforever]

Beautiful garden😍

[@owenparker6379]

I would love to show my over 5000 tropical plant collection to you, I have collected them over the last 38 years, I'm now getting kicked out of my rental property so I have to sell it all. I'm very sad about that but I would like to show the world how

[@owenparker6379]

I've done this on the disabled pension, please could someone help me do that.

[@dineshyadav7743]

Nice 🇮🇳😊