The Times-Articles about Aussie, So. Africa Plants

I thought you might find this interesting, the Los Angeles Times take on the use of Australian, South African Floria in California. There are several articles. This is for the Dry-Summer Subtropical (Mediterranean) Climate. It's in the "Home and Garden" section, very well done.
http://www.latimes.com/features/home/

Thanks LA right now in my area at least it is more like the Amazon after months of heavy rain and my soil is heavy red clay ...many people are given the impression that Australia is a big Desert or Outback ...but like America we are diverse and comprise of many different soils and weather conditions.The natives mentioned in the article are beautiful (did anyone tell the gardeners that most of these plants don't live long lives?) and thanks so much for the link. We have some truly beautiful rain forest trees and shrubs too ...most of us have mixed gardens because the bottlebrush and grevillias fit right into mixed plantings while others will drop stone dead if you mix them in.
thanks again ... chrissy

Yes good article. I am glad they stressed the soil aspect of it. One of the lists I am on they are always FERTILISING everything. It's so important not to give the Australian plants the normal stuff and wet feet. If in California the leaves from the gums will be a big asset in making suitable muclh for the smaller plants. I am on a deep acidic volcanic red soil and it is hard to kill things but natives I have managed. So these days I relegate them to my wind break plantings around the paddock edge where living on the wild side suits them much better and the birds still get their nectar and seeds.

Some good pics here of Oz plants

http://www.floraphoto.com.au/

Another really nice one with lots of rainforest stuff I grow quite a few of these ones because they don't explode in bushfires and provide lovely green shelter from the winds as well as lots of food for the natives ...they don't drop dead at the smell of manure either:)
http://members.ozemail.com.au/~peterrjones/plants/c.html

Crissy, i'm glad you're adapting to the Amazon!
Most people take, oh, I don't know... say two weeks. We've all faced the Amazon thing, although some have dealt with the "Nile Thing". To Ugly to talk about.
But seriously, it was an excellent article, like you and Gecki said.
I'll tell you, California is a major parisdise for Australian natives. Heck, I was probably 18 yrs old before I realised that all these plants I grew up with were from Australia!
If you're a native Californian, your blood has the heavenly scent of Eucalyptus.