Native garden advice

St Kilda Indigenous Nursery Co-operative (SKINC) will be holding a local history talk this month, enlightening Southbankers about the rich floral history of the area.

This free event is part of the City of Melbourne’s Night School program, and will be held at the Southbank Library in the Boyd Community Hub on March 23.

SKINC is expert in the local native plants that once covered the area between the Yarra River and Port Phillip Bay, called the Sandbelt area.

With almost all Southbank residents living in apartments, SKINC is encouraging locals to use indigenous plants in their homes, both ornamental and edible.

SKINC co-ordinator David Sparks said, regardless of peoples’ living situation, using plants in their home was an integral way to connect with nature in such an urban space.

“The further through the in-built environment we are, the less connected we can feel, and there is no reason to do that because where ever you are you can grow plants,” he said.

The talk will provide residents with an array of native plants, container growing techniques and a history of the local area.

“The first part of the talk is about preparing,” Mr Sparks said. “How to prepare and what you need to think about when using native plants. The second part is about the native plants themselves.”

“We all only have so much space so we are trying to help residents utilise the spaces they have with local Australian plants.”

The event will be held at Southbank Library on Wednesday, March 23 from 6pm to 7pm. To book phone 9658 8300 or visit www.melbournelibraryservice.com.au

For more information on the St Kilda Indigenous Nursery Co-op visit www.skinc.com.au