Recent articles by Penny Woodward
![Red and purple edibles Bronze, purple and red-leafed herbs and vegies](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Red-leafed herbs and vegies-500x500.jpg)
Red and purple edibles
![](/wp-content/themes/organicgardener-2024/img/divider.png)
Add colour and interest to your garden by planting red and purple-leafed edible plants says PENNY WOODWARD.
![Mulches and mulching Mulched tomato seedling](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Tomato plant mulched with lucerne hay-500x500.jpg)
Mulches and mulching
![](/wp-content/themes/organicgardener-2024/img/divider.png)
As the weather warms up and before soils dry out, PENNY WOODWARD is laying mulch. Why do we mulch and what can we use?
![Chives Purple chive flowers](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Chives -500x500.jpg)
Chives
![](/wp-content/themes/organicgardener-2024/img/divider.png)
Spring is such a lovely time in the garden with an abundance of flowers. Chives is a very useful and quietly pretty plant that is often overlooked amongst this profusion.
![Blooming delicious! English lavender - Egerton Blue](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/English lavender Egerton Blue.JPG_.lowres (2)-500x427.jpg)
Blooming delicious!
![](/wp-content/themes/organicgardener-2024/img/divider.png)
PENNY WOODWARD reveals her favourite edible ?owers and how to grow them, while JULIE RAY describes their varied ?avours and culinary uses, from spicy nasturtium petals to nutritious sun?ower seeds.
![Full greens ahead Red pak choy](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/017 Red pak choy-500x500.jpg)
Full greens ahead
![](/wp-content/themes/organicgardener-2024/img/divider.png)
Packed with flavour and nutrients, leafy Asian greens can be easily grown in all climates.
![Cherry Charm Cherries can be a challenge to grow, but worth the effort.](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Cherry_Hero_DRAFT_02-500x422.jpg)
Cherry Charm
![](/wp-content/themes/organicgardener-2024/img/divider.png)
Cherries can be tricky to grow, but the rewards are high and with new low-chill and dwarf varieties, more gardeners are giving them a go, writes PENNY WOODWARD.
![The story of a herb garden Designer Simon Dodd plants some seedlings.](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Simon-Dodd-planting-500x280.jpg)
The story of a herb garden
![](/wp-content/themes/organicgardener-2024/img/divider.png)
PENNY WOODWARD witnesses the transformation of old trial planting beds into a beautiful big herb garden. A large herb garden was established at Heronswood – the home of the Diggers Club in Dromana, Victoria – designed by gardeners Simon Dodd and Clive Blazey.
![Fabulous figs Once figs are picked, they stop ripening and need to be eaten or preserved as soon as possible.](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/iStock_000013946829XXXLarge-500x487.jpg)
Fabulous figs
![](/wp-content/themes/organicgardener-2024/img/divider.png)
Fresh figs are hard to find at markets and grocers, making them an ideal fruit tree for home gardens, says PENNY WOOWARD.
![On the snail trail Snails like to hide in large upturned pots which can be used as traps.](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Snails-500x321.jpg)
On the snail trail
![](/wp-content/themes/organicgardener-2024/img/divider.png)
PENNY WOODWARD goes to town on snails and slugs, testing a wide variety of methods for getting rid of these intriguing but troublesome pests.
![A vegetable to invest in Succulent spears of freshly picked asparagus are delicious raw or cooked.](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/iStock_000003231477Largekcline-500x500.jpg)
A vegetable to invest in
![](/wp-content/themes/organicgardener-2024/img/divider.png)
Asparagus is a tough, rewarding, long-term vegetable that, once established, will give many years of nutritious spears, writes PENNY WOODWARD.
![Herbs Burdock leaf in early autumn, ready for the roots to be harvested.](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Burdock flowers-500x500.jpg)
Herbs
![](/wp-content/themes/organicgardener-2024/img/divider.png)
Burdock (X Arctium lappa X) may be a tough, unglamorous and thistle–like, but it has a delicious edible root and invaluable medicinal uses, writes PENNY WOODWARD.
![Uplifting annuals The vibrant colours of zinnias are a great addition to any garden.](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Zinnias istock-500x500.jpg)
Uplifting annuals
![](/wp-content/themes/organicgardener-2024/img/divider.png)
PENNY WOODWARD brings colour and buzz to the organic garden with some favourite annual flowers.