Calendar

• Earth Link Calendar of Events
• International Decades
• Daily Calendar 2008
• Planting Calendar

Earth Link 2008 Calendar of Events

Click here to download the updated 2008 Calendar of Events (pdf document for printing 118KB)

Return to Top

International Decades

2005-2014 United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development

The United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development aims to promote education as a basis for a more sustainable human society and to integrate sustainable development into education systems at all levels. The Decade will also strengthen international cooperation towards the development and sharing of innovative education for sustainable development programmes, practices and policies.

2005-2015 International Decade for Action, "Water for Life"

The International Decade for Action, “Water for Life”, commenced on World Water Day, 22 March 2005. (Graphic from http://www.un.org/waterforlifedecade/)

Return to Top

Daily Calendar 2008

FEBRUARY

MARCH

MAY

JUNE

5	World Environment Day - CO2 Kick the Habit!
8	World Oceans Day
17	World Day to Combat Desertification
21	Winter Solstice

JULY
6-13	NAIDOC Week - Advance Australia Fair?
11	World Population Day
25	Schools Tree Day
27	National Tree Day (National Tree Day Reflection)

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER - Biodiversity Month/Save the Koala Month

1	Wattle Day
1-4	11th International Riversymposium - A Future of Extremes
1-7	National Weedbusters Week
1-7	Landcare Week
6-7	Sustainable House Day, Australia and New Zealand
7	National Threatened Species Day
14	National Bilby Day
16	International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer
23	Spring Equinox
26	National Save the Koala Day (Save the Koala Reflection)
28	Green Consumer Day

OCTOBER - Bushcare Month

3	Walk to Work Day
4-10	World Space Week
6	World Habitat Day - Cities, Magnets of Hope
12-18	Earth Science Week
8	International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction
8-15	Healthy Parks Healthy People - Parks Week
15-21	National Water Week (Waterwatch Australia) (National Water Week Reflection)
16	World Food Day
17	International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
29-2 Nov	National Bird Week (Birds Australia)

NOVEMBER
10-16	National Recycling Week
6	International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict (War and Environment Reflection)
28	Buy Nothing Day

DECEMBER

Return to Top

Planting Calendar

Devised by Annette McFarlane, and printed in The Sunday Mail, 11 January 2004

WINTER

Slowed growth provides an opportunity to tackle major landscaping projects. Frost plagues inland gardeners, but elsewhere attention should be paid to make optimum use of scarce water resources.

Seasonal tasks
• Plant roses, deciduous trees and shrubs and frangipani cuttings
• Prune roses, deciduous plants and swollen gallwasp stems on citrus
• Relocate poorly positioned trees and shrubs to new areas
• Control carrot-like bindii eye weed in lawn to avoid painful burrs during summer
• Fertilise citrus, passion fruit, native plants and emerging bulbs

June

In bloom: camellia, colvillea, grevillea, ipomoea vine, poinsettia and tabebuia

Flowers to plant
All zones: alyssum, petunia, marigold
Tropical: amaranthus, begonia, cosmos, celosia, gomphrena, phlox, portulaca, salvia, sunflower, torenia and zinnia
Subtropical: calendula, cornflower, dianthus, kale, lobelia, nemesia, pansy, phlox, statice, straw flower and viola
Cool temperate: As for subtropical plus candytuft, cineraria, clarkia, delphinium, English daisy, godetia, hollyhock, larkspur, linaria, lupin, nigella, polyanthus, poppy, primula, schizanthus, snapdragon, stock, sweet pea, sweet William and wallflower

Vegetables to plant
All zones: carrot, cauliflower, kohl rabi, lettuce, radish, spring onion and turnip
Tropical: beetroot, broccoli, cabbage, French beans, garlic, leeks, potatoes, pumpkin, silverbeet, squash, swede, sweet potatoes and tomato
Subtropical: beetroot, broad beans, broccoli, cabbage, capsicum, celery, endive, French beans, garlic, leeks, onions, parsnip, peas, potatoes, silverbeet, spinach, swede, sweet potatoes and tomato
Cool temperate: parsnip and peas

July

In bloom: wattle, shower orchid (Congea) dombeya, coral tree (Erythrina), orange trumpet vine (Pyrostegia)

Flowers to plant
All zones: alyssum, petunia, marigold
Tropical: amaranthus, begonia, cosmos, celosia, gomphrena, phlox, portulaca, salvia, sunflower, torenia and zinnia
Subtropical: amaranthus, cosmos, gomphrena, phlox, portulaca, salvia, sunflower, terenia and zinnia
Cool temperate: calendula, candy tuft, dianthus, kale, lobelia, nemesia, pansy, phlox, primula, statice, straw flower, verbena, viola

Vegetables to plant
All zones: carrot, kohl rabi, lettuce, radish, spring onion and turnip
Tropical: beetroot, broccoli, cabbage, French beans, garlic, leeks, potatoes, pumpkin, silverbeet, squash, swede, sweet potato and tomato
Subtropical: beetroot, broccoli, cabbage, capsicum, celery, endive, French beans, garlic, leeks, peas, potatoes, silverbeet, swede, sweet potato and tomato
Cool temperate: cauliflower, garlic, parsnip and peas

August

In bloom: azalea, Geraldton wax, jasmine, magnolia and tabebuia

Flowers to plant
All zones: alyssum, petunia, marigold
Tropical: amaranthus, begonia, cosmos, celosia, gomphrena, phlox, portulaca, salvia, sunflower, torenia and zinnia
Subtropical: amaranthus, begonia, celosia, cosmos, gomphrena, salvia, sunflower and zinnia
Cool temperate: calendula, lobelia, nenesia, pansy. phlox, statice, straw flower and viola

Vegetables to plant
All zones: kohl rabi, lettuce and radish
Tropical/Subtropical: beetroot, carrot, capsicum, celery, cucumber, egg plant, French beans, okra, potatoes, pumpkin, silverbeet, spring onions, squash, sweet potato, tomato and zucchini
Cool temperate: cabbage, cauliflower, celery and silverbeet

SPRING

It is easy to be inspired by the colour and perfume of annuals and bulbs in flower in temperate and subtropical regions. Even as the buildup to the set season begins, flower and vegetable gardens in the tropics continue to soldier on. Visit your local nursery to check out new release plants and the latest gardening trends.

Seasonal tasks
• Fertilise bulbs, pawpaws, citrus and roses
• Protect seedlings from snails and slugs with non-toxic, iron-based baits
• Prune azaleas, hibiscus, poinsettias, and snowflake bush after flowering
• Repot and fertilise indoor plants
• Control azalea lace bug, aphids, scale, leaf miner and bronze orange bugs

September

In bloom: deciduous trees, azaleas, cymbidium orchids, hippeastrum, bombax tree and Marguerite daisy

Flowers to plant
All zones: alyssum, begonia, cosmos, marigold and petunia
Tropical: amaranthus, celosia, gomphrena, phlox, portulaca, salvia, sunflower, torenia and zinnia
Subtropical/Cool temperate: amaranthus, celosia, cleome, gomphrena, phlox, protulaca, slavia, sunflower, torenia and zinnia

Vegetables to plant
All zones: carrot, choko, cucumber, eggplant, French beans, lettuce, radish, spring onion, squash and tomato
Tropical: capsicum, kohl rabi, okra, pumpkin, rockmelon, rosella, sweet potato, tomato, watermelon and zucchini
Subtropical: beetroot, capsicum, kohl rabi, okra, pumpkin, rockmelon, rosella, silver beet, sweet corn, seet potato, watermelon and zucchini
Cool temperate: beetroot, broccoli, cabbage, silver beet and sweet corn

October

In bloom: callistemon, jacaranda, tree waratah (alloxylon), May bush, native frangipani (Hymenosporum), and star jasmine

Flowers to plant
All zones: alyssum, amaranthus,begonia, cosmos, marigold, petunia, portulaca, salvia, torenia and zinnia
Tropical: gomphrena and phlox
Subtropical/Cool temperate: as for tropics plus aster, celosia, cleome and sunflower

Vegetables to plant
All zones: capsicum, choko, cucumber, eggplant, French beans, lettuce, okra, pumpkin,radish, spring onion, tomato and zucchini
Tropical: rockmelon, rosella, squash, sweet potato and watermelon
Subtropical: as for tropical plus sweet corn
Cool temperate: beetroot, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, celery, onion,parsnip, potato, silver beet, squash and sweet corn

SUMMER

Plants grow at triffid-like rates with more time spent trimming, weeding and mowing. Heat, humidity, seasonal festivities and holidays can make it difficult to keep on top of things in this season of hectic growth.

Seasonal tasks
• Prune poinsettias, azaleas, camellias, gardenias and dead heads from roses
• Look for dead patches in lawns caused by lawn grubs
• Prune fruit trees in the tropics in preparation for the wet season
• Fertilise the entire garden with an organically based fertiliser
• Watch out for caterpillars on citrus, impatiens and white cedar

December

In bloom: brunfelsia, jacaranda, lilly pilly, racehorse tree (Schizolobium) and sandpaper vine (Petrea)

Flowers to plant
All zones: alyssum, cosmos, marigold, petunia, portulaca, salvia and zinnia
Tropical: amaranthus and celosia
Subtropical/cool temperate: begonia, celosia, gomphrena, sunflower and torenia

Vegetables to plant
All zones: capsicum, cucumber, eggplant, lettuce, radish, snake bean, sweet potato, tomato and zucchini
Tropical: choko, okra, rockmelon, rosella and watermelon
Subtropical: choko, okra, pumpkin, rockmelon, rosella, sweet corn and watermelon
Cool temperate: beetroot, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, celery, French bean, onion, potato, pumpkin, silver beet, squash and sweet corn

January

In bloom: allamanda, buckinghamia, frangipani, Rangoon creeper (Quisqualis) and summer crocus

Flowers to plant
All zones: alyssum, celosia, cosmos, marigold, petunia, portulaca, salvia and zinnia
Tropical: amaranthus
Subtropical/cool temperate: begonia, gomphrena, sunflower and torenia

Vegetables to plant
All zones: capsicum, cucumber, lettuce, radish, tomato and zucchini
Tropical: choko, eggplant, rockmelon, snake bean, sweet potato, and watermelon
Subtropical: choko, eggplant, rockmelon, snake bean, sweet corn, sweet potato, and watermelon
Cool temperate: beetroot, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, celery, French bean, kohl rabi, onion, parsnip, potato, pumpkin, silver beet, sweet corn, squash and turnip

February

In bloom: bird of paradise, crepe myrtle, daylily, hibiscus and massaenda

Flowers to plant
All zones: alyssum, celosia, cosmos, marigold, petunia, portulaca, salvia and zinnia
Tropical: amaranthus
Subtropical/cool temperate: begonia, gomphrena, sunflower and torenia

Vegetables to plant
All zones: capsicum, cucumber, eggplant, lettuce, radish, sweet corn and zucchini
Tropical/Subtropical: choko, pumpkin, snake bean, squash, sweet potato, and tomato
Cool temperate: beetroot, broccoli, Brussles sprout, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, celery, French bean, kohl rabi, onion, parsnip, and turnip

AUTUMN

Cooler temperatures and lower humidity make gardening more pleasant. Just as well, as it is a busy season, ideal for establishing new plants and taming excess growth. Leaves and prunings make great compost.

Seasonal tasks
• Fertilise roses, fruit trees and lawns
• Plant sweet peas, strawberry runners, seedlings, bulbs, trees and shrubs
• Trim plants that have become too rampant over summer
• Raise the cutting height of your mower in preparation for winter
• Life, divide, propagate and replant herbaceous perennials

March

In bloom: leopard tree, oleander, ixora, pentas and tibouchina

Flowers to plant
All zones: alyssum, marigolds and petunia
Tropical: amaranthus, begonia, celosia, cosmos, dianthus, portulaca, salvia and zinnia
Subtropical: candytuft, cineraria, clarkia, cornflower, nemesia, pansy, phlox, statice, stock and viola
Cool temperate: as for subtropical areas plus delphinium, godetia, hollyhock, larkspur, linaria, lupin, nigella, poppy, primula, schizanthus, sweet pea and wallflower

Vegetables to plant
All zones: carrot, cauliflower, French beans, leeks, lettuce, silver beet, spring onions and radish
Tropical: capsicum, cucumber, eggplant, potatoes, pumpkin, squash, sweet corn, sweet potato, tomatoes and zucchini
Subtropical: capsicum, cucumber, eggplant, potatoes, sweet corn, sweet potato, tomato
Cool temperate: beetroot, broccoli, broad beans, Brussel sprout, celery, kohl rabi, parsnip and turnip

April

In bloom: camellia, abutilon, gordonia, golden rain tree (Koelreuteria) and barleria

Flowers to plant
All zones: alyssum, marigolds and petunia
Tropical: amaranthus, begonia, celosia, cosmos, dianthus, portulaca, salvia and zinnia
Subtropical: calendula, candytuft, cineraria, clarkia, cornflower, dianthus, English daisy, hollyhock, kale, larkspur, lobelia, nemesia, pansy, phlox, poppy, primula, snapdragon, statice, stock, strawflower, sweet pea, sweet William and viola
Cool temperate: as for subtropical plus delphinium, godetia, linaria, lupin, nigella, polyanthus, schizanthus and wallflower

Vegetables to plant
All zones: beetroot, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, celery, lettuce, radish and spring onion
Tropical: capsicum, cucumber, eggplant, French beans, garlic, kohl rabi, leeks, lettuce, potatoes, pumpkin, silver beet, spring onion, squash, sweet corn, sweet potato, tomatoes and zucchini
Subtropical: Brussel sprout, capsicum, endive, French beans, garlic, kohl rabi, leeks, onions, potatoes, silver beet, spinach, sweet potato, tomato
Cool temperate: broad beans, kohl rabi, parsnip, silverbeet and turnip

May

In bloom: barklya, Queensland umbrella, native sarsaparilla (Hardenbergia), snow flake bush, tree daisy (Montanoea)

Flowers to plant
All zones: alyssum, marigolds and petunia
Tropical: amaranthus, begonia, celosia, cosmos, gomphrena, phlos, portulaca, salvia, sunflower, torenia and zinnia
Subtropical: calendula, candytuft, cineraria, clarkia, cornflower, dianthus, English daisy, hollyhock, kale, larkspur, lobelia, nemesia, pansy, phlox, poppy, primula, snapdragon, statice, stock, strawflower, sweet pea, sweet William and viola
Cool temperate: as for subtropical plus delphinium, godetia, linaria, lupin, nigella, polyanthus, schizanthus, sweet pea and wallflower

Vegetables to plant
All zones: broccoli, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, kohl rabi, lettuce, radish, silver beet, spring onion and turnip
Tropical: beetroot, French beans, garlic, leeks, potatoes, pumpkin, silver beet, squash, swede, sweet corn, sweet potato and tomato
Subtropical: beetroot, broad beans, Brussel sprout, capsicum, celery, chicory,endive, French beans, garlic, leeks, onions, parsnip, peas, potatoes, spinach, swede, sweet potato, and tomato
Cool temperate: broad beans, celery, lettuce, parsnip, peas and spinach