A very merry Christmas and a happy New Year to all our customers, past and present.
This year is a bit different for us. After nearly 40 years of owning and operating Acorn Nursery, John and Melissa have sold the business. It's been a privilege to serve and be part of this community for almost four decades and to watch our team, your families, your gardens, and many roses, herbs, box hedges, and oak trees grow.
While we're saddened that this chapter of Acorn Nursery is coming to a close, we're happy to be passing the baton to the capable hands of the Charles family, who will take over from the first of July next year. You'll be pleased to know that the new owners will keep running Acorn just as it is, so nothing about your neighbourhood nursery will change. The same knowledgeable staff, the same high-quality products, and the same Oaks Cafe will be here for a long time to come.
The Acorn Gift Guide
Gifts for Relaxation
The Luminescent Trio - $40
The perfect gift for anyone who needs a bit of pampering. The set includes a Geranium & Juniper Berry Body Wash, Lavender & Mandarin Hand & Cuticle Cream and an Aloe Revitalising Facial Mist. Vegan-friendly, cruelty-free and made in Australia.
Fresh Pine Goldie Holiday Collection Candle - $54.95
What could be more perfect for Christmas? This luxury celebration candle blends the nostalgic scent of freshly cut Christmas trees with forest woods, rosewood, a citrus kick and a touch of cedar. All poured into a covetable limited-edition brushed aluminium gold vessel, available only for the holiday season.
White Musk & Warm Vanilla Grand Celebration Candle - $99.95
A fresh, romantic and sophisticated scent featuring tropical citrus, leafy green notes and a floral heart over a creamy base of vanilla, balsams and musk.
Gifts for the Home
Wobbly Porcelain Bowl - $24.95
A sweet little porcelain bowls with a vignette in the base and a beautiful saying. Perfect for holding rings, small trinkets and various other items, this small bowl can also be used for decor purposes, making a subtle addition to any coffee table, side board or kitchen work surface.
Friends Are Like Stars Figurine - $25
These porcelain figurines have been created by East of India as a gorgeous way of showing someone you care. Each one comes in a petite matchbox decorated with a sentimental saying and a line illustration.
Wine Cooler - $89.99
Prepare for sunny days outside with these triple-insulated coolers that keep drinks chilled without the need for ice. Perfectly sized for most wine and champagne bottles and designed to prevent condensation.
Gardening Gifts
Felco 2 - $159
Felco 2 secateurs are incredibly high-quality and sturdy. They are what we use here in the nursery and at home. The classic model Felco 2 has forged aluminium handles, hardened steel blades and can be easily adjusted. A well maintained pair of Felco 2 secateurs will last a very long time.
Sprout gardening gloves - $34.95
These premium goatskin garden gloves are super soft, stretchy and firm fitting so you can feel what you are touching. They make the perfect gift for yourself or the gardener in your life. One size fits most.
Kneeling Mat - $44.95
For anyone who loves spending time in the garden but hates how hard it is on the knees, our comfy memory foam kneeling mat is a must-have. Available in many beautiful designs to complement your garden.
Gift Books
Day Trip Melbourne - $34.99
Discover the natural wonders surrounding Melbourne with a year’s worth of day trip adventures. From mountains and waterfalls to beaches and urban parks, each trip includes directions and a map of walking routes and facilities. Suitable for families, solo adventurers, and pets, all within 130km of the city centre.
More Salad: Two Raw Sisters - $45
More Salad, the highly anticipated companion to the bestselling Salad by the Two Raw Sisters, offers over 70 fresh recipes designed to inspire creativity and joy in the kitchen. Margo and Rosa aim to make cooking accessible and enjoyable for everyone, emphasizing the use of seasonal ingredients for optimal taste and wellness.
Ottolenghi Comfort - $65
In his highly anticipated book, Yotam Ottolenghi brings his innovative approach to comfort cooking, introducing new classics that evoke the feeling of home. With over 100 irresistible recipes, Ottolenghi COMFORT weaves childhood memories and travel experiences into a celebration of food and home.
Food and Beverage Gifts
Four Pillars Gin Salt Canister - $15
A collaboration with Australia’s oldest family-owned sea salt maker, Olsson’s Salt, and Four Pillars Gin. Spent Rare Dry Gin botanicals are dehydrated and blended with Mineral Grey Salt. This makes for a stunning salt perfect for seasoning roast meat or vegetables, or serving with special meals.
Bacanha Sirop de Fruit de La Passion - $29.95
Passion Fruit Raw Syrup by Bacanha is an aromatic concentrate that combines an exotic fragrance with an irresistibly fruity and tangy flavour. It is ideal in cocktails, iced teas and lemonades.
Balsamic Vinegar - $55
Viscous, sweet and beloved by Michelin-star chefs, this balsamic vinegar is the sweetest and stickiest around. The perfect way to finish a dish and add something extra where it's needed.
Gifts for Kids
Outdoor Activity Set - $29.95
A gentle, activity-based introduction to mindfulness designed to get children off the couch, unplugged and outside exploring nature. This set includes a handy magnifying glass, coloured chalks and a note-taking pencil, as well as an activity book filled to the brim with engaging activities and hands-on projects.
Car Transporter - $70
This wooden car transporter truck toy has a double-deck trailer that comes with four colourful solid wooden cars and easily converts for loading and unloading. Crafted from sustainably sourced wood, this toy helps to develop fine motor skills, manual dexterity and creative play.
Doll House - $275
Crafted from sturdy wood and painted in delightful hues, this house is a haven for storytelling and creativity. With three levels and five spacious rooms, it's the perfect canvas for little ones to design dream homes and family stories.
Gifts to Wear
Ruby Bag - $99
With interchangeable straps in both a classic and sporty striped style, it is quick and easy to change up the look of the Ruby bag. It's basically two bags in one! Available in a range of colours so there's something for everyone's taste.
Jessie Earrings - $39.95
The Jessie Twist Earrings feature a unique hoop design with an elegant twist. The soft brushed finish adds texture and sophistication, making these earrings the perfect blend of modern flair and timeless elegance.
Arabella nightie - $75
The perfect summer-weight nightie that still looks cute enough for slow summer mornings at home. You may even want to gift it before Christmas so it can be worn on the day!
Tony's Tips
December 2024
It’s the start of summer and the warmer weather heralds the arrival of a lot of new season colour. Salvias, Roses, Gardenias and Calibrachoas are all loving a bit of summery weather. With regular feeding and watering, you can expect masses of colour and productivity throughout the season. The trick is to keep your plants happy and they will continue to work hard for you!
Many plants prefer to be planted in a warm soil and will thrive if planted out now. These include Bougainvillea, Salvias, Vincas, Basil, Crepe Myrtles, Murraya and Gardenias. The general rule is, if it comes from a warmer environment, it establishes better planted in summer.
If you are quick, there is still time to plant up your garden beds, pots and hanging baskets with advanced annuals for spectacular Christmas and New Year displays. We're very happy to lend a hand in choosing the right plants for your desired effect!
Things to Do:
- Protect your garden from drying out by applying a quality wetting agent like Rapid Soak to your soil followed by a quality mulch on top. This ensures both natural and irrigated water penetrates the soil and stays there! Remember that the best wetting agent is a good humus content in your soil but poorer, tired soils need more help to support the plant.
- Prune all winged or horned Lavenders back hard after flowering. Never go to bare wood, only to above the lowest viable foliage so the sap can be drawn up, ensuring strong regrowth.
- Feed all fruiting veggies such as tomatoes, chillies, and cucumbers with with a high potatium organic-based fertiliser to encourage fruiting.
- Keep dead heading and feeding roses to encourage new growth and future flowers.
- We are continuing to see both Lawn Beetle Grub and Azalea Lace Bug causing problems in gardens. Control early before the damage is too bad.
- If you have a live potted Christmas tree, remember that the foliage adapts and softens whilst inside. After Christmas, put it out in the shade, water frequently and feed it to allow the plant to acclimatise to outside.
