Latest news with #MichaelGriffiths
Perth Now
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
The star will be joined by award-winning entertainers
The City of Belmont is set to come alive with the glitz and glamour of world-class entertainment as Australian cabaret royalty Rhonda Burchmore headlines a brand-new pop-up event at the AfterDark Performance Lounge. The five-night cabaret spectacular will see The Glasshouse venue in Faulkner Park undergo a dramatic transformation that will see it turn into an intimate, fully licensed cabaret lounge. Burchmore, who most recently featured in the hit musical Sister Act, will debut her new show Tall Tales, an evening of her heartfelt and hilarious journey through four decades in the limelight. Your local paper, whenever you want it. 'I will be opening the vault on my 40-year career in showbiz, sharing wonderful stories and killer songs that will fit perfectly in the intimate AfterDark Performance Lounge.' she said. 'It's so wonderful to see a new performance venue popping up in Belmont and engaging such an incredible line-up of fabulous cabaret stars.' Belmont mayor Robert Rossi said the event was a great chance to bring world-class entertainers to Belmont's local stage. 'AfterDark brings outstanding live performances to our local community and sees the Glasshouse venue transformed into an intimate space hosting a bold and brilliant line-up of performers,' he said. 'We're offering discounted tickets for local residents, making it easier for more people to enjoy a high-quality artistic experience.' On top of Rhonda's appearance, the series will host some of Australia's other brightest cabaret stars such as Mama Alto, Michael Griffiths, Gina Williams and Guy Ghouse, and Libby Hammer and Ali Bodycoat, each bringing their own flair to the experience. Mama Alto will present her WA premiere of Transcendent, a soul-stirring show blending classic songs with some unexpected delights. Helpmann Award winner Michael Griffiths will lead his band through a joyous tribute to the legendary Peter Allen, who was known for his flamboyant stage presence. Award-winning Michael Griffiths will pay tribute to Aussie icon Peter Allen. Credit: City of Belmont Williams and Ghouse will bring a modern take on ancient traditions, merging natural acoustic instruments, stories and voice. Two of Perth's most loved jazz vocalists, Libby Hammer and Ali Bodycoat will also sparkle at the event, reuniting in a heartfelt celebration of music, friendship and sisterhood. The event will end with two adult-only literary events Adult Storytime by acclaimed poet and performer Sukhjit Kaur Khalsa and A Timeless Gathering by Live History, all the way from Canada. The event runs Thursday, July 24 to Monday, July 28, tickets go on sale on June 19.
Daily Mirror
23-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
'Perfect' time to prune lavender so it blooms brilliantly this summer
Lavender is a popular and easy-to-care-for plant that is a favourite in gardens across the UK - but it's important to know the right time to prune it to ensure it flowers beautifully Lavender, known for its beauty and soothing fragrance, is a cinch to maintain, yet timing the trim is key. Gardening aficionados should mark their calendars for late summer or early autumn to prune lavender, right after it ceases to bloom - but May also offers a window before the flowering rush. The Mediterranean Gardener himself, Michael Griffiths, advises: "If you missed pruning your lavender in late summer or it is looking untidy or has frost damage, now in mid to late spring when the new growth appears is the perfect time to prune." READ MORE: Claudia Winkleman-loved brand launches Bank holiday sale including 'holy grail' spray Neglecting annual pruning can lead to leggy, sparse, and wooden plants with less vibrant blooms - so it's a nifty trick to keep it robust and blooming. To prevent your lavender from turning into a twiggy mess, Michael instructs: "No one wants lavender that becomes leggy or twiggy because you didn't prune it in the right way at the right time." Trimming lavender properly is a breeze; wield a sharp, clean cutter and take care not to cut back more than two-thirds of the plant, which could hinder its recovery. With expert guidance from Michael: "You can prune lavender as hard as you like, as long as you are not cutting into old wood and leave some new growth beneath the cutting point." Just remember, when pruning, steer clear of cutting too deep into old wood, which refers to the mature, thick, woody stems. Old wood tends to bloom less but provides structure to the plant, and cutting into it can cause the plant stress and greatly weaken it. It can lead to your lavender plant not producing flowers again or can even kill the plant. According to Michael, you will be able to "really easily" tell what part of your lavender plant is old wood as it will be "this brown stuff down here with this almost white foliage" while the new growth which you can cut will be "bright green." Michael said: "I don't want to prune down here [on the old wood] at all, I don't want to touch any of this stuff, I want to come up here and I want to be just above the old wood so I'm gonna take that to just there. "If you do cut down into old wood, that area may not regrow and you could lose the plant so if in doubt, stay above that new growth." Cut the stem around two to three inches above the old wood and into the leafy section of the new growth, and create a rounded shape for the lavender plant by cutting the outer stems a little shorter than the inner stems. Remove any dead or damaged branches, and your beautiful lavender plant will then be ready to flower spectacularly in the summertime. Michael said: "Pruning in spring will delay flowering slightly, but in the end, you're gonna get a better-shaped bush that will last longer."
Daily Mirror
21-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
Garden expert says you've been pruning lavender all wrong - correct way to do it
Pruning lavender is key to ensuring it produces an abundance of flowers, according to an expert who has shared when and how to do it properly to help it flourish Lavender, with its enchanting scent and pleasing aesthetics, is a favoured choice for gardeners, mainly due to the minimal maintenance it requires. However, understanding when to prune this herbaceous plant is vital. Pruning lavender should ideally be done in late summer or early autumn as the blooming period ends, but there's still time to trim now in May before the flowering season sets in. Michael Griffiths, known as The Mediterranean Gardener to his online followers, advised: "If you missed pruning your lavender in late summer or it is looking untidy or has frost damage, now in mid to late spring when the new growth appears is the perfect time to prune." READ MORE: Beauty buffs find 'genius' way to make fake tan last longer - it sells every 20 seconds Keeping on top of pruning is critical if you've previously neglected this task, as failure to do so yearly can lead to a woody or spindly plant that won't yield an abundance of blossoms. Michael remarked: "No one wants lavender that becomes leggy or twiggy because you didn't prune it in the right way at the right time." How to prune lavender Effectively pruning lavender can be straightforward and swift provided you have a sharp and sterile cutting instrument, and you are careful not to shorten more than two-thirds of the plant, which could hinder its ability to re-grow. Michael instructed: "You can prune lavender as hard as you like, as long as you are not cutting into old wood and leave some new growth beneath the cutting point." He stressed the importance of avoiding cuts too deep into the plant's old wood - the thicker, older stems - as this could cause damage. Old wood tends to blossom less but provides essential structure to the lavender plant, and trimming it could cause undue stress, significantly weakening the shrub. Such action might even prevent your lavender from flowering again or, worse, result in the plant dying, reports the Express. Gardening expert Michael has shared a simple way to identify the old wood: look for "this brown stuff down here with this almost white foliage" In contrast, the new growth, which is safe to cut, appears "bright green." Michael advised: "I don't want to prune down here [on the old wood] at all, I don't want to touch any of this stuff, I want to come up here and I want to be just above the old wood so I'm gonna take that to just there." He warns: "If you do cut down into old wood, that area may not regrow and you could lose the plant so if in doubt, stay above that new growth." For the ideal trim, snip the stem two to three inches above the old wood and into the leafy segment of the new sprouts. To shape the lavender, clip the outer stems slightly shorter than those at the center, forming a dome-like appearance. Eliminate dead or damaged branches to ensure your lavender bursts into a magnificent display come summer. Finishing off, Michael remarked: "Pruning in spring will delay flowering slightly, but in the end, you're gonna get a better-shaped bush that will last longer."
Daily Mirror
23-04-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
'Common' lawn mistake could damage your grass and ruin your garden
Michael Griffiths, who boasts over 4 million followers on social media, has shared a common lawn mowing mistake that people make - and how it could damage your grass It's that time of year when those with a passion for gardening are itching to rev up their trusty lawn mowers - but a word of warning comes from one garden pro who warns that an overzealous trim could harm your turf. A recent study pinpointed March as the month most Brits embark on the inaugural grass trim of the year, gearing up for the warmer months. But for those who haven't yet dusted off the mower, gardening expert Michael Griffiths is advising against "scalping" your grass to ensure a green lawn come summertime. Scalping the lawn, a technique aimed at spurring growth by cutting the grass very short, clears away dead grass, thatch and debris while allowing the soil to heat up more quickly. It typically involves setting the mower to its lowest notch, but Michael warns that scalping in April could leave your lawn vulnerable to drought and weeds. On TikTok, where he posts as @themediterraneangardener, the lawn expert warned: "Spring's here, but don't start scalping your lawn. Try to keep your grass the same height throughout spring and avoid mowing it too short as that can make it more susceptible to drought and weeds, and moss can take hold." He further advised that the sweet spot for most lawns is about 4cm high, while areas in the shade should be kept slightly longer, between 1-2cm higher. You can tweak your mower settings accordingly, but Michael recommends holding off on mowing new lawns until the grass reaches at least 5cm in height. The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) advises that grass should be maintained at about 4cm tall during spring, autumn, and winter, while in the summer it's best kept at around 2.5cm. For those with finer lawns, the RHS suggests keeping the grass even shorter, between six to 13mm. A gardening expert has recommended that it's time to put away your autumn lawn feed, which is high in phosphates, and switch to a nitrogen-rich lawn feed to encourage top growth. According to Lawn Solutions Australia, nitrogen is crucial for vibrant green grass as it aids in the "formation of proteins that the cells within the grass need to grow". Michael, another gardening aficionado, shared additional essential tasks for spring, such as feeding and pruning roses to ensure "better blooms", transplanting forced blooms into garden borders, potting lilies and other summer-flowering bulbs, and tackling weeds before they become established. His followers were quick to engage with his lawn care tips, with one commenting: "Just saw a guy with a nice lush lawn with some good growth absolutely sculpting it to the ground, his mower was struggling. I was wincing." Michael replied, warning: "Eeeshh - not good. Really common though." Another follower chimed in with their own advice, cautioning: "Don't go too high in nitrogen though as you'll promote thatch build up. Also a bit of iron to kill off any moss and a light scarify."
