Thursday 29 July 2010

Monday 26 July 2010

My modest greenhouse;

All the cuttings are kept in this small greenhouse until they show healthy signs of growth.


There are mainly cuttings of Roses and Salvias, a pot full of special palm seeds and one pot I can't remember what sort of seeds I planted, so I have to wait and see! The clever thing to do would be writing a tag, sometimes I do. I said I will remember but now I don't! Ca c'est comme ca!
Cuttings of a tropical Salvia with big pink flowers and tall, weeping growth. They are ready to be planted out. My neighbour Virginia loves plants as much as I do and we always share some special ones. This one is one of hers, in return I gave her some cuttings of my tall, yellow Salvia.


Salvias ready to harden off.


A lovely pink sunrise makes the day; I wish you a nice one.


Believe it or not:
Donald Duck's middle name is Fauntleroy.


All Photos from my garden; TS


Thursday 22 July 2010

SkyWatch Friday; New Zealand;







Driving around Waiheke Island this....


black cloud was following us all the way.



Looking over the water towards Auckland. The sky a beautiful silky blue with some fluffy clouds.

Flying home.... Looking over the pretty town of Davenport.

Please visit SkyWatch Friday.....click here

Monday 19 July 2010

Growing in the shade;




A pretty curly leafed fern. It grows with underground rhizomes.



Basket fern with new emerging leaves.


Staghorn fern growing on a palm.  The seed attaches  onto suitable, moist places


I like the friendly faces of busy Lizzy peeping from between other shade loving plants.


Fijian Harefoot fern;


Dark green and shiny Holly fern.


Staghorn fern.


Foot of the giant King fern with emerging leaf. The leaves can grow over 2 m long.



Rex Begonias thrive in half shade all year round.

Believe it or no:
In order to get power and retain it, it is necessary to love power; but love of power is not connected with goodness but with qualities that are the opposite of goodness, such as pride, cunning and cruelty.": Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoi - (1828-1910) Russian writer

Photos from my garden TS




Friday 16 July 2010

SkyWatch Friday; Reaching for the sky;



Congratulation to SkyWatch  Third Birthday.















Pyrostega, a spectacular climber has taken a tall gum as stairway to the sky; the colourful swags softly swinging from the branches. The deep orange flowers a perfect foil for the blue winter sky.

Click here to participate and enjoy SkyWatch Friday.

A big thank you to the ever helping SkyWatch team.

Tuesday 13 July 2010

The cool season;



Native Alexandra Palm, Archontophoenix alexandrea; the  leaves look lovely against the blue of the winter sky. The leaves are very attractive as the underside has a silvery sheen. The ripe red seeds look like a pretty necklace. I like everything about this palm as it also looks splendid when it flowers. Habitat central to northern Queensland.




Bougainvillea Pedro is a Bambino. From time to time Pedro throws out its arms covered in flowers, or actually colourful bracts as the real flowers are tiny, white and star like.From time to time I prune it severely to keep it in check.



I do like the foliage of Tibouchina urvilleana, it nearly flowers all year round but there is a short spell when one can admire the foliage because the big blue flowers always steal the show. The foliage is pleated, silvery hirsute.



I always admired and loved the  zonal geranium. This yellow  green one has reddish brown zones in the cool season. It also bears orange coloured flowers which look attractive with the yellow green leaves. This plant has hybridised and sports now pink flowers.

Crown of Thorns are easy and attractive plants to grow. This one has very big flowers and also lots of them. It flowers for most of the year. Just starting now again. Easily propagated from stem cuttings which have to be let to dry before planting, because they bleed a white milk.



My all time favourites in winter are the carnations. This kind is the only one which does really well in my area, especially planted  in pots and baskets. The scent is delightful.

Ardisia a fantastic plant; no diseases always looking spic and span. Very attractive with shiny and wavy  green  leaves and lustrous red berries (not edible).




In the cool season the roses rejoice from the summer's heat. This one is Pink Peace. In summer it hibernates barely able to produce a flower.

I hope you enjoyed my cool season's plant choice.


Believe it or not:
The nymph Chloris was persued by Zephyrus, the West Wind, who then violated her. To atone  his deed he married her and transformed her into Flora, Mistress of all the flowers.

Thursday 8 July 2010

SkyWatch Friday; Vertical;





Nature and Technology;

SkyWatch Friday  click here

To all participants happy  SkyWatch and thank you to the SkyWatch Team.

Sunday 4 July 2010

Marvellous Succulents;

Easy to grow, easy to please;


Echeveria Topsy Turvy;



Sedum adolphi;

Haworthia;

Grapoveria;

Echeveria glauca;
The flowers of the Donkey ear; Kalanchoe Gastonis Bonnieri;


Aloe




Believe it or not: Looking for me, follow this sign!




Happy gardening.

Photos from my garden TS.

Friday 2 July 2010

SkyWatch Friday; under a desert sky;


Coober Pedy, Outback Australia.


Click here for SkyWatch Friday and enjoy!

Thank you to the SkyWatch Team.