Category: gardening

Red Tulip

September 12, 2020

But I have always thought that these tulips must have had names. They were red, and orange and red, and red and orange and yellow, like the ember in a nursery fire of a winter’s evening. I remember them.
― Neil Gaiman,”Coraline”

Red tulips represent true love. Red evokes passion and romance.

For Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge.

Rock Lily

September 11, 2020

Rock lily (dendrobium speciosum ) is a small orchid native to Australia.

Photo from Carol Hall.

It is found growing on rocks in southern half of eastern coast. It flowers in spring with sprays of graceful blooms. This one originated from her mother in law and she had it for 40 years, growing in pots.

For Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge

More Paradise

September 11, 2020

Did you know that there are different colored bird of paradise plants?

This flower is also known as the crane flower because of its distinctive shape. Apparently there are 5 species of Strelitzia but I think I’ve only ever seen this one. I really want the white one, but they grow much, much larger. I read somewhere you have to wait for years for the plant to flower.

I tried to take some photos from more unconventional angles. From underneath….

and then there’s this one….

My ‘arty’ shot click here

The Colour of Tulips

September 4, 2020

Tulips are grow in almost every colour. Each colour symbolizes something different. Some are a single colour and some are multi coloured, sometimes with two colours on each petal. The generally symbolize perfect or deep love.

Odd facts about tulips

There are over 3000 varieties

They’re part of the lily family.

In the 1600s they were said to cost 10 times more than a working man’s average salary in the Netherlands, making them more expensive than some homes

Red tulips are the most popular.

This one lived up to expectations. It is pure white. It symbolizes foregiveness.

I wonder what colour this one will be.

For Cee Neuner’s FOTD Challenge

Looking around in Spring

September 3, 2020

The first tulip

In Australia they say to plants tulips around Mother’s Day. This year that was the 10th of May. It just so happens that this pots of tulips will probably be flowering perfectly on Father’s Day. Here that is September the 6th.

This tulip has just popped up. The timing is perfect. It’s the very start of Spring. I guess it has warmed up just enough.

and some blossom from the fruit tree

The fruit trees are also just starting to blossom. Every year it seems to me that just when the trees are at their showiest, it rains. For us that’s a blessing, but it always seems to knock the blossom off. Apparently we get most of our rain here in Spring, so that would explain it.

This is my peach tree.

Waiting for it to bloom.

September 2, 2020

My pink daphne ready to bloom in Spring.

Taken on my iphone SE (2nd gen) f/1.8 1/20 sec ISO 640

I took a few shots of this flower. Against the darker background the flower seems much more dramatic. With a white background the flower seems more delicate. I didn’t plan the shots, I was just experimenting. Next time I take a photo, it will be a much more conscious consideration.

The white background was taken indoors. I lit it up with my iphone. I am finally realising that it is worth the effort to get out the tripod to get a crisper photo! I’m still working on my focusing skills. I should have persevered and taken more.

Taken on my Canon EOS 600D 55 mm f/5.6 1/60 sec ISO 400

For Cee Neuner’s FOTD

Last day of winter

September 1, 2020

Busy, busy, busy.

How can I remember to label my seedlings? I’m not sure what these are. What’s worse is I have lots more of them, these are the left overs.

I vaguely remember saving one of my last tomatoes. They grew well and produced tomatoes over a very long season. I remember extracting the seeds and leaving them on kitchen paper to dry out by the sink. Then I forgot about them. When I found them they were dried up and I had little hope that they would grow. But, I scurried out to the glasshouse and dumped them on some seed raising mix. So, they may be tomatoes. But there’s a chance that I might have put some capsicum seeds in, so they might be peppers. I guess time will tell.

I’m trying to become more organised. I always think I’ll remember which are which, but I have resorted to labels.

This is my latest project. It was very overgrown and it was decided to plant a post amid the mess. The post is for another project. I decided to cut back some old lavender and daisies. I got carried away and now have some space for something new.

I finally found a purpose for these rusty old wheels. Hopefully the succulents will be able to withstand the summer hear. We’ll see.

I have some tiny hollyhocks growing in the glass house. I think I’ll run some string along between the two posts and plant them there. They should grow to be a tall backdrop.

Between starting to clean up the garden and finally getting back to it, soem Californian poppies have popped up, self sown. I’ll leave them there and see how invasive they are.