Winter

Here we are in Winter.  Its nice to snuggle up in the doona at night.  I've relations and friends in Queensland who love the fact that its over 25 each day.  I've never thought I could do this.  You need that break.  Not that, I'm not glad Queensland is there, to have a break from Melbourne, but I like Victoria and the saying that four seasons in one day = Melbourne.  So true! The plants gets a breather to.  They're allowed to go into dormancy for a few months. Everything slows down. There's always prunin to be done.  Of course rose pruning is a huuuuge task in Winter and I don't know about anyone else but at the statt of every rose pruning season, I'm always a bit unsure. Mid season, I'm back at being an expert and the. By the end of it, I'm so over it! This year, however, I haven't done any rose pruning thus far - whaaaaat? Quite bizarre I know, but I suspect I'll be starting next week! 

The other thing about winter is illness and we've been a bit unlicky this year. I've had a peristant cold which does not want to leave! My husband has been battling tonselitis on and off and our son has been battling chest infections and brochitus! This year seems to be worse than last year anyway, keep rughed up people and stay healthy. 

Eremophilas

I've become quite excited about this genus. Not really knowing too much about them. I've just finished an assignment on them for uni & they are a very adaptable plant. I've had experience with Myoporum sp. primarily working in a native nursery, I came to realise that Myoporum parvofolium is a stunning example of what native plants can do in our Australian bush and be crossed over into a very innovative plant for the landscape. They are originally from WA so like hot dry climates but they do surprisingly well in our colder climate in Victoria. Eremophilas are also quite adaptable plants especially species which are grafted on Myoporum stock. There are some beautiful flowers of the Emu bush, my favourite, which is just esquisite is Eremophila albieta, gorgeous species. I hope they become more prevalent in the Victorian landscape. 

Unseasonably hot!

Melbourne has been having off the record hot spells. Skeptics of climate change could say that this happens every few decades and yes it does but the temperatures as a whole (not just the hot spells but over the year - in different seasons) are getting warmer. This is not a post about climate change but one about getting through this hot weather. I (foolishly) sowed some seeds a few weeks ago and they are actually (thus far) surviving. One could say - thank God for the change in water restrictions or they definitely would not have survived. I am quite annoyed that our water restrictions were changed though. It doesn't hurt anyone and I'm sure everyone survived! As the driest continent in the world, we still need to look after our water! Anyway, lets not get side-tracked again! :)
As well as the plants struggling, the humans are too. Definitely seeing more grumpy people and kiddies! My 18 month copes but like the rest of us can't sleep and that makes one grumpy little boy! He is drinking lots of water though and so is the plants.

Happy Australia Day

Happy Australia Day!  Its the 26th January.  I'm home alone this Australia day.  Husband's gone to work.  One job during the day, another at night.  So, I have my son and Triple J's hottest 100 for company.  Its the first time I've had to censor the hottest 100.  :)  It is also the first time in a long time, I forgot about the hottest 100 and thus didn't vote.  We're up to 95 and I haven't known a song. 

Anyway, this is not talking about plants.  We have more tomatoes ripening on the bushes, which of course has been because of this awesome weather.  Hot and humid PLUS rain.  Seems a bit ludicrous for me to be excited about the heat especially since we've had some awful fires around the country.  Ironically, Brisbane are on high alert for floods.  This country of ours, would we live any where else? Yes, we have no wars, but in a way we do, with mother earth.  Being the driest continent on the globe, it astounds me that our water restrictions were weakened at the end of the last year.  We all got used to it, so why should we be back to being able to water the concrete?  Ahh...don't get me started.

My natives are going strong, with my Crowea saligna at any minute bloom!  Very exciting!  My Crowea exalata has been flowering for a few months now and still looking lush and fabulous.  I have an Isopogon sp. which unfortunately got hit by the really hot day and hasn't really recovered.  I've cut it back and watered it and hopefully it will sprout once more.  I have an Anigozanthos flavidos which I've placed into a hanging basket and loves it.  The Hibbertia obtusifolia also likes it high altitudes in a basket too.And I have few different varieties of Eremophilas around the place.  I did have some cuttings of Prostanthera rotundifoliai  and they did strike but then they died soon afterwards.  Not sure what happened there.  I think they dried out too much.

Frustration

As a gardener, the most frustrating job is the one where you can't ever seem to get ahead. It doesn't help when the client only wants to see you every other month AND you only have four hours to get everything done. Also doesn't help if they have a very weedy garden. So you spend most of your time weeding and not doing actual gardening. Very frustrating! The client usually has no concept on time and what has to be done especially in different seasons. We understand don't we that there's more to do in Autumn (especially if you're in a deciduous zone) than Winter or Summer & in Spring, its just nuts! But some people who are horticulture illiterate have absolutely no concept of this at all! Also weather has its own dilemmas. You don't get as much done in the 30 + days and obviously in the rain. If its pouring, no work (should) can be done! Although every worker is different. Enjoy the frustration peoples! :)