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! :)

Happy new year!

I hope everyone had a fabulous new year and didn't get too drunk.  For someone who doesn't drink (anymore), its always nice to know that I may be one of the only ones without a hangover on new years day.  Did that sound sadistic? Every day, my son and I wonder outside.  He loves it.  I do believe he's like his mum, needing the fresh air.  He was, of course tentative at first, to crawl - new textures of grass and concrete.  Now, he loves it.  He loves helping me pull the leaves out of the pots.  Getting his hands dirty.  He feels the different leaves and is gentle when I tell him to be.  Doesn't mind the sun but doesn't really like wearing his hat.  As well as the different tactile experience, he likes being carried around the garden.  We noticed yesterday that the cliveas are about to flower - excellent!  They survived after I divided them a few months ago.  Our cinnamon pelagonium is also flowering.  We have many flowers and some fruit on the tomato bushes.  Its very exciting.  My husband planted a passion fruit a few months ago and its starting to go nuts too.  (Not literally, because that would be odd.  And imagine that fabulous mutant plant - passion fruit/nut!  Love it!!)

It will be a nice 24 degrees today, hotting up over the next few days.  I do hope this year will be more exciting than last year.  Lets hear it for 2013! :)

December including Christmas

What’s your favourite thing about this time of year?  The artificial lights on houses?  The random acts of kindness by individuals.  The very bizarre but completely normal Melbourne weather.  Wondering whether one will need an umbrella or sunscreen?  I love it all.  I am not a very religious person, but I see Christmas as a fabulous time around family.  As our family is expanding, the better Christmas gets.  At the moment, the weather is very odd.  I have vegies that have gone to seed way too early.  I also have fruiting tomatoes already.  It sure is a magical time to be in the garden.  This humidity is doing wonders for everything.  The rain and dry days too.  To reflect back on the year its been amazing.  I have orchids that have flowered for the first time.  I have Cliveas who have flowered twice.  The roses are just beautiful this year.  I believe the aphids have been less.  Everything seems more green.  All the different types of green...its just wonderful.  It still amazes me that some people would rather concrete in their backyards than the myriad shades of green.  Then we have the mixes that defy fashion.  An example: Chorizema cordatum, a beautiful plant which is pink and orange and is exquisite, however on the cat walk, a scary thought! I am not a huge fan of the colour pink however Croweas are known in their pink form.  Deep red bottlebrush are wonderful.  Lilac irises are startling.  I have a Hibbertia obtusifolia in a hanging basket and it is flowering at the moment.  People say that natives are boring have not really had a good look at the spectacular views in the bush.  For the moment, I am just in awe of the outside world.  Whether it be a flower, an insect or grass, it is great to be welcomed outside.  We are so lucky to have a garden and to be gardeners.  Merry Christmas and have a happy new year!