Natives

I started this blog in 2009 with a post called natives.  Fast forward 5 years and we're going to talk about natives again.  I have become better acquainted with the exotics and even have some favourites, but my first love will always be natives.  They are just so beautiful and unique.  They suit our arid conditions, including topography, climate and diversity.  It seems odd, as an Urban horticulturalist, that we don't plant more native species, as they are the ones that survive our harsh conditions.  Black Saturday proved that.  I have become a real fan of the paper daisy.  Its flowers are everlasting and even as they die, they still look wonderful.  They are the ultimate cut flower.  Of course, there is one species in this lot that you won't see in the same spot all the time, but he's a favourite Native to Australia as well.

Crowea exalata

Xerochrysum brachteatum

Tiliqua scincoides scincoides

Banksia blechnifolia

Adenanthos sericeus Cuttings

Correa 'Dusky Bells'

Eremophila maculata Purple

Banksia ericifolia 'red'

Callistemon viminalis

Anigozanthos flavidos 'Red'

Grevillea Royal Mantle

Banksia blechnifolia in flower!

End of Winter

It's been too long.  It's the second last day of winter. It was especially cold this winter. And there is a chance we could go back into a drought. The plants, as they have the last few years, have no idea what they're supposed to be doing. There have been roses refusing to die down. It's just one of those months, I guess.

Xerochrysum bracheatum syn Helychrysum bracheatum

What goes on now in your garden? This morning, I was trimming back.  An Eremophila and grevillea look a bit sick so instead of giving completely up on them, I decided to chop them back. Spring is coming so let's hope it brings some rain which will be fabulous for our plants. I planted some potatoes the other day - I hope I get a bumper crop this year! I can't get over this weather - quite beautiful! 

More Flowers

The dreariness of Winter makes me yearn for colour, I am sure I am not alone so I give you...some colourful flowers...

Dendrobium Orchid

Xerochrysum bracteatum

Clivea miniata

Crowea saligna

Aeonium ciliatum

Dendrobium

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Tagetes

Bulbs

I've never known much about bulbs.  Having a background in natives, its not really something I had come across.  However as I've grown through my love and admiration of all plants, I've also become aware of bulbs.  And over the years, I've plants quite a few different bulbs. The two I started with were Jonquils and daffodils.  Two very similar plants and very beautiful.

This year, as well as the jonquils and daffodils, I also plants Ranunculus, Grape Hyacinth and Freesias.  The Ranunculus and freesias have started showing themselves.  The hyacinths have not thus far.  I planted them to add a bit of colour this Winter.  However, the way our season are at the moment, who knows when they will come into bloom.

The other bulbs I planted were garlic bulbs.  I am looking forward to these as I am a huge fan of garlic.  Its one of those things that can make a dish.  I have to wait til the leaves die on the bulbs and then keep them dry and then harvest them. I tried onions last year, but I forgot about them and they ended up as mush.  :(

Cuttings #2

So,  how are my cuttings doing?  Thanks for asking! ;)

Fuchsia magellanica - Hummingbird Fuchsia - Doing really well.  I've two in one pot and I've just planted the third into a hanging basket by itself.  I have another fuchsia in a hanging pot and its thriving.  Its been there for about five years. Fuchsia's are just amazing plants.  They seem to grow very well from cuttings. 

Carpobrotus glaucesens - Pig Face
This is doing wonderful.  I just put it in the garden and its taken off. 

Carpobrotus edulis - Cape fig
Another amazing succulent.  Its seems not be as prevalent as the pig-face but is still quite healthy and robust in the garden.

Grevillea sp (unsure on the name)
The parent plant is about to flower in the pot which is exciting.  I am hoping, when it does flower, I might distinguish what species it is.  The cuttings are fair.  They have not died, but I am keeping a close eye on them.

Correa Dusky Bells
These are doing fabulously.  As I grew the parent plant from a cutting, it is not surprising.  What did surprise me, was that it flowered as a cutting.


Calothamnus quadrifidus
This is doing well.  I had two areas of cuttings here.  One in some water inside as a cut flower and the other, in cutting media.  The cuttings in the water have since died, but I was surprised how long they lasted.


Dampiera diversifolia
I have never had success with this.  Its a Western Australian plant, but I've been able to have success with other WA plants.  The cuttings are slowly dying although I haven't completely given up on them.  The parent plant is in the ground and looking like it too will die soon.


Prostanthera ovalifolia - Native Mint bush
These died unfortunately.  I really wanted these to work.


Vinca Major (reminds me of my Nanna's garden) - Bigleaf Periwinkle
Success!  Very excited about this.  Yeah, they're 

Hibiscus syracus - Rose Mallow

These died unfortunately.  I will have to try again.

Pittosporum tenufolium (for a client) - Silver Sheen

These died too.  I am not too heart broken about this one as I dislike pittos.

Dendrobium pieradii - Crucifix orchid 
This has struck!  Very excited about this!

Calendula officinalis - Pot Marigold
No surprises here, this struck very easily.

Crowea exalata - Small Crowea
Doing surprisingly well.

Pelagonium tomentosum  - Peppermint scented Pelagonium
Love this plant and it grows in the ground from a cutting

Plectranthus argentatus - Silver Spurflower
This also worked wonderfully as did the last plant...

Plectranthus hilladiae 'Mona Lavender' - Mona Lavender Plectranthus

Correa lawrenceana Tree Correa
These unfortunately didn't work.  The plants I harvested the cuttings from was an old specimen and beautiful.