Alyogyne huegelii

Alyogyne huegelii

Alyogyne huegelii, native hibiscus is tolerant to a most conditions.  It has beautiful deep lilac flowers, looking like Hibiscus flowers, hence why it is known as the native Hibiscus.  It is also known as Hibiscus huegelii. It is from the family Malvaceae. It grows very quickly.  It will get quite leggy if not pruned back. It flowers between late spring and early summer.   After flowering has stopped, this is a good time to give it a hard prune.  It has hairy foliage and grows well from cuttings.  It's purple flowers will be a talking point to all.

Herbs

Who grows herbs?  There is a myriad of ways to grow herbs.  In containers, in designated herb gardens, in the general garden, dotted through the garden.  In hanging baskets.  All of the above.  I'm smiling as I write this, because I love herbs.  I love using fresh herbs in cooking.  I love having some fresh herbs in a glass of water on my kitchen window ledge.  I would love to have a designated herb garden, but I do not.  I started to, when I first moved in, but its very shady and other than chives, rosemary, mint and oregano, nothing else grew.   I have parsley, perennial basil, mint, oregano, sage, coriander and thyme in pots.  I have oregano dotted through the garden beds as I adore the smell.  I also have a trial of thyme and parsley through out the garden beds as well.  I enjoy traditional gardens, but I also enjoy a variety of plant species in one space as it give the senses a blast.  Differing smells and sights are a visual and aromatic pleasure.  In this world of different tastes, its not suprising that there are more and more interest in the sensory gardens.  Childrens' gardens are great for this, as well as hospital gardens and places.  Spaces which are welcoming to all.  From the very young to the very old.  This can also be great for people with disabilities.  Back to my herbs, I've since come to my realisation, that thyme does not like wet feet.  Coriander, however, is water hungry.  Placing them in the same pot, was not a good idea.  The thyme has been repotted else where.  The coriander, in the self-watering pot, is going well.  Its one of my most favourite herbs, but I find it difficult to grow.  I remember seeing it grow in a crack in a footpath once and it thrived.  Mine, in a pot, fed with seasol, does struggles.  The sage has died back at the moment, but it tends to struggle too.  As with most things, I believe it it trial and error with herb planting.  

Origanum vulgare

Petroselinum crispum

Mentha sachalinensis

Rosmarinus officinalis

Frosts

This Winter has been cold.  The past few winters have seemed quite mild in comparison.  I work outside, I know how to layer, its one of those fashion statements that all gardeners/horticulturalists understand.  This year, the beanie and finger-less gloves have been mandatory.  The flannelette shirts have become a part of the seasonal uniform.  Even doubling up on socks have been needed.  Then of course, there is a frosts.  I can't remember frosts being as prevalent as this winter.  My seedlings have thankfully been protected so I haven't lost any of them.  Plectranthus is sensitive to frost.  I have three different species of this genus: Plectranthus argentatus, Plectranthus forsteri and Plectranthus "Mona Lavender".

The Mona Lavender doesn't like the winter full stop.  I have noticed that around this time each year, this Plectranthus struggles.  It is semi protected from our veranda, but it seems its not protected enough.  The Plectranthus forsteri is doing quite well.  Although, this too can be sensitive to frosts unless under-planted, these are dotted around the back yard and haven't been knocked around at all.  Plectrantus argentatus is struggling. The foliage looks like they have been sucked dry.  I do hope they come back.  I think I will have to cut them all back when it warms up a bit.  Next winter, I will them back prior to winter, to give them more of a chance.

The other plant which has been struggling is my Fuchsia 'Thalia'.  I have had it in a pot other years.  Perhaps I should have kept it in a pot.

When I worked in a native nursery, we had a frost section, which would be covered in the wintered days. Some that I remember are Lechenaultia biloba, Eutaxia cuneata  and Gastrolobium minus.

Plectranthus argententatus after and before the frosts

Fuchsia 'thalia' after and before frosts

Winter 2015

Start of Winter and it seems colder than last year.  I don't know, maybe its because I'm in it more this year.  The end of Autumn saw me falling off a ladder.  Something I hadn't (weirdly) planned to do, but it still happened.  Luckily, I wasn't too badly hurt.  I ended up on my foot and damaged ligaments.  It hurt A LOT!  I am ok now. I garden, so I need my feet.  I like how the doctor says "Keep off it as much as you can"  People assume that I sit behind a desk all day.  The great out doors is my office and although I wouldn't change this, sometimes it can be detrimental to your health!  Anyway, I digress...
Winter!  Cold and rainy.  Cold mornings, but still dry.  We're not getting enough rain to really penetrate the roots.  So, I am still hand watering - not as much, but a bit.  So how many people have been doing cuttings?  I did some Acacia cultriformus prostrate cuttings the other day.  I tried this another time, but they died straight away.  My little seedlings are doing well.

My seedlings

Of course, being winter, not much is happening.  However, they all seem to be alive, so that's great.  We've also been getting some interesting plants come up.  For instance, below our stairs, where there is nothing, just dirt and a drain, there is some potatoes growing.  They just popped up one day.  This same place a few seasons ago, we had tomatoes spring up.  Perhaps its just a magic food bed!  I am growing brussel sprouts at the moment, and Kale.  I like kale.  Its very easy to grow.  The in thing at the moment, is to make Kale chips.  I make mine with olive oil, vinegar and salt.  Yum!  My sister makes hers with chili.  That would be nice too.  I'm looking forward for my crop of potatoes.  I love potatoes.  Its so easy to stay indoors on these cold days, but the garden still needs some care.  Weeds still come, especially after the rain.  Plants needs to be pruned and trimmed.  Rose pruning is also one of those chores which has to be done, but done well.  Its not too hard, but people still seem to do it wrong.  For people who have roses and don't know how to prune correctly, they should really get someone who knows what they're doing.  Next post will possibly be able rose pruning. Enjoy the season.

Summer Rain

Do you remember Belinda Charlisle's hit "Summer Rain"?  I loved that song.  I also might be showing my age...I'll admit it, I turned 40 last week! 40 and fabulous.  I received two beautiful bouquets of native flowers which are still going strong.  I love the fact that these are lasting so long. They're both quite large bouquets so I had to go and buy two new largish vases.  All I can is, thank Goodness for Savers.  :) My wedding bouquet was natives and I like that these were natives too.  Obviously from people who know me quite well!  
Its been quite hot over the last couple of days.  My son and I have been subjected to inside activities. Its hard, when a small person has pent up energy and just wants to go outside.  So I decided we should out go for a bit.  Look for some worms.  We ended up very dirty but isn't that the whole idea? Of course there was no worms, too hot for them, but it was fun looking.  :)  It bucketed down for about five minutes.  A lot of noise - thunder - for nothing, really.  Oh this weather is crappy at the moment. We're sliding back into drought territory...some parts of Australia are already there.  I find interesting that there is no flutter of talk about this...anyway. Although, as our Government stands at the moment, it really doesn't surprise me...(Lets not get into rant territory about the Government Dani!)

We have been getting huge thunderstorms.  I say huge, because the noise has been huge, yet the rain hasn't been anything spectacular.  The small four-legged feline does not like the thunder.  However the three year old loves it! The garden knows when its rained though.  The garden doesn't thrive as well after a good watering as it does after the rain.  The smell, it just oozes yumminess for the plants.  You can almost hear them sigh with relief.  Its nearing the end of February and we haven't had too many 40+ days.  I wonder if that's it for this season.  Anyway enjoy the Summer rains people.  I know I am...