Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Lions tail time again.

A stunning plant,
Hardy up here in the heat,
The flowers just last and last in the vase.
I snip off the leaves that grace the flower heads.
and the little top knot on top.

There is a white variety but I haven't propagated that one yet.
Orange is one of my favourite colours!
And you just can't rush these things.

This is last years Cherry Rudbekia Very close to the ground.
Wish I could show you what has happened this year but
I have temporarily lost my camera.
This year one of the plants would be 4ft tall with flowers coming,
Shame about the camera.
I do hope I did not put it down in the garden somewhere.....
Just cant remember,
there is a vague recollection of it pulling on my shorts that the waist was too big ....
Has anyone listened to the ABC radio interview?

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Comfrey in flower

I was delighted to notice my Comfrey was flowering.
I have it planted at the end of my potting bench and in theory it gets watered from the run off from the seedlings on the potting bench.

It must be working as the plant is quite large and flowering.
I use the leaves as a compost booster.

Known also as bone knit, Comfrey used to be used for assisting the healing of broken bones.
These days it is not recommended for internal use.

I am hoping to collect the seed for replanting.
Another herb that is in flower down there at my work station at the moment....
Nigella
It's common name is "Love in the mist"
It self seeds and produces lots of flowers....which turn into the most interesting seed pods.
It is a true blue colour, and not a purple that gardeners refer to as blue.
(That used to frustrate me but I seem used to the strange reference to blue when it is clearly purple.)
Some fade to white and some are white from the get go.

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Fresh Garlic

I couldn't resist picking some of the garlic.
The saying goes that you "plant it at Easter and pick it on Boxing day"
I planted mine before Easter this year as it was a really late Easter,

and for a variety of reasons I picked some on the weekend, (mid November).
If it dies down and I don't pick it, I can't find it until it re shoots.
Some of these small ones were dying down and I risked losing them.
I am excited by the size of some of the cloves....This is a $2 garlic for sure!
There will be plenty for selling, replanting,eating and some left over for bug spray.
It pays to leave them out in the sun for a day or two so the skins dry out and it is easy to rub off the dirt, leaving them white for the market....with a touch of purple.
The smell is beautiful.

This is my husbands favourite tree, its a Grevillia
Flowering at the moment, it is a riot of colour....orange and yellow.
I noticed this when I was out at the Grevillia, a water lilly

Its a shame we have to be so water safe with a grill over the pond
I does spoil the look but protects the plants from my water loving dogs.