January 2013 in the Southern Hemisphere

[Hillview croconut]

I finally met Marcus and Susan in Hobart on Wednesday evening when my hosts and two other Heritage Rose Execs met for dinner at a riverside restaurant.
It was a lovely evening and to finally meet face to face

Lovely to finally meet you too Pat

Cheers, Marcus

[Mini bulb lover]

Anthony - Dioressence rose is distributed through Rankins Roses here in Australia. They are known for their French roses (they are the sole distributor for some of them here). Dioressence is inspired by the Christian Dior perfume of the same name. http://www.rankinsroses.com.au/shop/Delbard-French-Roses/Dioressence-1.aspx

I have Dioressence and a couple of their other roses. "Hommage a Barbara" is unlike any other rose I grow. It is covered in flowers from top to bottom en masse and is a very strong performer, even through very hot weather. It grows into a neat rounded shrub (1.2 metres). It doesn't make a good cut flower but when in flower it looks like a bouquet of flowers growing in your garden. "Red Intuition" makes a beautiful long stemmed cut flower. It won the International Cut Flower of the Year in 2000.

[Anthony Darby]

It's lovely. I prefer scented roses.

[Hillview croconut]

Hi Folks,

A reptilian visitor to my nursery - not the snakey type luckily. Been feasting on dropping plums ... looks quite fat ... maybe pregnant.

Its an Eastern Blue Tongue Lizard - sometimes known as a stumpy tailed blue tongue.

Cheers, Marcus

[Lesley Cox]

Looks very nice Marcus. I bet Anthony would like some of those.

At the NZAGS Study Weekend starting Friday at Lincoln Uni, we have plant sales for a short period on the Sunday morning. I'm taking up some plants and also some dormant bulbs/corms including 2 Chocolate Soldiers. It has done so well here. The minimus Bavella Form also. So many thanks to you.

[Hillview croconut]

Wow Lesley! Thats impressive - I haven't even listed Crocus minimus Bavella Form yet. Should have maybe auctioned them?
I did have a lovely pot full of Crocus chrysanthus Sunspot but I think something untoward has happened to them. I'll look when I am stronger

Did you ever get that white form of Crocus longiflorus from me?

Hope it all goes well over there.

Cheers, Marcus

[arillady]

Had to take a photo of this stumpy too yesterday. Certainly had plenty of fat in its tail and  looked very pregnant.
Also I thought these seedpods of a local bulb whose name is not coming at present were interesting with their pink tips.
Now to find the photo of this bulb.
Burchardia umbellata

[fermi de Sousa]

Nice seed pods, Pat, they almost look like allium pods!
We bought this water-plant for our new water-pot,
Nymphoides crenata - a native plant
And in the shade house once again the blue Campanula isophylla has come into flower - this one is a seedling which came up in another pot on the other side of the aisle from the parent plant!
cheers
fermi

[fermi de Sousa]

These liliums have finished now but were out about a week ago

Lesley Woodriff
Pappo's Beauty

Off to NZ in the morning so will probably "log in" while there!
cheers
fermi

[ranunculus]

Super shots, Fermi.  Enjoy the conference and please pass on our very best wishes to all the lucky delegates.

[Hillview croconut]

Hi Pat,

Your Blue Tongue looks the more westerly occuring species commonly known as a Shingleback.

Cheers, Marcus

[arillady]

Yes Marcus - we also have the smooth skinned version too with the long tail - blue tongue.
Must try to get a photo of it too when I see it next.

[Anthony Darby]

Love the shingleback. I have a pet blue tongued skink. He loves snails and banana, but I give him baby fruit desert too.