February 2014 in the Southern Hemisphere

[johnralphcarpenter]

Perhaps a new topic; "wine"? And why not "Beer"? All made from plants!

[fermi de Sousa]

Perhaps a new topic; "wine"? And why not "Beer"? All made from plants!

"Plant based intoxicants"?
Followed up by warnings "Don't Drink and Dig"!
 
cheers
fermi

[Lesley Cox]

Fair enough Maggi.

Any starters Fermi or Ralph, for a new thread? Only those aged 18 or over need apply.

[Paul T]

Lesley, 21 in America!!

[Anthony Darby]

 

[Mini bulb lover]

In gardening news... 

Pelargonium benambra is a local Australian native that spreads via rhizomes. It originates from a sub-apline area here in Victoria.

I've grown Allium carinatum ssp. pulchellum for many years now. It multiplies well and lasts for weeks as a cut flower. I grow it between roses where it gets watered throughout summer. It responds well when I put some composted mulch around it in spring. It's difficult to photograph.

Not much in my garden has made it unscathed through the heatwave but this dwarf bougainvillea has thrived (which is to be expected). So has Echinops bannaticus ‘Blue Pearl’ which isn't as tall as other varieties (65cm).

Lastly, I had a visitor to my crab apple this week - a Crimson Rosella. While I often have Eastern Rosellas visit my garden it's rare to see this one here. You would think with their colouring that they'd be easy to spot but they're not when they're in tree canopies. You usually hear them before seeing them. They're hard to photograph because they don't usually let you get close.

[Mini bulb lover]

I went to pot on this Colchicum speciosum album that I've had in a pot undercover all summer but it had other plans. With another week until autumn arrives it's decided to flower. I guess I'll have to catch it earlier next year.

[Paul T]

Jon,

Lovely pics.  I think you could still get away with repotting the Colchicum.  Just be careful with the floral tube.  Depends how long it's been since you've repotted and how badly you think it needs it.  I love the Echinops.... I grow a couple of other ones to that.

[Lesley Cox]

I have a few colchicums in bloom too, and I had planned to plant them out but will wait until the flowers are passed. They'll have some root but not too much yet and the flowers will be past so not damaged. It must be the wet we've had recently, combined with some decent warmth at last. 36C in my potting shed the last 2 days and unbearable to work in. I went to visit Hokonui Alpines instead, with a couple of friends and had a truly wonderful but very expensive day. The 3 of us brought home 8!!!!! banana boxes and some supermarket bags of plants, in my case, 87 plants. This morning Roger asked me was I going outside to hide them from him but I said I'd already done that.

[Paul T]

You've trained him well by the sounds of it, Lesley. 

[Mini bulb lover]

Lesley - 87 plants! How does one go about hiding such a haul?

It never ceases to surprise me when autumn bulbs (or late summer in this case) suddenly spring to life. This is Rhodophiala bifida, front & side shots.

[Paul T]

Mine popped up last week after we got the first decent rain in months.  Both a red and a pink are in flower here at present.

[Anthony Darby]

I was looking at one at Terry Hatch's nursery (Joy Plants) this afternoon. Bought Haemanthus humilis (deep pink - in flower) and a huge Scilla natalensis instead.

[angie]

I was looking at one at Terry Hatch's nursery (Joy Plants) this afternoon. Bought Haemanthus humilis (deep pink - in flower) and a huge Scilla natalensisinstead.

Anthony must be so much fun buying these lovely bulbs, at least you don't have to worry about the rotting away. I really like my Haemanthus but have never managed to get my Scilla to flower. Look forward to see some pictures.

Angie 

[Anthony Darby]

Yes, the weather is certainly good at the moment. We had sports day last Friday. The forecast was rain - turned out very sunny and hot. Forecast on Saturday was rain. It rained for a couple of hours over breakfast (my son had to play his tennis matches inside at the Scarbro Tennis Centre) then sunny and very hot and humid with no wind. Sunday forecast was rain - nope, sunny and hot, but windy. Next rain forecast - Friday coming. We'll see. Still, hot to me is 27^oC, not the 40+ they get in Oz.