August 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere

[fermi de Sousa]

Thanks for posting a nice pic of the garden, Jacqui!
Here's a close-up of the bed in the foreground - mostly daffodils from Canberra
We had 29 visitors to the garden yesterday - not a huge number, but considering some had travelled 3 hours we were quite pleased to see so many.
The weather was kind to us, not too cold and not wet - though we could do with the rain!
cheers
fermi

[Maggi Young]

For women, the pensionable age (for state pension) has increased from 60 (it's currently 63, I think) and for both men and women it will be 65 by November 2018; 66 in 2020 and 68 after that. It is currently £115.95 a week.

I'm 62 years old -  the pension age  in the UK has, as Anthony said, been being stretched out for some time now - I will get my  pension in November 2017, when I will be past 64.    #sigh#

[Mini-daffs]

 
Hi
Fermi, we have lots of things that are more than suitable for rock gardens here in Canberra that would greatly appreciate a trip south! You could also have a special split cup and double section for Lesley!!

[melager]

Yes I saw part of your order at Hokonui last week Lesley    .Lou, always the sales person, suggested I purchase another couple of plants to top your order however I was already at my max    ....... Superannuation must pay well !.

It would be terrific if an article/s on alpines/small bulbs appeared in the NZ Gardener especially with a mention within of the local alpine garden clubs around.

Here's a potful of Iris winogradowii , 8 blooms with 1 yet to open. Rescued from the garden a few years back where it had declined, if I remember correctly, to a couple of bulbs .Enough in numbers now to try it again elsewhere in the garden proper.       

Stunning iris Dave, have not had tgat for years, one of the many stunners I gave away when not well, but fun to start again collecting, I did a biggish order as well frkm Hokanui and away tgere in a few weeks to add to it hopfully
Had a fantastic time at Leslies getting some super wee treasures

[Lesley Cox]

For women, the pensionable age (for state pension) has increased from 60 (it's currently 63, I think) and for both men and women it will be 65 by November 2018; 66 in 2020 and 68 after that. It is currently £115.95 a week.

At present exchange rates Anthony, it's about that amount per fortnight, a bit more if living alone. A couple doesn't get twice what a solo person gets.

While our largest opposition party is talking about extending eligibility for state pensions to 67 (for both sexes) our current PM (ever mindful of next election's votes) is against that. What would make a real difference to better government in this country is a four or even five year term of office. Three years leaves all politicians afraid to make hard decisions no matter how right they would be for the country.

[Lesley Cox]

Fermi, thanks for your PM, a quick reply sent off. Could you split your trip and be here also for Oct 3/4 for OAGG SHOW!!! then again for the 15th ?

[David Lyttle]

Thanks Marcus and Jaqui for your comments and pictures. Interesting to see the white-flowered form of Primula vulgaris grown from wild collected seed. I was under the impression that most wild primroses were cream or yellow.

[vivienne Condon]

I loved seeing your Iris winogradowii Dave seldom seen here in Australia now.
Marcus Crocus olivieri ssp balansae from 2010 lovely wide striped leaves and seems a strong grower, I think this is one of your collections from Greece?

[ashley]

Also, congratulations on your potential fame and fortune as a garden correspondent.

Well we can all claim we knew and appreciated her before the elevation
All the best with it Lesley - just don't do a Miley Cyrus on us will you?

[Anthony Darby]

Well we can all claim we knew and appreciated her before the elevation
All the best with it Lesley - just don't do a Miley Cyrus on us will you?

Winter going out with a blast. Driving rain tonight. First day of spring tomorrow. Oaks already in leaf. Anyone around the Med able to collect me some Kermes acorns?

[Jupiter]

My Tropaeolum tricolor(tricolorum) are starting to get going here with the warmer spring weather we've been having. It was 19°C yesterday and they are forecasting 20°C for today, ahead of a stormy change tomorrow.



The garden is changing so fast now. Every night I come home from work and it place looks different. The speed of change is quite amazing.

Jacqui I picked up Helleborus niger locally at a nursery here called Tupello grove. Ian Powell, the nurseryman there has a good selection of hellebores and other interesting woodlanders. He carries a good selection of Epimedium too... but I've had mixed success with those so far. I'm learning how to grow them.

Here are some pictures of the new limestone beds for oncocyclus irises! I've worked on the area over the past couple of weekends and it's coming along well I think...

[Lesley Cox]

Thanks so much Ashley. May turn out to be a fizzer. The Editor lady was going to email me when back in her office Monday. No word yet though. Fingers crossed.

[Parsla]

Gosh, Jamus, is your back aching? Looks great though.

For the uninitiated (me), how far down do the pebbles go and what is the composition beneath?

Jacqui.

[Hillview croconut]

Hi Viv, yes the crocus comes from Greece. The Aegean Islands top be more precise and I think it might be found on the Turkisk coast. If it's from me then it will be from Samos

David,, my camera work might have misled you.  My primula is in fact a pale cream. I did find a colony of pale blue ones up near the Bulgarian border once but I can't locate them again. John Richsrds, in book, Flowery Walks on the Greek Mainland writes of pink flowers around Mt Vermion and Tria Pigada but all the plants I have grown from there have been stock standard cream and pale yellow.

Jamus, what a marvellous effort.  And all those oncos, wow! Can't wait to see the flowers.

No warm weather here,  just the same old icebox conditions. Did I mention it's officially the coldest winter for fifty years?

Cheers,  M

[Jupiter]

Jacqui - the pebble mulch is quite deep, an inch to a couple of inches. Beneath is a mix of my own invention. 3 parts fine quartz gravel, 2 parts sharp sand, 2 parts crushed limestone rock, 1 part sandy loam and one part fine dolomite rock. Added a little FCRD (Fisher creek rock dust, and builders lime). The pH is around 7.5 and its water holding capacity is only 10%. Sounds a bit technical, I'm sorry but that's my style I guess.

Back isn't sore. I am quite physical and quite used to this kind of work. Shoveled probably a ton of gravel and sand on the weekend. I feel great! (I'm only 41, still a young pup).