November 2016 in the Southern Hemisphere

[Robert]

Jamus,

The average rainfall totals for the Scott Creek Preserve are very similar to those we receive at the farm in our part of California. It is true that something can be found in bloom even in the summer and early autumn in our region, however the flowering season more of less shuts down in our parts during the summer. The trees and shrubs are finished and 95% of the xeric herbaceous species are dormant or have completely dried up. The native landscape is dry and golden brown except for the native trees and shrubs. It is very beautiful in the summer and autumn, but there is not much in bloom. The exceptions are some of the species that inhabit riparian habitats and the few xeric herbaceous species that bloom late in the season.

From the small sampling of beautiful plants depicted from your photographs, Australian native species most be widely incorporated into landscaping schemes in your area?

[Jupiter]

There has been a revolution in the use of natives in landscaping and they lots of gardens use Australian plants, some well, most badly. Our bushland is a tricky beast. I love it and have a deep connection with it from a lifetime of being taught about the plants by my parents. The difficulty is that it's an uncomfortable place for people... we have a lot of ants which play a crucial role in the balance, many of them stinging and extremely aggressive. The habitat is centered around the Eucalyptus which shed all their bark, covering the ground with litter. This forms a home for ants, lizards, scorpions, snakes and spiders. Successfully using the indigenous flora in the garden would be inviting all these creatures in and making a home for them. For that reason I like to visit the bush, but live apart from it. I hope that makes sense.

Even taking photos like the ones I posted above required observing carefully for the biters before getting down, especially the Myrmecia sp. Standing on a nest could be very painful and even life threatening! The whole time walking you are aware of snakes, particularly the Eastern brown which is extremely venomous and common here. They are a pale brown in this area and blend very well into the terrain.

[Robert]

..... I hope that makes sense.

Ah, yes this makes sense. Certainly a few of the local native species must be amendable to the garden? Maybe one needs to choose intelligently.

I guess every place has there "nasties" lurking out in the bush. Some folks saw two mountain lions swimming, yes swimming, across Shasta Reservoir today. Bears, scorpions, rattlesnakes, raptors, bobcats, what else... now the return of wolves to California            they all seem to live in Eden with us. In California they all seem to stay out of the way of humans. They very rarely cause harm and are wonderful to see in their native habitat.

Thank you so much for the information. 

[Lesley Cox]

Last night here in Dunedin the Otago Alpine Garden Group had the privilege and great pleasure of hosting the wonderful Panayoti Kelaidis and Jan his partner, from Denver, Colorado. They are a charming and amusing couple, fitting right in with us and we'd be very happy if they decided to stay (which they may do for the next 4 years anyway!).

Panayoti spoke about "The Hardy Gems of South Africa" and while we knew and grew a handful of these, most were unknown so the presentation went down very well and we learned a lot and have many plants added to our "wants" lists. For me, one of the stars was the genus Delosperma. Being snobby, I had looked on this genus as "just ice plants," and had ignored the few on offer in NZ but now see them from a different point of view so will search actively for those we have here.

It was nice to be recognized as soon as my name was mentioned ("Oh you do exist other than in cyberspace" ) and to be firmly hugged.

[Jupiter]

Lucky you meeting Panayoti and getting to hear him speak on rare plants Lesley. I was in communication with him about the genus Pteracephalus, of which I would love to import a couple of choice rock garden species from America, but they are tricky from seed apparently.

Here are a few things from my rock garden this morning.

[Jupiter]

and a few more...

[Jupiter]

Campanula bellidifolia is back again, one flower out today and a couple more to come.

[Jupiter]

Isabel and I made a video of the garden this morning. It's not up to Ian's standard and it's very shaky, but not too bad. I am really not used to talking to a camera, so please excuse my awkward dialogue and the occasional trip up over names. I know what they are called! Honest I do     

https://player.vimeo.com/video/192301474

[Matt T]

Thanks for the tour of your garden, Jamus. It's stunning. Nice to see Isabel takes such an interest too.

[Jupiter]

Thanks Matt, very kind of you. Yes Isabel is very knowledgeable about plants... but mostly through osmosis!

[Maggi Young]

Osmosis is as good a way to learn as any, I reckon. I'm a big Isabel fan!!
 Lovely garden - I like the steps with their gravel patches and plantings, leading into larger areas.

[Tasmanian Taffy]

Hi Jamus, Love your garden. You are only a hop step and jump away from my place can you slip over and sort mine out for me, lol
The frit's I promised you are just about ready to send over to you.
Cheers John.

[Leucogenes]

Lucky you meeting Panayoti and getting to hear him speak on rare plants Lesley. I was in communication with him about the genus Pteracephalus, of which I would love to import a couple of choice rock garden species from America, but they are tricky from seed apparently.

Here are a few things from my rock garden this morning.

As always very nice pictures. I especially like Raoulia parkii. I had them but I lost them in 2015. I bought them as R. hookeri. Now I know it was R. parkii. When you compare both, you see the difference. Thank you for showing this.

[Jupiter]

Hi Leucogenes, L. hookeri is nice too! I'd like to grow that as well. I am finding the new zealand alpines hard to come by... but stunningly beautiful.

[Jupiter]

Hi Jamus, Love your garden. You are only a hop step and jump away from my place can you slip over and sort mine out for me, lol
The frit's I promised you are just about ready to send over to you.
Cheers John.

John, the trouble with gardens is the maintenance. Never ending and relentless. No matter how tidy you are something's always blowing in or falling over... I send hours just picking up leaves! A favourite pass time of mine.     Those Frits sound promising. I have space!