December 2018 in the Southern Hemisphere

[fermi de Sousa]

A few things in flower in our "summer garden":
Hypericum kelleri
Ixia rouxii
Brodiaea californica
Allium amethystinum
Convolvulus erubescens
cheers
fermi

[fermi de Sousa]

Something caught my eye as I was heading into the house - under the tangle of a sweet-pea and an exuberant Salvia nemorosa there was a flash of white - a double dianthus? No, Helichrysum marginatum! This came from Lynn McGough in the Blue Mountains last year and I was pleased that it came through the winter. It was planted out into the new rock garden earlier in the year. I think Thomas (Leucogenes) pointed out that the foliage is scented,
cheers
fermi

[David Lyttle]

I went for a walk today and found this little orchid. It is Pterostylis montana or something of that ilk (orchid taxonomists argue a lot)





I took a photo of this little flower which I will post to test your ID skills.



After an interesting traverse through a patch of bush I ended up by this little pool under a waterfall There are three species of ferns in the picture; Asplenium gracillimum, Polystichum vestitum and Blechnum chambersii.

[Maggi Young]

Hello David - I've  added the waterfall photo in a bigger size.

Nice ID photo - not too often we  see  New Zealand plants which have  become  naturalised  elsewhere.  ( I won't use the word "invasive" !! )

[Gabriela]

Nice array of ferns around the waterfall.

We don't have to worry about NZ species becoming 'naturalised' here I guess.
I said Onagraceae David, then I had to cheat and went checking if you have Epilobium in NZ :-) That's my guess, some sort of Epilobium.

[David Lyttle]

Nice array of ferns around the waterfall.

We don't have to worry about NZ species becoming 'naturalised' here I guess.
I said Onagraceae David, then I had to cheat and went checking if you have Epilobium in NZ :-) That's my guess, some sort of Epilobium.

Hi Gabriela,

It is indeed and Epilobium, Epilobium nerteroides by my reckoning. It is a bit weedy here in my garden and nursery pots but not nearly as aggressive as its relative Epilobium nummularifolium. I would imagine it would naturalise quite easily in Britain  and the west coast of N. America as has Epilobium nummularifolium and Epilobium brunnescens.

[David Lyttle]

Hello David - I've  added the waterfall photo in a bigger size.

Nice ID photo - not too often we  see  New Zealand plants which have  become  naturalised  elsewhere.  ( I won't use the word "invasive" !! )

Hi Maggi,

Thanks for tidying up the photos; when I try to edit I usually end up messing it up totally. There are some interesting alpine Epilobiums in New Zealand but I avoid them like the plague as they have a propensity to become weedy which is hardly unexpected as they are generally plants of disturbed habitats, screes etc.

[fermi de Sousa]

I got this terracotta trough last year and finally decided to plant it out!
I chose a number of Australian Native plants and hope they survive the rough treatment at this hot time of year!
step 1: take one trough
step 2: find some rocks
step 3: decide on some plants
step 4: decide on rock placement
step 5: get a rough idea on plant placement
cheers
fermi

[fermi de Sousa]

Trough planting continued:
step 6: start planting
step 7: add gravel topping
step 8: more gravel!
step 9: take pic of labels
step 10: remove labels, add water
cheers
fermi

[fermi de Sousa]

One of the plants added to the trough: Convolvulus erubescens
cheers
fermi

[Maggi Young]

 Rather nice planter, with and without it's plants!
I'm feeling  nit-picky today, fermi ......  I hope you've taken the labels off the outside of the trough!
(Yes, I get  antsy about shop labels on the soles of shoes too !!)

[fermi de Sousa]

Rather nice planter, with and without it's plants!
I'm feeling  nit-picky today, fermi ......  I hope you've taken the labels off the outside of the trough!
(Yes, I get  antsy about shop labels on the soles of shoes too !!)

Thanks, for the reminder, Maggi - I would've forgotten!
Here's a lone bloom on Hypoxis hygrometrica, a native wildflower
cheers
fermi

[Maggi Young]

I know a great many forumists here enjoy growing Salvias, so  I thought to share this  here :
Richard Dufresne -an American grower who was a passionate  evangelist for Salvias - among other plants, has passed away - read Panayoti Kelaidis' tribute to him here:

https://prairiebreak.blogspot.com/2018/12/rich-dufresne-sultan-of-salvia-and.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Prairiebreak+%28Prairiebreak%29&m=1&fbclid=IwAR3P2XBDqAwkWW7tEnGYMrhGpKuzhAm0NdYIApdMqmUhj4EpOqg4T_y8anc

(PK's blog contains links to other  posts about  Rich Dufresne. such as this  one by Tony Avent : http://blog.plantdelights.com/the-salvia-doctor-has-left-the-greenhouse/?fbclid=IwAR2Sfgp28aTz2T1sDEXJ6YkV8CTz9aFogt3yy9qCzNu2hLOSYhCheYRhuw8

of which Panayoti wrote :
"In addition to being Dr. Salvia, Rich essentially invented the genus Agastache (the showy Brittoniastrum section) horticulturally: he had an enormous impact on me personally and professionally. As always, Tony Avent hits every nail on the head in this exquisite eulogy for a gentle, brilliant gardener. Rich! I shall miss you, but the wise angels will exult in your company and you will grace the Heavens with aromatic herbs."