January 2020 in the Southern Hemisphere

[fermi de Sousa]

It's a hot start to the year and it seems that half of Australia is on fire 
Not a great start to the new decade (or is that next year  )
Here's a new plant in flower, Townsendia parryi which we got last month at the Bunfight, our group's Pant Swap.
It was grown by Palmiro & Verity, one of the younger couple in the group who are excellent growers,
cheers
fermi

[David Nicholson]

Good to hear from you Fermi, I was getting quite worried. Have you managed to avoid the worst?

[fermi de Sousa]

Hi David,
thanks for your concern.
We are currently safe but it's only the start of summer.
Our summer gardening mostly consists of dragging hoses around the garden to keep things alive!
We are trying to renovate areas to make them less water dependent but for now a lot of things need to be watered.
Here's a few flowers on Pelargonium benambra which comes from the shores of Lake Omeo, one of the areas under threat of fire, I think.
We got ours from Jon B (Mini-Bulb Lover) via our group's plant swaps
cheers
fermi

[Lesley Cox]

Hi Fermi,
I've been worried too about you and Will.This summer's fires almost have a biblical aspect to them though I can't go along with Jeremy Clarkson's stupid comments. There's nothing we can do to help you but I almost dread each morning's news bulletins for what they'll say. In particular the toll of wild life is so dreadful.

We had hoped for some Australian visitors over for the 60 th Anniv weekend "do" of NZAGS but I only know of one coming. I can understand that holidays away would be the last thing on your minds under the circumstances. I've heard nothing of either Huw Evans or Don Schofield in their Blue Mountains homes and am afraid to ask to be honest in case of the worst.

[fermi de Sousa]

Hi Lesley,
nice to hear from you.
I'll send you a PM. (Not our Prime Minister, he's more inclined to Hawaii than NZ  )
Will and I decided against going over for the NZ Study Weekend because even back in November it looked like it would be a bad fire season.
We're not in the line of fire at this stage and we had a nice respite today but there's a lot of summer left!
cheers
fermi

[Lesley Cox]

Glad you're safe for now at least Fermi. It must be a very stressful time for everyone and especially our thoughts are with the wildlife. I've just finished rereading the wonderful book by Arthur Upfield, called "The Sands of Windee" with its vivid description of a man on a horse dodging and dashing among  the flames of an encircling fire. It was much more real to me than on the original read 30-something years ago.

[Maggi Young]

From John Mitchell of  RBGE and  Edinburgh SRGC Group Convenor ......

"Just arrived in Christchurch for the NZAGS  60th anniversary study weekend. Looking forward to giving two lectures. Managed to get a quick look around this beautiful city before jet lag set in."

Hope  everyone  has  a  great time!

[Lesley Cox]

Welcome to New Zealand John. I've not met you yet but I know some of my friends did so at the last conference I think, Susan More and Marcelle Garden specially and they are looking forward to renewing that meeting. We are all very much looking forward to your talks.

The weather is hot now (at last) and I think I should stay home and water extensively but it will be good to get away for a few days.

I hope you enjoy your glimpse of NZ and also that you'll have a chance to see some of our plants in the field. t seems to be a very good flowering year this time around.

[Maggi Young]

From John Mitchell :
Thanks to Wolfgang Bopp for showing me round Christchurch botanic garden nice rock garden and some amazing trees and herbaceous borders. A must see garden when visiting.



 

[Maggi Young]

From John Mitchell .... " Visited Dunedin botanic garden great natural garden and lovely rock garden a must visit when here." 

[ashley]

Warm congratulations to Lesley for her award from NZAGS in recognition of services to alpine gardening

[David Nicholson]

Well done Lesley.

[Maggi Young]

More  tweets  from John Mitchell in New  Zealand  ...