October 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere

[Michael J Campbell]

Fermi,please pass on to Otto my wishes for a speedy recovery,and return to good health.

[Lesley Cox]

An Asphodel? Oh damn! I won't be getting your $1000 then.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Best wishes to Otto for a full and speedy recovery from this part of the world as well !!

[Paul T]

Lesley,

Given that Fermi supplied hte name I don't think that anyone will be getting the grand!! 

[Lesley Cox]

Yeah, a pity that.

[arillady]

Yes Fermi can you pass on my best wishes for a speey recovery to Otto too. Fermi I too have a Calochortus amabilis in flower now. Looks just like your photo - so I don't need to post it! My camera has trouble with yellows anyway. Summer is certainly on its way with 30C today and higher tomorrow. The roses will be in full flush for the following weekend if the aphids leave them alone - where are you predator wasps? - idly flying in I imagine.
Pat

[Lesley Cox]

I've had a chat to Otto on the phone and although he is somewhat subdued, I think he is confident - and he says his doctors are - that all will be well (and not so painful) soon. He asked me to pass along to all his well-wishers, his grateful thanks for your kind words and thoughts. They are much appreciated.

On Sunday I went to Dunedin Botanic Gardens where an annual Rhododendron Day sale is held as precursor to the city's annual Rhododendron Festival. Nurseries sell whatever they can and give 10% of their takings to the Dn Hort Society who give it to the Friends of the DBG, for work not funded by Dunedin City Council. It is usually a great scramble for plants but I arrived very early and found people still setting up, very few public about. Here are a few pics.


This is my favourite nurserywoman but not willing to face the camera.


Some of the goodies


This couple were selling a few of my own for me. I haven't had a stall there for the last 2 or 3 years but intend to, in 2009.


Dave Young is an ex President of the Hort Soc. He is very pround of his poppies, these being taken to the tea kiosk for decoration of the tables.

[Lesley Cox]

And I just have to flaunt my Gentiana acaulis again, it is so good this year - well every year actually - always reliable.

[ranunculus]

Superb Lesley ... very even flowering ... each trumpet a clone of its neighbour ...

[Maggi Young]

Elegant gentians and flamboyant poppies... all a delight!

So pleased to hear that the news is positive from dear Otto...... hope he can feel the good wishes wafting his way!!

[fermi de Sousa]

So pleased to hear that the news is positive from dear Otto...... hope he can feel the good wishes wafting his way!!

I hope to speak to Otto this morning to pass on all your good wishes. PM me if you want his bedside phone number!, just remember the time difference from Europe! It's  9:30 am now.
Here's a few pics from the garden at Redesdale.
Calochortus superbus, first flower for the season,

Iris "clusii"

Daphne alpina



And a close-up of Asphodeline damascena whose flowers open in the afternoon,

cheers
fermi

[Lesley Cox]

Iris "clusii" looks pretty much like I. reichenbachiana.

[fermi de Sousa]

I've just spoken to Otto who is still in a bit of pain but hopes to be home next week after a short stay at his cousins from this weekend.
He asked to send his thanks for all the kind wishes from members of the Forum.
cheers
fermi

[Maggi Young]

I've just spoken to Otto who is still in a bit of pain but hopes to be home next week after a short stay at his cousins from this weekend.
He asked to send his thanks for all the kind wishes from members of the Forum.
cheers
fermi

That is SUCH good news!   I'm sure it is not easy to recover from such tricky surgery and I reckon that slow and steady is the best way to go with getting well again. Many thanks for the update, Fermi.

[fermi de Sousa]

I'm sure Otto will be eager to get back to the Forum once he's home and able to access his computer again. I'll pass on any messages to him.
I was a bit bleary-eyed when I took the next few pics and unsurprisingly so were so of the flowers! This Calochortus catalinae had its eyes only half open!

And in the Shadehouse Allium crispum,

But you ask, "What's that in the background? Can there still be tulips this late in the year?"
Yes, it's a single bloom of Tulipa tetraphylla first flowering from SRGC Seedex 2004!

It might be a bit more open when I get home this evening.
In the rock garden a race of dianthus hybrids has produced a rather strangely spotted one, which I might name "Spotted Quoll" after one of our native marsupials - if it turns out to be different enough to be worth naming.

cheers
fermi