May 2009 in the Southern Hemisphere

[Paul T]

Oops, forgot something.....  Dahlia imperialis opened last week.  It is approximately 6m tall with more flowers opening now.  The one in the pic was still opening, but it was in sun and I wasn't sure when I'd get a good shot again.  It has been murky weather since then (not much rain, but heavy cloud) so I am glad I got the pic at the time.  Tomorrow should be clearer so hopefully I can get a pic of a fully open flower tomorrow.  No frost has killed the flowers off as yet, but could be at any time.

Thanks Gerd.  Glad you're enjoying the pics.  The "Autumn Colour Strain" were from seed from America where someone was crossing all their earliest flowering tazettas etc.  I have about 7 different variants in colouration that I know of.  The one I have in the picture is always the first to open (still is the only one open as yet) and it's flowers open lemon and fade to white, giving a multi-coloured effect to the flowerhead.  I love it!!

[Otto Fauser]

Paul , the autumn colour in Canberra is just as brilliant as here in the Dandenongs -
during our extreme hot and dry summer I expected only shrivelled leaves now ,but gloriouscolours around us -only posting 2 and and the native Fringe Lily-Thysanotus
multiflorus which flowered in summer

[Otto Fauser]

forgot these 2 Acer palmatums

[Paul T]

Otto,

Lovely!  The Pistachia chinensis have been particularly colourful this year, but I never got a chance to photograph them and the winds we've had the last couple of days have ruined the display.  I have a small one in my garden, so hopefully in the future I'll have a nicely colourful display from it too.    The autumn colours are a real feature of Canberra in autumn, although some years it is a bit too dry, or it goes from warm to frost too quickly and we don't get a great display.  This year we've had some rain a couple of weeks ago, and a lot of nights in the low 1 or 2 degrees so it has been almost perfect for colour production.

[Otto Fauser]

Not to everyones taste or interest , but I was invited to the 50th. Anniversary Exhibition of
 Melbourne Chapter of Ikebana International , the first chapter outside of Japan in the
Southern Hemisphere .
 Here are 5 of my favourites of the Sogetsu School:

[Lvandelft]

Paul, Otto your pictures of autumn color are impressive. Must be beautiful at your places this time of year,
when it's not so hot anymore.

Otto, is Thysanotus a Iridaceae? It's a real stunner.

[Gerry Webster]

Otto - the items from Ikebana International are fascinating. I think 012 is both clever & beautiful.

[Ragged Robin]

What fantastic exhibits from the Sogetsu School - the Japanese are in a class of their own with such artistic simplicity and ingenuity.  Thanks so much for showing us your favourites Otto - no 11 is like a sculpture.

[Lesley Cox]

The white Lapageria stands out well among the red autumn colour too.

[Otto Fauser]

Otto - the items from Ikebana International are fascinating. I think 012 is both clever & beautiful.

Gerry , glad you enjoyed the Ikebana pictures - my favourite is also 012- we seem to be on the same wavelength .

[Otto Fauser]

Paul, Otto your pictures of autumn color are impressive. Must be beautiful at your places this time of year,
when it's not so hot anymore.

Otto, is Thysanotus a Iridaceae? It's a real stunner.

Luit , yes autumn here in the hills just outside Melbourne is very colourful but at the same time
serene- my favourite season.
 Thysanotus ,as the common name suggests "Fringe Lily" was in the "old" Liliaceae ,but when the Taxonomists made work for themselves some 20 years ago and split Liliaceae into some 25 or so seperate families it now lives in Laxmanniaceae , before that it was for a short time in
 Asphodeliaceae  ,but it may still change its colours yet.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Oxalis flava in its mauve-pink incarnation is looking lovely despite the cobwebs the redbacks spin over it!
cheers
fermi

I love the Oxalis picture Fermi ! Very delicate !!

Paul and Otto, the autumn colour pix are truly wonderful !!!

Thanks for sharing !

[Maggi Young]

Otto - the items from Ikebana International are fascinating. I think 012 is both clever & beautiful.

Gerry , glad you enjoyed the Ikebana pictures - my favourite is also 012- we seem to be on the same wavelength .

That 012 is stunning.... ikebana and origami in one.... what could be more appropriate ?
Was it a competition as well as an exhibition, Otto?

[Otto Fauser]

Otto - the items from Ikebana International are fascinating. I think 012 is both clever & beautiful.

Gerry , glad you enjoyed the Ikebana pictures - my favourite is also 012- we seem to be on the same wavelength .

That 012 is stunning.... ikebana and origami in one.... what could be more appropriate ?
Was it a competition as well as an exhibition, Otto?

   Maggi , it was just an exhibition , immensly appreciated by many people . Would love to learn the principles of the modern Sogetsu School - but I am too "busy" in my retirement, however I don't think I am "clod"[as in clumsy- not as a cold person]

[Maggi Young]

I appreciate the demands on your time, Otto, though I believe you would be an ideally suited to these fine Japanese arts.
Maybe when you are old you will find a spare moment or two for that study?