Yes, I'm so Happy! 2012

[Anthony Darby]

Sorry Anthony but that Magnolia doesn't flower in late August in Dunblane !!

I'd be surprised if it flowers at all in Dunblane.

[Lesley Cox]

The magnolias that have been in flower here for a couple of weeks or more are called Magnolia "Starwars".

I may be quite wrong but I think that's another NZer, perhaps from Jury? Some super magnolias out here now, campbellii almost finished but so many others coming to replace. Although they're magnificent I don't think any other matches the purity of pinkness that campbellii has. 'Heaven Scent' is good and has the advantage of being late, through to October in the south, making for a long season.

[Paul T]

Lesley,

Yes, Star Wars is of NZ breeding, it's one of the suite including Black Tulip, Vulcan and Felix I think.  I have all 4 I mentioned in my garden as I love them.

[Anthony Darby]

I think they're lovely.

[johnw]

 Black Tulip, Vulcan and Felix I think.  I have all 4 I mentioned in my garden as I love them.

Pity these three don't carry their colours in N. America. 

johnw

[Paul T]

John,

Do they fade?  If so, I wonder why?

[johnw]

They may very well fade but the colour is a rather dirty purplish pink. Only once did I ever see a Vulcan that stopped me in my tracks and that was after a very mild winter in Vancouver. Even then it was not as red as the pix in NZ would indicate it can be.  How are they in the UK?

After this very mild winter here we noticed the flower colour of the saucers, Galaxy and Spectrum improved greatly over past years, seems any purplish hint was gone.  It must have something to do with length of winter and/or the minimum temps.

Funny that the campbelliis in Vancouver seem comparable in colour to those in the UK.  Can we blame liliiflora for this mudiness of the others?  I believe all the hybrids mentioned above have liliiflora blood.

johnw

[Gerry Webster]

Nasa releases first Mars images from Curiosity rover.

It seems that Curiosity is effective - not a cat in sight.
Next stop Brighton

[David Nicholson]

.... second stop Ivybridge

[Peter Maguire]

It seems that Curiosity is effective - not a cat in sight.

It will be due to that laser Curiosity has - we all know that Curiosity killed the cat. 

[Paul T]

I'm so happy that I'm heading off tomorrow morning to drive to Victoria and spend a few days visiting Otto and other friends down in the Dandenongs.  Coming back Tuesday, so it isn't a long trip, but I am so looking forward to it.  First holiday in a couple of years and first break of any sort away from Canberra (other than day trips to nurseries a couple of hours north of here) since my wife passed away in March.  I need some fresh scenery for a few days at least.  And the Ferny Creek Horticultural Society Show is on this weekend (which is why part of why I'm heading down, as it isn't the same weekend as our own Hort Show here in Canberra for a change... it's the following week).  Very pleased to be getting away, and so looking forward to it.  

Have a great weekend folks.  You probably won't hear from me until I get back, unless we can get Otto's computer working again.... it's been down for the last couple of weeks! 

[Paul T]

Hee hee..... You may not be rid of me for my trip after all...... I just set up the forum on my smartphone.  Now I can check this any time. 

Be afraid, be very afraid. 

[angie]

Hee hee..... You may not be rid of me for my trip after all...... I just set up the forum on my smartphone.  Now I can check this any time. 

Be afraid, be very afraid. 

Enjoy yourself and take lots of pictures that we over here can see what we are missing 

Angie 

[Paul T]

I'll try to Angie.  I take heaps of pics in my own garden too, I just never seem to get them prepared at present for posting here. 

Heading off before too long I hope.  Currently 6:30am here and 10'C.  Very mild..... Last Saturday it was -7'C at the same time.

[Anthony Darby]

Have a terrific break Paul.