RHS Spring Fair Late 2015

Plants, Live Jazz, art, face painting, Real Ale, and a cocktail called Rhubarbra Streisand.

Bondi Borderlines (pots on balconies)

Thought I'd share some sunshine from down under with you lot. Actually It's mostly shade we get on our balconies here (south and east facing) so I have become an appreciator of Bromeliads, non-or-slow-flowering natives and citrus with no fruit! It's still fun trying to keep them all alive and propagating the odd seed/cutting. This is one side of the main balcony off our lounge. I've just re-arranged the layout so George can't use the table setting as a step ladder to two-storey 'freedom'. I propagated the palm on the left from seed. Have no idea what it is called. I keep tiering the pots so it can send its tap-root down further. It likes that :) The palm on the right is a Lord Howe Palm and, as the name suggests, is an endemic species to the remote pacific island. I didn't get it on my trip there a few years ago but my friend Sophia from work bought it back for me. As with many species I find it a bit of an enigma and probably over feed and care for it. Here's a few Bromeliads from the collection. The last one was acquired from a quirky little rest stop in northern NSW. It was grown locally in a place called 'Little Italy'. Was 8 bucks - would have been at least fifty in Sydney. This is the front balcony - off our bedroom. This is where I keep a lot of the native species even though there aren't really any on show here. This fig come out of a possum's bum! It loves growing anywhere and has really shot up since we moved to Bondi. This Sydney Rock Orchid also loves being here.

News from Fairmead at last

Hiya, I never seem to have any pictures that I like enough to put up here. I'm not that good with things like exposure and focus and the plants never seem to look as beautiful as they do in 'the flesh.' (Or I've done something like forget to put the washing line away - ahem!) Anyway, here are some photos from spring and early summer this year.

Spring - Looking neat and tidy in the spring. The raised beds on the left usually contain vegetables but this year there were just a  few courgettes as I needed somewhere to grow my house plants while I popped off on holiday.

Lots of pretty blossom on the apple tree

The bath tub pond attracts frogs and birds galore! This year there have been loads of young frogs keeping the big mama one company. The local crowd of sparrows visit every day for a chat, cool drinks and a playful bath. 

This perfect little fellow lives in the border opposite the pond. He's a bit of a loner but I think he's the most beautiful frog.

Early summer - The year wears on, the grass gets longer...my lovely 40th birthday commemoration bench arrived and I managed to install a watering system around the pots.

The sempavivum had three inflorescences that made it look a bit like a plant from space. Very exciting as it's only ever had one previously, in all the years it's been sitting there.

Late summer - A late summer vase of flowers that shows the romantic mood of the garden I aim for but have only rarely achieved. I guess it's because of my "Oh, let it stay" attitude to many of the plants that find their own way in (except bindweed.. grrr); not to mention my frequent lapses of 'the rules' for plants who are just too pretty to be left out! 

Hoorah!! I think I am up and running again

At last I am able to access the blogs again.

Not sure how this is going to look so probably will need part 2 of the course from Louise.

I have just posted some general pictures of the garden etc. Sadly I cannot claim that the last one is of 212 garden. It was somewhere we were staying near Bristol.

Still testing

 

Garden 2014

Flossie's Sunflowers

Floss grew me these sunflowers at school for Father's Day. Thanks babe.

Nectar Bar

 My south facing bed is now buzzing with bees loving the nectar rich planting.