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Garden Weekends - by Amanda Crotty

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Garden Weekends

Clerodendrum ugandense

April 21st 2009 23:03
: Blue Butterfly Bush
Blue Butterfly Bush


Its not hard to work out how this pretty semi deciduous shrub was given the common name of the blue butterfly bush. This blue flowering bush can be grown in almost any position from temperate to tropical climates, though it does prefer a half to full sunny position and well drained soil. When fully grown it reaches a height of 3 metres and is 2-3 metres round. This shrub tends to straggle so is best cut back in winter and tip pruned when about 30cm long. The flowers appear in summer and autumn and seem to last for months in my garden.
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Pentas

February 13th 2009 22:59
: Shrubby perenial
PENTAS



Pentas are a great plant for warmer climates that grow to an average height of 60 cm. They flower abuntly in a range of colours during; spring, summer and autumn. If withering flower heads are removed flowers will continue to be produced ensuring plants are covered with flowers for a greater part of the year. This plant prefers a lighly shaded position with a regular watering in the summer, dislikes frosts. They are easily propogated from cuttings in the summer.

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Gardenia

January 9th 2009 21:38
: Flowering Shrub

Gardenia augusta




This evergreen shrub is of sutropical habitat, disliking both frost and scorching heat. It is a waist high spring to summer flowering plant from southern China, with the wild plants flowers being flat and single, though the garden cultivars are always double, opening in beautiful symmetry.
Gardenia augusta, was sometimes called G. jasminoides, because of the flowers strong fragrance. Flowers open white but turn ivory as they age and need to be handled with care as they bruise easily.
Gardenias are best grown in free drainig rich acid soil, a little shade and should never be let suffer the effects of drought. If the leaves turn yellow this is a sign of magnesium deficiency and can be fixed with a light dose of epsom salts to the soil. I have seen these plants clipped to form a hedge, making a nice effect.
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Daylily

December 16th 2008 10:45
: Hemerocallis



These wonderful hardy plants are native to China and Japan where they grow wild along river banks.
An easy to grow plant suitable for any position in the garden, flowering from spring through till autumn. Aptly named as the blooms last only a day so not one for cut flower displays, but the long succession of buds means they always seem to have blooms making up for their flowers short life.
Flowers come in all colours except pure white with sizes from 8cm minitures to 15cm giants in double and single forms.
Easily propagated by division of clumps in spring or autumn. I also break off the plantlets that sprout along the stem and plant them. Look great as group plantings and along pathways or driveways, can be grown in containers.
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Alstroemeria Pulchella

November 26th 2008 06:08
: Peruvian Lilly


Though this plant is native to Peru it is also called the New Zealand Christmas bell, because of its popularity in that country where it flowers at Christmas time.

A fairly hardy herbacious perennial that produces 4 - 5 cm wide red and green flowers with red brown spots. This plant flowers early to mid summer with each stem having 4 - 6 flowers on it, prefers a sunny to semi shaded position in the garden. Easily propagted by division when dormant or seed sown in the spring.
Mine grow in clumps toward the front of shrubs, but would also make an effective border in a garden.
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HIPPEASTRUM

November 9th 2008 07:13
: Flowering Bulb


Few flowering bulbs are more spectacular than hippeastrums. These trumpet shaped tropical lilies are indigenous to South America but cultivated almost everywhere as pot plants.
The flowers can be up to 30 centimetres across, and come in colours from white streaked with red to deepest crimson. Flowers develop before the leaves, in clusters of three or four on top of a large hollow stem.
Hippeastrums normally flower at the end of spring, grow best in heavy rich soil and make a great plant for pots. Plant with the neck of the bulb showing just above the soil.
I have many different colour hippeastrums in my garden that quickly multiply to form large clumps that I'm always happy to dig up and share with friends. I also like to collect the seeds that easily grow.


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Clivia

September 8th 2008 09:21
: Flowering Bulb


Clivia originate from South Africa and are the perfect plant for the most difficult parts of the garden. They grow well in dry shady spots under trees, or in the shady spots in the open garden where other plants struggle to survive.
The plant has strap like leaves similar to agapanthus but darker green in colour and thicker in texture. The flowers are mainly yellow to salmon orange and produced in numbers on a single stem, lasting a long time.
Dividing up an old clump and planting new bulbs should be done in autumn, watering well after planting. Bulbs should be planted close to the surface with the neck protruding.
Clivias thrive in a shady spot in a frost free warm climate, they will survive an occasional light frost but are best grown in pots and taken inside during winter in colder areas. The plants flower best if they are let get slightly root bound and as Ive already mentioned dont require much water especially in the winter months.
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Canungra 70th A, H, and I annual show

August 24th 2008 12:18
: SHOW TIME
The Opening Ceremony


Every year around July my family look forward to attending the local show. For anyone entering, on offer in the pavilion to choose from are: Vegetable and Fruit, Horticulture, Cookery, Home produce, Needlework, Agriculture and amateur Photography for adults. And in juvenile classes the choices are Horticulture, Cookery and Sweets, Needlework/Handcraft, Crafts and Hobbies and Photography. they also offer a Fine Arts section, for both. Outside you can choose from the Horse section, Diary cattle, stud Beef, Woodchopping and a Ute show and shine.




If serious about entering you would start to plan well in advance, As soon as the schedule comes out its a good idea to get produce together and keep an eye on the garden for anything that will be ready, choosing art, photography and other projects completed during the year. All photography and art needs to be mounted, this can be done at anytime once pieces are chosen. The final days get a little hectic in the flower and cookery sections as these can't be done too far in advance.



Even after a winter of heavy frosts the flowers still managed to impress me.


The pavilion smelt amazing with help from the native orchids.


Some of my favourites, geraniums, roses, lavender, gerberas and snap dragons just to name a few, beautiful quilts in the background.


Grevilleas and flowering shrubs.


Another successful show. A great way to showcase your wares and meet people with similar interests. Great fun well worth all the work.











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Iris

August 14th 2008 10:32
: For Flower Lovers
Iris ensata

The Iris is popular for its variety of beautiful blooms adding colour to borders and gardens in spring and early summer. Flowers can be found in all colour and combinations except scarlet.
When choosing a position in the garden for these plants try for a sunny well drained spot. If the soill is poor try adding something organic. The Japanese Iris are the only ones that do poorly in lime soil all other varieties thrive on lime. There are two main groups.
Rhizome-rooted. A rhizome is a thickened creeping rootstock sometimes small and compact other times large and conspicuous as in the well known bearded Iris. Rhizomeous Iris will spread and multiply easily if given good growing conditions, to keep growth vigorous its a good idea to fork through and divide every four or five years after flowering has finished.
Bulbous-rooted are the other group, this type all have true bulbs like daffodils, bulbous Iris can be left for several years, to multiply you lift the bulb when all growth has withered and seperate the bulblets when well dry. Replant from Feburary till April.


Iris a versatile plant can be grown in a pot, beautiful cut flower. One to keep an eye out for at school/church fetes, garage sales, or gardeners with large clumps that like to trade plants.

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Heliotrope

August 5th 2008 10:11
: Shrubby perennial


This sweet smelling plant gets its name from the ancients who recognized the plants ability to follow the course of the sun. After opening it gradually turns from east to west and during the night turns back east to greet the rising sun.

Heliotrope is a shrubby perrenial that grows to about 75 centimeters high and 1 metre wide.
The sweetly scented flowers come in purple or mauve and appear from early spring to late autumn, the perfume lays claim for this plants other name the Cherry pie plant.
An old fashioned plant that is easily grown in a frost free spot in the garden. Soil should not be allowed to dry out, and a little liquid manure when in bud will give better colours and larger blooms. Cut back after flowering for repeat blooms.
Heliotrope grow wild on the mountain sides of Peru and are said to not like extremes of temperature, mine seems to tolerate them ok though.
In some parts of the U.S.A a sprig of heliotrope is always included in a brides bouquet for good luck.
If your after an attractive plant with a delightful perfume this is the plant for you.



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