Lots of gardening happenings April 2010

Thanks to my new followers I am inspired to share some garden pics with you.

The first cyclamen flower on a plant from last year.

My Arrowroot has grown to mammoth proportions. I dug it up today and put it under cover in preparation for the frosts that are soon to appear.

 And below is a lemongrass plant along with a bulb from the arrowroot, the same as what I began with over a year ago from my mothers place.

A huge Monsteria Deliciosa (I think it is???)

Is this a Monsteria deliciosa???

On the property I looked at today this is one of the many fruiting trees, there is a plum, quince and there are many citrus trees.

Flowers aplenty: Hydrangeas, petunias and Calendulas.

Saturday 9th January 2010

The pink small petaled plant is my neighbours specimen.

This one is in my garden, funny that this year the other two plants have only one flower head between them, my neighbour says probably because I am a scrooge with water. Well not the case this year, I mulched heavily and checked today and they are lovely and moist under the mulch.

Two colours of Agapanthas, the white and the blue below. Some have not flowered and I wonder why?

Marigold of which a lady I gardened for said she would spread over the ACT.

The purple petunias a bit hit by the strong sun.

The one carnation flower, more are on their way after I deheaded the tops.

Propagating perfect plants

Thursday 24th December
Here is a shot of some plants I am planning on potting up for the markets.
There are lemon balm, peppermint, mint, two different pig faces, hydrangea and Devils ivy.

I have been doing some reading on the internet about growing cyclamens and growing from seed. From what I have read they prefer a soil ph of 5.5-7.5 (so acidic in a way). Also of note are the number of people saying getting them to flower again is hard and one guy says he throws them out after they finish flowering. This seems an awful waste and mine are going to flower again. I have two as well as the new seedling plant and they have recovered and flowered again before.

I am aware they need temperatures below 20 degrees or so to flower but have heard about just leaving them on side in garden until it cools. I am still watering but from below now as recommended and leave for 10 minutes and then drain away any residual water.

The baby cyclamen seedling.

Cucumbers, tomatoes and sprouting orchids.

Sunday December 13th

Yes the vegies are growing, my cucumbers have lovely babies on them as do the tomatoes.

The orchid back bulbs that I separated from a large pot bought at a garage sale are sprouting.

To show progress of the cyclamen seedling as it pushes its way towards the sun, see below.

The Cyclamens are growing.

Sunday December 6th

Yes the seeds I planted weeks ago are finally growing and a cyclamen has produced a leaf. They appear to take ages to sprout, picture quality not the best but will post a better one as it grows.

The first cyclamen leaf!!! This one will be pink flowered.

            This is a cyclamen seed pod on a plant with deep red flowers.
                     When they are less firm they split
                 and the seeds can be planted. It seems to take 3 weeks
                                  plus for germination.

The first bell shaped zucchini.

Here it is, my first lily.

Friday 27th November 2009
My first lily of the season. Lots more to come. 

And this is the first Hydrangea bloom of the season, my neighbour is quite partial to picking it every year, with my permission of course.