garden diary

Camellia chronicles – paused

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September has come and gone and I realise my camellia identification has paused. This is mainly due to the vast amount of information and images available and the fact that it is quite confusing. Just when I think I have identified a particular flower I view another even closer to my own.

Therefore, I thought I’d wait until such time as I can visit a camellia show in person. In the meantime, here is a selection of our much loved and admired blooms.

By the way, most of these have been flowering since August.

I hope you have enjoyed seeing this array of camellias. We have lived here on the mountain coming up to seventeen years in November and I am constantly grateful to the previous owner who had such vision to plant camellias. They are scattered in all areas of the garden and once established do not need much attention – pick and enjoy.

Keep gardening and stay well. You can follow me on Instagram @crabandfish_garden, too.

Camellia challenge – the pink edit

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I’ve been investigating the identity of some of the pink camellias blooming in our garden now. I collected some for the table.

Readers Digest Gardeners Encyclopaedia of Plants and Flowers

I began by looking at this popular encyclopaedia which was on my bookshelf. However, I had greater success with the website http://www.camelliasaustralia.com.au – so here goes…

A beautiful mid pink rose-like flowers – Ellie’s Girl.

Pale pink large double flowers- Mrs DW Descanso. These have been flowering since June!

Rosy salmon blooms – Harriet Beecher Sheather.

Of course, it’s a challenge identifying a bloom from a page or a website. Would love to attend a camellia conference – one day!

Enjoy your season. Next week: the white edit 😊💐🌺🌷

Breakfast flowers

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One of the simple pleasures is breakfast at our local coffee shop with good book in tow. This morning these beautiful spring flowers welcomed me at the table.

I am reading Kate Llewellyn’s A Fig at the Gate (Crows Nest, NSW: Allen and Unwin, 2014). Her reflections on gardening and life are wise and considered.

Now I ready for a day in the garden. How have you started your Saturday?

Follow me on Instagram:

crabandfish_garden for short reflections too. Happy weekend.

Seven years

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WordPress just informed me I have been blogging about my garden for seven years – that’s amazing! Thank you to all my followers and to those who comment and share their thoughts and ideas – it’s great to a part of your botanical community!

Seeds in time

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Yesterday, a beautiful sunny day, for a change, after yoga, I went to the local nursery and bought some compost and potting soil. I tilled the soil in the two raised garden beds in the “chick-house garden” and added the compost and the soil. By the way, the “chicken-house” garden, is, as the name suggests, a chicken enclosure which is now a vegetable and raspberry garden. We used to have gorgeous Plymouth Rock chickens but after a terrible fox attack, we decided, no more chickens for us, sadly.

I pruned some of the grape vines and raked around to neaten things up. You see, we will be going overseas in a couple of weeks and I want to plant some seeds for when we return.

I always try to plant seeds from the The digger’s seeds club www.diggers.com.au – a well-respected heirloom seed savers cooperative, recommends the following to plant – an heirloom seed club which has been around for about forty years – their latest issue suggests; Broad bean “Crimson” Pea “Greenfest” Califlower “mini” Radish Pink Lady Slipper Cabbage “mini” Spinach “Bloomsdale” Turnip “White Mini Onion “Australian Brown” Parsnip “Hollow Crown” Lettuce “Tennis Ball”

 I always try to plant seeds purchased from the The Digger’s Seeds club  www.diggers.com.au – a well-respected heirloom seed savers cooperative here in Australia which has been around for about forty years – their latest issue suggests seeds for our Cold Zone:

  • Pea “Greenfest”
  • Broad bean “Crimson”
  • Califlower “mini”
  • Radish Pink Lady Slipper
  • Cabbage “mini”
  • Spinach “Bloomsdale”
  • Turnip “White Mini
  • Onion “Australian Brown”
  • Parsnip “Hollow Crown” Lettuce “Tennis Ball”

I have a bit of work in preparation but it will be worth it to return to sprouting and growing seeds into plants. Happy weekend gardening.

Be botanical, be in the garden.

The last of the gold

/ crabandfish / 4 Comments

The last of the autumn leaves. This large prunus tree shades our back deck in summer and certainly gives us a spectacular treat in spring with its pink blossoms and then again in autumn when it sheds its glorious, golden leaves.

I don’t mind raking up the multitude of fallen leaves. It’s been so dry this autumn that it was quite an easy task, despite my cat Albert’s interest in them too!

It’s always wonderful to see overseas visitors come to the mountain to see the dramatic display. It is said to be auspicious in many Asian cultures to be in and among the autumn hues. It is a revered and some even say, a spiritual experience.

My neighbour recently reprimanded me when she spotted some fake flowers in one of my vases, “we live surrounded by beauty and real colour, bring some fresh foliage into the house!” I took her advice.

I hope you can display some of your garden in your home this weekend and enjoy some time with family or friends. Happy gardening. 🙂

Bulb time

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Bulb planting time – spent the last few days planting tons of bulbs. These were dug up from a large clump and released from each other to start anew. Happy gardening and always be … botanical. 🙂 #