Glasshouse gleaming and dreaming

May 4, 2020May 4, 2020 / crabandfish / 4 Comments

Here in southern Australia, the days are getting shorter and colder. May is a great month for autumn colour but also for completing some key garden jobs before it gets too cold.

One such job is cleaning out the glasshouse. Which means taking every pot out! Luckily we have this handy deck just outside.

A bucket with soapy water and I’m ready to wash down the benches and the walls. It’s worth it.

Next, I hose down the concrete to get rid of all the bugs 🐜 in the corners.

I have to race against the dimming light and cold to bring these plants back in.

Job done ✅ Now I can sit and dream of more plants! Stay in your garden and breath – be safe and positive.

Friday’s view

October 30, 2015 / crabandfish / 7 Comments

Yellow iris – first flush

Coupled with pale pastel rose

Ready for the long weekend – this afternoon’s view from the back deck – happy weekend gardening 🙂

Mother’s Day view from the back deck

May 12, 2014 / crabandfish / Leave a comment

Here’s to all mothers, especially those who cannot be with their children….

The view from the back deck embraces the colours of autumn and the sharing of moments.

Mystery plant identified

April 8, 2014April 8, 2014 / crabandfish / Leave a comment

You may recall in my recent post entitled Spring or Autumn, I had purchased a plant which I thought was an orchid at a local garage sale. Having scoured the gardening books, I could not identify it. However, with the help of some of plant loving friends, we have a definitive name. It is Haemanthus albiflos – or as the name suggests, blood lily, the albiflos denotes the colour – in this case white. A few friends of mine went to that trouble to taking the photos to the Secretary of the Royal Horticultural Society of Victoria who declared it, the white variety, was quite rare and generally expensive! It would develop a yellow centre and produce red berries – apparently it drew quite a crowd! Here are the latest photos as it sits on our back deck.

The horticultural notes also told us it was of South African origin and needed well drained soil and kept well watered in summer, allowing a rest period. That explains why it flowered when I left it under a large tree and forgot about it! Will survive to a minimum of 10-15 degrees. Considering we get down to zero Celsius here on the Mount, I will have to keep it sheltered.