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Forum: Australian GardeningReplies: 191, Views: 1,061
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77sunset
Merino
Australia

October 13, 2009
04:33 PM

Post #7165652

Good morning everyone. I was getting wet walking all the way in the rain so here we are moved back to where the sun is shining.
We are in for more of this cold wet weather so if anyone needs rain, come down with your buckets. We ended up with around 40 points of rain yesterday. I see more weeds coming up, just when I thought I had them beat.
I have a new lot of cuttings to pot up today so will have to get out in the greenhouse to work. I am thinking of making another greenhouse next year. Maybe a more solid one from Alsinite sheets which will not wear out like the plastic. It will be fairly easy to build, just a wood frame and attach the alsinite. It would be a nice winter home for some orchids and also seedlings. I'll have to think on it and save money as Alsinite is not cheap. I will use a large sheet of commercial plastic to pull over the existing greenhouses as their cheap plastic wears away. They only need to be rainproof so that will do the job. Just a matter of sliding the new in under the shadcloth I use of the top of the greenhouses. Better go over and put up a signpost so everyone else can find us.
Enjoy the day. Jean.

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ctmorris
barmera
Australia

October 13, 2009
04:53 PM

Post #7165714

Good morning everyone. Cool and wet here too Jean. We haven't had a lot of rain but what we've had has been lovely. The wind hasn't been too good though. If the wind went away it would be perfect. I noticed that the weeds that I sprayed last week are finally succumbing. I got a great lot of cactus yesterday. I still have another source to check out as well. There's people around here that you don't know they've got cactus until someone tells you and boy do you get a surprise when they take you for a tour. Put some pics up in the C/S site if anyone is interested. Have to get the boys ready so will be back for a cuppa. Colleen
DonnieBrook
Southern Gulf Coast, FL
(Zone 10b)

October 13, 2009
06:13 PM

Post #7165925

Hello, Everyone! Glad I found you on this new thread! No time to chat at the moment - just wanted to pop in and say hello! We are packing up and negotiating over what will go and where it will fit in the car...Harmony has been regained temporarily...until we get to Round Two of the negotiations. I am primarily the culprit...3 tubs of plants...so I have no right to put my foot down at all! I'll check back in after we arrive in Florida! Stay well and happy all!
Louise
shelly61
townsville
Australia

October 13, 2009
07:55 PM

Post #7166236

Good morning all, I am back, it is nice to go away, but it is even nicer to be back home, I had a wonderful couple of days, I went to this wonderful Turkish restaurant on Friday night call Effes One, had the banquet, it was wonderful, food was delicious, staff was exceptional and they had a lovely bellydancer as entertainment, stayed for hours and had the nicest evening. Shopped till I dropped on Saturday, and then went to a party on Saturday night and drank to much oh well it matters not, at least I did not get a hangover on Sunday, Went to Cleveland and Southbank markets on Sunday, and bought lots of stuff that I probably did not need lol. Everywhere I went I took a few cuttings, and spent last night potting them all, I hope I get most of them to take, I have no idea what most of them are, if the plant jumped out at me I basically decided I needed a piece of it :-)
Monday went to the Valley to have a look as I have not been there since I was 16, I was blown away, it is very upmarket now, I think I was lucky to recognise about 2 buildings from my youth.
I had a wonderful weekend, but now it is out of my system I am very happy to stay home for a long time, it was very busy and everyone is in a massive rush all the time, the city is just to big for me now. I went and had a look at Paddington (where I grew up) and it has probably changed more than any where else I went, very upmarket now, not the dregs of society it was when I was a kid lol.
I have just caught up on all the posts I missed while I was away, and as per usual everyone has been busy busy busy.
Louise enjoy Florida, Chrissy welcome back, Kat can't wait to see photos, Jean I am sure you will get nice weather soon and I am sure hubby is happy your plants are moving outside lol, Marleneanne would love to see pic of the hoya, Teresa has that lovely flower opened as yet, Steve I to have just the place for your table so Jean I think we should toss for it heads its mine lol, Colleen glad to hear school is back and you can have some time to catch up, Bryan I don't need any wine this week I am on the wagon till I get over the weekend lol.
To everyone have a wonderful day
and will pop in later if time permits
Shell
sammut
western sydney nsw
Australia

October 13, 2009
09:09 PM

Post #7166494

Afternoon to all,
Gee the wind is so strong here it is near impossible to to go out side ,
I have a lot of plants waiting to be repotted cannot buy more till I clear this lot .
Better move on, only here while some adhesive is drying . have a great day .------------Elaine.

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weed_woman
Coffs Harbour
Australia

October 13, 2009
11:06 PM

Post #7166805

we had 33C yesterday, and then 13C this morning. Its hot again, dry, windy and dusty as. I don't have much inclination to go outside at all. I'll head out later this arvie if the wind dies down a bit, just to water a couple of areas as I do most nights. What is it with the weather these days?
Glad you enjoyed your trip Shelly
Drive carefull Louise
Jean, we hd a newbie called 'Jungle Girl' enquiring about vendors of named Epis, over in the brom thread, so i told her you were our expert. I don't know if shes found her way around yet, but heres the heads up.
Hello Elaine, what projects are you building at the moment? Have you finished all the mosaicing of the pots?
I haven't even begun with xmas, and it'll soon be on top of us, quicker than we think!
Sue
shelly61
townsville
Australia

October 13, 2009
11:35 PM

Post #7166883

Elaine that is an awful lot of repotting there, you will be busy for quite some time :-)
Sue I have not even thought about christmas either, I will contemplate it in a month or 2 lol.
sammut
western sydney nsw
Australia

October 14, 2009
12:23 AM

Post #7166991

Hi Sue,
Still doing pots but to-day Iam working on a totem pole still a lot to do on it a section on the top to do when its finished it will have a light on top .
This is how it is looking .
Shelly ,
The weather is stopping the repotting it seems when I have a free day the wind comes to visit .

---------Elaine

Thumbnail by sammut
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shelly61
townsville
Australia

October 14, 2009
02:03 AM

Post #7167102

Elaine it looks great, make sure you show it off when you have finished :-)
Marleneanne I don't think Brian's wife will mind if you move in lol.
WayneCarter
NW Sydney NSW
Australia

October 14, 2009
04:25 AM

Post #7167170





This message was edited Oct 14, 2009 4:33 AM
chrissy100
Sydney
Australia

October 14, 2009
09:19 AM

Post #7167547

Awe wayne where did you go ...maybe the same place I did ...off air all day! sigh!
Can you believe this wind? and the cold.
Checking in with everyone tomorrow because this thing only came back at 10.30 tonight ...power problems, even the foxtel cable blew out,crazy crazy things happening because of the winds.
elaine (sammut) love your "projects" great to see them again ...you sure are going to be busy.
Talk (hopefully) tomorrow!
dalfyre
Christchurch
New Zealand

October 14, 2009
03:49 PM

Post #7168927

it is a lovely sunny morning, I am gazing out the window at my peony but the flowers are still just buds, they like to tease!
I realise as I look at the flowers there is a red white & blue theme going on...
which is nice as those were our wedding colours.
We had a 1940's theme & were married at the old Wigram base chapel.
No longer Air force but privately owned, the reception was in the former Officer's Mess.
My hubby is mad keen on aviation & in particular loves WWII aircraft.
He was delighted when I suggested June 6 as our date - he will never forget the anniversary of the D Day landings.
Ditto for my birthday, I very conveniently was born on Battle of Britain day :-)
77sunset
Merino
Australia

October 14, 2009
04:50 PM

Post #7169084

Good morning everyone. I am watching the rain through the window. It's shopping day and very cold and windy. I will be looking for any orphans whether it's raining or not. Someone upstairs must have thought we never had enough winter and sent more. I can hear the weeds growing again.
Hello Louise. Glad you found us. I hope your move goes well . I could not move without all my plants. I would miss seeing what they were doing. But then in your snowy winter, the plants aren't doing anything anyway. Have a nice move and we look forward to seeing your Florida garden.
Hello Colleen. More cacti ? I think you may have a tiny addiction there. You will need to be very careful walking around soon as they all grow. Listen to me talking. I can hardly get in the epi house.
Shelly, you sound like you really enjoyed your time away. The good thing was coming home with lots of pieces.
Elaine, you are going to be potting madly for a while. I like your totem plole. Love to see it when you finish.
Wayne, that was a very short chat. Did you fall off the chair ?
Chrissy, you are having a lot of things happen at once there. Never mind, things can only get better. We will see lots of your lovely pics soon.
Dalfyre, your wedding sounds like it was very nice. My first was a pretty ordinary one but the second here was in a small country church with only the 2 witnesses Father John put on his full regalia for us. It was lovely. The church with its beautiful stained glass windows ,stands way out in a paddock with a few trees and a view across the valley . Sadly it is hardly ever used. A leftover from the pioneer days when more people lived around.
Better rush off to the kitchen to see what you can all eat then off to shopping. The sun has just come out. I hope it stays around even though the wind is cold. Have a lovely day all.
Red Velvet Cake.
Jean.

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sammut
western sydney nsw
Australia

October 14, 2009
07:17 PM

Post #7169627

A very good morning to all at last NO wind I have finished the totem light OO no I can hear its starting again seems the wind is back a ring on the flag rope hits the pole cling - cling have to take the flag down and tape the ring again .

Hope to repot most of the day so better start take care and enjoy your day .--------Elaine.

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DonnieBrook
Southern Gulf Coast, FL
(Zone 10b)

October 14, 2009
07:33 PM

Post #7169698

Goodbye, Sue, Elaine and everyone! We'll try to stay safe among all those tractor-trailers!! Many, many plants are going with us. :)
chrissy100
Sydney
Australia

October 14, 2009
11:06 PM

Post #7170539

Safe journey to florida ...give us a Coooo-eeee when you arrive.
hi everyone how are you all coping ...this is the coldest spring i can ever remember (I am not complaining ...well not too much because the heat kills me) but that wind ...our wind comes straight off the Blue Mountains and the chill factor whew!
brian look what was in my letter box a couple of days ago ...my sister in law must have been passing while I was out and look what she left ...she knows I love unusual herbs and veggies ...I hadn't talked to her about it ...she just thought I would like to know about it!
my cutting is doing very well thanks very much :-)
elaine (sammut) you go girl ...great to see you back in action.
now you control yourself there jean ...there is only one of you and you already have hundreds of orphans *giggling* of course we wouldn't do anything like that now would we?
ooh there is hubby wanting me ...back later

This message was edited Oct 15, 2009 1:07 PM

Thumbnail by chrissy100
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shelly61
townsville
Australia

October 14, 2009
11:40 PM

Post #7170710

Good afternoon to all, Chrissy sorry no coping needed except maybe for the heat, we have not had a cool day or night for that matter for months, I think winter decided to give us a miss this year, which of course I don't mind :-)
Louise, safe journey, and please post the Florida connection photos we would all love to see your garden there.
Elaine great work, is the light solar.
Jean I was forced to google that red cake, I have never seen anything like it, it even has a history lol, and it has cocoa in it, I am going to be forced to attempt to make one, if it turns out badly as my cooking skills are not brilliant by any stretch of the imagination, I think I will have to blame you for my failure :-))))))))) (well I will have to blame someone lol )
Teresa that is a pain, as I to am waiting for your peony to open, it is nice to have a wedding anniversary that hubby can not forget lol.
Chrissy I see you have figured out how to post your photos, well done, one step at a time with these fickle cows of machines lol.
I have to go and do some work have a wonderful evening all
Shell
chrissy100
Sydney
Australia

October 14, 2009
11:58 PM

Post #7170763

ha ha ha it only took hours ...they go into Office and I have to downsize them and then email them to myself then save to my pictures, office keeps going crook at me because Iam filling up the something board ...and I yell back *giggle* ...I will be getting another computer, this is driving me nuts and chewing up hours, but it was such a relief to get back in so to speak. I have a numb bottom from sitting here wayyyyy tooo long today but I was thrilled to find I could get around the beastie.
:-)
77sunset
Merino
Australia

October 15, 2009
01:18 AM

Post #7170942

Back home again everyone. I came home with NOT ONE plant. oohhhhhh sob sob. Nothing was there.
I did get a nice parcel in the mail though. I was lucky to buy from a lovely lady on OZtion. I now have 3 more broms and 2 epis. The epis were very very cheap and I did have a small space on the bench, Ha ha.
The broms were extra cheap and a very good size. I now have B. blanchetiana with beautiful color and flower plus 2 pups attached. B. compacta and B. "Mary Brett" It rained most of the day but was not as cold as I thought it would be. Next week is the trash & treasure at Hamilton which is always good for plants.
Next month is the local show here, so as usual I will be taking my trailer of plants to sell. I need another load of potting mix from Mt Gambier so have to make enough for that and the petrol to get there.
Shelly, if you are looking for your winter, it is down here. I will send it back ,express.
Chrissy, you clever thing , getting your pics back on. You will be right once the new computer gets there. We buy everything from Harvey Norman as the prices are competitive and the service is great. I have a very nice tech there that I annoy when I go to town with all my questions.
I saw someone mention VSO as resizer for photos. I used to have a good resizer but it wasn't compatable with Vista so I found the VSO one. It is easy and does a good job and best of all , it's free.
Love the totem Elaine.
Happy trip Louise. See you when you arrive and get settled in.
This is my first pacific coast iris.
Jean.

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Stake
Barmera
Australia

October 15, 2009
01:21 AM

Post #7170950

G'Day Chrissy just read your posting and must tell you that Coleus amboinicus and Plectranthus emboinicus are one and the same.plant. When I smell a leaf of that I first get Thyme but then a whole heap of smells (all good) and I finish up with Chook stuffing and then I get hungry.
Going by the name of that other Coleus I wouldn't like that in my stuffing.
Brian
chrissy100
Sydney
Australia

October 15, 2009
04:10 AM

Post #7171069

Yes that's right, a lot of names ...funny before you bought the subject up ...I hadn't seen anything about it or somehow missed it I do love using my herbs so ...it's fantastic!
I think some Indian recipes (I have indian in laws too) use that other one but I wouldn't be game.
Ann was kind enough to share a plant called "sweet leaf" to me, as soon as it's grown enough I will share cuttings ...it's a high protein leaf and is said to be very tasty and nourishing ...
oh poor jean no orphans never mind, I am getting some stuff off to you monday ...while my puter was down I couldn't remember what ones to send ...found it now. So smile ...enjoy your evening everyone!
dalfyre
Christchurch
New Zealand

October 15, 2009
04:47 AM

Post #7171091

my iris is showing purple or or dark blue at the tip of the bud... I am so happy to see it isn't the muddy brown one that was there already.
There was a bed of iris here out the back when I moved in but the dogs dug them up...
I moved one & it turned out to be pure white & just lovely.
Sadly I lost it when the landscaping was done.
It was dormant & was bulldozed with all the weeds {sigh}.

77sunset
Merino
Australia

October 15, 2009
04:28 PM

Post #7172790

Good morning all. the morning is fine so far and I hope to get a lot of potting done today. One good thing about greenhouses, they are a good place to escape to if it rains. One can still go potty in therm. I have a dozen new rooted cuttings of chrysanthemums. . I am hoping some are the large round whites. I have 20 in large pots and they do make a wonderful show. I will be potting up some of my own rooted bits later for sale at the show. I also have all the rest of the baby angels to put outside.
I am hoping to make a start on getting the new iris beds dug. That will be a long job but hopefully will get finished while the ground is soft. I have more flowers on my Pacific coast iris too. They are very pretty things.
I was looking at tree peonies yesterday in the shop. I have watched them as the buds grew over a few weeks and yesterday they were open. Gorgeous. The lady said they are easier to grow than the smaller peonies I have so it looks like my peonies will go and be replaced by some new tree ones.
I give up on some of these plants. They have minds of their own. I think I will get rid of the peony roots altogether. Its no use moving them as there is nowhere they can go. I thought they would be very happy where they are as they have been there for 4 years. Must be friends of my cymbids, having the same attitude towards flowering for me. Going to the trash & treasure on Sunday so may find something nice.
There is always a very nice iris seller there. I may just see one or two I don't have. Ha ha.
Going out to check on flowers now. The first epi is nearly open.
Have a great weekend everyone. hello to all.
Chocolate hazelnut Biscotti for you all.
Jean.

Thumbnail by 77sunset
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chrissy100
Sydney
Australia

October 15, 2009
06:05 PM

Post #7173083

Good morning ...brrrrr
I wonder if it will be a cooler summer ...the last two were cool and wet.
I have been putting it off but time is running out ...I am off to make a built up no dig garden for my summer greens. In the ever present wind it won't be a pleasant experience ...mind boggles at the manure and blood and bone blowing about while I do it.
So that's the weekend project besides potting etc ...enjoy your morning everyone!
Stake
Barmera
Australia

October 15, 2009
07:29 PM

Post #7173376

G'Day
Chrissy check out DEll they have a decent desk top computer for $799 you can pay more and get even better machines but this looks OK for your needs. I had a laugh when I saw this brochure. Amongst other things this unit comes with a 320GB hard drive, my first PC had the biggest HDD then available 1.5 GB. How fast the IT world changes we poor old folks can't keep up a lot of the time.
Brian
chrissy100
Sydney
Australia

October 15, 2009
08:15 PM

Post #7173583

hi brian yes I think it's funny too I remember in the beginning ...the puters were a minimum of 3000.00 ...clunky and difficult (as told to me anyway.)
Too darned windy to work out there dreadful!
shelly61
townsville
Australia

October 16, 2009
02:04 AM

Post #7174587

Good afternoon all, another perfect day in paradise, Jean I don't actually need you to send me winter express this I can happily live without lol, but some rain would be nice, it has now been 157 days without it, my excess water bill this year is going to be painful :-(
I have my daughters birthday dinner tomorrow night, she will be 29 on tuesday, I have no idea where all the years have gone, I seem to have blinked and they all grew up, sorry I got a little nostalgic there for a minute, I will snap out of it now lol.
Brian I feel the need for a little wine, I have had a not great couple of days back at work, and boy am I glad it is Friday afternoon.
Jean no Orphans, I find this very sad that you could find not a single plant to give a good home to, maybe next week.
I had better go and do some work, I have been flat out this week, and only 1 hour to go to try and get finished.
Have a wonderful weekend all
Smile and stay safe
Shell
Stake
Barmera
Australia

October 16, 2009
04:46 AM

Post #7174660

G'Day Shelly, The wine has lasted pretty well this time. Probably because you were away. Another couple that I know nothing about they are here for assessment, see what you think.
A white "Boal" & red "Carmenere". I don't know about up your way but it has been so cold here we need that demijohn topped up with Port, this lot made from "Touriga" I do know this and it is one of the best Ports you can get, at least I think so. See if you can find some in the bottle shop to try.
Brian
77sunset
Merino
Australia

October 16, 2009
05:06 PM

Post #7176709

Good morning all. It's saturday again. I wish I knew where the days are going. Is this an oldie thing? It seems only a while ago we were starting a new year , now here we are nearly at the end of it. I will be getting my Christmas hampers delivered next month. That really brings it home that the year has disappeared.
I must tell you all the good news. Yesterday I became a great grannie. My granddaughter had her dear little girl and named her Ella Rose. I hope to have a photo soon. Mum and bub are both well. She was a large baby apparently. My daughter wasn't allowed in as she has been ill and the hospital didn't want germs near the bubs, so I have to wait for more news.
Hello Chrissy, are you still being blown around there ? I hate wind. Luckily ours seems to have eased ever so slightly over the last week or so. It's still raining . Mostly showers with a few sunny breaks between.
Shelly, I am disappointed that you don't want my winter weather. I thought that was a good way to get rid of it. Don't worry , there will be lots of plants coming home tomorrow. It's the trash & treasure over in Hamilton. We go every year and I usually fill the car with asstd plants. Hubby says I only take him along to run all the plants back to the car as I buy them.
Brian, don't put too much wine in the Tea Room as Shelly will never get out for work again.
Hello everyone else. Louise, Sue, Dalfyre, Colleen.
I bet Steve is out there hiding that table from us . What is the next project going to be. Some chairs to go with the table, Steve.
I managed to get a lot done yesterday between showers. I can sit in the greenhouse and work anyway. I potted out 30 little rooted cuttings of my fuchsias, plus a dozen or so chrysanthemums. I still have about 20 baby angels to pot on and move out to the greenhouse.
Better go and make a start on todays lot and check for flowers on the irises.
Have a great weekend and enjoy these assorted Cream Cakes ( with extra cream , Brian ).
Jean.

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katciao
Brisbane
Australia

October 16, 2009
05:32 PM

Post #7176792

Happy Saturday, everyone! Sorry to hear that you are all freezing your little ----! It is quite pleasant here, even though we have had howling winds and more topsoil delivered! Today seems clear and fine..I think the last of the dust has been dumped out at sea.
I have had quite a few epies flowering and am hoping for more.:) Some were really just cuttings. Some were far more that I expected from the names. I am quite sure that once the world turns a bit more and more sun gets to you, Jean, that your display will keep us going 'ooh and ahh all summer'! For a start, you don't have any turkeys! I hardly remember what life was like preturkey! They just never give up. I swear that they have worked out how to undo twist wire and those plastic ties that lock in place. Tthey ate my bag of blood and bone in the laundry..or, rather, scattered and then ate..opened bags of potting mix..I have so many empty pots..there is a continual cycle of destruction. I just keep buying more wire and more wire baskets. The back really does look like a junk yard now...anyway, who can grizzle in Paradise? I am sure there is a reason they exist.the turkeys, that is! Just haven't found it! Ever seen one as road kill anyone? No, neither have I!!!!
We still have watering restrictions and it looks like we are back in drought or getting there so I guess we won't be getting more hosing time! At least two 30 min times is better than what we had..none.I have the washing machine emptying near the bananas as they like a bit of moisture. Does anyone else grow bananas and what type? Anyone grown a Pawlownia? I ordered some seeds and as it is a fast growing tree, thought it could replace some of the mature trees that fenceman destroyed. Nothing seems to grow over there now. I don't know whther he has used some TreeKill or whether it is the agpipe under the fence draining the moisture away but things seem to struggle then cark it..and as he always seems to be on patrol, I don't like gardening there now. There was quite a bit of bougainvillea and that has "gone" so I suspect it has been poisoned in case it gets near the fence. I do prefer the turkeys.
I have some bamboo I am growing but so far have it in big watersaver pots as I think it needs a lot of moisture too. I thought it might hold the soil together from turkeys and subsequent rain erosion.
Anyway, even though I don't get time to post everyday, i do lurk and read. Glad you are back on the air, Chrissy. Ciao, Kat
chrissy100
Sydney
Australia

October 16, 2009
06:52 PM

Post #7177024

Hi everyone well it's Saturday and I am about to call my brother for our 2 hour chat ...he lives alone and so looks forward to our weekly chats, he is soon to have an operation to relieve pressure on his optic nerve , they found a benign tumour. So with a bit of luck he may regain some sight. Anyway this is why we chat weekly or more often if required.
Yes kat I grow bananas and have three bunches to pick soon.
Back after my phone call, meanwhile you all have a nice saturday ...cold but sunny here and so far no wind ...whew!
Stake
Barmera
Australia

October 16, 2009
08:22 PM

Post #7177337

G'Day Katciao, If the bamboos you refer to are just the ordinary old common one. they survive here without extra water and you would never plant them in your garden they would just choke everything else out. They are used as windbreaks but not as much as they used to be because of the spreading menace.
Brian
sammut
western sydney nsw
Australia

October 16, 2009
08:26 PM

Post #7177352

Good morning all ,
Had a good morning got 2 great cement pots at $7 each and mark down flamingo flower plants for $6 and a untaged shrub for $6 so I was happy to pay full price geranium and 2 flowers to go in preety pots and solar lights and tiles ----------Elaine



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sammut
western sydney nsw
Australia

October 16, 2009
08:53 PM

Post #7177490

I always know I start Christmas decorating in side early I just looked out the window the house 2 from mine has started his out side Christmas decorations .-----------Elaine.
weed_woman
Coffs Harbour
Australia

October 17, 2009
04:59 AM

Post #7178625

hello, what a TOP day! Hubby and I whippered, mowed, raked, pruned and watered! Everything is looking great, despite being a little dry! In between all that, I got the house vacuumed and mopped! What a day! Hubby is now snoring on the lounge at 7.45pm! I think i tired him out.
Hi Kat, your fenceman sounds really irksome! I don't think i could be so tolerant as you! My neighbours know not to get on my wrong side, and I don't have to do much to show them why. I guess I am very quick to 'react' he he.
Chrissy, sorry to hear of your brothers troubles. I hope all goes well for him, and that you've enjoyed the 2 hour phonecall! My bottom would start to go numb if i sat for that long, also my ears.
Brian, I have that bamboo with the golden stems, the running one. I have it in a ceramic pot and use it as an indoor plant. It does quite well, and I just give it a shake when I vacuum, to help all the dead,dry leaves fall.
Elaine, your pots look fantastic, and well done on your bargains of the day. I started to think about xmas decos, as I am checking fairy lights for an elderly customer, and had to remove my rope light from the gum, because it grew and expanded and popped the connections! I don't know that i feel like doing the whole garden this year, but may do the front veranda instead.
Jean, we've had a lot of wind too, and lovely cool nights, which is great sleeping weather. After the big clean up today, I hope the wind dies down for a bit so i can see the yard looking nice for another couple of days.
Tomorrow I am doing some more cleaning up in the garden while hubby watches the bike races with a mate. I guess I'll have no interruptions!
Happy sunday gardening all
Sue
the vege garden

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77sunset
Merino
Australia

October 17, 2009
04:19 PM

Post #7179957

Good morning all. Running in to put cakes out then running out . Trash & treasure day and I like to be early for any bargains.
Have a cuppa and some Carrot Cake. Sue, sounds like you need it. Chrissy, hope your brother does well with his problems. Elaine, you have been busy again too.
See you all later, when hopefully I arrive home with a carload of goodies.
Jean.

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ctmorris
barmera
Australia

October 17, 2009
06:08 PM

Post #7180257

Good morning everyone. Hope everyone is well and enjoying their garden. The cactus are coming into flower now. The Brugs are starting to grow now with a bit of warmer weather. The one I put in the ground is doing best of all but some sort of bug keeps biting holes in the leaves. I think that I'll have to resort to poison. 1 week to go until I go on my holiday and then 1 more week before my shadehouse is done. Whoohoo. Can't wait. Will put up a pic of some cactus flowers, [not mine] Will call back later for another cuppa and see what Jean has picked up at the markets. Colleen

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chrissy100
Sydney
Australia

October 17, 2009
07:21 PM

Post #7180450

Have a look at this colleen ...I have to go inspect the angels twice a day after the winds it seems to blow the 28 spotted ladybird in ...these little stinkers do almost all of the damage at the moment, a lot of people thibk they are cute but they will munch your brugs and other things too very quickly ...whats worse is they breed like mad, so get out and have a look ...don't forget under the leaves and look into the new growth were they hide.
oops good morning everyone! cool but not cold here a bit of a sprinkle starting up.

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chrissy100
Sydney
Australia

October 17, 2009
07:39 PM

Post #7180513

Your garden looks just beautiful sue ...look at all that empty space ...it gives me itchy fingers. If only I could restrain myself too.
kat paulownia ...warning! gosh a few places around here have them but you really need a LOT of room ...the leaves can reach the size of a newspaper and the trees reach way up over your home in 4 years.
Beautiful trees in the right place but one home just could no longer be seen from the front due to that tree in front.
elaine just love your energy, love your work.
Now jean, restrain yourself ...you will need a lot of room for your angels.
brian I love my beautiful windbreaker black bamboo ...in the ground but managable with round up every spring on any unwanted shoots ...just cut and pour roundup into the hollowish centre ...I upend a cup over it so it can't harm any wild life or get washed away, it works a treat.
shell I am with you on memories ...aren't we lucky we have them though!
A big wave to you all ...have a beaut sunday!

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ctmorris
barmera
Australia

October 17, 2009
07:42 PM

Post #7180532

Yes Chrissy I did find one of them yesterday and wondered whether it was them making the holes. I have been looking and looking for whatever it was but couldn't find anything. I didn't look right down in the new growth though. Will do so right now. Colleen
weed_woman
Coffs Harbour
Australia

October 17, 2009
08:58 PM

Post #7180776

Hello Colleen, Chrissy and Jean, I have seen those ladybugs on the curcurbits in the past, but have noticed a great many of the good lady bugs about now, even in the brom house. Thats got to be a good thing? I did some inspecting of the broms today and found so much in there! In one great big portea, I found a frog, a giant grasshopper (now in grasshopper heaven) and a huge huntsman (why didn't he eat the grass hopper?)
In another I found this tiny grasshopper and a spider that closes its legs together to look like a stick. I did find a few fly speck scale, not many, but will consider a confidor spray in the next week if I see signs of the population building.
I have some mulching to do today, and a few more sticks to be collected from the garden, sp after my cuppa tea, I'm out of here.
Jean, can't wait to hear how you went. I went to the trash and treasure too, and came home with another brom and an orchid! Mmmmm.
Chrissy, that bit of lawn is the best grass on the property, stays green and has no Bindii, so its staying! The rest is slowly being swallowed by ever expanding garden beds and shade houses, so enjoy the view while you can. he he.
Off I go
Sue

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Stake
Barmera
Australia

October 17, 2009
09:08 PM

Post #7180797

G'Day All. Is your 28 spotted Lady Beetle the same as ours? We have 2 here that have a lot of spots one is a goody and is shiny like the usual Lady Beetle the baddy has a matt finish and looks as though it has very fine bristles on its shell. We also occasionally have a baddy that is not round but a bit longer than wide and there is the Pumkin Beetle that along with the 28 spotted can wreck a decent Pumpkin or Zuchinni plant in a day.
Brian
chrissy100
Sydney
Australia

October 17, 2009
09:17 PM

Post #7180821

it's the matt finish, more orange in colour than red ish...the good ones were here first and that's great ...the cucumber beatle is starting too, and the green sheild bug ...thats a fair bit of squishing but worth it. These different pests arrive in waves, I have read somewhere that the epsom salts deters a lot of bugs ...it's in the brug recipes jean uses so I have started using that, we will see how we go. The site that sais epsom salts helps said two teaspoons per watering can, what do you think everyone?
weed_woman
Coffs Harbour
Australia

October 17, 2009
09:20 PM

Post #7180828

From what I've heard, epsom salts is magnesium, and that makes more nutrients available to the plant, from the soil, so maybe it just gives the plants better health, and as they say only sickly plants get attacked by pests...? Although any of my plants that start to look lush always seem to attract the pests first!
Stake
Barmera
Australia

October 17, 2009
09:30 PM

Post #7180859

Hey Chrissy! It would deter me.
All areas are different and the Magnesium has no benefit unless your growing media is deficient. Usually we are not Magnesium deficient but we are with Zinc, Manganese and Iron in the trace elements. The more acid a growing media (including your soil) the more likely a Magnesium deficiency.
Brian
chrissy100
Sydney
Australia

October 17, 2009
09:32 PM

Post #7180866

That makes sense ...some plants have defence chemicals in new growth ...I think many plants have problems when pushed hard with fertilizer making the leaf more tender because of more rapid growth.
I think perhaps too rapid growth waters down the defence chemicals (or hormones) ...when our grandparents grew plants they didn't use lots of chemicals like us and had strong healthy plants for the most part, why do we need so many things for the garden?
I like to stick to slower more natural stuff ...I think that is more "normal"
I do remember epsom salts were used many years ago for the gardenias.
thanks sue.
chrissy100
Sydney
Australia

October 17, 2009
09:35 PM

Post #7180879

The recipe has seasol and beer in it as well as the epsom salts ...I think it covers all bases ...I am careful to use only two desertspoons in the watering can and it will only be a weekly application.
77sunset
Merino
Australia

October 17, 2009
10:02 PM

Post #7180971

Hello everyone, I'm back. We arrived at the trash & treasure in good time to grab any bargains. I leave hubby as soon a swe arrive and make for all the plants stalls. I know where each will be so can ge tright to it. I ended up with 1 named bearded irisd plus 2 unnamed but very unusual ones. ! Pacific Coast iris in a lovely brown / gold color. 2 large pots of broms ( noids) both contain a mum and large babies. A packet of bark for only .20c. 2 concrete birds, a chook and a pigeon, and 5 pots. Oops , nearly forgto the Dierama ( fairy fishing rods ) . I have been trying to get some to grow for ages so this potful should work. I haven't even taken a photo yet so had better get the camera out. Now I will go out and spend time finding places for them all.
We called in to the waterfalls on the way home . I didn't have the camera so will have to go back another time for pics. We have two waterfalls on the way from Hamilton. Both on the Wannon river but miles apart. One , which is prettier is Nigretta Falls, the other, closer to the road is Wannon Falls.
Nice to see you all having a great gardening time. Those nasty LadyBugs don't visit here as far as I have seen. We do get some of the good ones though. I am starting to see aphids on the roses. A bit of fine weather and I will be out squishing madly.
Kat, watch out for those paulonias . I have seen them take over yards. When in Bright, one came up from some seed blown in. I didn't know what it was so left this pretty large leafed thing to grow. . Grow ???? I don't think they know when to stop. Luckliy I found out what it could do and got rid of it, but at 2 years old, it was already around 10 'tall and the trunk was very big.
Colleen , all the cactus babies are doing well. I never lost one during the cold. Some have put on tiny babies.
Sue , I don't know what will be in my new broms but I will have my foot ready to stamp on anything that pops out. I know there are things lurking in some down in the epi house but I keep them flushed out so nothing with 8 legs will take up residence I hope. Better go and do some planting now. Enjoy the rest of the day.
A view of my cottage garden area.
Jean.

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77sunset
Merino
Australia

October 17, 2009
10:04 PM

Post #7180979

Some of the paddock garden (jungle). I love it when it all grows like this in spring.

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dalfyre
Christchurch
New Zealand

October 17, 2009
10:33 PM

Post #7181117

here comes the iris...
looks like blue flowers will be the order of the day here.
this is right next to my blue aquilegia

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77sunset
Merino
Australia

October 17, 2009
11:18 PM

Post #7181302

Here are the concrete birds and some of the plants I bought today.

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Budgieman
Sydney
Australia

October 18, 2009
03:21 AM

Post #7181694

You lot have been busy! I miss a couple of days and it takes a couple more to catch up!!
I am ticking off the projects in quick succession at the moment. Took our recent purchase to Sussex, double kayak, painted some more of the house in preparation for the last water tank, top dressed some of the back lawn and guess what? Weeded some more!!! I mentioned a Hippi last week. I have attached a pic.
Went around to my Mother's place (Rosebudgal) today. It is looking really good. I am seriously jealous.
Now back to the dogs! Eight weeks ago I topped up a betting account with $50 and have been have fun since. Just added twenty to the kitty! Bit of fun!
Cheers
Steve

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chrissy100
Sydney
Australia

October 18, 2009
03:53 AM

Post #7181704

Hi budgie gosh you have been busy ...that is a lovely old fashioned hippy you find in old gardens ...I think they are beautiful. Say hi to your mum from us ...
jean your garden looks great! and all your new stuff to,
I have popped in to say that I just saw the news and wanted to send our thoughts and hugs to our QLD friends in the danger areas ...I hope it rains very soon.
Budgieman
Sydney
Australia

October 18, 2009
04:12 AM

Post #7181711

Came from an old farm house Chrissie. In a wheelbarrow at the front gate. $5 on the honour system (put your money in the letterbox). I am going to put a couple that Jean gave me in the same area (under the Boug)
Last weekend the Diamond Dove came back to the Boug for round two! One youngster from the last batch. We have been spying on her!
Dear Mr Cacti - ID on the attached?
Cheers
Steve

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Budgieman
Sydney
Australia

October 18, 2009
05:11 AM

Post #7181727

Forgot to mention ... Jean - we have been scouring the council cleanups for chairs. Kim brought home two good chairs that only need cleaning up. The table is sitting in the garage. I have been on the woodwork forum for tips on finishing. I have enquired about local stockists of Organoil and found a supplier. In the meantime we decided to pull up the carpet in the back room (who would put white carpet in an entry way?). So I have time to finish it as carpet is up and we will be awaiting the floor being done. Once floors are done the table will be required.
I have arranged for the Shade house structure to be delivered from here to Sussex and I pick up the second 2300 L tank this week. No wonder I feel weary!!!
Stay Tuned.
Stake
Barmera
Australia

October 18, 2009
05:48 AM

Post #7181743

G'Day
Would you be satisfied with Mammillaria elongata Budgieman that's what it looks like although I would be happier with a bit more golden spines.
Brian
77sunset
Merino
Australia

October 18, 2009
04:43 PM

Post #7183115

Good morning everyone.
It is foggy this morning so maybe a nice day. Who knows. I started digging yesterday afternoon and will put up a string line today to keep the new iris beds straight. I am only digging each long bed , not the whole area. I think I may do about 3 or 4 per day. Each of the 22 will be about 5 metres long and 1/2 metre wide.
Steve I don't mind if the chairs don't match the table. I will be by one dark midnight to pick them all up. People do odd things in houses. I rented a house once that had (very expensive) white carpet through the house . The previous tenants had 2 very large dogs indoors. The house owner was not amused when the carpet had to be taken to the tip ,being too icky to think about cleaning.
Chrissy, that recipe with the molasses won't hurt anything and I throw it around all over the place. The Angels love it. I have been using vegemite water on the zygos but will give the asprin water a go next week.
I have lots of ranuncs still blooming but the rain did spoil them.
Fancy poor Qld, now having fires after all the rain earlier. Hope all are safe there.
Kat , in this months Gardening Australia there is a story on your very favorite bird.
Dalfyre, a pic of the iris when out would be lovely. I love irises. Can't you tell. I am now up to no. 225. Hubby says I cannot have any more space. He was generous in letting me have a corner of his antenna paddock though. He did say yesterday ( in jest I think) that at least irises all over the paddock wouldn't affect his antennas. Would I ?????? No, too much work with that much room.
Better go and get the washing out before I start getting sidetracked with other things. Do you all find you do that ??? Go out to do something and see a weed or something that needs doing, then an hour later realise you never did do what you were going out there to do.
Hello to everybody and enjoy the week. Only a bit over 2 months to Christmas.
Have a nibble on this Lemon Meringue Tart.
Happy Day, Jean.

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chrissy100
Sydney
Australia

October 18, 2009
05:08 PM

Post #7183182

It's a beauty jean ...go "the recipe".
cool again today ...but getting warmer ...I see buds on my Jacaranda tree so that means, summer really is coming although it seems so be taking it's time around here.
anyone see young Nathen sing on Australian idol last night ...his Phantom song blew the roof off ...wonderful and only 18 years old, it never ceases to amaze me how many talented young people are out there.
I think the winds may have finally gone ...hopefully I can get some work done this morning ...hubby has booked me for this arvo (staff shortage ...Monday of course) so off I go after a quick look around the threads ...I hope you all enjoy your day despite the "Monday"
Marleneann
Sunshine Coast
Australia

October 18, 2009
10:39 PM

Post #7184512

Hello everyone!

Just popped in to say "hi"

This is my Iris - Royal Robe flowering for the first time. It lives in a water pot.

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Budgieman
Sydney
Australia

October 19, 2009
05:01 AM

Post #7185170

Hi Stake
Had Mammillaria picked. Will look at elongata.
It flowers religiously every year. Nice little cactus.
Cheers
Steve
ctmorris
barmera
Australia

October 19, 2009
04:17 PM

Post #7187192

Good morning everyone. Beautiful morning here and supposed to reach 33 degrees later. I hope not as I've heaps of work to do to get ready for my week off. I am being picked up at 6-15am Sunday so a nice early start. Probably will go to sleep on the bus.Oh well someone will wake me when the snoring gets too loud. Beautiful pics everyone. I do believe that the "recipe" works very well and the plants love it. Must go hope eveyone is well and will be back later. Colleen
77sunset
Merino
Australia

October 19, 2009
04:40 PM

Post #7187286

Good morning all. I am getting ready to go out and dig while its nice out there. The day was quite warm yesterday and we ended up doing more work on finishing the back veranda. It will soo be enclosed again and a lot less wind blowing in during winter. I am still running around watching buds that will probably all open at once. My first epi flower is opening very slowly, one leaf at a time. A few warm days will help. i did a bit of measuring out in the new iris area and hubby thought I looked very funny, wandering around with my tape measure and string line while our quietest magpie friend walked beside me waiting for food. She tends to want to be in whatever I am doing and she just knows I will turn over anything laying on the ground so she can find grubs. We have 3 juveniles hanging around with their parents now and a couple more to come from the nest. Mrs Bird was a very late nester this year and her babies are still in the nest. Today promises to be very warm so I had bettter get out and dig.
Glad you are all enjoying the Recipe on your plants. Mine love it.
Thats a lovely iris Marlene.
Hello Chrissy, getting to be nice3 Angel weather now. I expect to see them grow very tall soon.
Enjoy your trip Colleen.
Hello to everyone else.
Try this Cream Sponge.
Jean.

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chrissy100
Sydney
Australia

October 19, 2009
05:11 PM

Post #7187419

Hi everyone ...yes me too jean sooo much to do!
I must get on with it too ...I will pop back in for a chat at morning tea.
meanwhile just a reminder to our happy tea room customers that the brug seed bank is open ...check my FFA thread for details.
How exciting colleen, off on a trip sunday ...good for you!
Nice purple bloom marleneanne.
cute cactus boys.
jean I have been so obseessed with my angel babies I forgot my eppies ...must go check them for blooms, I heard the first maggies this morning.Lovely.
enjoy your morning everyone!

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shelly61
townsville
Australia

October 19, 2009
06:51 PM

Post #7187751

Good morning all, well yet another glorious sunny day, the weather is definately warming up very fast.
Marleneann, what a beautiful Iris the colour is stunning.
Jean great haul you did very well. I will be joining you on that dark night, you will need help with the table it looks heavy, and then when we successfully escape with the goods, we can discuss ownership then lol.
Elaine you had a great haul as well I can never find those sort of bargains, probably because I only go shopping about once a month lol.
Chrissy Nathan was wonderful, but I am a Toby fan, he has grown on me since my daughter dislikes him so much, it gives us somethig to argue about lol. (its her birthday today and she is out buying me the new Matthew Rielly book, it gets released today, so I get a gift on her birthday, bonus.)
Steve what a beautiful hippi, love the colour, nice to see your account is improving.
Sue your yard looks lovely, I have some rotten bug eating my angel as well, but I can not find the little blighter, when I do the end will not be pretty for it.
Kat I can find no good reason for turkeys and for that matter your horrid neighbour as well, and no I don't think there is a recorded road kill for a turkey, they are indestructable lol.
Have to go lots to do, may pop in later if time permits, have a great day all
Shell
shelly61
townsville
Australia

October 19, 2009
09:43 PM

Post #7188516

Yippeeeeeeeeeeeee Yahoooooooooooooooooooooooo I have my long awaited book in my hands, my lovely daughter dropped it off to me at work, COME ON LUNCH HOUR :-)
77sunset
Merino
Australia

October 20, 2009
04:41 PM

Post #7190717

Good morning all. We had a small sprinkle overnight after a very warm day. Finally, I have begun to get the new iris area looking like it may be in use this year for all the replanting. A neighbour from down in the town called in yesterday to see hubby and had a garden tour while here. He mentioned he had a rotary hoe after seeing my digging efforts for the iris beds. He dropped off a mower last night to cut the dead grass to the ground so we can get the rotary hoeing done today or tomorrow. It was totally unexpected for him to call in and to have the loan of the rotary hoe was terrific. Someone up there had sympathy for my back. I would have taken ages to get all the beds dug. I think my ambition was beyond my poor body's capabilities now. I will show off the new beds later in the year when I plant them all. I will use the old beds for seedling iris and a few other small plants. I will have an empty space out in the paddock garden too . Hmmmmm
Must think what I can put there. Maybe some more liliums. Mine will want dividing after their flowering.
Chrissy, the seed bank is looking great. So much for anyone who loves these plants. I will be hoping for some of my own seeds this year to add to the seed bank.
Shelly, I think we should wait a bit for the table until Steve has all the chairs. Why not have the lot ?? Ha ha.
Glad you have your new book. I have it on order at the library but am no. 32 on the waiting list.
I don't buy books any more as they take up space and a lot I never read again. I can get all I want most times at the library even if I have to wait a bit. Books are so expensive now. I used to buy a lot many years ago but when I had to move I donated a large lot to a library .
I am off outside . Hubby has just taken the mower out so I have to supervise. I suspect he felt sorry for me when he realised how much work I had set myself. He will do most of the rotary hoeing for me. He even asked where I wanted the beds and how wide etc. Usually he will take over doing something for me and do it his way.
He knows the garden is my territory .
Better move. hello to everyone. I hope you are all safe from fires and enjoying lovely weather. . Anyone lurking out there is most welcome to come in for a cuppa .
Try some Cranberry Swirl Cheesecake.
Happy gardening.
Jean.

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chrissy100
Sydney
Australia

October 20, 2009
04:56 PM

Post #7190751

Morning everyone ...jean I wish I still had our tractor ...it was burned out in the fires in 2001, it sure made things easier, I'm happy for you.You can go nuts now!
Gosh it was a stinker here yesterday! hot hot hot and 36C+ predicted here today. A lot of shy seeds are now popping up.
Lots to do before it gets too hot.
What's everyone doing today?
ctmorris
barmera
Australia

October 20, 2009
06:48 PM

Post #7191121

Good morning everyone. Just popped in for a quick cuppa and then must get moving. Still a lot of things to do before I have my 5 days off. Have to get chook food and cat food today so everything will be ready for when John comes. It was really hot here yesterday but is considerably cooler today, thank goodness. The poor plants just swooned with the heat. The Brugs were fine though so hopefully they are not going to be a touchy as I thought they might be. Well must be off will try to get back later. Colleen
sammut
western sydney nsw
Australia

October 20, 2009
07:02 PM

Post #7191192

Good morning to all,
I seem to move a bit slow so often a bit behind in the news Jean you had a fun time at your markets finding new plants and all , the neighbour is really a god send have fun planning and preparing the new beds.
Colleen I might not catch you before your week away have a great time .
Its starting to warm up so now inside for most of the day I did play out side early and did 3 baskets after the watering .
Till later .-----------Elaine.


chrissy100
Sydney
Australia

October 20, 2009
07:07 PM

Post #7191218

It hit mid 30's here yesterday colleen and although there was some wet dishrags ...mostly they are fresh and lovely this morning. Is there someone there to water them while you are gone? if it gets really hot they will need a bit of water.
I forgot to say shell have fun with your book ...I love my books!
Oh no they have just said hot NW winds are on the way #%$^&* ...fire wind I reckon, followed later by a southerly buster (perfect sorm combo) Not much more work in those conditions.
oh well.
Whoo Mya I am inside because hubby just gave me your parcel ...wow! these plants should feel right at home today. x x x x x thankyou!
chrissy100
Sydney
Australia

October 20, 2009
07:11 PM

Post #7191228

Elaine it's going to sizzle today ...me too, too hot to stay out there ...I have a verandah that I can work on ...nicely shaded.
You enjoy yourself now and stay cool.

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shelly61
townsville
Australia

October 20, 2009
07:21 PM

Post #7191273

Good morning all, yet another perfect day, I have decided that 'yes' you can get sick of perfect days, anyone can send the rain asap please.
Jean I have nearly finished my book, you will enjoy it, it is a good read. Nice to hear hubby is doing the digging for you, your back will be very grateful. You are right we should wait for the chairs, I am waiting for it to be finished so we can see a photo.
Chrissy that seed bank is massive, I have never seen so many in one collection. I will post a photo of my little angels when they get bigger, they are very healthy, apart from the critter that has a feed on the leaves everynight, I am going out with a torch on the weekend to try and catch him in the act. Its time is coming to an end, I hate having to resort to poison, but I will as a last resort.
Colleen have a great time on your 5 days off, what are the plans.
Brian I still don't know if Grant flowers, can you please let me know, I do apologise if I have missed your answer earlier, but I had that time off and missed a whole tea room just about and still have not gone back to check it out, I am slack I know lol. I will post a photo of him in case you have forgotton what he looks like. I don't think he does but I am hoping lol.
Lots of work to do have to go, have a great day everyone.

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sammut
western sydney nsw
Australia

October 20, 2009
07:49 PM

Post #7191375

I"m brave going outside in the heat in fact I am going to bath the dog he feels the heat he will be happy only 4 days since the last bath he is one of those dogs its a fight to get him out of the water .
----------Elaine.
Stake
Barmera
Australia

October 20, 2009
08:23 PM

Post #7191495

G'Day Shelly61, Grant is a cristate/monstrose Euphorbia. It will flower but the flowers are small and rather insignificant.
Brian
shelly61
townsville
Australia

October 20, 2009
10:38 PM

Post #7192066

Thank you so much for your help Brian, I will not really look forward to it in that case lol.
Elaine my old dog was not at all like yours you would mention any word starting with the letter 'B' around him and he would run for the hills just in case it was bath day lol.
dalfyre
Christchurch
New Zealand

October 20, 2009
11:54 PM

Post #7192372

well we had a pleasant day today but of course I missed it all being at work.
It is clouding over now so who knows what we will get.
Hubby & I will be off to Brisbane on Friday, fly in from ChCh & then we jump on the train at the airport & travel down to Robina where the in-laws live.
We are taking them out to dinner for their 50th wedding anniversary :)
I expect the temperatures will come as a shock since it has been so cool here.
My peony has finally opened out, now I have a red white & blue corner.

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chrissy100
Sydney
Australia

October 21, 2009
12:23 AM

Post #7192434

Oh boy areyou in for a shock ...bring some cool clothing ...how wonderful 50 years! I hope you all have a special night and a great trip for you.
77sunset
Merino
Australia

October 21, 2009
12:53 AM

Post #7192484

Hello everyone. I am glad the heat hasn't really reached us yet. It's a shock to the system just to go out in this mildly warm weather after so much cold. I am posting a pic of the working man (hubby) today. The rotary hoe arrived just after lunch and the whole area is done. hooray... Now I can start marking out the beds. I will be able to move all the irises this year after flowering. My back was so grateful not to be doing all that digging.
Shelly, I do enjoy his books so will be waiting in anticipation.
Colleen , have a nice time away. Don't bring home too many pieces.
Chrissy, you poor thing with all that heat already. You will be wanting to sit in the ocean by the end of summer.
Enjoy your trip too Dalfyre.
Going out now to do some work. I can't wait to get the beds all done. I will have more room than I thought so maybe I'll just buy a couple more irises . sshhhhhhhh. don't let hubby hear .
Jean.

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chrissy100
Sydney
Australia

October 21, 2009
01:33 AM

Post #7192557

I am green with envy but you know what, I am thinking ...weeds, I grew an acre of pumpkins a few years ago (lost to the fires) and all I can remember is all the work to hand water and keep the weeds down in high heat, how do you control things.
Still green with envy though.
dalfyre
Christchurch
New Zealand

October 21, 2009
04:18 AM

Post #7192636

speaking of iris...
hoping we don't get any nasty weather now that it is almost opened up

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ctmorris
barmera
Australia

October 21, 2009
03:44 PM

Post #7194354

Just popped in for a quick early morning cuppa. It's beautiful this time of the morning. Sun is just coming up and the birds are singing and that's about all the noise there is. Lovely. Jean you must be very happy at the progress of your Iris plantation. I will look magnificent when in bloom. Just like the fields of tulips. Dalfyre a hope you have a wonderful visit. How long are you staying here? Jean I have my first bud on the Heirloom Irises that you sent. Cant wait to see what colour it is. They have all grown very well but the others aren't as good. Did you all have a look at the Dracunculus lily. I can't bring it in to the tearoom as it's smell is just too awful and the blowflies, whew. All the plain red hippies are coming out now. I think they're a bit early. Hope everyone is well. Be back later. Colleen
77sunset
Merino
Australia

October 21, 2009
04:42 PM

Post #7194517

Good morning everyone. Looks like another lovely day. I will be out there later getting the rest of the iris beds lined out. I will be able to plant after flowering this year but it will take most of the plants at least an extra year to each make a clump so I can have a paddock full of blooms. I will be planting 2 of each so one can stay and clump up whilt the other is broken up and sold. I have to make money to pay for more to fill the spaces.
Chrissy, the weeds will be a problem later but having it so open and easy to manage, I should be able to keep them down. The beds themselves are hand weeded but with care, I should be able to Roundup the outside edges I am keeping the paths between the beds very narrow so i can just run down them with the trusty hoe. Watering with Iris is not a problem here as they mostly need water during the time it rains, They don;t like a lot of water in the hot weather. I will run the reticulation hose with drippers down each bed with so I can just turn on the tap for about 15 mins a week. Dalfyre , that is a lovely blue of what are now called heritage iris. The older versions of our more modern, bigger ones. I have quite a few of these around the garden. Very hardy and reliable. You can cross them to the more modern ones for pretty blooms. I leave mine to do as they wish. Have a lovely time away.
Colleen, glad your flowers are starting too. The others should grow well there, but may take a year to flower. I have quite a few that never bloom in the first year. If you find no flowers after 2 years, get rid of them and find ones that like your area. What grows well here may not somewhere else. I find this with irises I have bought from reliable sellers. Some plants are just picky about where they want to be. Have a nice time away too.
Better move if I want to get work done before it gets too warm.
I hope Leisa is going well and not doing too much in the heat.
Shelly, how goes it in paradise ? I will have your perfect weather for a while and send you all the windy cold.
Elaine, you stay in out of all that heat. Your little dog sounds like one I had years ago. he would jump in any water . He once jumped into a very smelly pool at a rubbish tip and I had to make him walk home along side the car. Luckliy it wasn't far and way out in a very remote area.
Hello Sue, Louise, Mya and everyone looking in. Going to move now and get something done .
Enjoy the day and this Pumpkin Pie. .
Jean.

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chrissy100
Sydney
Australia

October 21, 2009
05:46 PM

Post #7194746

Hi everyone ...nice cooler conditions this morning ...great for doing stuff! I thought you might like to look at this ...Sand art ,amazing work done in sand depicting a story of ww2 and it's effect on the artist's country,it won her contest and awoke great emotion in the audience and the viewers ...we can't understand the language but I think you will find the art enough to tell you of the memories of an old widow.
Have a look ...it's wonderful. Back later.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOhf3OvRXKg&feature=related
ctmorris
barmera
Australia

October 21, 2009
07:04 PM

Post #7195019

That was wonderful Chrissy. Thank you. Colleen
shelly61
townsville
Australia

October 21, 2009
08:01 PM

Post #7195200

Chrissy I loved it, oh and good morning all :-) thanks for the link, I have emailed it everywhere lol.
I am excited it has come over overcast today, so fingers crossed it may break the perfect day cycle of 163 days, I am not game to say the 'R' word just in case lol.
Jean I got all excited again as I thought that was caramel tart, until I read it was pumpkin pie, a let down, love caramel tart, don't do pumpkin pie lol. I could be like Brian and just take the cream of the top lol.
A quick visit just popped in to say hi all, am run off my feet.
Have a great day
shell
chrissy100
Sydney
Australia

October 21, 2009
08:51 PM

Post #7195379

Starting to sprinkle here ...I think it's just a spit though ...glad you enjoyed it I thought it was wonderful.We are lucky to live in this land of peace ...

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shelly61
townsville
Australia

October 21, 2009
11:42 PM

Post #7195987

Buggar the clouds are gone not a drop left the sky, the sun is shining, another perfect day blah!!!!! :-)

Chrissy you are right we are very lucky.
77sunset
Merino
Australia

October 21, 2009
11:55 PM

Post #7196022

Sorry Shelly. I did push the clouds but it is uphill and very awkward. Maybe later. It is a perfect day here today so you are not the only one with nice weather for a while. Iris beds all done. Now all I have to do is wait for the weeds to come up and then Roundup. I should start planting around December. Time to sit with a cuppa and peruse cattledogs. I have 4 iris ones here and it is terrible to see me weep over them as I try to pick .
Don't you all just love catalogues. ???
Latest iris out 'Gracious Curves'
Jean.

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chrissy100
Sydney
Australia

October 22, 2009
12:12 AM

Post #7196052

jean :-) soon you will need to put up an iris thread ...we have brom fans ...brug fans ... cordy fans ...we need an iris fan site! as yours come on keep posting them ...they look beautiful! (I mean in the australian threads of course. Any other gardeners out there with passions for a special plant ...We love them all I know but if you have something you adore and collect jump in and show them.
Ha ha ha noooo put the down the catalogue ...
as if ...I have them going back to the early seventies along with all the gardening magazines ...grass roots mags ...earth gardens etc.
Enjoy!
chrissy100
Sydney
Australia

October 22, 2009
12:18 AM

Post #7196059

Oh and I know you must go there often jean, but for everyone who has not ...browse through this *Iris*.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/finder/index.php?sname=Iris
Enough stunning beauties in there to quench anyone's thirst.
dalfyre
Christchurch
New Zealand

October 22, 2009
04:26 AM

Post #7196285

Jean - thanks for the info about the iris.
When we moved in to the house where my folks still live there were iris all under the rotary washing line.
Mum shifted them & I think mine may be one of those...
that was 1984 & an elderly couple had lived in the house before us.
It was their garden we inherited.
Anyway we are staying in Robina for 4 days, only a short visit but we decided spur of the moment to do it so couldn't get more time off work.
See you all next week :)
MyaC
Magnetic Island
Australia
(Zone 11)

October 22, 2009
05:05 AM

Post #7196311


Quoted:
so fingers crossed it may break the perfect day cycle of 163 days


Shelly(townsville) we have had over 25 mls rain in the past few days on the Island...even rained 3mls when those clouds appeared over Townsville.

Jean, your iris' are beautiful,please start a thread so we can have a look at them all!!!!!! not that anyone of us need another addiction...
Marleneann
Sunshine Coast
Australia

October 22, 2009
07:42 AM

Post #7196449

Water pot 1...Iris Royal Robe

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77sunset
Merino
Australia

October 22, 2009
04:53 PM

Post #7197855

Good morning all. I am rushing again this morning because we are expecting a visitor early . I have washing to do and photos to take. I will make an iris thread as you all seem to have a few here and there. I am going to shout hello to everyone so you can all hear me and leave something for you all to have with your cuppa.
One of my very favorite indulgences, Blueberry Muffins.
Have a great day.
Jean.

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ctmorris
barmera
Australia

October 22, 2009
04:54 PM

Post #7197859

Morning everyone. 2more sleeps. Marleneann what is a waterpot? It's really lovely and would would look great around a pond. I think I'll just have my cuppa today thanks. my head is spinning with excitement and I cant think of anything to talk about. I have to go and do a bit of shopping for veggies and fruit this morning then I'll be back. Hope everyone is well. Colleen
chrissy100
Sydney
Australia

October 22, 2009
06:13 PM

Post #7198092

Me too ...people coming things to do ...cupboards are empty gotta fill the again, garden stuff since 5.30 this morning ...give me a cuppa and then i will be off ...colleen hi ...a water pot is a pot with water in it, these are for growing equatic and bog plants ...any large pot that has no hole will do and you can seal pots yourself if it's a budget breaker.
waving to everyone ...hopefully can get back this arvo.
DonnieBrook
Southern Gulf Coast, FL
(Zone 10b)

October 22, 2009
08:58 PM

Post #7198781

Good morning to you all from sunny (translation = HOT) south Florida! We have arrived for the winter!
Jean - that pumpkin pie was delicious...just what I needed after a long 4-day drive.
Chrissy - what a beautiful brug shot! Mine are buried in weeds that are tomorrow's project!
Jean and Marleneann - your iris's are also lovely!
Hello Shelly, Colleen, Mya, Dalfyre, Sue, Elaine, Brian, and anyone else stopping by! I'm so happy to find the Tea Room still open for those of us who enjoy dropping by for a nice cuppa and some friendly chatter. Here's a "before" photo of the weeds in the jungle we call our back yard. It's best you see where I'm starting here. This is what being away for 6 months during the tropical rainy season gets us! Can you see the brug buried in the back there? Both of my brugs are just getting their new leaves. I'm looking forward to the trumpets! Happy Day, all!!

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ctmorris
barmera
Australia

October 23, 2009
05:15 PM

Post #7201268

Good morning everyone. Just a quick visit as have lots to do before I head off at 6-15am tomorrow. Great to see you back Louise. Your garden should be all tidied up by the time I get back. Hopefully I'll have some great pics and a new shadehouse to come home to. whoohoo. Look after Brian while I,m gone and don't let him have too many cream cakes please. Take care everyone. Colleen
77sunset
Merino
Australia

October 23, 2009
05:22 PM

Post #7201283

Good morning everyone. The sun is out and it looks like another lovely day. Quite nippy early with an overnight dew. I think spring finally found its way here. Not a lot done yesterday as is usual when one has visitors. A bit of potting to do today and anything else I can find to do as an excuse to sit out in the sun.
Mya, the iris thread is going and I was out early to catch whatever was out before the sun spoiled the blooms.
Chrissy, fancy showing me the way to the iris plant files. You know I wander around in there all the time and want everything. My angels are beginning to enjoy some sun and the yellowish winter leaves are giving way to new green ones. There are buds coming too.
Marlene,I like your water pots. I must try them for my siberian iris and the new one I bought , which likes water. Colleen, enjoy your trip and don't bring home too many pieces.
Hello Louise. You are going to have a bit of work to do there, with your jungle. Watch out for alligators.
Love to see more of your Florida garden as you get it done.
Hello Sue, Shelly, Steve, Wayne, Kat and anyone else lurking about. I am off out to the sun.
I made a bench yesterday so I can sit and watch the irises grow when they are moved to the new place. 2 large upturned concrete pots with a concrete slab on top. Does the job and will never rot.
Sorry Brian, Colleen says no cream for you so try this instead.
A delicious Pecan Custard tart.
Happy gardening ,Jean.

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chrissy100
Sydney
Australia

October 23, 2009
05:30 PM

Post #7201307

Glad to see you got there loise ...lots to do for you but I am sure it will be beautiful quite soon ...I see brug trunks there :-)
I hope you have a great time colleen, you must be excited.
Yoo Hoo jean ...we are knocking on the door!
I want a cuppa please ...it's nice outside but will get very hot again, I have never seen such damage in the garden ...the usual beautiful Spring display just isn't happening ... blooms blown off or burn't off.
I know it will all fix itself ...I have seen burn't plants that I have never seen burnt before. I guess it's the extremes of temps and the blow torch winds.
I will come back when the shop is open ...see you all then.
sammut
western sydney nsw
Australia

October 23, 2009
07:44 PM

Post #7201744

Good morning to all ,
Just in to say Hi .
Been out this morning only bought a geramium plant .
But how about this bought a new table set for the garden $125:00 off it was from the display area
right place at the right time . have to run till later hope every one had a great week end ---Elaine.

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Budgieman
Sydney
Australia

October 24, 2009
02:54 AM

Post #7202825

Hi all. Another sunny day at Sussex. Got the back of the house painted and the second tank in place. We now have 5600L of potential rainwater capacity. This combined with the bore should mean we never want for water. Taking advantage of the Federal Gov rebates to have the washing machine and toilet connected to the tanks.

Also arranged for a local removalist to bring the structure that will be the shade house from Cronulla to Sussex. Gave them plenty of time to arrange it when they were returning empty so got it done for a good price.

Happy to be cruising through the projects at the moment. Will send some pics.
Cheers
Steve
weed_woman
Coffs Harbour
Australia

October 24, 2009
05:44 AM

Post #7202869

Elaine, what a stunning outdor setting you got! Absolutely beautiful! Good score!
Hello all, just a quick stop in the door as I'm on my way passed. I'm enjoying reading where you're all up to in the garden and weatherwise.
Here it is dry, sunny and windy! Cool at night, overcast and threatening every afternoon, with barely a drop of water. Strangely the garden is looking quite nice, I think because there is a distinctive lack of weed growth and theres not so much pruning to do.
I'm off to find my spider egg thread, because I think I've found the spider!
Sue
chrissy100
Sydney
Australia

October 24, 2009
08:26 AM

Post #7203013

elaine love your outdoor bargain ...very nice, I hope you get a lot of enjoyment out of it in your garden.
sue that little spider pic was really lovely.
steve you are a busy boy ...I feel your excitment!
pictures please! when you have a moment.
It starts to get so busy at this time of the year ...next year (not too far away) will be the final year of the 2000 decade ...who can believe that!
Stake
Barmera
Australia

October 24, 2009
08:56 AM

Post #7203056

Not trying to be pendantic Chrissy but I think next year starts the next decade.
That is : 00, 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09.
Brian
77sunset
Merino
Australia

October 24, 2009
04:56 PM

Post #7204283

Good morning everyone. I was going to move us but thought I'd wait til the end of the month as it's only a few days away. Who could imagine the year disappearing so fast ? I think I'm with Chrissy in saying the new decade starts from 2011, as I count from one. We never did have a year 0.
It doesn't really matter anyway. It's a bit like which starts the millenium. As long as we all enjoy the time we are here who cares what year it is.
The oldies way back when never did get the years right anyway so we may be in the year 6000 for all we know.
Hello Sue. I love your little spider. so cute. There are so many tiny ones we never get to see. I'll have to go looking for some here.
Helo Elaine. You certainly got a bargain with your garden setting. I will come and sit a while with you in the sun.
Steve, you are doing well with your water and we hope to see pics of the shadehouse.
Chrissy, I always leave the key for you as I know you may pop in any time. I hope you found some nibbles left.
Shelly may have come in before and eaten them all.
Colleen, enjoy your trip. You are going to see some of my favorite parts of the state. Have a look at all the antique shops in Beechworth and call in at one of the largest bakeries I have seen.
Louise , have you started weeding yet ? Have a great time while you are there in the warm.
Hello everyone else. I'm off out to photograph the latest iris. They seem to pop open one at a time in the beginning then all at once when the weather warms a bit more. Poor things haven't had a real chance to settle in yet as I have moved them around. Now they have their own permanent place maybe they will put on the show they are capable of.
Have a great day all and stay out of the hot sun .
Sit and enjoy some Buttermilk Fruit Cake.
Jean.

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chrissy100
Sydney
Australia

October 24, 2009
06:39 PM

Post #7204611

I have lots of pink poppies (shaggy ones) all opening up now ...hot pink colour, very pretty (sprinkling outside).
Ok I thought the year 2000 was the beginning of the millenium ...remember how everyone thought all the computers would drop dead and everything would go nuts? You know what I mean anyway . We often say remember the 60's, 70's 80's etc ...what will we say about the 2000 years ...can't say remember the 20's because it has been and gone long ago.Suggestions somehow saying remember the 2010's does not sound right, remember the 10's sounds really weird, remember the 0-10's.What will we call the last decade?
Now I have given myself a headache!
Can't do much out there for now ...due to the sprinkle.Thank goodness for that it, may put out the fire in the Mountains ...bring on the rain!
Enjoy your day everyone.
DonnieBrook
Southern Gulf Coast, FL
(Zone 10b)

October 24, 2009
08:04 PM

Post #7204901

A cheery hello to you all! Yes, Jean, we have been out there in the heat weeding every morning until the sun gets too hot. We're making good headway so far. This sandy soil down here makes it easy to weed, thank goodness. I'm pretty paranoid about bumping into one of the very long black snakes that frequent the gardens. So far, so good, but I stomp on the ground and bang things around the area to give them a warning to get lost! Now we apparently have some exotic, large poisonous toads in the area, according to the veterinarian that lives next door. She has had some dog deaths from them. Ugh. It seems that the sugarcane growers brought them in to kill certain beetles, and now they are growing huge in size and are moving a hundred miles away from the cane fields into residential areas. I hate it when people bring in exotics like that. The neighbors across the street found one in their pool cage. Their dog wouldn't stop barking at it. Whew...glad the dog didn't go over to investigate! Back to the weedy gardens...I had to prune the periwinkles and the Mexican petunias so hard, it will be awhile before the gardens are ready for photos! I reduced my dwarf powder puff by half and my Painted Lady hibiscus by about the same. The brug in that garden is up above the gutters, but just now getting some leaves. I need to get out there tomorrow and fertilize everything.
WayneCarter
NW Sydney NSW
Australia

October 24, 2009
08:08 PM

Post #7204907

Hi all. Hope that rain comes to something Chrissy. We still have red dust on leaves inside the shrubs. Did a bit of mulching / shredding yesterday and almost gauged on the dust! :(

Out to lunch soon, so can't fill up on your lovely cake Jean. :)

These two Nerium I have trained as standards. They came from cuttings from a local shrub a few years back. Not too sure where to put them. They look a bit scrawny, but potted up or planted out I am sure they would do fine.

Have a happy day.

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chrissy100
Sydney
Australia

October 24, 2009
08:13 PM

Post #7204927

wow are they the same thing a our QLD cane toads? even the crocodiles are in danger if they are around.
http://www.qm.qld.gov.au/features/frogs/canetoad.asp
I have a cousins in Bundy (that's what they call Bundaberg) and this sounds awful but she tells me they practice their golf using cane toads as the golf balls.
We also have the black snakes (and others) called red bellied blacks. I hope the fires have gone from around there.
Have fun in the garden!

This message was edited Oct 25, 2009 11:17 AM
chrissy100
Sydney
Australia

October 24, 2009
08:15 PM

Post #7204933

Enjoy your lunch wayne:-) yes we need some real rain.
DonnieBrook
Southern Gulf Coast, FL
(Zone 10b)

October 24, 2009
08:37 PM

Post #7205013

Yes, Chrissy, they are a form of a cane toad...ugh. I can't recall their full name. Imagine being a threat to crocodiles!! I'm assuming they swallow the toads and then fall prey to the poison that the toads give off. Terrible to have them around so many dogs and cats here.
Wayne - what a beautiful spot you have there. I love how you have landscaped that area!
Stake
Barmera
Australia

October 24, 2009
09:10 PM

Post #7205084

G'Day
I would have agreed with the year 1 etc before I started playing with computers but I know now that we have to start with 0.
We could debate this for years remember the kerfuffle over the new millenium?
The year number is of course are only man made and that's what causes the debate.
Brian
chrissy100
Sydney
Australia

October 24, 2009
09:37 PM

Post #7205152

I have been told that the slime on there skin can be present in a water bowl left out for the pets and it can kill them just from drinking the water that a toad has been in ...I don't know if that is right but I have to say I dread the day they march down here into NSW ...I hope they find a way to stop it before then.
Look back up the thread brian where I ask about that and also ask what will we call this decade when it is finished ...any ideas?
Stake
Barmera
Australia

October 24, 2009
11:04 PM

Post #7205440

I thought the were already known as the "Noughties". If not then I hope history will know them as the final events of terrorism. I'm not overly optimistic though because no matter what religion the fanatics cannot be beaten because they believe they will be rewarded by death.
Brian
77sunset
Merino
Australia

October 25, 2009
12:46 AM

Post #7205811

I'm calling the last decade , the Garden Years because it's when I finally got my very own permanent garden and found all the lovely garden people here on DG. That suits me just fine.
You are right Brian, one could debate the subject for a long time but we should all enjoy what we now have as time is fleeting and at least we are lucky enough to live where we do without too many of those nasty people spoiling the country.
A happy picture,my ever faithful valerian.
Jean.

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DonnieBrook
Southern Gulf Coast, FL
(Zone 10b)

October 25, 2009
03:07 PM

Post #7207130

Beautiful, Jean!

Thanks, Chrissie, for that info on those awful toads. They are so unknown here at this point that it is good to know these things to warn all the pet owners in the neighborhood. This is a huge pet area, and many spend a lot of time in their yards.

Lovely day here...low humidity, so I planted 2 large pots of Jade Green Beans on our breakfast patio, and I also planted a long pot of Canary Climbers under the white lattice trellis. Do any of you have the Canary Climbers? This is my first experience with them. They are 8' vines with bright yellow flowers that look like canary feathers. Lovely
WayneCarter
NW Sydney NSW
Australia

October 25, 2009
03:34 PM

Post #7207231

Oh Jean, Valarian (Centranthus) is a wonderful reliable plant. I can see Herb Robert there too (Geranium sp.). Do you have the white and pink forms of Valarian? We started out with the old "red" then someone gave us the white. By the next season we had pink just come up! :)

Thanks Donnie Brook for your kind words.

Chrissy, some great rain at last!

Have a happy day, I am off to work.

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77sunset
Merino
Australia

October 25, 2009
04:47 PM

Post #7207423

Hello everyone. It's overcast this morning but supposed to be little or no rain and warming up towards the weekend. I hope so as our local show is on this weekend and I will be selling my plants. Tidied up a lot of the paths yesterday. I love the plants to spill over but one still has to be able to walk around.
Hello Wayne. I do have the red and the white valerian. I pull a lot of the pink out as it is much more vigorous than the others. It will seed over a large area and come up from roots left. The white seems to be quite happy to just seed around it's own space. I do like the red as an accent among the pink and purple plants. I have heard of Herb Robert but never knew it was one of the geranium species. That scrambling geranium I know as 'bloody cranesbill.'. Sorry ladies, thats the name not swearing at you.
Louise, Chrissy is right about the horrible cane toads. Some stupid person in beaurocracy thought they would eat the cane beetles but I doubt they even look at them. My son lives in Darwin way up in the north of Australia and he says they are all over the place there so it's just a matter of time before they are found way down south here too. Your authorities should be looking at every way to eradicate them before they take over the whole country. I have read that a few animals are becoming able to ingest them without harm but very few and not enough to ever make a difference. We had the same thing with the Prickly pear cactus . It now is found over a large area and is a menace.
Our English ancestors also imported rabbits which eat and dig up huge areas of the land . Queensland now has the fireants too. I hope nothing larger ever gets in. It seems our lovely country is a haven for all sorts of unwanted guests.
Chrissy, are you getting wet there after the heat? I see rain forecast for up there.
I hope it refreshes you and the plants.
Brian , I hope to get back over to Mt Gambier soon and will see if all those lovely cacti are flowering. I see buds on my white flowering one again. Perhaps all the Roundup I used to try and kill it had a shock effect instead and made it flower.
Hello Elaine, Mya, Shelly ( it's Monday ), Sue, Steve, Kat and everyone lurking out there. I am going to see what has flowered out in the garden . I am watching all the iris closely as I don;t want to miss a photo. My first epi has opened and I will post it on the epi thread later.
Have a great day everyone and try these Meringue Hearts.
Jean.

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chrissy100
Sydney
Australia

October 25, 2009
06:10 PM

Post #7207642

It's been raining all night and still showering out there now ...it's quite cool. feels more like Autumn than Spring.
It has stopped the mountain fires ...for now anyway.
I think the fox has to be one of the most awful imports too, I know they are "cute" and I even respect their cunning and ability to survive, BUT!!!!! I hate what they do to our wild and domestic animals. I am really frightened at the thought of Fire Ants and certainly could not live in QLD for that reason ...the reports from America are just dreadful. Almost as bad as Marabunta! of course they don't eat you but can sting you to death and it hospitalizes hundreds who have violent reactions to it. from what I have read these things are almost immortal.
Canary Creeper ...what a cutie, I didn't know about this one ...do we have it here in Australia does anyone know?
Just treat it like the ordinary nasturtium I would say ...will that be a problem with winter coming on?
http://www.rainyside.com/features/plant_gallery/vines/Tropae...
good luck with them.

If only we could share the rain, I feel really bad for those of you who don't get the rain you need.
Jean your garden looks amazing and with so much dry ...how do you do it?
Those standard oleanders should be wonderful for you wayne and what a backdrop for them, I am sure you will be pleased with that way of growing them. Stay dry today ...I am already soaked.
elaine stay dry!
You boys stay out of mischief.
Shell ...did you see nathan last night? I loooooved his version of "Mad World", After watching the amazing Alan Lambert sing it (runner up on american Idol this year) about a hundred + times I was gritting my teeth expecting him to leave me unhappy BUT Wow!!! It was fantastic and took the roof off. He reminds me of a young version of Allan Lambert, I want him to win. Having said that, it was sad to see our Kate leave ...I think they would love her in America with her great outback look and lingo ...such a sweetie too.Sorry to say I think the teacher may not go through next Sunday ...myself I think he needs to go back to his teaching because while his voice is quite good he isn't Idol material. His heart is still with the children ( a nice bloke) .Maybe part time singing for extra cash is the way for him to go. Sorry to bore anyone not into Idol.
Ok off to clean out the cottage, now it is empty, hubby says I can have it for my garden stuff (I think he is hinting that he wants the dining room back) I am really thrilled with that news. No more eating at the dining table in the loungeroom.
Enjoy your day everyone out there!

Stake
Barmera
Australia

October 25, 2009
06:16 PM

Post #7207661

G'Day
I like merangue and Colleen only said not to let me at the cream, As in law always a loophole.
Jean, There were about 3 Prickly Pears out of 100s that are a menace in the north. They were never a real threat down here as we are too cold (and dry) for them to go mad. Even in Qld. and northern NSW they are not the menace they were in the late 1800s early 1900s because 2 insects that feed on them were introduced and 1000s of hectares were returned to agriculture by the control by these insects. They were Cactus blastis and Cochinele beetles.
That concept will also enable the control of the cane toad, get one of the diseases or parasites that keep them under control in their native habitat. Nature is always about balance.
Brian
chrissy100
Sydney
Australia

October 25, 2009
07:23 PM

Post #7207873

Just came back after the radio warning re severe weather warning (large hail strong wind and flooding) heading Coff's Harbour way ...
be safe everyone!
Take care
shelly61
townsville
Australia

October 25, 2009
07:25 PM

Post #7207882

Good morning all, Its monday yuk, but still a nice morning anyway, Mya that sucks not for you, for me we did not get a single drop of rain, so still counting the perfect days lol.
Aaahhhhh the cane toads the idiots way back then did not have a clue, they imported them to eat the cane beatles, the cane beatles unfortunately live at the top of the cane and cane toads can not climb or jump very high, so a failure waiting to happen, then to make matter worse no natural preditors, so a failure waiting to happen, now there are millions of them, they have been found as far south as sydney and over in the Kakadoo, (I feel I have spelt that wrong lol), I have a big gully out back of my place where all cane toads go as they are killed in my yard, by either baseball bat or golf club, my record is 57 in one night. The powers that be tell us that we have to kill them humanely by putting them in plastic bags and keeping them in your freezer, the mongrel things did not kill my cat humanely, it took her 6 days to die at the vets. So all they will get from me is a clubbing till there is not much left.
Oh my sorry about that all I did get a little carried away with myself there for a while, I will try not to carry on to much in future. But there is a little hope in sight, the crows and the magpies have learned to flip them upside down and eat out their guts, as the only poison is behind there eyes on there shoulder blades, and it is only secreted when they are threatened and there are a coulpe of snakes that are immuned to them. I do hope Brian is right and nature will do her bit. Ok I have vented and feel better now lol.
Wayne your yard is loveley, it looks almost magic :-)
Louise good luck with your weeding you will have it looking beaut in no time.
Chrissy, I think the top 2 will be Nathan and Stan, Toby will be gone soon, I am actually surprised he has lasted this long, but you are right he should be a teacher first. I was not a Kate fan, but I thought she was at least different from the 'norm' and I did enjoy her singing.
Jean I am a little cranky with you (giggling to ones self right now), now I am going to have to go out and get some Irises, they are lovely, as if I don't already have enough addictions lol. ( and by the way I have been very good in the kitchen lately, I have been leaving plenty for others to share)
Steve love to see pics, so don't be slack like me lol.
Have to go lots to do
have a wonderful day all, smile and stay safe
shell
DonnieBrook
Southern Gulf Coast, FL
(Zone 10b)

October 25, 2009
09:03 PM

Post #7208293

Wow, Shell, 57 in ONE night??? I am having just horrid images of you out there tippee-toeing around a field of cane toads with your bat swinging in all directions! I'm so sorry you lost your cat to these horrid creatures. That is a good lesson for me to share with the neighbors here. We are all clueless and need to understand the threat. Thank you all so much for taking the time to share some info on these things for me.
Brian - I do hope you are correct and some natural predator steps in at some point here before they get too out of control. Losing a pet is a terrible thing. We're still sorely missing our sweet Molly.
Jean - love your meringue confections! Thank you for your toad input! So helpful! We have fire ants here, and we have had to retain a pest service to control them. They are quite dangerous as well. Our Molly was stung by some and she went through a hard time. She simply walked across our patio on her way out into the yard, and they love nothing more than to make nests under the patio bricks, so there you have it. I've been stung on my feet as well.
I've just about gotten all the weeds tamed, and am now pruning madly.
Chrissy - I watch our American version of Idol and really enjoy it after they finish with the early programs where Simon and Randy are mean to the bad contestants and laugh at them. I can't stand it when people are laughed at...never could, even as a child. It seems so cruel, even though they should know they have no talent and should not be getting up there pretending like they can sing. Once the show gets into the real talent, I think it is great fun to see how the contestants grow from the end. I do not watch much television (like to read much better), but I do like Idol and Dancing with the Stars and Hell's Kitchen - which is a contest among aspiring chefs.
Lovely day to you all! Watch out for those storms!!
shelly61
townsville
Australia

October 25, 2009
10:54 PM

Post #7208655

Hi Louise sorry no field, just my little back yard which makes it all the more the sadder lol.
But even I am amused by the vision lol.
77sunset
Merino
Australia

October 26, 2009
12:17 AM

Post #7208867

Hello you busy lot. Brian, you can't have the whole plate of meringues. Watch out or Shelly might go mad with her bat. My son freezes them as he doesn't like making mess to clean up. He told me about the large mouse spiders up there which he hates more than the toads. Thank goodness I never saw any when I was there .
Louise, our lovely continent is known for it's own poisonous creatures without idiots importing more. We have a lovely lot of snakes and spiders. All with venom designed to kill their prey but just happens to kill us too if we get in their way. I personally like the snakes around the garden. As long as one makes noise and gives them room there is no danger. I leave trays of water around for them and the lizards .
Shelly, I'd love to see you out at night wielding your golf club. Do you use a 9 iron or a putter ? ha ha.
Chrissy , glad you saw some rain. It will wash the dust off everything. I hope the hail does not do too much damage. This is on the other epi thread but I like to show pretty things so here is my first epi for the year.
Jean.

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shelly61
townsville
Australia

October 26, 2009
12:32 AM

Post #7208902

Jean it is lovely, thanks for putting it on this thread. I use a driver (bigger) or my daughters aluminium baseball bat, both work exceptionally well for my task lol. Brian, Jean is right you had better behave, I may not do carrot or pumpkin, (yuk) but I do love meringues.
Stake
Barmera
Australia

October 26, 2009
12:54 AM

Post #7208928

Shelly you stick to looking after the toads, I'll manage the Meringues.
Brian
shelly61
townsville
Australia

October 26, 2009
02:45 AM

Post #7209033

Now now Brian I am sure I can eat a meringue while I am happily killing a toad, I have quite a strong stomach lol.
Stake
Barmera
Australia

October 26, 2009
03:09 AM

Post #7209046

Good lord Shelly I was trying to share the load with you, so you didn't have to do all the work.
Brian

This message was edited Oct 26, 2009 4:40 PM
Budgieman
Sydney
Australia

October 26, 2009
05:02 AM

Post #7209110

Go the nine iron shelly! Give them some height!
Have I asked about this? Id please.
Cheers
Steve

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DonnieBrook
Southern Gulf Coast, FL
(Zone 10b)

October 26, 2009
10:48 AM

Post #7209766

Steve - that is a beauty! It looks familiar but I can't name it, and I want one!!!
Louise
chrissy100
Sydney
Australia

October 26, 2009
04:18 PM

Post #7210916

steve :-)
http://www.provarplants.co.uk/provar-plants/plant-detail.php...
chrissy100
Sydney
Australia

October 26, 2009
04:21 PM

Post #7210932

The one in the picture above is a hybrid ...but yours is the older type. Prune after blooming ...a very nice and reliable plant.
Good morning everyone ...I am so cold ...I need a hot drink please jean.
77sunset
Merino
Australia

October 26, 2009
04:38 PM

Post #7210987

Good morning everyone. Steve, what a beautiful weigelia. I have a paler pink one . They used to be in everyones garden when I was growing up.
Chrissy did you get enough rain ? It is finally supposed to get hot down here so the angels should be happy.
Hello Louise. How is your weather there now ? Perfect I suspect. Your garden will soon be appreciating all your weeding and looking lovely.
Brian and Shelly will have to stop fighting over the meringues or I'll not give them any more. Shelly, I hid some for you under the sink cupboard, so be quick. I'll put a jug of cream out for Brian to keep him occupied. I hope Colleen is enjoying her trip.
How are you doing Sue ? Your brom house must be overflowing now. Mine are looking lovely. I can see a small pup forming on my new B. 'Hallelujah' So exciting to see it already.
Kat, where are you ? Have the turkeys taken revenge and sent you off somewhere ?
Elaine, I hope you are relaxing at your lovely garden setting with a cuppa.
Hello to everyone else.
Today I am going to lay out the retic hose for the iris. I find this is the best way to water anything and the irises don't need much during summer anyway. I also have to get all my little plants ready for selling at the local Show on Sunday. They usually get spread around during the year in whatever space is avauilable, so now I'll gather them all up and put in the trailer. The weather is forecast to be hot but showery which will be very nice.
I will leave something nice in the kitchen for you all and extra cream for Brian to keep him occupied. Shelly be quick. Meringue Cake with Strawberries & Cream.
Have a happy day.
Jean.
weed_woman
Coffs Harbour
Australia

October 26, 2009
04:39 PM

Post #7210991

lovely wet stuff, falling from the sky! 130mm overnight, full tanks and full dam! STOP NOW! he he. geeze, we needed it! the water tanker has been running in and out of the estate for around a month now! We never got that bad, but i was beginning to worry just a little. Theres signs that it must have come down quite heavy during the night, but I slept through it all.
That is a pretty flower Steve.
Well, I'll have a quick coffee and then I'd better make the most of my day off (due to weather) Oncew I have my chores done, i can go sprinkle some chook poo around in the rain, and I might do some mulching if we get some clear patches.
Whats everyone else up to today?
Sue
Acanthus mollis

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77sunset
Merino
Australia

October 26, 2009
04:41 PM

Post #7211000

Hello Chrissy, come inside where its warm and have some lovely cake. You need to sit and relax.
Hello Sue, a cup for you too.
Jean.

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weed_woman
Coffs Harbour
Australia

October 26, 2009
04:49 PM

Post #7211031

thanks Jean. Mmmmmmm. Glad you are in for some nice gardening weather. I just received some pics from my Mum, with fields of Dutch Iris in Tas! Gorgeous. I can't wait to see yours!

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chrissy100
Sydney
Australia

October 26, 2009
04:51 PM

Post #7211038

Glad we can get a hot drink this early ...I am still cold!
sue we had so much rain ...a month's worth they said.
Yes we certainly need it. Everything all right up there then?
I will be planting seeds in the veggie patch ...staggering the various plants is the best way to have them all summer and autumn.When I was new at veggies I grew too much all at once, I have since learned that staggering is best. Lots of green leafy stuff and a few other interesting things to try.
I love acanthus don't you? So umm Greek!
http://www.columns.net/column_history.php
chrissy100
Sydney
Australia

October 26, 2009
04:55 PM

Post #7211053

Oh look at that field of iris ...jean ...jean!!! look at that!
thanks for the hot drink!
Ok now I am warmed up I had better go do some work, see you later everyone ...enjoy your morning.
77sunset
Merino
Australia

October 26, 2009
05:29 PM

Post #7211171

WANT. WANT. I need to win Lotto. Sue , don't show me pics like that.
dalfyre
Christchurch
New Zealand

October 26, 2009
07:02 PM

Post #7211502

hi all - I am back form 4 days in Robina, it was so nice to have warmth & sunshine.
We even has a couple of brief showers of rain, sadly not enough to help the gardens any.
My Father-in-law was just putting in tomatoes, basil & capsicum.
They haven't been in their new house for long & he is still figuring out the best places to put plants & deciding what he want to keep & what he wants to pull out.
Definitely keeping the gardenias!
What a gorgeous flower & the scent just wafted across the yard on the breeze.
Anyway back in ChCh it is wet & cold...
I have the dreaded lurgy - that tried to spoil my break but I kept taking cold & flu meds & managed to enjoy myself anyway.
Did take Nana naps every afternoon - sad but I was just too doped up to stay awake the whole day.

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shelly61
townsville
Australia

October 26, 2009
07:22 PM

Post #7211567

Good morning all, I woke up this morning and got all excited, it was overcast, but alas it has gone now, so yet another beaut day sigh!!!!!!!!!!
Sue that field is wonderful, so pretty but you probably should not have shown Jean lol.
Steve great plant I am with Louise, I want one as well lol. Do not forget to post a picture of our table when you are finished it, Jean and I can't wait lol.
Brian I will be good and share, not that I really want to, but I will lol.
Jean found the secret stash, but I am not going to tooooooooo greedy lol.
Chrissy I can not even imagine being cold this time of the year, our nights have not got below 18 to 20 since august, and our days are still low 30's. But trust me you do get bored with perfect weather every single day, the whole city is so brown, actually it has gone past brown it is now into grey, we so badly need some rain. We live in the oddest world, we go from our wettest wet season ever to one of our driest winters ever, but in saying that I would not live in any other country on the planet, I watch the news and am forever grateful, that I live in australia. Ok sorry all I feel I am rambling yet again.
Sue, sounds like you have had enough rain we will take any left overs you have lol.
Louise how long do you stay in Florida?
Teresa I hope you are having a wonderful time over here.
have to do some work have a great day all
shell
dalfyre
Christchurch
New Zealand

October 26, 2009
07:39 PM

Post #7211626

thanks Shelley, I wish I was still on the Gold Coast - ChCh is dreary right now - I can see my peony has been just about flattened by the southerly.
I have an azalea starting to flower but it is too nasty to go take photos right now, my rhodie is a mass of pink too.
Hope it clears up soon, we have the pellet fire burning & sitting outside to catch a nice cool breeze seems like a dream now.
If it wasn't for the photos I might think it was all a cold & flu medication inspired hallucination.
Wouldn't it nice if we could send rain away to those who need it once we have enough?
This is the golf course just down the road from the in-laws.

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sammut
western sydney nsw
Australia

October 26, 2009
08:11 PM

Post #7211736

Good morning to all ,
Just poped in as I pass not as cold or as wet to-day I have spent the last 2 days next to the heater doing some more preety pots now I can plant in them .
Shelly How is the other 2 puppies ? -- is the vet finding them homes or will you .

Hope all have a good day till later ----------Elaine.
chrissy100
Sydney
Australia

October 26, 2009
08:28 PM

Post #7211805

I have just come back in, cold wet and shivery ...the green grubs are going to town in the rain and if you don't go and squish them they will eat everything in sight ...shell your night temp is our day temp but it feels worse due to the wet mud and drizzle ...if only we could share our water! Honestly in this day and age we have the water and (most just runs out to sea) ... and we don't do anything about it, if they can green the deserts in some places overseas then why can't we? (huff ...puff ...fume) makes me mad, but we can't say anything about pollies here at daves, probably just as well.
Gee my gardenias don't even have buds yet!
Everything is wayyyy slow here ...can't believe it.
I have to say shell that after 7 years of drought prior to these last 2 and a half years of rain, I certainly remember how the dreaded blue sky would hurl clouds straight over the top of us and head to the coast and out to sea. The land out here looked like Africa before the rains.Then there was the daily smoke spotting scare of erupting bush fires not too far away in the Blue Mountains.
Rain is better. This is the way of things, always has been, always will be
"Of droughts and flooding rains" Like you, I am grateful every day of my life, that I was born here ...come drought , come flooding rain ...
by the way, if I had to flee from my beloved country ... NZ is where I would go.
chrissy100
Sydney
Australia

October 26, 2009
08:32 PM

Post #7211822

hi elaine ...I am cold but i am soaked from the drizzle outside ...
nice to hear you are ok and playing with those pretty pots.
I am needing a hot shower and dry clothes ...enjoy the day everyone.
sammut
western sydney nsw
Australia

October 26, 2009
09:02 PM

Post #7211937

Hi Chrissy all my gardenias are in bud I had one flower before the rain I must be playing the right music to them .----------Elaine.

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shelly61
townsville
Australia

October 26, 2009
09:32 PM

Post #7212053

Hi Elaine I have already found 2 wonderful homes for them when they are both fit and well enough to leave the vets.
Chrissy that is where I would flee to as well lol.
Teresa I am very sorry that you were sick during your visit, I hope you had a great time anyway, oh and by the way great pic of the golf course. Next time I hope you can manage a longer and healthier visit.
Steve I was given a set of golf clubs years ago I have no idea as to why as I don't play golf, but they have found their purpose in life, I will try the 9 iron thanks for the tip, I have no idea what they are all meant for, I only use the wood because it is the biggest lol.

chrissy100
Sydney
Australia

October 26, 2009
09:45 PM

Post #7212111

I think your area may be warmer than mine due to the winds coming in off the Blue mountains ...they carry a chill factor.
I have to tell you that mine are 7/8ft tall so when they do bloom ...they knock your socks off!
I just found small buds on my whirly bird frangipani (white double) ...a big surprise after no coloured ones bloomed for me last year ...it must have been that three weeks of warmer winter weather or something.
I found small new leaves on the hibiscus cuttings from cestrum and tiny roots growing on the pink oleander from judy ...I planted half and left half in a glass of water ... I had always read that you could grow roots in the water with them , but now I have seen it for myself!
I am going to try more water rooting things now ...it was just plain pre boiled water and cooled to tepid.
Mya if you are looking, that's the way to go with your oleander cuttings in future ...start them in water.
chrissy100
Sydney
Australia

October 26, 2009
10:08 PM

Post #7212181

Sorry I forgot to say that I hope you feel better soon teresa
Look at this gardenias ...gardenias growing roots in the water!
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/fp.php?pid=7202947
dalfyre
Christchurch
New Zealand

October 26, 2009
11:10 PM

Post #7212368

I never succeeded with transplanting cuttings that rooted in water.
Yet my Mum has done roses that way.
I have more success just poking cuttings into the garden.
But I am a bit strange at times...
:-)
Stake
Barmera
Australia

October 26, 2009
11:30 PM

Post #7212455

Shelly seeing you are so nice about sharing the eats. I have a meeting this afternoon followed by a BBQ & tasting of our new trial red wines. Would you like to accompany me to the function? Don't bring any toads.
Brian
MyaC
Magnetic Island
Australia
(Zone 11)

October 26, 2009
11:39 PM

Post #7212486


Quoted:
Mya if you are looking, that's the way to go with your oleander cuttings in future ...start them in water

Always looking Chrissybut sometimes don't have time to respond or comment...I'll certainly try the water rooting method with my next batch of Oleanders ,thanks for the tip :-)
shelly61
townsville
Australia

October 27, 2009
12:01 AM

Post #7212546

I would love to accompany you to the function, especially that function lol, I have asked my boss and he won't give me the afternoon off lol. So thank you so much for the very kind invitation, but the next wine tasting I will be there lol.
chrissy100
Sydney
Australia

October 27, 2009
01:24 AM

Post #7212677

Mya and everyone ...this is a gardenia rooting in water, in this thread.
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/fp.php?pid=7202947
how cool is that! i always looked at the chat re cuttings grown in water but now I have seen it in the oleander I am going to try a few difficult things ...nothing much to lose.I remember seeing one gardener saying that it is easy to root boges that way ...now that would be fantastic!
katciao
Brisbane
Australia

October 27, 2009
02:52 AM

Post #7212776

Hello all..still here!just lurking..bufo marinus..cane toads came from the United States and Mexico etc..would you like them back..with their rellies???hahaha..I use Dettol (disinfectant) as it knocks them but that can be expensive. if you have animals or birds, change all outside water and drinking bowls every day as they hop in there at night and can poison it!

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/amphibians/can...

We had heavy storms all last night and a few more today. Will be good for the garden but so much at once tends to wash the topsoil into the river.

Love the pikkies. Back to work. Ciao!
Marleneann
Sunshine Coast
Australia

October 27, 2009
05:23 AM

Post #7212822

We only got 12 mls in yesterdays storm.
I am going to Darwin next week. I do hope we get showers whlie I am away to keep the plants alive.

Shelly... my Hoyas are doing very well. Even some loose leaves I popped in a pot have rooted.

Chrissy ...I planted my Angels out in the garden. I think every seed must have germinated so I keept a few plants to give to my daughter-in -law.

Jean...I left some tea bags in the Tea Room. I have been hitting the drink lately.

I am going to Darwin next week for a holiday with hubby.
77sunset
Merino
Australia

October 27, 2009
04:46 PM

Post #7214438

Good morning everyone. Hello Kat. nice to see you popping in but I think you may have missed any cakes. Leisa has been in for the meringues also Brian grabs all the cream cakes. You would be right back to normal now, after the wedding has been over for a while. How are you pets going ? (turkeys, I mean not neighbors) I am closely watching my epis, one is out with many more teasing me with their slowness.
Hello Marleneann, have a great time up there. The gardens in Darwin are gorgeous. Thanks for the teabags.
You are lucky to get hoyas to grow from leaves. I tried once but maybe it was too cold at the time.
I saw a site the other day on hoyas and was surprised at how many beautiful ones there are. Mine are only the common (but pretty) carnosa, I think. Mainly rescued orphans from sales but they do well here despite the cold. I must look into some of the different colors . They do look well climbing up the trellis. I have one hanging around in the epi house. Must be over 15' long now.
Leisa have you been into the wine again ? It seems to be disappearing quite fast. I will have to stock up again.
Chrissy, did you get any of that heavy rain I saw on TV ? So much rain running out to sea, when so many still need some. Your babies will be wondering what season it is , poor things. At least mine are now used to weird weather .Love that pic of the gardenias rooting in water. I have tried it with a few plants . I love gardenias but they don't like the cold here. Mine struggle to survive. I have had, at times, plants root in water because I left them too long in a bucket of water. Typical me, put things in the bucket , put it aside, then promptly forget it.
Hello Elaine, I hope you are still keeping warm. At least you will be able to get some small projects done while inside. I hope Sue and anyone else in rain affected areas are okay.
Shelly, I see you going home with more broms if you are going to that show . Say hello to Sue if you find her.
Hello Louise. I hope you are warm there as it is quite cold here this morning. It does get a lot warmer by lunchtime but my fingers are frozen at the moment. Love to see more of your garden there as you get it tidied.
Hello to everyone else. I am going out to find a sunny place to sit. I have more iris to photograph too. Enjoy your day and this Chocolate Tea Cake.
Jean.

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chrissy100
Sydney
Australia

October 27, 2009
04:54 PM

Post #7214472

Yes jean I am thinking of trying it on some tropical things ...to give them a bit of a head start ...I really want to see if it works on boges!
I will be back after a few chores (hitting 30C today after 18C yesterday )sheesh!
Enjoy your cuppas everyone! (big wave)
shelly61
townsville
Australia

October 27, 2009
07:44 PM

Post #7214998

Good morning all, well yet another perfect day in paradise lol.
A quick visit to say Hi and get a piece of cake to have with my cuppa, Jean it looks wonderful.
Brian I need a name of a really nice port please it will be a Christmas gift to friend who has cancer, so I would like something he will really enjoy, he loves his port, not suppose to drink on chemo, but he does not care, they have told him he only has about 8 months left, so he will drink to his hearts content as far as he is concerned and good on him, you may as well go out doing something you enjoy. No one be sad for him please he is not sad for himself and will not allow anyone else to be.
Chrissy that is a crazy temp difference. I am amazed you are not all crook with colds and flu.
Kat and Marleneann we will happily take all that excess rain if you like lol.
Kat I use dettol as well, but only for the ones that are stupid enough to come into my house I do not want to clean up a toad mess on my floor, I get more satisfaction out of pounding the ones outside :-)
have to go lots to do
have a wonderful day all
smile and stay safe
shell
Stake
Barmera
Australia

October 28, 2009
08:01 AM

Post #7216219

G'Day Shelly,
See if you can find either a Touriga or Tinta Madiera varietal Port. There would be other good ones available so perhaps you will need to go on a tasting spree.
I have disgraced myself. That wine tasting BBQ that I mentioned that I was going to. Well I missed it because I lay down to have a nap and when I woke up it was too late to shower, get dressed then drive the 50km that I needed to go to get to the function.
Really getting old when you go for a nap and have a sleep instead, the shame of it I'll never live it down.
Brian
77sunset
Merino
Australia

October 28, 2009
04:25 PM

Post #7217695

Hello everyone. A lovely day here so far. Shopping day so you know I'll be looking for orphans.
Brian, sounds like you had a port tasting afternoon and needed a sleep. ha ha.
It would have been more embarrassing if the do was for you and you never got there.
Shelly, your friend sounds like he is very positive and I wish him well for his time left.
Chrissy, we went from freezing yesterday morning to getting around in shirt sleeves in the afternoon, it got so warm. I don't know how the plants figure the weather out.
It is so annoying when one is getting dressed, to find the right clothes to wear as one will be changing again in afew hours.
The marvels of our weird weather.
Hello everyone else. I am going now as I feel orphans are waiting. Have a great day.
I know who will be first in to try these delicious Cream Cakes.
Jean.

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chrissy100
Sydney
Australia

October 28, 2009
07:00 PM

Post #7218161

we will be waiting to meet the orphans jean ...I have to go out now too, running hubby on errands.
A big wave to everyone ...I hope you all have a wonderful day ...grey and cool here.Another cool Summer??? with the odd blow torch day.
See you all a bit later.

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hel
Alstonville
Australia

October 28, 2009
08:01 PM

Post #7218348

Hi Jean, there is an Iris forum and it's beautiful. Hi Sue, why don't you send your pic of the Dutch Iris to the Iris forum, I'm sure they would love to see it. I believe you had a lot of rain your way and that Bellingen was cut off again.
This is my newest Anthurium leaf it's 11"x7", since I moved to Alstonville they are powering.
Hel

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shelly61
townsville
Australia

October 28, 2009
08:48 PM

Post #7218558

Good morning all, it was a little overcast last night, but alas it blew away without a drop sigh!
Jean those cakes look devine I will be good and only have one lol. You are right he is very positive, a much better person than I think I would ever be in the same situation, thank you for you kind thoughts.
Thanks for the ports I appreciate it, I will go hunting for them. Its lucky I could not make it to the wine tasting, I would have had no escort lol. Shoosh don't tell anyone but I have done that before as well, had a little lay down for a nap and slept for hours and missed certain things that I probably should not have lol.
Hel that is a beauty, it is obviously very happy.
Chrissy don't get to exhausted with all the errands.
Have a great day all
Shell
I finally bought in some pics of the sky show I went to last month, so I will bore you all now. some a little out of focus, they were going pretty fast lol
this is the American Thunderbirds, they put on a spectacular show

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shelly61
townsville
Australia

October 28, 2009
08:50 PM

Post #7218566

and more of them

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shelly61
townsville
Australia

October 28, 2009
08:52 PM

Post #7218575

next

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DonnieBrook
Southern Gulf Coast, FL
(Zone 10b)

October 28, 2009
08:52 PM

Post #7218579

Hello everyone! Jean- please send me some of your cool temps! It is unbearably hot here...record high temps so many days since we arrived. It's just too hot to get out and garden yet. My poor plants that we brought down with us are still sitting in our carport waiting for me to get out and put them in their new home. I just wilt in this horrid humidity. Can you tell it makes me cranky? LOL
Those cream cakes are looking extremely tempting there!
Shelly - so nice to hear that you are having a perfect day in paradise!! Send me some of that perfection on the carpet, please!
Yes, Kat and Marleneann, please send some cool rain my way too!
Brian - sorry your missed your BBQ; you must have needed that sleep!
Chrissy - waving back to you...pretty flower!!
Hel - your anthurium leaf is so lovely and shiny! Very nice.
Our baseball World Series is on, so I will need to cut this short. G'night all!
Louise
shelly61
townsville
Australia

October 28, 2009
08:54 PM

Post #7218585

F18 an Aussie

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shelly61
townsville
Australia

October 28, 2009
09:00 PM

Post #7218608

this is the best machine on earth it is the reason my son has been posted here, be it only till the end of 2010, I will take what I can get lol. MRH90 bought from France by the navy, leased to the army and posted here at the RAAF base, and thus had a few naval postings in Townsville Yippeeeeeeeeeee!!

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shelly61
townsville
Australia

October 28, 2009
09:05 PM

Post #7218624

lucky last here is my boy with his helicopter.

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chrissy100
Sydney
Australia

October 28, 2009
10:26 PM

Post #7218879

Great shots ...you must be very proud!
Helicopters always remind me of my friends taken away to Vietnam, bad memories for me, but that looks very modern not like those awful Thump thump thump old ones.
Ok jean ...come out come out where ever you are and fess up ...how many orphans?
weed_woman
Coffs Harbour
Australia

October 29, 2009
03:43 AM

Post #7219543

Mmmm, Shelly, what a nice looking boy! he he.
All is well here, no flooding, just full tanks and dams and a fresh garden! I'm not complaining about the deluge at all! I know some were hit hard again, but nothing like the rain earlier this year. I guess this will start the grass growing and the weeds will be rampant by the end of the week! Doh. We have to take the good with the bad!
Sue
Budgieman
Sydney
Australia

October 29, 2009
05:33 AM

Post #7219583

Hi all. Thanks for the Weigelia ID. It would be the old fashioned one. Nice plant.
Not going to Sussex this weekend. Got things to do at home.

Had to have the dog put down tonight so a little flat. It's amazing how you can tell yourself it is the right decision but you still feel like the worst person in the world.

Steve
Stake
Barmera
Australia

October 29, 2009
08:15 AM

Post #7219818

G'Day Budgieman, You have my sympathy, I think that if the pet dies you think there was nothing I could do but when you have them "put down" you feel responsible for their death. At least I did when my dog had to be put down because of cancer. I can't cheer you up but I do know how you feel.
Regards Brian
77sunset
Merino
Australia

October 29, 2009
05:05 PM

Post #7221355

Good morning eveyone. It is a very muggy morning. Yesterday was hot and we are not used to it yet. It is overcast and very stormy looking but nothing has eventuated. We are forecast to have thunderstorms. I don't want them on Sunday for the show.
Alas, I found no orphans, not one. There were some annuals which looked dead anyway and one or two succulents, that I have already. A big nothing. Then I came home to the mail and Chrissy's seeds so the day was not a total loss plantwise.
Shelly, nice photos of the planes and your handsome young man.
Sorry Louise, all I can send you at the moment is more humid weather, Our bodies are in shock here as after all the cold suddenly we have these high temps.
Sue, glad you have plenty of rain but no flooding. Your broms will love it . Mine are doing well here and will like this heat.
Steve, so sorry about your dog but at least you do him/her the kindness of seeing to the end properly . So many don't care enough .
Brian, how is Colleen doing on her tour. ? Did you enjoy a nibble on the cream cakes I left out ?
I am going out to throw water on the angels now and open up the greenhouse for the babies. The epis are still teasing me with buds. So slow, but this warm weather may hurry them along. I have to check on any new iris out too as the heat makes the flowers wilt quickly. I will be getting all my plants out from around the place to arrange on the trailer for Sunday's Show. I just hope the weather is fine. Hello to everyone looking in. Leisa, Kat, Mya and anyone else out there. Have a great day.
Some lovely Fruit Loaf.
Jean.

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chrissy100
Sydney
Australia

October 29, 2009
05:46 PM

Post #7221438

Those poor plants get a big shock at the drastic change in the weather just like we do, but if you get that thunder storm with rain just watch the growth overnight in the angels.We are getting up there today, pretty hot at 30+ in our area. The bugs are out in force ...I have found bugs I didn't know even existed munching on everything.Hard to control in this muggy showery weather,weeds growing overnight.
steve so sorry about your mate, you did the right thing, no more pain, it's hard to say goodbye ...I hope one day we can choose the same for ourselves and not just our beloved pets.
sue glad you have had the rain ...believe it or not and much to my surprise the broms are doing well here ...nice colours.
It's Friday! ...again ...already.
Enjoy your day out there everyone!
Stake
Barmera
Australia

October 29, 2009
07:07 PM

Post #7221720

G'Day Jean, No nibbling for me when it comes to cream cakes I scoff not as in deride but scoff as in guts a big heap.
Don't know with Colleen but I do know her shade house is nearly finished and she'll be pleased with that.
Brian
shelly61
townsville
Australia

October 29, 2009
09:52 PM

Post #7222331

Good morning all, we had about 4 drops of rain last night I was very excited for a very short amount of time lol.
Steve I am very sorry for your loss, it breaks my heart when people lose a family member.
Yes Chrissy I am a very proud mum, he has grown up to be kind hearted and a good man, what else could a mum want, but in my enthusiasm I did not mean to invoke bad memories for you and for this I am truly sorry :-( Still no seeds hopefully when I get home from work today, thank you again.
Jean not a single orphan, that is very sad. Your cake today is very safe from me, I have never been able to eat those plastic cherries if they are not real, I just can not go there lol, and they seem to contaminate everything they touch in the cake, so that just leave lots more for everyone else to enjoy.
Sue anytime you like you can send any excess rain our way lol. I think my little boy (6ft 6in not so little any more) is not bad looking, but then I am kind of one eyed on the subject lol.
Have to go I will pop in this afternoon if time permits
have a wonderfull weekend all
Smile and stay safe
Shell

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77sunset
Merino
Australia

October 30, 2009
12:12 AM

Post #7222815

Hey all you lot up north... There was no need for you all to send warm weather altogether. I am melting. ..It seems so ridiculous that I was just complaining about the cold a few days. ..It is 32C at the moment and the clouds have gone away. We are still forecast to have thunderstorms and it is the right weather for them. I watered all the angels well this morning in anticipation of the heat.
My plants are all so use dthe variables here , so they don't look too bad. It will be different in a few months as they really dry out and get no rain...
Shelly, I love your little friend there. Our crimson rosellas seem to have gone for a while..
I am sneezing at the moment because , I think , of the large amount of grass pollen around and the Plane trees , planted all along the main streets of Hamilton. One of the worst trees for pollen from the seeds ( itchy balls as we used to call them, not because of some obscure sexual reason but because devilish children would drop them down ones back at school, thereby causing an itch ) Sorry all for using the S**** word.
I am going into the lounge were the aircon has been turned on for the first time this spring. I think it will be on a lot during summer.
Have a cuppa ladies and gents and eat the fruit cake. I don't like the 'plastic'cherries either but there they are. I usaully pick them all out..
Jean.

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shelly61
townsville
Australia

October 30, 2009
02:31 AM

Post #7222943

Now now Jean you said you wanted a little warm weather, happy to oblige lol, after all we have plenty to go around.
by the way a very pretty picture, it is a lovely garden.
Unfortunately there are only 2 of my little friends, they come to visit usually everyday, either for breakfast or lunch, this flowers all year round so I always have the birds in it, it is wonderful. I am hoping to attract more of the pale headed rosellas by planting more natives. I wish we got the crimson or the eastern here but alas not, they are both very pretty and you are all very lucky who get them to visit. I should not complain we get some lovely birds up this neck of the woods.
Budgieman
Sydney
Australia

October 30, 2009
03:35 AM

Post #7222968

Thanks for your sentiments.
Raise your glass for Ruby the golden Cocker Spaniel.
Need a nice red flowered plant in her honour.
Thanks Brian. Spot on!
Cheers
Steve
77sunset
Merino
Australia

October 30, 2009
05:06 PM

Post #7224628

Good morning everyone Believe it or not, it is foggy here this morning. Talk about odd weather. Yesterday was so humid and uncomfortable , now fog.
Shelly, when I said warm, I meant nice and warm not hot and sticky. You can keep that sticky humidity up there. The crimson rosellas will be back here later as they like to have a swim in all the swimming pools I keep around the garden. There is one made from an large old plough disc which is in the garden I can see from the window here. I can watch the birds as they enjoy themselves in the water.
I went around and watered everything yesterday as I won't be home tomorrow and more heat is forecast.
Steve , a red plant for Ruby sounds lovely. What about an iris called 'Wearing Rubies' planted with one of the red or white ground cover roses ? I don't have it at the moment but you can get it from Yarrabee Iris.
Hello to everyone around. I am leaving the key under the pot plant so someone can open the Tea Room tomorrow. I am off outside to load my plants on the trailer ready for tomorrow. Have a great weekend everyone.
Pretty Heart Cakes in memory of Ruby and all our other pets long gone.
Jean
We have moved to here.
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1052303/

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DonnieBrook
Southern Gulf Coast, FL
(Zone 10b)

October 30, 2009
07:12 PM

Post #7225021

Steve - I'm so so sorry about your painful loss of Ruby. We went through the same sadness 8 months ago, and it still hurts. I love your idea of planting a red plant in memory of Ruby. You have my deepest sympathy.
I had to take my husband to a doctor today for fire ant bites that he got 2 days ago on the golf course. Today his leg started swelling and he now has a secondary infection from the bites. So glad we got in to see a doctor before the weekend. Serious stuff.


Budgieman
Sydney
Australia

October 31, 2009
02:49 AM

Post #7226454

Hi all.
Your suggestion sounds great Jean. I will do some hunting. She would have made short work of a heart cake!
I have a good friend who is working hard on the fire ant problem in Australia. Nasty little critters. Hope hubby recovers soon.
Cheers
Steve
weed_woman
Coffs Harbour
Australia

October 31, 2009
04:52 AM

Post #7226537

Brian, I had to show you! The grafts ahve taken really well, and I snipped back the shoots above them today. Here is one on the climber and the other is at about the same stage

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weed_woman
Coffs Harbour
Australia

October 31, 2009
04:54 AM

Post #7226538

ahve means 'have' for anyone that doesn't know, and adn means 'and'. sometimes the fingers make mistakes as they fly accross the keyboard. he he
This graft on the Blue Moon blew me away! I swear it was a little nub 2 or 3 days ago. Thats the yellow patio rose bud, so it should be really interesting to see how it goes! I'm thrilled!
Sue

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Stake
Barmera
Australia

October 31, 2009
09:06 AM

Post #7226785

Well done Weed_Woman now for the first flowers they won't take long. You will probably have to remove the buds that are swelling on the stock part or they will take over. When the bud shoots get a bit longer see if you can support them on the piece of stock above them, just loosely tie some of your florists tape around both stock and scion. Roses break out very easily with a slight bump or gust of wind. If it is not possible to support them then pinch the growing tip out when about 6" long. This will delay your first flower but will allow the stem to thicken up without much weight to support.Brian
DonnieBrook
Southern Gulf Coast, FL
(Zone 10b)

October 31, 2009
02:54 PM

Post #7227675

Hello all! Thank you, Steve. I'm attaching a shot of his bites...they do look a bit better today. He's propping the leg up to help manage the swelling.
Sue - I'm so impressed with your grafting! We are anxious to try to do that with some of our apple trees at the farm in NH. That advice from Brian is very helpful to know as well.
Beautiful day here today. I got out early and planted a coffee plant that was a gift from a DG friend at our gathering in September, and I also got 2 more tomato plants in. Still hot and humid, but that is supposed to let up in the next week. I hope you are all having a smashing day!

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weed_woman
Coffs Harbour
Australia

November 01, 2009
05:08 AM

Post #7229323

Thanks Brian for that info, I wouldn't have thought about the strength of the new join if you hadn't mentioned it. Tomorrow I will rub off any lower buds and tie a bit of tape or something for support.
Louise, those bites look nasty! I do hope your hubby gets some releif from them soon.
Steve, I am sorry about the loss of your mate.
Jean, how did your sale go? I took some plants and junk to the carboot sale on Saturday and did ok. It was very slow, and not many stalls. I had the opportunity to go to another today, that might have been more profitable, but I wanted a day to relax, so went as a buyer instead, although only bought a tub of honey.
Anyway, I'm going to get an early night for a fresh start to the week.
Goodnite all
Sue
weed_woman
Coffs Harbour
Australia

November 01, 2009
06:11 AM

Post #7229362

we moved! I missed it! Lets go http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1052303/

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