Things were going so well

Only a few short weeks ago my Kangaroo Paws were looking amazing - now this! Are they dying? Is this just a stage they go through? I cannot think what might have upset them. We haven't had any hot days or lots of rain, nothing that would have shocked them. At first I thought the flowers were just dying back, but all the leaves look poorly also. When I bought them my sister warned me they may not survive. These ones are Bush Gems and I believe they have been bred to suit a wider range of soils and positions in the garden. Even my brand new red one is looking unwell. I did purchase them at Bunnings, so if they do die and can take them back. I know that just because something is for sale in a nursery it does not necessarily mean it will grow in your area. Maybe this is one of those cases.

My Erysimum is growing right next to the Kangaroo Paws and looking a bit yellow too. I was waiting for the last of the flowers to die back before giving it a good trim. I remember it looking a bit sad last year after flowering. This plant was here when we moved though, so I am fairly sure it is happy in its position.

Another plant looking a tad unhappy in my garden is this fuschia. Many, many yellow leaves are appearing on it at the moment. It and the Abutilon next to it have never been very full looking plants. They are both fairly leggy. I wondering if cutting them back might help with bushier growth?

Continuing on with yellow looking plants. Here is my Avocado. I ended up planting it out on the very shaded Western side of our garden. The Eastern side had poorly draining soil and this side mimicked more of a jungle position, like their native growing conditions. It is protected by the Privot and Silky Oak trees. Once it starts to grow and is stronger I can remove branches of the other trees to allow it more light. That is if it survives this spot! It's looking quite yellow at the moment too. I will have to read up on what I need to give it to combat the yellowing, I don't want to kill it.

October already?

This year is going too quick. I probably say that every year. Spring is birthday season in our home. Mine was first in September. This year I gave myself a Magnolia for my birthday, I think I mentioned that previously.

Magnolia planted in the garden. The snails have been attacking the leaves.

I also bought a few new plants with the money my parents gave me for my birthday and here they are. Firstly a new Kangaroo Paw. I have a pink one and a white one already, so I thought I would add a red one to the mix. They seem to like the soil and position here near our bedroom window. I would like to add more if these don't grow too big. The red one was tagged as only growing to 30 or 40cm.

New one planted in with the others

The next plant is a Prostanthera rotundifolia or commonly know as a Mint bush. I have been seeing these lovely purple flowered trees all around our suburb this past month and had to have one for myself. There are actually quite a few types. I selected the round leaf one and planted it next to the Pittosporums, in the gap left by the ones that died. Another spot that is viewable from our bedroom window. I look forward to the masses of mauve flowers in the future.

Lastly I purchased a Cytisus. Only that morning I had been admiring my mother in law's one. She told me she would save me some seeds when it goes to seed but I couldn't wait. The flowers are so pretty and it has a subtle sweet scent. Unsure where to plant this one, so it is currently languishing in its pot until I decide.

I also received two plants from my mother in law around my birthday. She gave me her pot of Sparaxis that I had been coveting for a few weeks. It looked glorious in full bloom. The flowers have died back now and I am waiting for it to set seed so I can collect them. A few people have asked for some already, so hopefully I can strike them. I could just divide up the plants and give some away like that too I guess.

Flowers have now died back

This is the second plant she gave me and I have no idea what it is. Can anyone help with a name? She grew it from a cutting from a neighbourhood garden. Not sure where to position it until I know how large it will grow. It is quite pretty though.








Lots of other things have been happening around the garden this week too. Here are some photos of my potterings.

Coriander is flowering

Lemon thyme is flowering also

Awaiting the Rocket seeds so I can tidy this mess up

Potatoes are growing well on top

Sunflowers on their way

Banana passion fruit climbing higher

Our only Apricot fruits. There are just three

Orange blooming

Nectarine fruiting

Apple blooms - Pink Lady

What happens when an Avocado is planted in a pot with no holes!

Lots of growth on the Lemon

Lots of blooms too

Continental Parsley going to seed

Something wrong with these Strawberry leaves

Another plant I need to identify

Little white flowers have started blooming on it

First blooms on my new Camelias

This one is a bit different to the picture on the label

Banksia rose has bloomed. Pity it grows way above our house

Bloom appearing on one of the plants in the front garden

What is this? Some sort of pea flower?

I know I said I disliked the Pride of Maderia, but I have potted up these seedlings for now

Salvia cutting doing very well

Daphne sans blooms. A bit of yellowing occurring on the leaves

New growth on the Wind Flowers

Rose Campions gearing up to flower

A Foxglove sprouting from the soil. I pulled these out last year when someone told me they were poisonous. I will let them grow this year.

New seedlings appearing of a plant that died when I moved it - bonus!

The remains of my Freesias, all tangled in the grass

Pottering

I love to potter in my garden. I spend a lot of time pottering. I pull weeds, check for growth, damage, bugs, fruit etc. I find a lot of peace and calm in my garden. I truly enjoy just being out in it and soaking up the sun. I think my overall mood has improved a lot since I started to potter. I really appreciate my life a bit more. Our time on this earth really is short. We can get so caught up in all the things we worry about. My garden brings me no worries; only ideas, inspiration, peace and joy. I have truly enjoyed following my garden through a year of seasons. Finding out the identity of plants when their buds unfurl, watching where the sun falls as the seasons change, seeing the birds raise their young in our trees and adding my own touches to what was originally here. I hope your garden brings you the same feelings of contentment mine does. It's truly a blessed feeling. 

Here are some of the things I have noticed while pottering this week.

New growth on the Camellias. These are newly planted, so I am very happy they are doing well.

The second Clivia has bloomed. It has three flower heads

Yet to be identified plant has a flower? stem coming

Interesting pattern on its leaves

The Cordyline Stricta is about to bloom

One of the grasses out the front has blooms coming

Full shot of the plant. I don't know what it is.

Maple leaves are well on the way

New leaves on the Boysenberry? Unsure what berry this is.

It's doing quite well. Last time I checked it, it looked like it was dying

Photo of the whole plant. This shoot came from my mother-in-law's plant

Cutting I took of the Chinese Lantern and just popped in the dirt

Quick check reveals it has taken root

Dandelion

Flower stem coming on another unidentified plant