By special request (part 2)

Thank you Vi!

Murmur yes it is gorgeous, I have to agree with you!

This shot was on 2nd June 06, the beds only just getting going. The bright red is the car through the bottom of the hedge, it took me a while to figure out which flower that was! I like the dappled shade with the sun, this was at 6.30pm. You can see most of the now fallen Eucalyptus tree, it had grown a lot from that time too. The huge tree at the left is the Horse Chestnut. A red leaved flowering cherry, it's just bursting into flower now but they are small flowers. The Acacia tree is in between the two, now full of flower, you would be surprised how bare the beds are just now!

The Acacia 3 days ago, I took this from the upstairs window, we are lacking sunshine. Shame about the backdrop! The neighbours are building an extension, no-one can afford to move to a bigger house now, they have 2 bedrooms and with kids they need to expand.

You can just see some purple crocus around the ege of the bed, and red primrose which I grew from Primula x beesiana, a candelabra copper tinged yellow. It must have crossed with a red Primula, the flowers are huge and start flowering very early. The Eucalyptus tree trunk end is still there too, and some gaps which are replanted or hacked back so next year it will be a little different.


Looking at pics from last year which was very late (this year is early!), there was only a few flowers on the Acacia but it was late March to early April flowering.

The extension on the neighbors house is even amazing!!!! You simply live in paradise-PARADISE-
do the homes there have big front porches?

Generally not, but some people have a porch built on. Conservatories are quite popular built onto the side or back of a house, uPVC with double glazed panels and a dwarf brick wall is the norm, it doesn't need painting! There are softwood and hardwood ones but most people prefer the ease of uPVC.

The houses here are mostly brick, those are semi-detached. I don't think I would call it paradise, but there are worse places!

This is the view at the other end of the property across the road, but I can't see it directly out my front window, I can at an angle.

That's a wonderful photo, Wallaby - I am a real nut for tree silhouettes! And you have a marvelous variety of shapes and textures in the picture. Lovely view!

It reminds me of a scene from 'Gone with the Wind'. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this thread - thank you so much for sharing.

Meribah

I think I know the one you mean hydrangea80, the house on the hill but wasn't it burnt out?

I know I have lots more pics, I have done some sorting, here's one of Cistus ladanifer near the side door. I had a narrow border to the oak tree, the new bed has joined up with that. I grew it from a small plant, it gets smothered in flowers. The front grass area behind (west facing) is going to be planted up with Camellias, with a hexagonal shape in the middle, a path around it and rose Variegata di Bologna in the centre. I have all the plants, it's hopefully on the list of to do's this year.

Murmur, through that gap I took many wonderful sunset pics last year, the horizon is relatively long there but I can never get it all in one pic. I got some shots on zoom, some with the trees framing them, I like to take advantage of small things in the way too, such as weeds from a low angle.

While one endof the sky was blazing, the other was streaked with pastels.

wallaby, I am awestruck at the beautiful mix of colors in your garden ! I am afraid I just "plant" ! I stick things in holes and people say "why did you plant that color by that one?" and I will say " because I had space for it at the time". Pretty pitiful planning ! I LOVE your phlox and clematis picture, but then there wasn't one I didn't love !!!!!

That's the way I often do it too corgimom! But I do have some idea in my head when I'm doing a new bed how it will be arranged, I just buy the plants I like then they go together.

This Dahlia le Baron in the new bed flowering with Salvia Black & Blue on 20th Oct last year is an example, I guess I go for a lot of blues and purples with white. The colours are washed a little with the sun, at that time of year the shadows with the low sun can be very nice.

The tree outline is what mainly reminded me of Gone With the Wind - when Scarlett and her father stand underneath it to look out at their land an the very begininng of the movie. It has been awhile since I have seen it , so my memory could be failing. A beautiful view, nonetheless.

Wallaby, you are not only a marvelous gardener, but also a talented photographer - great eye for picking up textures, shapes, color, etc.

Thank you Murmur, but as I look back at some of my past photos I become more critical, that's probably a good thing. For one I'm learning, and secondly I can now delete many pics which I couldn't before!

I took this of the hardy Fuchsia by the south wall on 29th October last year, normally by that time they would be frost bitten but they stayed mostly green and were even making new shoots and buds until a hard frost killed them off in February. If we had only had the -5C's (23F) they got through that, the hot summer probalby ripened them more than usual, it still seems strange. I broke the tip off one and the wood is still green so they may regrow from the existing wood but as you can see from this pic they grew well and covered the path so cutting back may be a good idea. The Delosperma on the bank also grows partly onto the path, but as you can see it was crossing to the other side. It's a good job I have a step up the bank!

Wallaby1-its 4:57 am-sitting at desk with coffee, no new pictures!!! Please dont leave-would love to see more pictures of your grounds from different angles-

I did a whole lot of tying, didn't copy, and got a 'page can't be displayed'!

So, more simply, here is an early June shot of some of the bank behind the bath tub, with rock garden type plants or alpines. They are Oxalis, Helianthemum Red Orient, Corydalis Pere David, Potentilla alba, the ferny foliage is Pulsatilla which has finished flowering. The dead stuff is Parahebe cattaractae delight, it must have been too cold for too long winter 05/06, but I have another one I grew from it.

Parahebe c. Delight, which I planted at the end of the Delosperma bank.

Another view of Helianthemum Red Orient, Campanula and in the top left leaves of an Auricula which has survived a few years, pic of that next.

That was 19th June last year, this Auricula flowering 12th May, you can see the Campanula leaves around it, not sure which Campanula as it was already here. The Auriclua I got nearly 8 years ago.

Another Campanula hiding beneath a fern which self set on the bank, it has grown large very quickly but I left it, there are Aquilegias self setting around it too and they go well together.

Muscari latifolia late April with a surviving primrose Wanda's hybrid, Potentilla alba just growing behind, Ipeheion Wisley Blue, Aquilegia leaves. There seems to be always something in flower and something waiting to take over.

Absolutely divine, Wallaby - such colors and combinations that steal my heart and make me sigh with delight!!

While on that bed, I will post a few Aquilegias that are growing there.

This is a Biedermeier hybrid, it hasn't grown huge but has crossed with others to make some lovely new forms.

Taken 29th May 05, you can see the fern frond, it was still small then but now is huge.

This is a self set just above the fern, it looks to have crossed with the Aquilegia Double Petticoats I have in another bed.

This was the first it flowered last year, taken on 29th May 06, that's consistent! Behind you can see the ferny foliage of Pulsatilla.

The bees loved it......

Some robust purples which are really pretty and tall have self set there too, they look to have crossed with others I have and an old fashioned robust purple which has been around in the gardens here for some time.

A good photo opportunity, late in the evening, Beidemeier, and the double pink above can be seen behind, with the fern fronds.

Aquilegia Double Petticoats, which I grew from seed and are mostly bi-coloured, but a few self sets are solid colours. They are near the Acacia tree, to the left is Centaurea montana, in front of that Spirea vanhouttei Pink Ice. The shrubs just shooting are Hibiscus syriacus.

You are an inspiration! I really love Aquilegia - I don't have too many varieties so when I see yours, I am ready to head to the garden center. It's fascinating how they will cross with each other and give you yet a new variety. As always, thanks so much for sharing - I never get tired of seeing your gardens and appreciate all your lovely combinations (color, texture, shape, etc.).

Closer, taken 23rd May 06.

To the bottom right the glossy strap foliage is Colchicum Waterlily, next to Lychnis chalcedonica Dusky Salmon.

Murmur these Aquilegias have set many peoples hearts fluttering! Just go for the best varieties, the bees will do the rest and you will end up with some beauties.

I have a full shot of the bank taken 2nd June 06, really I was taking the Callistemon citrinus. I had some Carnations at the top but most of those have died, but other things set to take their place, or I manage to fill the gaps because I have so many plants needing a spot!

The bank is north facing so suits many plants.

Wallaby1-any before and after shots-how an area looks in full bloom, and then same shot in winter? Please try and include your residence and greenhouses in the shots-I love it all!!!!

The bed with the Acacia is one I can show, it has some evergreen shrubs but there is always a winter period of 2 to 3 months where there is dead stuff that gets cleaned up as I can do it in mild spells, as well as leaves, this winter has been good for that. The previous winter was very cold from mid October to mid April, but while you are stuck indoors it doesn't matter too much!

As I clean up over late winter to spring the new spring foliage starts to appear, it always looks so fresh and is nice to see after the mess, which doesn't bother me, gardens are natural and you have to take the good with the bad.

This I took yesterday of that bed, already with spring flowers, looking across to the other Dahlia bed where I have more crocus along the edge. It gives a pleasant view even if there is still some dead stems there. Later it will be full, the end closest is where the Aquilegia Double Petticoats grow, a Hydrangea in the corner, Dahlia Bishop's Children along the edge later. You can see the Centaurea montana growing in front of the Spirea which is bare now but growing. As the Crocus die back there is new foliage behind it.

I find lots of lady birds/bugs live in the old foliage, leaves and seed heads over winter, as well as some birds feed on some seeds, the leaves have worms under them so blackbirds are fed over winter too.

Trillium kurabayashi is just starting to grow, it's in that pic.

This was on 19th April last year, with Colchicum foliage which grows in the spring, and the Hydrangea stems at the left. Some Aquilegia foliage too, and Daffodils in the bed behind, which is near the trellis with Clematis (not hte pergola clematis)

I have cleaned up the bank behind the bath tub, will take a pic of it too.

Ahhhh... I just found this thread and am soooo impressed. wonderful photo's
of amazing plants. Beautifully planted and grown. Wallaby - you are an inspiration!

I just did a walk around of my property. The snow has substantially melted away and we've
got an eranthus & a single crocus in bloom. The start of spring. Its this time of
year that I just can't imagine the dirty, muddy weedy looking beds ever transforming
into colorful and beautiful displays again. But in just another month or two, it will
happen. Your photos will tide me over.

Tam

The Hydrangea with Dahlia Bishop's Children 21st July

Wallaby - I just heard a fascinating talk about the "private life of trillims" by
a member of our local rock garden society. Its amazing how much goes on
under ground for trilliums. Yours obviously very happy!
Tam

Hi Tammy, you have some pretty amazing gardens yourself!

Tell me what happens underground with Trilliums.....I am pleased it's doing well, they are a prized plant!

A quick shot from the other side with D Bishop's Children, Aster Tonga island, Pittosporum Tom Thumb just in view, towards the Ceanothus which you can see in the pic with crocus.

Now I must get outside, the sun is shining after a hail shower, and it's going down!

wallaby - The seeds spend the first ~35 days developing to the point where you can germinate
them but another 25-45 days in their cooling period to develop the starchy food part that
attract the ants that would carry the seeds away to plant them. So of the total 60-80 day
cool period, really much of it is only necessary for distribution of the seed.

And then after germination, the cotelydon/seedling grows into a rhizome and secondary
roots starting in late June/early July. From germination, this underground growth continues
through the summer and is called the skotomorphic growth. The next stage is called the
photomorphic growth and lasts 45 days and is when the the leaves emerge. Under
ideal conditions it takes 6-7 yrs from seed to flower.

The trillium spends 8 months developing new roots and atypical buds after it has flowered
in the spring. Each year, it spends 8mo underground developing and preparing for the
next year (and several years' after) blooms' and stems' growth.

I'm not a botanist but found the talk quite interesting. I'll be typing it up and it will be published
in our newsletter. Its availabe on the web and I'll send the link if anyone is interested.

Tam

Thanks Tammy, if I get seeds this year it will be useful. Last year was it's second year and seeds were making, but the summer turned very hot and the pod withered before they matured! They take a few years before they can flower, I got this one already flowered but young, I think 6 years.

I have Magnolia Susan in between the Acacia, Ceanothus and Choisya, in fower last year on 4th May. This is looking back towards the Hydrangea. This plant I grew from a small plug, this was 7 years on.

wallaby, sure am glad that we can look back at photos. I would have hated to have missed your wonderful flower combinations, posted this past week. Really beautiful.

Had a good trip but glad to be home even if there isn't anything in bloom yet, and still quite cold, but I know spring is coming.

Donna