SoS 27/02
Autumn supposedly begins here in the southern hemisphere on the first of March, but I’d venture that it actually began a couple of weeks ago. For a start after a pretty bad summer (grey skies, not much sun and warmth, rain and windy windy, all because of El Nina)…
…our liquid ambers (giants they are) began to turn well before the approach of said date and they normally begin to colour-up end March-April. In addition, the poplars down the road are shedding yellow leaves, AND we’ve had some cooooold nights.
But now to some eager plants.
We have Muscari with months to go before spring. I wish the leaves would stop growing at this height, and let the flower spikes thrust through. Instead, we have months of leaf-growing (18-24 inches) and they end up looking messy. So I twist the excess foliage into a wreath and surround the plant with its own growth.
Next we have the start of either an eager spring Crocus or a Fritillaria. My handwritten label says a Fritillaria, but is it? Should I tell them we’re entering autumn?
Next one is a new autumn bulb (Acis Autumnalis) which in the catalogue, looked quite sweet.
Then an image of two of my pots of auriculas (Maggie and Jorvik). You can see that Maggie likes summer which is odd as she flowered well in spring. Jorvik has thrown a bud spike and I’m surprised at that as well. Do auriculas often do a second flowering in late summer?
And finally, can anyone tell me what this lovely shrub is? I like the bold white berries and think it would really suit our mainly white garden. Saw it on a dog walk.
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Oooh, and questions for those who grow Phalaenopsis orchids with panache. I hope Jon won’t mind a break in the rules. Happy to stand in the naughty corner if required.
I have four and they are beginning to show growth on stems that flowered last year. Can I pot them on? Into what medium? And feed them with what? At the moment they’re pot-bound in sphagnum moss with a base of blue metal chips which was what they came from the shop in. Thank you in advance.
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Please have a ‘coddywomple’ (To travel in a purposeful manner towards a vague destination) through some wonderful international gardens via Mr P’s SoS.
Cheers!
The new growths of phalaenopsis on last year’s stems are named “keikis”. If there are enough roots, you can transplant them in an orchid mix made from sphagnum moss, and pine chips. They will grow up and give you flowers in a few years. https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/orchids/orchid-keiki-care.htm
Thank you so much, Fred. They are my most favourite indoor plant, making such a statement (an art piece in their own right) and with four that are healthy, I would really like to do the right thing and encourage them as in the shops, they’re retailing for $A90.00 in a glass bowl!!
?.. it’s so expensive! … You find them at 12€ here ( $A20.00 ) : good luck !
I am GREEN with envy!!!!
That No:6 is a lovely shrub but I haven’t a clue what it is, I’m afraid. I also have plenty of foliage and not enough flowers on my Grape hyacinths. I’m not much help but I enjoyed your Six-on-Saturday.
Thanks Granny. I’m so glad someone else has my grape hyacinth problem as I really love the flowers – especially the newly-bred ones in shades of palest blues and whites.
Your garden looks lovely as always spring is coming here, we have crocus flowering and lots of daffoldils in various stages, some flowering but loads more to come <3 We spent an enjoyable couple of hours chopping back things. Regarding the shrub could it be this https://www.hopesgrovenurseries.co.uk/shop/hedging/snowberry-hedging/snowberry-white-hedge-hedging/
I initially thought it could be cotoneaster, but not sure?
That’s three for snowberry – I think we might have a winner here!
Given that you are in the southern hemisphere any stab at an identification of your shrub would be a big gamble. It resembles our snowberry, Symphoricarpos.
That’s what Jim said too, Paddy. Tasmanian gardens are very northern hemisphere-oriented, so I think you’d both be on the money.
It certainly doesn’t feel like autumn….!
It does here. We’re having crisp early mornings and clear autumn blue skies and glorious Indian summer days where the temps are about 19-22. A sure sign of autumn. I love it – need to leave the La Nina summer behind as when you live by the beach, as we do, its very user-unfriendly.
I think the white berried shrub is Snowberry, Symphoricarpus albus. Can be rather invasive.
Oh thank you. Shall chase up!
Hi Prue, for the first time I landed on teh front page of your website rather than straight to your blog and discovered you’re an author. Wonderful!
I’m pleased to see you’re growing acis. I’ve seen them in my bulb catalogues and always thought they looked very pretty. I hope you get some flowers as I think we’d all enjoy seeing them.
Yes, Katharine. For my sins, I’m an author. Naughtily though, I spend much more time procrastinating in the garden than writing. Re acis – as soon as it flowers, I’ll post pics. I’d never heard of it till it popped up in my favourite seasonal catalogue. Looks sweet so I’d thought I’d give it a go.
I have muscari appearing as well, and it seems early to me. I have never heard of Acis autumnalis before, and had to find some photos on the internet. What a pretty thing it is. I don’t know where you are, but I’m guessing much further south than us. Our summer has been similar, but not cold, just pretty dreary a lot of the time and rather windy. Today (March1st) is glorious. Days still in the 30s however. Autumn weather in the offing!
Hi Jane. Yes, much further south – Tassie. A drear summer so unlike the years when we have El Nino, but then we pay the price with drought on the farm. Being an ocean swimmer and a bit of a boatie, the reverse weather stream, La Nina, has disappointingly made us grey and very windy. We’ve had very few days in the high 20’s and 30’s. Bring on autumn – I love the mild clear blue days, still warm enough for swimming. Last year’s Lockdown was heavenly.
A coddywomple! I had a good laugh when I read that one! .
Isn’t it fab? I didn’t believe it was a real word when I first heard it, but it is. It apparently appeared online in 2010 and is now entrenched in urban slang. Not yet in the OED.
I feel I’ve been having a coddywomple for the last year, I just didn’t know the name! Your Auriculas do seem very keen.
Fabulous word for this last 12 months, isn’t it?