tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20533376015052326202012-02-16T05:10:47.881+10:00Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.comBlogger941100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-38637251947488326302012-02-15T18:02:00.001+10:002012-02-15T20:01:59.674+10:00

Summer is here with a vengeance now.  The days and nights are very very sultry and extra toasty warm!!  The air drips with moisture as the humidity levels climb and climb.  At the end of a long hot humid day, the colours in the evening sky go a long way to lifting the spirits. The garden ard I are not at our gardening best at this time of the year.  We are both wilting and waning now, and

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-7922208414121671322012-02-12T12:33:00.000+10:002012-02-12T12:33:10.080+10:00

Well, that was a very interesting 36 hours!!!! Google shut down my account while I was sleeping and I awoke to find I could no longer access my email, my blogs, my Google+ stream or my Picasa albums ... all of which were associated with my google account.  Apparently somebody out there was messing with my account ... what is wrong with these people?   Anyway, it seems everything is back

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-83581255387789881032012-01-29T17:22:00.001+10:002012-01-29T17:42:08.360+10:00

Date:  January 28, 2012. Season:  mid-Summer and 'wet' season. Decent rain has finally arrived, but it hasn't been the usual all-day-long wet season torrential downpours.  We've had around  230 mm or 9 inches fall in the last two weeks but most of the rain has fallen in the late afternoons or overnight, so we only really get to see the dark gloomy skies towards the end of the day, when the

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-7549908433145680052012-01-15T23:30:00.000+10:002012-01-15T23:53:01.354+10:00

What a glorious day!  Yesterday was a day of rain ... finally! Early yesterday morning, before my usual mid-weekend-morning cuppa out on the verandah, I started to smell the rain.   It's one of the scents I always associate with summer. Now I know this is a difficult concept for some.  Many are familiar with the smell of rain when the raindrops start hitting the dry ground.  That

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-77205012973098066202012-01-15T00:00:00.000+10:002012-01-15T19:21:10.146+10:00

I'm beginning my 2012 Snapshots series with this blog post for Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day.  Be warned.  My 'Snapshots' posts tend to be rather lengthy and photo-heavy.  A huge mug of coffee or tea might be needed! Let's have a look at what's going on around my place in the mid-Summer month of January. Conditions during December-January? Well the 'wet' season has most definitely NOT arrived

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-79150552335190101792012-01-06T00:29:00.000+10:002012-01-10T15:48:13.080+10:00

Date:  January 7, 2012 Season:  mid-Summer and 'wet' season So the new gardening year is underway here, but there's been very little gardening work done lately.  Given that we've been away visiting family and friends over the Christmas and New Year, I feel that's perfectly excusable.  Since our return home though, the inactivity has continued, apart from managing to do the much needed

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-13576495948342731652011-12-24T01:00:00.000+10:002011-12-24T01:00:05.945+10:00

Just a quick post to send Season's Greetings to all who read this blog.  Enjoy your holiday season and I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas filled with laughter and joy. Here's a bit of Aussie humour to cheer your day!

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com17Queensland, Australia-20.9175738 142.7027956-35.9590058 122.4879516 -5.876141799999999 162.9176396tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-74712944683062072852011-12-21T15:13:00.000+10:002012-01-05T14:42:22.134+10:00

Date:  December 21, 2011 Season:  early Summer and the beginning of the 'wet' season Well this looks like the last Garden Journal post for 2011. It's been a year full of drama for my garden.  There have been a lot of lows and very, very few highs, but I'm pleased to say that the end of the year has bought a smile to this gardener's dial.  During 10 out of the 21

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-6432210941599374222011-12-15T00:06:00.000+10:002011-12-15T16:23:33.588+10:00

Well here we are, it's the last month of the year ... and our first month of Summer Downunder!  Here in the north-east we've finally had a few showers of rain so it looks like the wet season is just sticking it's foot in the door and the dry season has left the building. Our average daytime temps have soared in the last week, hitting around the 36 deg C (96 F) mark in the shade, and as if to

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-11781392366193567102011-12-04T10:13:00.001+10:002012-01-05T14:41:38.156+10:00

Date:      December 4, 2011 Season:  Beginning of Summer and the start of the 'wet' season Well finally, after a few light showers here and there in the last couple of weeks, and a few grey-cloud days, I am sitting inside listening to the raindrops hitting the tin roof ... and I've been listening to that beautiful music since very early this morning.  Yes, it's been raining for hours and

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-392059383887519452011-11-19T08:51:00.001+10:002012-01-05T14:40:50.822+10:00

The sun is setting on Spring here in the southern hemisphere and it's also setting on the 'dry' season in my north-eastern corner of Oz.   It pretty much feels like Summer already.  The mercury has climbed back over that 30 deg C mark, with daytime temperatures settled steadily around the 31 degrees C (87 F), which really feels more like 33 C (91 F).  Relative humidity during the day doesn't

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-80940434008089809352011-11-15T06:13:00.000+10:002011-11-18T13:50:01.150+10:00

November is our last month of Spring Downunder and the conditions here in the north-east have remained remarkably comfortable and mild for this time of year.  The daytime temperatures are definitely up around the 30 deg C mark, but the humidity levels have remained quite sensible which means we're not sweating profusely just getting out of the shower in the morning. Of course, it's still

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-24415987519576262882011-10-23T14:14:00.000+10:002012-01-05T14:39:49.704+10:00

Date:  October 23 Season:  mid-Spring and 'dry' season. We've had some funny weather lately.  It's been very overcast and dreary, with loads of dark grey clouds hanging around. There was a sprinkling of raindrops for a couple of days but that's all cleared away now.   The plants appeared somewhat perkier even with just the faintest hint of rain. Not very much further north, they

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-41803650833134031752011-10-15T15:29:00.000+10:002012-01-05T19:55:59.154+10:00

Continuing my 'Snapshots' series for this mid Spring month.  Yes, October Downunder is the middle of our Springtime.  In my north-eastern corner, Summer has gate-crashed the Springtime Weather Party.  It's heating up and the sun is practising its fierce glare. Conditions during October? It's our 'dry' season here, and the grand total of rainfall during Spring so far  .... 0 inches ... 0 mms. 

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-6255996527938935862011-10-09T18:33:00.000+10:002012-01-05T14:36:02.371+10:00

Date:  October 9, 2011 Season:  mid-Spring and 'dry' season The dry season marches on in my corner of the world, and it's now being flanked by the rising temps brigade and the higher humidity company.  No rain has fallen here for nearly six months now, which is typical for this region. The mercury is creeping up over the 30 deg C (high 80s-90 F) mark every day and humidity is up

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-31504688142592302042011-09-16T00:20:00.000+10:002011-09-17T09:00:27.006+10:00

Early Spring ... and the garden is dry, dry, dry!  Typical of our dry season, there's been no rain for over four months during our Winter and early Spring, and my passion for gardening has waned a little.   In addition to the lack of rain, the wind has also whipped up considerably in the last few weeks and the potted plants that provide much of the colour here at this time of year, are

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com43tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-3460339404745420492011-09-11T16:15:00.004+10:002012-01-05T14:33:40.214+10:00

Date:  September 11th, 2011 Season:  Early Spring and 'Dry' Season The weather has turned a little overcast lately and there have been some ominous looking dark clouds hanging around, but no rain.  We're now just over four months into our 'dry' season and, with the beginning of Spring, it's the beginning of the end of the glorious cool comfortable climate we experience here during

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-90655280469317311682011-08-28T21:48:00.000+10:002012-01-05T14:32:37.282+10:00

 Date:  August 28th Season:  end of Winter and 'dry' season While the Winter sunshine bathes the garden in bright light and the skies overhead remain bright blue, I'm taking every opportunity to be out and about the place.  This is our last Winter month and while many southerners will be jumping for joy with the thought of Spring just around the corner, here in the north we're not all

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-18955334529821596942011-08-14T14:23:00.008+10:002012-01-05T19:53:43.488+10:00

I'm taking the opportunity to catch up with my Snapshots series, highlighting what's flowering each mid season here in my corner of north-eastern Australia, whilst joining in Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day.  Even though it's mid-August now, things are almost exactly the same in my garden. Conditions during July? Yep, dry is the word.  This was (and still is) the view out onto the bushland

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-70520068871900119972011-08-03T16:47:00.001+10:002011-08-07T11:07:57.750+10:00

Bombax ceiba leiocarpum, our native Silk Cotton Tree for Wordless Wednesday and Today's Flowers

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-39728031248358171922011-07-31T16:19:00.002+10:002012-01-05T14:31:29.367+10:00

Date:  July 31st, 2011 Season:  mid-Winter and 'dry' season Our last winter month begins tomorrow and our winter weather so far has been deliciously mild.  Lots of lovely sunny, fairly clear, blue-sky days.  Of course, our 'dry' season is well underway and there's been no rain. So this was the view as I worked in my thongs and t-shirt in the front yard this weekend.  ('Thongs' being

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-14690901243224106722011-07-15T10:12:00.002+10:002011-09-15T20:59:06.217+10:00

The delightful winter days continue here in my corner of Downunder.  Winter here is warm and mild compared to many other corners of Australia.  We did have what we refer to as 'cold days' a few weeks back, when the mercury got down around 20 deg C during the day and dipped below 10 deg C overnight. But that all seems a distant memory right now, as our daytime temperatures hover once again

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-24076561312762539882011-07-11T16:56:00.003+10:002012-01-05T14:30:32.399+10:00

 Date:  July 11th, 2011  Season:  mid-Winter / 'dry' season Making plans is great, but you know what they say about the best-laid plans.  I had a long, long list of gardening jobs to be done when the mid-semester break began a fortnight ago.  I was sooo... looking forward to working my way through that list.  Then some vile virus caught up with me.  That meant I was down for the count for

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-69435350460919959772011-06-29T13:00:00.003+10:002012-01-05T14:29:13.476+10:00

  Date:  June 29th, 2011   Season:  beginning month of Winter and two months into our dry season. Despite the fact that we are getting the occasional shower of rain, the effect of our drier weather is now becoming more visible around our place. The rain we do receive barely touches the ground and the 'grass' (I use that term very lightly indeed!) around the yard now has huge brown

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-16296746687193174302011-06-16T11:44:00.001+10:002012-01-05T14:27:55.408+10:00

  Date:  June 12th, 2011   Season:  beginning of our Winter and it's 'dry' season Our Winter has begun and the dry weather has definitely arrived.  From mid-Autumn to now, our rainfall total has really dropped away ... 88mm or 3.5ins in April (mid-Autumn) to 15mm or 0.6 of an inch so far this month (early Winter).  The conditions haven't varied much from cooler bright blue, sunny

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-24427565459097281092011-05-15T09:08:00.003+10:002011-09-15T21:00:09.365+10:00

We've had such beautiful autumn days lately.  Vast expanses of beautiful blue sky, loads of lovely sunshine and the most pleasant temperatures.  There's really not a great deal of variation when it comes to the seasons here in the tropics, except for that drop in temperatures and humidity levels after early autumn, and the rain takes a break for three-quarters of the year. The Dragonflies have

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com57tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-58947897408270883202011-04-30T21:37:00.009+10:002012-01-05T14:27:13.598+10:00

Date:   April 30, 2011 Season: mid-Autumn and beginning of the 'dry' season (Gardening zone:  'Dry Tropics' located within the Tropics Zone/Australia ... comparable to U.S. Zone 11) There's been very little rainfall for three weeks or so now which seems to be a sure sign that our 'dry' season has begun.  Typically, we will not receive much, if any, rainfall now until around mid-December

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-27724635368341562452011-04-19T20:51:00.002+10:002011-04-20T10:07:50.693+10:00

Autumn through to early Spring is the best time of the gardening year for this north Aussie gardener.  That's the time when many of the garden areas are looking pretty darn good. This year, however, is slightly different.  The prolonged 'wet' season and the unwelcome arrival of a cyclone means things have not gone exactly to plan. My favourite spot ... the Courtyard Garden ... is usually full

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-79083957476873336382011-04-15T14:59:00.027+10:002012-01-05T19:50:10.343+10:00

Continuing with my Snapshots series, highlighting each mid-season here in north-eastern Australia. Conditions during April? On the very first day of this month we received heavy rainfall and the rain continued to fall for the rest of that week.  We received about 86 mm (almost 4 ins) in those five days.  So it looked like the 'wet' season was going to continue for another month.  Then, finally

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-14448447066843976762011-04-10T22:30:00.000+10:002011-04-10T22:30:48.608+10:00

I have a small collection of Rex Begonias, commonly known as the Painted Leaf Begonia, and they hold a special place in this gardener's heart.  I have my little potted collection sitting on a shelf just outside one of my kitchen windows.  This shelf is part of the Shadehouse Garden which runs down that side of my house and they simply love this spot.  I love that I see them every time I walk

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-75287948371175310892011-04-03T17:36:00.004+10:002012-01-05T14:18:06.539+10:00

  Date:  April 3, 2011   Season:   mid-Autumn and, supposedly, the end of the 'wet' season (Gardening Zone:  'Dry Tropics' area located within the Tropics Zone/Australia ... comparable to U.S. Zone 11) Well there's nothing much to report about my gardening efforts over the last couple of weeks.  The end of March concluded another significant weather event for us ... it was the wettest

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-54092532472123781452011-03-27T16:13:00.003+10:002012-01-05T14:17:11.970+10:00

Date:  March 26, 2011 Season:  first month of Autumn and the last month of the 'wet' season (Gardening Zone:  'Dry Tropics' area located in the northern Tropical Zone/Australia ... comparable to the U.S. Zone 11) The dreary Autumn conditions have continued.  It's been dark, gloomy and dismal here most days. The sun only gets the occasional look in! The upside though,

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-21243030134632829882011-03-20T23:20:00.006+10:002011-03-22T17:38:17.055+10:00

I just couldn't do without Pentas in my garden.  I've had at least one shrub in every garden I've had the joy to tend.  They are, without a doubt, THE most reliable, fuss-free, sun and heat hardy, great looking shrubs for any tropical garden. I have quite a few varieties and I'm afraid I don't know the cultivar names for any of them!  Many were pass-alongs and those I bought as little plug

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-73027351777970619372011-03-14T10:21:00.009+10:002012-01-05T14:16:28.254+10:00

Date:  March 13, 2011 Season:  beginning of Autumn and end of 'wet' season (Gardening Zone: 'Dry Tropics' area located within Tropical Zone/Australia ... comparable to U.S. Zone 11) The post-cyclone clean-up is finally over ... thanks to the hard work of my other half who has put in a marathon effort!  The broken trees and shrubs have been trimmed to within an inch of their lives ...

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-79155789519646418982011-03-05T16:38:00.006+10:002012-01-05T19:48:25.608+10:00

(Here I am, catching up again with my Snapshot posts.  Whilst I had started this post in early February, completion was interrupted by the the mayhem following Cyclone Yasi and the aftermath of that experience.  Nevertheless I decided I really need to finish this ... mostly so I can keep a record for myself.) Conditions during January 2011? January is mid 'wet' season and not my favourite

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-53804048772251461982011-02-14T20:18:00.010+10:002012-01-05T14:15:40.943+10:00

  Date:  February 12, 2011   Season:  end-of-Summer and 'wet' season (Gardening Zone: 'Dry Tropics' area located within Tropical Zone/Australia ... comparable to U.S. Zone 11) Here we are ... it's the end of Week 6 for 2011 and it's been an almighty time of change in my dry tropics garden over the last two weeks.  It's amazing how we take things for granted sometimes and I was definitely

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-14529865889588883292011-01-16T15:36:00.010+10:002012-01-05T14:14:56.016+10:00

Date:  January 8th, 2011  Season:  mid-Summer and mid-'wet' season (Gardening Zone:  'Dry Tropics' area located within Tropical Zone/Australia ... comparable to U.S. Zone 11) More sunshine today … and it lasted all day long! What a treat! Yes it was hot, steamy and downright horrible outside … this is Summer downunder, after all … but it was so lovely to see the sun. When you’re used to

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-5416967572093647652011-01-05T15:18:00.017+10:002012-01-06T00:07:07.932+10:00

Today's Date:   January 5th                         Season:   mid-Summer ********************************************************************* Gardening Zone:  'Dry Tropics' area located within Tropical Zone/Australia  (comparable to U.S. Zone 11) Weather:   30°C / 86°F     Currently: Partly Cloudy    Wind: NE at 19 km/hr    Humidity: 70%   Feels like:  33°C Today actually began with

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-86471712256107136822010-12-31T13:04:00.007+10:002011-07-04T21:25:46.385+10:00

It's Summer here Downunder and our 'wet' season has started with a bang!   During December, which is the first month of our Summer, we experienced weeks of showery rain with thunderstorms, then a cyclone passed close by dumping torrential downpours of rain and over the whole month we had endless weeks of gloomy grey skies ... it's this time of year that one of my favourite perennials really

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-81447448679435582742010-12-20T10:44:00.006+10:002010-12-20T18:01:39.680+10:00

Sending warm Season's Greetings to all my blog readers.  Of course, here in Oz, we celebrate Christmas in our early Summer, so it's hot and steamy.  I'm looking forward to spending time with family and friends ... and most especially, spending time with my beautiful grandchildren.  I hope you all have a wonderful Happy Christmas with your loved ones. This blog was started just over a year ago

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-91648915402080746382010-12-17T14:30:00.000+10:002010-12-17T14:30:37.360+10:00

A great addition to any warm climate garden is the evergreen Hibiscus rosa-sinensis.  They are remarkably sun, heat and drought hardy - tolerating the heat and intensity of our mid-Summer sun and the high humidity levels without much fuss at all! Of course, when you say the word Hibiscus, thoughts immediately pop into your head of tall palms swaying on long stretches of pristine white sand with

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-2078073700665519512010-12-13T13:55:00.001+10:002011-07-04T21:16:25.120+10:00

I know that Summertime in some parts of the world is a wonderful time for gardeners.  Here in my corner of Oz ... it can be a woeful time!  Located only a mere 2300 kilometres (1450 miles) from the Equator and averaging around 320 days of bright glorious sunshine every year, my garden is positioned in a hot dry spot on the planet. Summertime can be excruciatingly hard on both the garden and the

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-37629142301662389412010-11-21T13:16:00.003+10:002010-11-22T12:59:59.142+10:00

New Guinea Impatiens - Impatiens hawkeri - are one of my all-time favourite perennials.  They are so well suited to my dry tropics garden.  They're definitely sun-lovers, but many people are fooled into believing they can take full sun all day ... that is certainly not true here in the tropics.  During our fierce Summers, they will wither very quickly if subjected to a full day out in the

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-4384601008621373112010-11-11T20:02:00.007+10:002011-10-15T12:37:40.262+10:00

I began a 'Snapshots' post back in mid-Autumn and at the time I was planning to make it a regular part of my blog ... and then completely forgot all about it!!!  Rather typical of me ... but I like the idea I had back then so from now on I'm going to stick with it.  I will definitely be making regular mid-season posts about what's going on in my dry tropics garden Downunder.  But first I need

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-18742860034015836992010-10-16T19:02:00.008+10:002011-07-04T21:18:50.969+10:00

This is the fourth post about the various parts of my dry tropics garden here in north -eastern Oz.  For the previous parts, please click on the 'All About My Place' tab above this post.  Alright now for the next instalment .... The western side of my house is set into a section of rocky hillside ... which could have meant an ugly view from the windows on that side.  This is not the case,

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-82491822070689422952010-10-11T01:34:00.016+10:002011-03-26T08:37:10.895+10:00

While vista shots are commonplace amongst so many garden blogs, they are most definitely NOT common on my blog.  The position of this property ... it sits on the side of a rocky granite hill ... and the conditions here ... including non-existent soil of any worth or depth and the long hot, dry weather for most of the year  ... make it almost impossible to have long meandering garden beds filled

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-20674530324610908512010-09-19T22:48:00.005+10:002011-07-04T21:22:35.180+10:00

Time to update the record of my garden through the Seasons.  Whilst we don't experience four distinct seasons here, we do have two ... the 'wet' and the 'dry'.  Our 'dry' season usually begins in Autumn and lasts until early Summer ... but this year there has been a slight change in the weather pattern.  Our 'dry' this year has not been as dry as usual.  Over Autumn and Winter this year, my area

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com39tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-72132283618636475002010-09-18T18:44:00.004+10:002010-09-19T10:40:37.588+10:00

This gorgeous evergreen, quick-growing, herbaceous perennial is a definite favourite for this dry tropics gardener.  This fabulous showy compact plant belongs to the Lamiaceae or Mint family.  It's a beautiful hybrid of Plectranthus saccatus and Plectranthus hilliardiae, developed in South Africa, and well-suited to a hot, dry climate. Plectranthus 'Mona Lavender' loves to grow in a shaded to

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-27559156521502246082010-08-31T20:57:00.023+10:002011-03-26T08:13:41.912+10:00

Tomorrow ... September 1st ... is the first day of Spring downunder ... and on this day every year we celebrate National Wattle Day!! Wattles ... Acacias of course being their botanic name ... have a very special place in the heart of all Aussies. Let misers hoard and hide their gold; Here there is treasure-trove untold, In yellow blossom, mass on mass Spread out for wayfarers who pass With

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-11859799836040214582010-08-14T16:00:00.005+10:002010-09-19T10:44:10.734+10:00

Inspired by Shrylene's recent post Garden ramblings on a rainy Sunday which then reminded me of a post I read a little while ago from Cyndy Window Views, I spent this morning appreciating the garden views from inside my house. I started to realise that many of the views are of the bushland, rather than my garden ... like this view from one side of our main bedroom ... and this view from one side

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com45tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-47193070255653872192010-08-04T21:05:00.003+10:002011-03-26T08:11:10.804+10:00

Just as the flowering Poinciana screams 'Summer!' here in north eastern Australia, nothing quite says 'Winter!' here in the tropics like the blooming evergreen Calliandras ... or Powder Puffs. I have two beauties that are wonderful showy shrubs growing on other side of my front gate and when they are in flower, they make an eye-catching display.  They grow to around 3 metres high with the same

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-63972412644755371812010-07-31T20:22:00.002+10:002011-07-04T21:21:20.864+10:00

As it's mid-Winter downunder, I thought I would share two great native northern Oz trees that flower at this time of the year. In Australia there are two true native Kapoks. There is our local species and the one which is very common in Kakadu National Park, called Cochlospermum fraseri, which looks almost identical except for the leaf shape. Every winter I am always impressed by the

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-90790437994495178222010-07-25T16:26:00.003+10:002011-07-04T21:17:07.808+10:00

The other garden areas on my property are all rather boring and drab ... there's lots of great palms, ferns, hibiscus and duranta repens shrubs, acalyphas and some crotons, but these areas don't change much at all during the year ... remaining, for the most part, green throughout all the seasons. There are no great expanses of lush green lawn ... there are no lovely borders full of stunning

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-41233408234521849012010-07-17T23:13:00.003+10:002011-07-04T21:23:13.645+10:00

The definition of ‘bush tucker’ would be: any edible, native Australian flora and fauna that was present before European colonisation which was harvested or hunted in the bush by our country's original inhabitants ... the Aborigines. I have a 'Bush Tucker' tree in my courtyard that is native to the eastern coastal strip from northern New South Wales to far north Queensland ... and up into

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-38701874839986388732010-07-11T17:28:00.007+10:002010-09-19T10:47:26.454+10:00

I've started a new project this year ... and I feel that I'm now another giant step closer to being a bit of a gardening lunatic!    When I first joined the gardening website world there was one thing that just blew me away.  There are gardeners out there who go to (what I would consider) extraordinary lengths to grow plants not at all suited to their garden's particular location or

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-58415143210921596682010-07-09T00:34:00.003+10:002010-09-19T10:50:56.147+10:00

One of the most spectacular trees that blooms during our tropical winter here is the Tabebuia impetiginosa ... previously known as Tabebuia ipe ... or what we commonly call the 'Dwarf Pink Trumpet Tree'. Now don't be fooled ... even though it's known as a dwarf it can grow to 25 feet with a rather large canopy. It's a beautiful tree in many ways.  First, there's the light grey bark and smooth

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-48852290076154739102010-06-20T19:15:00.004+10:002010-09-19T10:52:08.861+10:00

This is the closest I come to seeing anything that resembles a tulip in my part of the world.  I can hear you asking ... What has this tree got to do with tulips??  Well, it's the spectacular African Tulip tree that comes from tropical central and western Africa.  Growing up to 25 metres, it's a terrific choice as an evergreen shade tree for any tropical garden.  It is suited to warm coastal

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com22Townsville QLD, Australia-19.258106 146.818351-19.278363000000002 146.78916850000002 -19.237849 146.8475335tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-32208810374232411642010-06-14T13:37:00.021+10:002011-07-04T21:19:49.176+10:00

Yes ... I know it's seems strange but downunder we do have a day off work to celebrate the birth of the Monarch!!! We Aussies love our long weekends ... what can I say!  There is, in fact, a bit of history behind the observation of the Monarch's birthday ... way back to 1788 when our first Governor declared a holiday to mark the birth of King George 111.  It's an Aussie tradition that's lasted

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com7Townsville QLD, Australia-19.258106 146.818351-19.278363000000002 146.78916850000002 -19.237849 146.8475335tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-23655147361206441962010-06-07T22:21:00.005+10:002011-07-04T21:15:30.685+10:00

Adding potted plants to my Courtyard Garden was a project I began at the beginning of last year.  I had grown very tired of the whole area ... it was drab and boring!  It was surrounded with garden beds full of green plants.  I craved other colours... and flowers! This is a photo showing an early attempt at adding some colour ... Whilst there are a few flowering shrubs ... mostly hibiscus shrubs

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-80759896147244727482010-05-30T23:01:00.003+10:002011-07-04T21:21:59.799+10:00

The following are two videos showing what's growing on either side of our hill driveway  .... there's lots and lots of green!!!!  You'll get to see some of the trees and palms that are around this part of the property.

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-69078695460241485772010-05-28T17:42:00.003+10:002010-06-21T18:16:18.252+10:00

In the outdoor garden beds at my place there are no lovely perennials that show their terrific colours every year ... or masses of wonderful foliage plants that add form and texture to the planting.  No, there are, however, quite a few very drought and sun hardy shrubs or trees that grow in the poorest of soil on the rocky hillside that makes up my property.  The foliage on these plants doesn't

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com6Townsville QLD, Australia-19.258106 146.818351-19.278363000000002 146.78916850000002 -19.237849 146.8475335tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-1391635912660250222010-05-21T12:06:00.016+10:002010-09-19T10:54:33.726+10:00

Here in my spot out in the bushland of north-eastern Oz, the weather has turned.  Autumn is nearly over and Winter is approaching.  The temperatures have dropped below 30 degrees C, the days are clear and sunny and the humidity is very low. As we approach Winter, the sunrises have been spectacular this past week ... and I thought I would share some of the photos I've managed to take quite early

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com23Townsville QLD, Australia-19.258106 146.818351-19.278363000000002 146.78916850000002 -19.237849 146.8475335tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-39197834271414154962010-05-15T20:23:00.007+10:002010-09-19T11:04:24.746+10:00

It has to be said that the predominant colour for most of the year in the majority of my garden is green – except for the grassed areas which are most definitely brown for months of the year as we do not use precious water to keep the grass green here ... so when the 'dry' hits, the grass dies off very quickly.  The foliage does not change as Autumn approaches and there is no blanket of

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-35200013374126366802010-05-08T22:46:00.008+10:002011-07-04T21:14:52.395+10:00

Rather than create a long post at the end of each season ... as I did last year ... I've decided to keep a record of what's blooming in my garden from month to month.  I'm hoping it will help me get a much clearer picture of just what is going on ... length of flowering, weather conditions, the plants that keep on keeping on, pests encountered, and lessons learned.  I will be omitting lots of my

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-36443662330401853572010-04-28T21:39:00.004+10:002010-09-19T11:05:31.744+10:00

Two great tropical shrubs for any garden that gets little rain but lots of harsh sunlight, high summer temperatures and high humidity levels, are these variegated forms of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis.  These two hibiscus shrubs flower all year round in full sun and they look fabulous with their striking foliage colours. This is the "Roseflake" - with its fabulous red, green and pink foliage.  The red

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com19Townsville QLD, Australia-19.258106 146.818351-19.278363000000002 146.78916850000002 -19.237849 146.8475335tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-42124858439621826872010-04-23T21:55:00.014+10:002010-10-17T13:34:12.430+10:00

My favourite garden space at my place is my courtyard garden.  This garden space is really at the back of the house but it is the way we all enter the house.  We walk down the hill driveway: ... and approach the entrance to the pergola that leads to the courtyard garden.  The pergola is under the shade of several clumps of Golden Cane palms - the one to the right of the above photo is now

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com21Townsville QLD, Australia-19.258106 146.818351-19.278363000000002 146.78916850000002 -19.237849 146.8475335tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-69132758781596458312010-04-16T19:55:00.008+10:002010-09-19T10:55:49.209+10:00

This fantastic arching shrub comes from tropical East Africa and is also known as the Coral Hibiscus, the Skeleton Hibiscus and the Chinese Lantern. It is a fascinating plant and takes little effort to grow in a tropical garden.  It's an unusual hibiscus as its form is more akin to a weeping tree than a shrub.  The slender stems grow tall and upright quite rapidly and will reach around 2 metres

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com25Townsville QLD, Australia-19.258106 146.818351-19.278363000000002 146.78916850000002 -19.237849 146.8475335tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-58670159855692406472010-04-02T21:59:00.006+10:002010-09-19T10:57:58.443+10:00

This fabulous evergreen tropical shrub adds a bright splash of colour to tropic garden beds from the New Year right through to the end of the old year.  It grows in partial to full sun and will bloom all year round ... but especially well during the warm summer months ... and requires almost no attention whatsoever. The shrub can become a little leggy and it can certainly be trimmed into shape

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-57506637539420624312010-03-21T12:34:00.006+10:002010-09-19T10:57:06.354+10:00

When I say 'iris' most people think of bearded irises or flag irises ... these are commonly recognisable types.  But in my part of the world these plants cannot grow.  There is, however, one lovely iris that I have found easy to grow in a tropical garden. It's the 'Yellow Walking Iris'.  This sun, heat, humidity and drought hardy plant stays green all year and grows in grassy clumps to around a

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-1282782182496643252010-03-13T22:48:00.004+10:002010-06-21T18:41:21.431+10:00

Planchonia careya is a tree that is native to my part of Oz ... it is only found across northern Australia and the largest concentration of them is right here in my region.  It is in fact the only member of its genus here in Australia ... facts like this amaze me and I've grown to really appreciate this rather unsightly tree that's so prevalent in the bush that surrounds my home. It is such a

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-66840875020613641272010-03-07T18:34:00.007+10:002011-07-04T21:24:16.584+10:00

Summer has just ended here in Australia.  It is by far-and-away THE toughest time in my garden .... three months of wicked heat, stifling humidity, unrelenting strong sunshine followed by the severe drenching downpours of rain and weeks of no sunshine at all!  It always amazes me to see what not only survives all this but will flower despite these conditions. Last Summer I began to keep a record

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-19566420225258008162010-02-22T09:49:00.006+10:002011-07-04T21:24:52.427+10:00

Our summer is almost over … thanks goodness! Now it’s time to get back into the garden. I know for most people around the globe, summer is a time to be out in the garden … not so everywhere! Our summer began in December with horrid high temperatures and levels of humidity … so even though the days were fine, it was far too hot and too muggy to do any gardening except for watering in the early

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-50855101032279905192010-02-21T21:07:00.004+10:002010-06-21T18:42:54.390+10:00

Malvaviscus arboreus var. mexicanus is one of those old-fashioned garden plants that you just don't see all that often anymore!  I remember it so well from my childhood ... there was a beauty growing in my Grandmother's garden ... and I remember the soft tropical look of it and those amazing flowers!   We used to suck the nectar from the flowers ... and we thought it was nectar from the gods!!

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-23977393639495524822010-02-14T18:22:00.004+10:002010-06-21T18:43:25.680+10:00

This is definitely the most unusual plant I've got growing in my garden.  I found it in a local nursery just last year, so mine is still a baby.  It's been quite hard to find a lot of information about it ... so I'll share the little I know. It's from Costa Rica apparently ...in the Euphorbiaceae (Spurge) family ... and grows well in tropical and semi-tropical climates.  It needs lots of bright

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-37848773211985502002010-02-07T22:29:00.004+10:002010-06-21T18:43:51.352+10:00

This beautiful lady is an outstanding sight at the end of a long, hot, humid summer.  Not to be confused with the Lagerstroemia indica which is also commonly called Crepe Myrtle, this deciduous flowering tropical tree can reach around 12 metres in height.  She is the grand old lady or the Queen, if you will, of the Crepe Myrtles!  She is grander in size and her blooms are larger. I'm lucky

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-77555261115724022372010-02-06T00:03:00.005+10:002010-06-21T19:16:45.885+10:00

It's truly a jewel of a plant for any tropics garden ... Portulaca grandiflora is a  fabulous ground cover.  (click to enlarge) It's low growing with rather fleshy leaves and brilliantly coloured flowers.  There are so many stunning colours ranging from white ...  through to yellow ...  orange ... purple, pink and apricot.  Some plants have bi-colours. They are happy to grow in dry and

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-69230158977788286772010-02-02T22:51:00.004+10:002010-06-21T19:10:07.237+10:00

This evergreen rounded shrub with its rich glossy green foliage is such a familiar sight in gardens here.  It is most often used as hedging ... but in my garden these shrubs stand alone in the outdoor garden beds.I have several that are rapidly turning into very tall shrubs and a couple of the miniature version. It's commonly called 'Mock Orange' for two reasons really ...Murraya is in the same

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-18567956153213972552010-01-31T22:43:00.003+10:002011-03-26T11:44:30.339+10:00

Now of course these aroids need to be placed carefully in a garden such as mine.  While they certainly love the humidity and heat, they would not survive out in the full sun in an outdoor garden bed during our summers - the searing rays of the full sun and the dry conditions would be less than ideal for these ornamental plants.  The conditions in my greenhouse, however, are ideal for my

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-26467957356306470222010-01-28T22:36:00.002+10:002010-05-02T10:39:16.621+10:00

My experiences with this plant are rather limited ... last year was the first time I've ever grown these intriguing little natives, formerly known as Helichrysum bracteatum.  I just adore their papery, crackly texture. They're a low growing, spreading perennial with daisy-like blooms that have a yellow centre surrounded by coloured papery bracts.  The specific name "bracteata" in fact refers to

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-20765362564201506922010-01-26T12:17:00.001+10:002010-01-28T21:24:09.474+10:00

A collage of some of the green and gold plants in my garden .... just to celebrate Australia Day!  Aussie, Aussie, Aussie ... oi, oi, oi!!  Of course you can spot the acacias and crotons ... but there's also Nephrolepis falcate forma, Galphimia Glauca, Schefflera arboricala, Allamanda cathartica,  Bracteantha bracteata, Ming Aralia (Polyscias fruticosa), Caladium, Canna, Dracaena godseffiana,

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-29759115890723210552010-01-24T15:29:00.007+10:002010-11-19T14:03:38.860+10:00

This north Queensland tree – Corymbia torelliana – is a favourite of mine. We usually call it the Cadaghi Gum but sometimes it’s referred to as the Cadaga. It’s a eucalyptus … a member of the Myrtaceae family. It is native to the Atherton Tablelands area, which is mostly a rainforest area located around 300 kilometres north of my city.  The cadaghi is one of the few eucalypts that is at home in

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-43897103770848003582010-01-23T21:02:00.004+10:002010-06-21T19:11:31.010+10:00

This is a very showy and bushy vining shrub, originally from Thailand.  It is a multi-stemmed plant with long arching canes. The attraction of this plant however, is in its spectacular round red powderpuff flowers.  These buds start appearing towards the end of spring .... ... slowly start to open and by mid-summer there's an abundance of blooms.  The photo below shows the brilliant long

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-68551043407856460712010-01-21T23:07:00.006+10:002010-06-21T19:11:59.031+10:00

When it comes to bright foliage that provides an explosion of colour in a tropics garden, crotons take the cake! They can create a bold statement in any garden, but this is a plant that especially loves humid, warm conditions and can also tolerate dry conditions. Crotons are evergreen shrubs with glossy leathery variegated leaves that are easy to grow and practically problem free.  They will grow

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-34288195033260041922010-01-16T11:50:00.004+10:002010-06-21T19:12:26.136+10:00

 This is one of my all-time favourite summer flowering trees.  It adds such a splash of vivid yellow to the garden during the hottest time of the year with its magnificent display of large pendulous recemes of scented flowers in summer.  It is a graceful and spectacular looking tree that I've found to be very drought and heat hardy. It's a semi-deciduous tree up to 8m tall and of

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-63717012853512423532010-01-13T17:18:00.004+10:002010-06-21T19:13:03.584+10:00

One of the few native trees I have growing on my property is the Crimson Bottlebrush and one of its good points is that it will flower twice in one year if it is kept well-watered.  During the heat of the late summer and during the cool of early winter it will show off it's wonderful crimson flower spikes. It's around 4 metres high and is very hardy under the dry, hot, sunny and sometimes wet

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-31256432809441311172010-01-10T16:31:00.002+10:002010-05-02T10:33:07.225+10:00

This is a lovely evergreen shrub which grows slowly to around 2-4 metres tall and 2 metres wide and likes a warm, sunny position . The foliage is dense and medium green in colour. The attraction of this shrub is most definitely the wonderful perfumed masses of beautiful flowers that cover it during spring.  The flowers are very sweetly perfumed and when they first open they are a

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-41584643593763750172009-11-14T23:05:00.000+10:002010-01-13T22:17:44.073+10:00

Did you know that all Mums have trouble at bathtime? Yes even this Agile one! (Agile Wallaby, that is!) MUM: OK we’ve finished our dinner, it’s time for your bath! MUM: First we do behind the ears! JOEY: Oh get off Mum! It’s clean I tell ya! MUM: I don’t think so, let me see. MUM: STAY STILL and let me do this! MUM: Now what about your neck? JOEY: What

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-53672340940351481422009-11-01T21:23:00.000+10:002010-01-13T21:23:53.422+10:00

I have two Barleria and they are fabulous drought tolerant plants that flower all through the year.  I grow Barleria 'Purple Dazzler' in hanging baskets and in the ground.  It will only reach around half a metre and grows well in both sun or part shade. I also grow Barleria 'Purple Gem' - a shrub which will reach around one metre and has beautiful green, white and purple

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-39100907466430219442009-10-22T16:53:00.006+10:002011-07-04T21:12:46.678+10:00

My Garden in flower - Winter 2009 Winter here in my part of northern Oz is the middle of the ‘dry’ season and most of the large flowering plants like the snowflake/roseflake hibiscus, the ixoras, the mussaendas, the plumeria, the poincianas and the jasmine are not in flower. Finding a flowering plant at this time of year – during winter – out in the large garden bed areas of my property is

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-58134209948060382112009-10-22T16:50:00.001+10:002011-07-04T21:14:19.590+10:00

My Garden in flower - Autumn 2009 Continuing the record of my garden in flower through the seasons - this is my garden flowering through Autumn (March to May): Acacias Allamanda Begonia Buddleia Davidii Callistemon Cosmos Gerbera Hibiscus Hypoestes Impatiens Jasminum Officinale Lobelia Mandevilla ‘White Fantasy’ Medinilla Magnifica Murraya Paniculata Mussaenda

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-71373471856834916782009-10-22T16:48:00.004+10:002011-07-04T21:23:45.394+10:00

Just wanted to keep a record of my garden in flower through the seasons - this is my garden flowering through Summer (December to February): Acalypha in flower Ardisia elliptica shrub Ardisia elliptica flowers Allamanda cathartica Barleria Begonia Bougainvillea Cassia Fistula Citharexylum Spinosum Clitoria Ternatea Coleus flower spike Combretum Constrictum – New Guinea Bottlebrush

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-28217761882325170512009-10-18T16:26:00.008+10:002010-06-20T14:12:47.943+10:00

My property is surrounded by many, many eucalypts and acacia trees. There are a few on my property as well. Acacias in bloom:   Acacia seed pods: Gums in bloom:

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-61100348760634316802009-10-17T20:52:00.009+10:002010-10-17T13:32:17.107+10:00

My place is situated on a property that is located on the side of a rocky hill. Half of the property is bushland and there is bushland on either side of our place as well. Most of the plants on the property have to be quite drought and heat hardy as we do not get much rain during the year here and our summer temperatures can be very high. High humidity levels during summer is also another

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2053337601505232620.post-49546670493676466632009-10-17T10:05:00.001+10:002011-08-16T16:30:30.046+10:00

My garden is located in an area of northern Australia that is best described as a 'dry tropics' region. The area has a tropical climate - but because of its geographical location, it does not receive as much rainfall as elsewhere in the tropics. Further north the coastline runs north/south and the trade winds are lifted to produce rainfall through the year. However, my region lies on a section

Bernie Hhttps://profiles.google.com/115684850627906649674noreply@blogger.com0