New Gardening Projects ... My Dry Tropics Garden Journal ... Mid-Winter, Week 30, July 2025

Garden Journal Entry - Week 30

Seasons:  mid-Winter & Dry Season  (also Bushfire Season)
Daytime Temps:  23°C - 27°C            
Night Time Temps:  13°C - 21°C
Humidity Levels: around 70%     
Hours of daylight:  11 hours
Rainfall:  5 mm ( inches)

Dry Season Dilemmas

After a refreshing couple of weeks away down south, I returned home to the expected sight of slightly droopy, thirsty plants. We are now deep into the dry season here in the northern tropics, and my short absence resulted in the interruption of the usual watering routine. No real harm done, but the wilting leaves were a gentle reminder of how crucial a regular watering schedule is during this long dry spell.

Over the past week, we’ve had mostly rather dreary, overcast days and a touch of rain - not enough to soak into the soil, but just enough to rinse the dust from the foliage and perk up the potted plants in the courtyard. These small refreshes are common in our dry season, offering a visual lift more than a true drink for the garden beds.

A Bittersweet Bloom

One of the first things that caught my eye upon returning was the stunning display of my beloved Tabebuia impetiginosa, standing proud in full bloom. The frilly pink trumpet flowers were simply glorious, cascading from its bare branches like nature’s own confetti. This tree, now about 30 years old and reaching a height of around 30 feet, shares its corner with a towering Eucalyptus platyphylla (Poplar Gum). The two have coexisted in their tight spot for decades, creating a layered and dramatic canopy.

However, a couple of months ago, a hefty branch from the Eucalyptus came crashing down, damaging one side of the Tabebuia quite severely.  I wrote about this event in a previous post (follow this link:  The Start Of The Dry Season). It took a huge effort to remove most of the fallen limb, but the largest chunk was simply too heavy to budge - so I’ve decided to leave it and make something whimsical out of it: a gnome home. 

It’s my first foray into garden fun and frivolity, and I must admit, the idea has grown on me.  It's a work in progress.

But my joy in the Tabebuia’s flowering was cut short by a discovery that made my heart sink. High up in the branches was the tell-tale sign of an arboreal termite nest, complete with mud tubes snaking along the limbs. We've always known termites were in the area - we’ve had yearly professional treatments ever since we moved here - but this is the first time I’ve seen signs in a major tree. The fear is that the termites will hollow out the trunk from within, weakening it until it eventually crashes down - right across our entrance driveway.

As heart-breaking as it is, the Tabebuia impetiginosa will have to be removed. Its beauty, when in bloom, will be very sorely missed.

A Generous Gift and New Projects

On a brighter note, a kind-hearted neighbour recently offered me a bounty of plants that he needed removed from his property - an offer far too good to refuse! Inspired by the influx of new greenery, I’ve launched two exciting new garden bed projects.

✨ The first area is at the end the long entrance driveway, where tall Chrysalidocarpus lutescens, also known by its synonym Dypsis lutescens (Golden Palms), and a native Planchonia careya (Cocky Apple Tree) have thrived, but the understorey has been largely bare. 

With a bit of effort—clearing out leaf litter and enriching the soil - I’ve now created space for ferns, Neomarica longifolia (Walking Iris), Tradescantia spathacea, and Philodendrons. These plants are all wonderfully low-maintenance once established, perfect for that dappled-light zone beneath the palms.

🌿 The second project is tucked in beside the old chook pens, underneath the sprawling branches of a Tabebuia heterophylla. Once again, the process began with clearing and layering fresh garden soil to prepare for planting. This area is shady and peaceful, with great potential to become a lush hideaway garden.  There needs to be more soil added here before I start planting.

Yes, there are two enormous fallen trees lying across the old chook pens behind the newly created garden beds!  I've told the story of that event previously (follow this link:  Challenges Continue), and obviously we have not removed that mess just yet - it's a 'to-do' project waiting for funds and resources.

Highlights Around The Garden:

During my wanderings this past week, I've taken real pleasure in observing the quiet activity of our garden visitors and pollinators.  The courtyard garden is particularly vibrant at the moment, with flowering potted plants drawing in a delightful crowd.

Here's a native Delta arcuata (Mud Dauber Wasp) delicately foraging through the Pentas blooms.

A flash of iridescent blue reveals a native Amegilla cingulata (Blue-banded Bee) darting around the Salvia, diligently collecting pollen.

I'm delighted at the progress of the garden space under the pergola - the rockery - out in the courtyard garden.  It's been an on-going project since the start of this year.  One of the latest changes has been the removal of all the bedraggled remnants of the previously planted Torenias, and the addition of lots of Dianthus.  These attractive frilly, fringed flowers are loving their position in the partially shaded rockery under the pergola.

Adding a splash of cheer to the courtyard garden are the Pansies, their bright and expressive little faces brightening up this corner near the rockery section.

Another delightful sight, out in the shadehouse garden, is the Begonia nelumbiifolia coming into bloom.  this elegant plant, with its crisp white flowers, had a rough start to the year after being decimated by grasshoppers, but it has made a remarkable recovery.  It's now looking much healthier.

Looking Ahead

While losing the pink Tabebuia impetiginosa is a real blow, the opportunity to plant anew has brought some much-needed optimism. The garden, as always, is a place of change—loss and growth intertwined. With every new bed and blooming plant, the story continues.

Until next time,
🌸 Happy gardening from the dry tropics!

My Garden Starts To Dry Out ... My Dry Tropics Garden Journal ... Beginning of Winter, Week 26, June 2025

Garden Journal Entry - Week 26

Seasons:  Beginning of Winter & Dry Season  (also Bushfire Season)
Daytime Temps:  24°C - 27°C            
Night Time Temps:  15°C - 19°C
Humidity Levels: around 70%     
Hours of daylight:  11 hours
Rainfall:   2 mm (0.07 inches)

June In The Northern Tropics

Here in the northern tropics of Australia, June heralds the official start of our rather mild wintertime - and what a beautiful time of year it is. Our winter months are typically dominated by glorious weather: crisp, dry air, mostly fine days, and daytime temperatures rarely falling below 21°C or climbing much above 27°C.  It's a welcome relief after the intense heat and humidity of summer.

The Shift To The Dry Season

We're also firmly stepping into the dry season, which in Townsville usually stretches from May through to October. It's been quite a year so far weather-wise. The wet season at the start of the year was record-breaking, leaving our region with an astonishing 2,532 mm (about 100 inches) of rain by the end of June - already smashing past the average annual rainfall of just 901 mm.

There is now a noticeable browning off happening in the front yard

But this month has brought a clear transition: only 25 mm of rain has fallen in June, slightly above the monthly average but a sure sign we've moved into the drier months. Around the garden and in the surrounding bushland, things are drying out fast. Grass cover is browning off, and native trees are starting to drop their leaves in preparation for the leaner months ahead.

Bushfire Season Preparations

With the dry comes another reality of life in the tropics: bushfire season. Our City Council began hazard reduction burns late in May, carefully managing fuel loads to reduce bushfire risk. At home, we've started work on creating a fire break along our bushland fence line - a yearly ritual that's essential for safety.

Garden Watering Routines Begin

While the couple of very light showers this month were welcome, it's clear that moisture has disappeared quickly from the soil. I've already resumed my dry season watering routine, especially for the younger plants that have started to look a little stressed.

Fortunately, the cooler daytime temperatures - sitting comfortably between 24 and 27°C - mean that a good hour of watering every week is enough to revive the garden beds.

The potted plants, however, are another story!  The courtyard and shadehouse garden areas will now demand a more intensive watering schedule as the dry season progresses.

Garden Jobs Completed

Once the driveway had dried out completely, we started filling up some holes with road base

The gardening workload has eased significantly over the past six weeks, which has been a nice change of pace. One of the biggest tasks we tackled was repairing parts of our entrance driveway. The wet season had left it riddled with erosion, so we spread fresh road base to even out some of the lumpy, bumpy surface leading into our property.

My shadehouse garden

The shadehouse garden also got some much-needed attention. The pathways and tiled area had become slippery and overgrown thanks to rampant algae and weeds. Everything was whipper-snippered and then power washed, transforming the area into a safe and inviting space once again. It's wonderful to be able to stroll through the shadehouse without fear of losing your footing!

Signs Of Winter In The Garden

Along with the change to milder weather, winter reveals itself subtly around the garden. On my wander today, I spotted:

- Lagerstroemia speciosa, commonly known as the Queen Crepe Myrtle: Leaves changing colour

- Lagerstroemia indica, commonly known as Crepe Myrtle: Branches covered in seed pods

- Koelreuteria elegans subsp. formosana, commonly known as the Golden Rain Tree: The three-sided papery capsules are browning off

- Euphorbia leucocephala, commonly known as the Snowflake Bush: In delicate bloom

- Iris domestica / Belamcanda chinensis, commonly known as the Leopard Lily or Blackberry Lily: Seed pods dotting the ends of the stems

Highlights Around The Garden:

• My Aloe vera plants have surprised me by blooming for the very first time - a lovely splash of soft orange among the greens.

• The Jasmine that rambles over one end of our pergola is still flowering, infusing the courtyard garden with its gentle, sweet fragrance both day and night.

Top left and centre:  Pentas
Top right:  Justicia carnea and Tabernaemontana corymbosa
Bottom Row:  Plectranthus and Gerbera

• I'm also thoroughly loving all the splashes of crisp white blooms scattered here and there, adding a fresh brightness to the garden's winter palette.

Potted Impatiens in the courtyard garden

• All of the potted Impatiens have recovered beautifully from their wet season drowning and are now looking healthy and vibrant once more.

Looking Ahead

Oriental Lily bulbs pushing through and sweet Viola faces on show

One of the reasons I love this time of the year so much is that it's the perfect time to start adding little pots of flowering annuals and to plant out bulbs and perennial seedlings. As winter progresses, there will be more fabulous colour appearing in both the courtyard and shadehouse garden spaces as a result. I'm looking forward to the bursts of blooms that will brighten these cooler months and carry a touch of springtime joy into the tropics.

A tropical wintertime sunrise

Until next time,

🌸 Happy gardening from the northern dry tropics!

Last Autumn Month ... My Dry Tropics Garden Journal ... End-of-Autumn, Week 20, May 2025

Garden Journal Entry - Week 20

Seasons:  end-of-Autumn & start of Dry Season
Daytime Temps:  28°C - 31°C            
Night Time Temps: 19°C - 22°C
Humidity Levels: around 70%     
Hours of daylight:  11 hours
Rainfall:  0 mm 

A Taste of Summer Before Winter's Arrival 

As the end of autumn draws near, we've had a brief taste of summer's warmth this past week. Daytime temperatures reached nearly 30°C, giving us one last glimpse of what summer feels like before winter begins to settle in. While it was nice to have a bit of heat, the dryness that followed came quickly, and I’ve started to notice a few plants looking wilted and thirsty.  

Top Part of the Hillside Driveway Garden Bed

With only 3.6 mm of rain this month, which fell across three days in the first week, the ground has dried out much faster than usual. It seems I’ll be kicking off the dry season watering schedule a little earlier this year!

After a record-breaking wet season earlier in the year, I’ve finally managed to catch up on the weeding and mulching that was much needed across the garden beds.

Looking down the Hillside Driveway Garden Bed towards the section that needed weeding

The last section to get attention was the area near the end of the cement driveway, which runs down beside the pergola and courtyard garden, ending just outside my husband’s workshop. Though not visible to visitors, it was far too overgrown to ignore. In some areas, the weeds had grown almost a metre high!

End of the Hillside Driveway Garden Bed

I forgot to snap a ‘before’ photo, but I managed to take one towards the end of the task, with the last patch of weeds highlighted in the shot. It took two wheelbarrow loads of pulled weeds from just that area alone.

Back of the Courtyard Garden, opposite the end section of the Hillside Driveway Garden Bed

Thankfully, the other side was much easier. Now, I just need to finish off the mulching in that section.

Seasonal Changes

As the season changes, one of my favourite sights in the garden is the burst of colour from my Calliandra haematocephala (red) and Calliandra surinamensis (pink), commonly known as Powderpuffs.

The flower buds look like little raspberries before they bloom – first green, then red. Once they open, the flowers are small but clustered together to form the signature spherical inflorescences. It's a delightful sight, signaling the shifting of seasons.

Another exciting development in the garden is the blooming of my Adenium obesums. I planted these just three years ago in various corners of the garden, and they've settled in so well. They thrive in spots with poor soil and full sun all day, and it’s wonderful to see them bloom again, adding a bright splash of colour amidst all the green foliage.

Looking Ahead

As we move into the drier winter months, I’ll be keeping an eye on the garden and adjusting care routines accordingly. With so much blooming despite the challenges of the changing season, there’s always something new to appreciate as we transition through the year.

This Week's Garden Highlights:

A Laughing Kookaburra sitting in a native gum tree, looking out for a delicious snack, as the evening closes in.  

The very last of the Agave flowers are on show at the very top of the flowering spike which is over two metres tall.

The stunning blooms of this potted Spathoglottis, commonly known as Ground Orchid, always catch my eye when I venture out into the courtyard garden.

Butterflies are a common daily sight at the moment.  This Common Crow Butterfly (Euploea core) was sitting on top of a weed pulled out from the hillside driveway garden bed.

I simply adore the vibrant pink of this potted Ixora that sits out in the courtyard garden.

I'm looking forward to seeing more colour after I start potting up additional plants for the courtyard garden ahead of our coming winter.

Until next time,

🌸 Happy gardening from the northern dry tropics!

The Start Of The Dry Season ... My Dry Tropics Garden Journal ... Mid-Autumn, Week 18, May 2025

Garden Journal Entry - Week 18

Seasons:  mid-Autumn & start of our Dry Season
Daytime Temps:  26°C - 30°C            
Night Time Temps: 18°C - 22°C
Humidity Levels: around 70%     
Hours of daylight:  11 hours
Rainfall:  5 mm  (well below an inch) 

After a month or so away, I’ve returned home to much cooler weather—both by day and by night. The relative humidity has dropped significantly, signalling the beginning of our dry season. The lush, rainy days have given way to a much-needed break from the constant downpours.

Looking out to the foothills from the top garden

April Rainfall and Seasonal Shifts

I've been told that April started with steady rainfall, bringing around 100 mm (4 inches) of rain in the first week. After that, the skies cleared, and bright blue skies returned, with sunshine gracing us from dawn until dusk. As we step into May, the rain has barely amounted to 5 mm (less than an inch), marking the transition to drier times.

My native Sterculia quadrifida (commonly known as Peanut Tree) is dropping its leaf load
and the tiny yellow flower sprays have started appearing.

Seasonal changes are already noticeable around the garden. The native Sterculia quadrifida (Peanut Tree) has started dropping its leaves and showing off its small yellow flowers.  The deciduous Plumerias (Frangipanis) have also started shedding their leaves - both are clear signs that the cool weather has arrived. 

Native Acacia in full bloom - our Aussie colours of green and gold

Meanwhile, the native Acacias are in full bloom, adding vibrant splashes of colour to the bush land surrounding our home. 

The mornings now feel refreshing, and I find myself spending more time in the garden each day, soaking in the cooler air and making the most of the dry spell.  

May Winds and Tree Debris

May is typically the time when wind gusts take centre stage in our weather. Now that the rainless period has begun and the skies are completely clear, Mother Nature sends in the wind gusts as a herald to the start of the dry season. These gusts usually begin around 15 km/h in the morning, building up to 24 km/h by midday before slowly tapering off in the afternoon.

Fallen Eucalptus platyphylla limb and the debris piled up on the other side of the driveway

Upon my return home, I found quite a bit of tree debris scattered along our entrance driveway. The very tall Eucalyptus platyphylla that graces the driveway garden decided to drop a massive limb. Thankfully, the main part of the limb fell in the best spot possible underneath the enormous tree.  Some of the attached branches did unfortunately cause some minor damage to the fence, but it could have been far worse.

We have decided to leave the huge limb where it fell, after clearing away the smaller dead branches from it along with the branches that were broken off from an understorey tree. 

The fallen limb will remain in place and this spot will now become my new garden project

The Eucalyptus platyphylla limb is just far too heavy to move, and it adds an interesting feature to the garden bed.  I'm now thinking of creating a succulent garden in and around the limb, so it's time to do some research into shade-loving succulents that will thrive in that area among the leaf litter.

Gardening Tasks:  A Return To Routine

Since returning, I’ve tackled a few lighter tasks. Weeding has been a gentler job with the onset of the dry season. I’ve added a fresh layer of sugar cane mulch to the garden beds along the driveway, which should help suppress any further weed growth. 

The Golden Cane Palm seedlings that have sprouted in abundance are the only weeds demanding immediate attention. Pulling these out is a recurring task, but one that’s easy to manage at the moment.

Trimming back and cleaning up in the shadehouse garden - much needed after our wet season

In the shade house garden, I’ve given quite a few of the potted plants some serious trimming. After the wet season, the Coleus in particular had become lanky and unsightly, with a mealy bug infestation remaining on one plant. Some of the Coleus stems had grown so long that they were draping over neighbouring pots! Now that they’ve been cut back, the plants should start recovering.

Trouble In The Shade House Garden

A more persistent issue in the shade house garden has been the rapid spread of Strobilanthes reptans (formerly known as Hemigraphis reptans). 

This creeping plant has been overtaking patches of bark mulch and spilling over into the spaces between the pavers, becoming quite a nuisance. 

In this photo, taken during the shadehouse garden clean up, you can see the Strobilanthes spreading out all over the pavers!  

I’ve continued trying to pull it out, but it’s proving difficult to manage. Hopefully, with the dry season ahead, the plant will start to die back on its own.

Pest Patrol

Grasshopper munching evident on Coleus (top left), Plectranthus (top right),
Begonia nelumbiifolia (bottom left) and Pentas (bottom right).

 

On a positive note, the marauding grasshoppers that had previously wreaked havoc on so many of my potted plants, in the shade house and in the courtyard gardens, have disappeared. Their damage is still visible on my Cordylines, Impatiens, Plectranthus, Pentas, and Begonia nelumbiifolia (Lilypad Begonia), but with the pests gone, these plants can begin to bounce back and regain their health.

Wildlife and New Discoveries

Yesterday, after spending a couple of hours doing some much-needed weeding along the driveway and trimming back in the shade house garden, I was treated to a delightful sight. 

A small group of Agile Wallabies—two males, four females, and two joeys—were grazing happily on the lush growth of weeds in the side yard. 

It was lovely to witness, as they feasted on the greenery in peace.

This Week's Garden Highlights:

• The Plectranthus babies I potted up ages ago are now flowering beautifully, adding a burst of color to the space.

• The Acacias are still in bloom out in the bushland, with their golden blossoms standing out against the clear blue sky—such a cheerful sight!

• A Collared Whipsnake seems to have taken up residence in our courtyard garden, as I’ve spotted it a few times in the last couple of days. 

It's always fascinating to observe wildlife finding its way into the garden.

As we head further into the dry season, the garden will require less maintenance, and I look forward to a bit of respite from the usual rush of gardening tasks. However, there’s always something to keep me busy—and with the cooler weather, it’s easier to enjoy the process once again.

Until next time,

🌸 Happy gardening from the northern dry tropics!