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.

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.