Garden Journal Entry - October
Weather Log for the Month:
Daytime Temps: 27°C - 31°C
Overnight Temps: 15°C - 24°C
Humidity Levels: Variable 40 - 80%
Hours of daylight: 12 hrs 30 mins to 13 hrs
Winds: Persistent, gusty winds
Average October Rainfall: 23 mm (0.9 ins)
Hello again, fellow gardeners!
Our mid-spring month is almost over, and what a mixture of weather and garden happenings October brought.
Seasonal Changes:
The delightful daytime temperatures we enjoyed throughout September continued into the first couple of weeks of October, with highs hovering around 27–28°C. Humidity levels during the middle of the day were also rather pleasant, sitting around 40%. Perfect weather, really, for wandering around the garden most of the day, completing tasks here and there and seeing what was happening.
There was, however, one rather tiresome exception to the perfect conditions. The blustery winds kept on blowing here in the foothills!
Those persistent gusty south-easterly trade winds, such a familiar feature of this year's dry season, continued through much of October. With the ground already very dry, the combination of increasingly warm temperatures and relentless winds was particularly demanding for plants growing in exposed positions.
As the month progressed, though, there was a noticeable change. Those comfortable daytime highs of 27-28°C gave way to temperatures around 30-31°C, while humidity levels climbed into the 50-80% range during the day. It was certainly a reminder of the hot, humid conditions that will soon become our daily reality.
Thankfully, the latter part of the month also brought some welcome relief. The skies became increasingly overcast, the gusty winds gave way to gentler breezes, and we experienced several days of light, intermittent showers. Around 50 mm (2 ins.) of rain fell over 6 days, more than twice our average October rainfall of 23 mm. After such a long, dry spell, it was a lovely change!
 |
| Top left: Turnera subulata Middle left: Pseuderanthemum maculatum Bottom left: Anthurium Top right: Calathea roseopicta Bottom right: Polyscias guilfoylei also known as Aralia |
It was wonderful to see raindrops resting on leaves and flowers again. Although the showers were nowhere near enough to replenish the moisture missing from our parched ground, they were certainly appreciated by this gardener. There's something wonderfully refreshing about the sound of rain falling after months of dry weather. Whether these showers signal the imminent beginning of a gradual transition towards wetter conditions, and the start of an active local thunderstorm season, remains to be seen.
Gardening Tasks:
October continued to be a month when keeping the garden healthy through the final stretch of the dry season took priority over almost everything else.
Much of my gardening attention this month has been directed towards:
- Watering: Checking garden beds and potted plants regularly, particularly those exposed to strong winds and afternoon sunshine. Containers dry out surprisingly quickly as temperatures rise.
- Mulching: Maintaining a protective layer of mulch over exposed soil to help conserve whatever moisture remains.
- Protecting vulnerable plants:
Watching for signs of wind damage or moisture stress, especially among plants growing in less sheltered positions.
- Tidying garden beds:
Removing accumulated dry leaves and fallen material where necessary, particularly around pathways and structures.
- Monitoring new growth: Keeping an eye out for emerging shoots, developing flower spikes and the first signs of another flowering cycle.
- Watching the weather:
Following any changes in rainfall and humidity as we move closer to the wet season.
Of course, there has also been plenty of time spent simply enjoying the plants that were flowering. After all, that is one of the great pleasures of having a garden!
Garden Observations For:
The Bushland & Exposed Outdoor Garden Beds -
During one of my wanderings, I spotted a native mistletoe, Amyema miquelii, flowering high up among the branches of a Eucalyptus platyphylla out in the bush paddock. Commonly known as Box Mistletoe, this native parasitic epiphyte is a familiar sight in our local bushland. It draws water and nutrients from its host tree, although a healthy gum tree can generally tolerate a small infestation without serious harm.
One of the most delightful flowering displays this month came from two Tabebuia heterophylla trees growing near the old chook pens. Both trees were covered in their beautiful pale pink blooms for weeks, and the ground beneath them gradually became carpeted with fallen flowers.
Underneath the Tabebuias, the Trimezia gracilis, also known as Neomarica gracilis, and commonly called the Walking Iris, began another blooming cycle.
The delicate flowers are always a treat to see, even if each individual bloom is rather short-lived and only open for one day.
Down the driveway garden beds, I noticed the first clusters of white flowers appearing on the two towering Eucalyptus platyphylla, commonly known as Poplar Gums. The flowers are a pretty sight, although getting a decent look at them can be rather challenging, given how high they are above this rather low-to-the-ground gardener!
In another section of the driveway garden beds, the Brunfelsia latifolia, commonly known as Yesterday Today Tomorrow, put on a gorgeous display all month. The shrub was covered in wonderfully fragrant flowers that change colour as they age. Their perfume has been one of the real pleasures of spending time in this part of the garden. The photo collage above shows how the display changed over the month, from a mixture of all three flower colours to a stage where almost only the white blooms remained.
Nearby, the Dianella clumps were also blooming, adding their delicate flowers to the spring display.
These are particularly attractive when viewed close up. With its striking variegated foliage and graceful flowers, this is certainly an ornamental plant that earns its place in the garden.
Over near the entrance to the pergola, the Ptychosperma macarthurii, commonly known as the Macarthur Palm, was displaying clusters of small white blooms and oval fruits. I always enjoy seeing the different stages of flowering and fruiting on these palms. Those delicate flower clusters are particularly interesting when you stop to take a closer look.
The Protected & Sheltered Shade House & Courtyard Gardens -
While some of the exposed outdoor garden beds showed the effects of the long dry season and persistent winds, the more sheltered spaces around the shade house and courtyard have continued to provide plenty of colour and enjoyment.
My potted Oriental Liliums, which were planted up last year, have begun to re-emerge. It is always exciting to see those first green shoots appearing once more, especially when the pots have been looking rather empty for some time. Now I'll be watching their progress with great interest.
There was also plenty of colour coming from the hanging baskets of Streptocarpus caulescens, commonly called the Nodding Violet. With its dainty flowers spilling over the sides of the baskets, this is such a charming plant.
My stalwarts, the Impatiens walleriana and New Guinea Impatiens, growing throughout both the shade house and the courtyard garden, contributed their share of colour as well, making these sheltered parts of the garden particularly cheerful places to visit.
Then there's my brand-new Impatiens niamniamensis, commonly known as the Parrot Impatiens. What an extraordinary little plant!
It has been showing off those distinctive red-and-yellow hooked flowers that make it so different from the more familiar Impatiens growing elsewhere. I'm thoroughly enjoying having this unusual newcomer in the garden.
Out in the courtyard garden, there were some encouraging signs of fresh growth. All three of my Cycas revoluta produced new flushes (sometimes referred to as "breaks"). The process is fascinating to watch, beginning with pale green, velvety shoots emerging vertically from the centre of each crown. These gradually unfurl and spread outwards into a circular rosette before eventually hardening into the familiar stiff, glossy green fronds.
At the moment, all three plants are at different stages of this process, which makes comparing their progress rather interesting.
High up among the branches of the Sterculia quadrifida that grows in the courtyard garden, the last of the Petrea volubilis flowers were still hanging on. This is where my Petrea seems to prefer living, scrambling its way up through the branches and displaying its beautiful flowers well above eye level. It's not at all where I want this climber to grow, but on-going efforts to re-train the branches have not been successful. Having such an elevated position means photographing these last few blooms is not easy!
The native Proiphys amboinensis, commonly called the Cardwell Lily, began flowering with its scented white blooms popping up and developing over a few days.
I noticed quite a few butterflies and bees visiting flowers around the garden, stopping here and there to feast on the nectar. With the flowers themselves already dancing about in the breeze, all this extra activity added a wonderful sense of movement and life to the garden.
This Month's Garden Highlights:
One of the great pleasures of living out here in the foothills is the wonderful soundtrack provided by Mother Nature.
Birds calling from the surrounding bushland,
insects buzzing among the flowers of the Serissa japonica,
and the occasional rustling of wildlife moving through the vegetation all contribute to the daily experience of being outdoors.
During one of my early morning strolls, I used my Merlin bird identification app to listen to the surrounding birdsong.
The app identified quite a list of birds, including a Channel-billed Cuckoo.
I haven't actually seen one of these remarkable birds for quite some time, but the app suggested there was one calling somewhere out in the bushland that morning.
They have quite a distinctive voice!
The native Blue-banded Bees were busy as well. I enjoyed watching them feasting on the nectar of various flowers.
These striking little bees are fascinating to observe as they dart from flower to flower.
The Helmeted Friarbirds were particularly noisy throughout the month, their unmistakable calls carrying across the garden and surrounding bushland. They are certainly not shy about announcing their presence!
Watching birds feed among the flowers is one of my favourite garden pleasures. All this activity is a lovely reminder that our gardens are much more than collections of plants. They also provide food, shelter and habitat for the many creatures sharing our little patch of the dry tropics. Sometimes I find myself spending more time watching the wildlife than actually tending to the plants. I don't think there's anything wrong with that!!
A Few More Special October Moments:
There were several other little highlights during my October wanderings that deserve a mention.
It was terrific to see the first flower on my Hippeastrum appear, and then to watch as all the other blooms showed their gorgeous faces.
Another lovely moment was the opening of this year's first beautiful bloom on my Phalaenopsis, or Moth Orchid. It was certainly worth stopping for a moment of admiration!
I also noticed the first tiny little flower appearing on the flower spike of my potted Ctenanthe, which sits out on the verandah.
One of the prettiest sights this month came when beautiful sections of a rainbow appeared against the overcast sky, just before a heavier shower arrived that evening. It was one of those moments when you simply have to stop what you're doing and enjoy the view.
We had repeated visits by a mother Agile Wallaby and her joey, both searching for precious patches of greenery among the dry, parched weeds of the side and front yards. There wasn't much green growth left for them to find, so it has been interesting watching them explore the place in search of something worth nibbling.
Closing Reflection / Looking Ahead
So, another mid-spring month draws to a close here in my dry tropics garden.
October certainly brought a mixture of conditions, from those delightful early springtime days and the seemingly endless blustery winds to the warmer, more humid weather and, finally some very welcome rain.
Despite the challenges, there has been so much to enjoy. The beautiful pink carpets of fallen Tabebuia flowers, the appearance of the season's first blooms, the busy birds and visiting wallabies have all provided plenty of reasons to stop and appreciate what's happening around me.
Of course, those precious showers were a lovely reminder of just how refreshing a little rain can be after so many dry months. For now I'll continue keeping an eye on the plants that are struggling, enjoying those that are flourishing, and watching the skies for signs of more substantial rain.
I wonder what November will bring?
Until next time,
Happy gardening from the dry tropics!
