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Post by mickthecactus on Mar 31, 2023 20:57:34 GMT
There's so much to do in the garden. Taking out plants killed by the extremely cold winter, weeding, digging and planting up my vegetable tubs. However, it's raining so I can't do anything. Shame. Snap...
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Post by bjd on Apr 1, 2023 6:20:41 GMT
Yesterday I pulled out the lantanas which definitely died in the frosty mornings we had. There were 6 of them so I moved apart some lavender plants I had put a bit closer together. I also have some purple osteospermums which did really nicely last year but all but one seem to have died -- at least they aren't showing any foliage at all. A look at garden info says they should survive to -5°, and we didn't have that but perhaps a repetition of -3 over several days did the trick. Will wait a few more days.
I also think I killed a newly-planted (in November) David Austin rose by moving it. But all the agapanthuses I cut back are doing nicely. As are all the weeds. I'm afraid that if I put them in the compost bin, they will seed all over when I use the compost so I end up taking them to the dump.
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Post by kerouac2 on Apr 2, 2023 11:37:44 GMT
You passionate real gardeners would probably go crazy if you planted only perfect plants and there was nothing left to remove or change.
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Apr 4, 2023 20:59:13 GMT
You passionate real gardeners would probably go crazy if you planted only perfect plants and there was nothing left to remove or change. " style="max-width:100%;"] Yes. Every loss is an opportunity for new plants
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Post by Kimby on Apr 5, 2023 0:09:11 GMT
We will soon be back on Sanibel and will get a feeling for how our yard (can’t call it a garden) has fared since Ian flooded it with muck and salt water. Though every leaf that wasn’t blown off was turned brown from salt immersion or salt spray, there were encouraging sprouts of green while we were there over the holidays.
But sadly, those optimistic shoots began to shrivel and turn brown before we left. I wonder if anything will come back. The lush jungle that screened our houses from our neighbors and from the street may be gone.
Maybe the coming rainy season will sweeten the soil and make it possible for things to grow again.
😕
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Post by mickthecactus on Apr 8, 2023 14:49:18 GMT
Any idea what this is?
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Post by bixaorellana on Apr 8, 2023 16:38:31 GMT
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Post by mickthecactus on Apr 8, 2023 16:46:10 GMT
It might be but what is it?
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Post by bixaorellana on Apr 8, 2023 19:15:08 GMT
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Post by mickthecactus on Apr 8, 2023 19:44:27 GMT
Oh no, I know what it is. I wondered if anybody could guess.
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Post by bixaorellana on Apr 8, 2023 21:13:05 GMT
There is a tiny little oak seedling in there you should probably pull out.
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Apr 8, 2023 21:27:28 GMT
Is it a hosta Mick?
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Post by bixaorellana on Apr 8, 2023 22:09:19 GMT
Arum lilies
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Post by mickthecactus on Apr 9, 2023 8:44:18 GMT
Cheery has it.
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Post by mickthecactus on Apr 9, 2023 9:28:02 GMT
Actually it’s a lime seedling. There are 2 huge lime trees next to the house and seedlings pop up everywhere at this time.
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Post by fumobici on Apr 10, 2023 5:03:25 GMT
The season for harvesting wild asparagus is upon us here. For some reason it doesn't grow here, but across the valley, it is abundant.
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Post by bjd on Apr 10, 2023 12:16:50 GMT
Wild asparagus is delicious in an omelette. I had some wild leeks the other day too.
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Post by bjd on Apr 11, 2023 9:19:43 GMT
I went for a quick trip to the nursery this morning. I pulled out the osteospermums which were indeed dead and replaced them with 3 red salvias. They should be perennial and don't mind heat and dryness.
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Post by bjd on Apr 21, 2023 15:42:30 GMT
I took a bunch of photos of the garden this afternoon, but for some reason it looks so much better in reality than on the photos. This is the only picture that is reasonably okay.
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Post by mickthecactus on Apr 21, 2023 15:45:33 GMT
It’s really annoying when that happens. Maybe something to do with light. Try again when the sun has gone off it perhaps.
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Post by bixaorellana on Apr 21, 2023 16:04:28 GMT
It's because we've come to expect spaces stuffed to the brim, since that's what is shown in home and garden magazines. I have no doubt that your garden is lush and beautifully thought out. Actually, the photo looks awfully good to me.
But back to the artificially fluffed pictures ~~ years ago my cousin's architect-designed home was featured in a magazine. His wife had exquisite and beautifully restrained taste. The magazine's stylists came in and packed the house with more vases, more rugs, giant flower arrangements, etc. I guess it looked good in the pictures, but nothing like the serene and welcoming space that the house was in reality.
Also, I've read about staging your garden for photos with such tricks as adding some potted plants to make everything look fuller (never mind that the pots would be in the way in real life). The best trick, though, for getting appealing photographs of the garden is to wet everything down before taking the picture. This really works, as hard surfaces & light-reflective foliage are softened and the color enhanced by being wet.
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Post by bjd on Apr 21, 2023 16:32:42 GMT
Thanks both. It is supposed to rain tomorrow -- I'll try again.
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Post by lugg on Apr 21, 2023 18:45:32 GMT
Wild asparagus is delicious in an omelette. I had some wild leeks the other day too. Now I am going to look if they both exist here in the UK ..Ive never seen them if so. lots of wild garlic but its quite late this year
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Post by lugg on Apr 21, 2023 18:46:24 GMT
I took a bunch of photos of the garden this afternoon, but for some reason it looks so much better in reality than on the photos. This is the only picture that is reasonably okay. Really pretty
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Post by lugg on Apr 21, 2023 18:48:20 GMT
My garden is really in need of some care .. it has been neglected really over the last couple years
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Post by mickthecactus on May 12, 2023 8:24:00 GMT
A quite different branch growing off this tree. Strange.
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Post by mickthecactus on May 12, 2023 8:24:56 GMT
My garden is really in need of some care .. it has been neglected really over the last couple years My rate is reasonable.....
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Post by bjd on May 12, 2023 9:10:03 GMT
Is that branch attached to the tree or is it another plant growing along the trunk and then sticking out?
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Post by mickthecactus on May 12, 2023 9:16:49 GMT
Definitely part of the tree. I think the clue may be that the leaves on the tree are variegated whereas the branch is plain green and thus more vigorous.
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Post by tod2 on May 12, 2023 12:46:06 GMT
My rate is reasonable..... Please PM me the going rate Mick. My gardener is on a monthly salary and does not work Saturdays or Sundays or Public holidays. Arrives at 8.30am and immediately makes himself breakfast (bread, milk tea, jams etc supplied by me) until about 9.15 or so. At 2pm I have his lunch ready. Sometimes a vegetable stew with rice, sometimes a mushroom pie and chips, today I made him two salad wraps as we were also having them. I give him a fruit as well. At 4.30pm he comes to have his bath and then usually makes his own way on foot to a bus or mostly runs all the way home which is 15km. Training for the Comrades Marathon at the moment. I actually am not sure of his daily wage but the other gardener/general dogs body that comes one or two days a week, receives R150 for the day plus breakfast and lunch. He prefers to shower so uses the gardeners bathroom at my sons property next door. They both work incredibly hard. The summer sun here is very cruel and even when it is raining they are out in the garden in their oil skins and gumboots. I try to look after them and expect them to look after my garden too perfection.
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