July 2014 in the Southern Hemisphere

[fermi de Sousa]

Appropriately for the middle of winter we have snowdrops in bloom.
This little clump of Galanthus elwesii originally came from that master bulb grower, Otto Fauser, and has established itself nicely in our hot dry garden at the base of a Chinese Elm, a far cry from Otto's cool climate garden in the dandenongs!
cheers
fermi

[Robert]

Fermi,

How much winter chill do you get? It seems that you are nearly frost free?

[fermi de Sousa]

Hi Robert,
we drop down to -7^oC once in awhile; this morning it dropped to -1^oC which is the coldest so far this winter.
The good thing is that even if we drop below 0^oC it doesn't stay that low all day - unlike parts of the States when I was there in 1996/97!
cheers
fermi

[Robert]

Fermi

Thanks for the info.! It does help give me an idea the conditions your plants have to deal with. It seems somewhat like our Sacramento Valley here in California. Up here at the farm we can get a meter of snow - generally less, but only a little bit colder than the valley during the winter.

[Lesley Cox]

Many crocuses here at present, some too early, or at least earlier than usual. One is well out but has been chewed overnight so here is a picture from last year or the year before. Actually from 2009! I've been told that there may be none left in Australia. I hope this is not so as mine came from there but I can't send any back as their "rules" are as crazy as ours.

[Otto Fauser]

Lesley,lucky you to still grow E.A.Bowles selection "Chocolate Soldier". Here in Australia everyone has lost it: Marcus who imported it originally , Mat Murray , myself , etc .  Look after it

[Anthony Darby]

Here's Cyrtanthus mackenii, kindly sent to me by Dave Toole, flowering now.

[Lesley Cox]

I went to the market on Saturday morning, a bitterly cold day but really good to see people again. I felt I'd been incarcerated in the house for much too long. I did my market shopping and then realized I had lost the next page of my shopping list which was about 15 items to be bought at the supermarket on the way home. I had my priorities right though. The only thing I could remember was a bottle of wine. I had to spend about half an hour wandering round to see what looked likely. I think I got most of it. Best of all though, I had been able to buy a bunch of wintersweet at the market. It's scenting my bedroom beautifully.

Home to find a little package of Crocus seed, from Hubi in Germany, by way of Dave in Invercargill.

[Anthony Darby]

Here are some of my seedlings. Snowdrops and Crocus vallicola.

[Lesley Cox]

They look good Anthony. I daresay those labels aren't seen too often in Auckland. I love vallicola. I had just one for several years and though I hand pollinated it it never set seed. Then I had a few seedlings from Pilous seed and from the first flower, good seed each year since. I get about a dozen flowers now and most set seed.

Have just been watching the first episode (of two) about the English guy Malcolm Webster who murdered his Aberdonian wife in 1993 then went on to try it with an Auckland woman in NZ but was stopped in time, and now, (episode 2 tomorrow night) is about to go for another Scot on the west coast. Spooky character but quite good TV.

[Maggi Young]

There's a little bit of Oz on show at the RHS Hampton Court flower show  - this photo from a twitter page, from Alexandra Bevis 


Essence of Australia garden at Hampton Court RHS show

[Maggi Young]

There's a little bit of Oz on show at the RHS Hampton Court flower show  -

And it has met with favour  from the judges :
Congratulations to J Fogarty,designer  and RBG Melbourne for winning Best in Show at RHS Hampton Court Show  with their Essence Of Australia garden



 rbg.vic.gov.au
 http://jimfogartydesign.com.au/   
 hmaaustralia.com.au

[Anthony Darby]

I think I should have sown fewer of my spiral leaved Albuca seeds. There are 62 bulbs here, from seed sown in December.

[Anthony Darby]

Very windy today, but my Arum purpureospathum, Epidendron ibaguense and Protea cynaroides are looking good.

[Lesley Cox]

Presumably Anthony, that is Albuca spiralis? I have just sown a small number today, from the NZ Fritillaria and Small Bulb Group. So I can expect good germination then? When the weather warms. It's the coldest day we've had so far this year. Heavy frost, no sun and bitter wind. Roll on spring. Even so, there are many crocuses out, and like in Otto's OZ garden, snowdrops, Cyclamen and the first Iris reticulata ('Harmony', earlier than usual). I was able on Saturday to buy a single I. danfordiae in bloom at the market. I'll plant it deep as soon as the flower fades.