October 2014 in the Southern Hemisphere

[vivienne Condon]

A visitor to our garden over the weekend, not at all frightened by all of us staring at him or her? Its good to see we still have some wild life around.

[Lesley Cox]

Thanks for these pictures Viv (not for yours though Fermi ) This is a wonderful animal and it must be a great thrill to have some about even if they do dig a bit. Perhaps I could dress my rabbits in echidna suits and pretend they were something special.

[Anthony Darby]

You can have some of our hedgehogs Lesley.

[Jupiter]

This one is for Maggi. 

[Maggi Young]

Isn't that gorgeous?  The bud scales just holding gently at the very edge of that petal.....they'll drop off any minute.  Thanks, Jamus!

[Jupiter]

Sometimes I go outside first thing in the morning and there are big fat buds just cracking; I go inside and make myself a coffee and by the time I look out again they are opened!    When they decide they are ready to burst they don't waste any time.

[Maggi Young]

That capacity for speed is part of the magic, isn't it? Better than watching paint dry, for sure.

[vivienne Condon]

Those pesky rabbits Lesley

[fermi de Sousa]

A few pics from this morning:
a local pimelea (?P. glauca?) with Armeria cv
A colourful patch of mixed ixias
California Poppies with Dichelostemma
Ranunculus gramineus
one of the seedling PCIs from Heidi Blyth (Sunshine & Dirt iris Nursery)
cheers
fermi

[Jupiter]

Fermi can you recommend a nursery who sells pacific coast irises mail order? I have only one and it's time I remedied that.

[fermi de Sousa]

Fermi can you recommend a nursery who sells pacific coast irises mail order? I have only one and it's time I remedied that.

No, I can't, not since Heidi stopped selling that way.
You'll just have to time a visit for the Mt Macedon Hort Society's Plant Lover's Fair next September 
Otherwise you could try contacting her to find out where else she sells her potted PCIs! Otherwise I can send you some seed.
The problem with them is that there is a short window of opportunity for transplanting - just when the new roots form in winter - if you try at other times you're likely to lose them from rot setting into the wounds,
cheers
fermi

[Robert]

Jamus,

I agree with Fermi, you might want to consider growing PCI from seed. They are easy from seed, they hybridize with each other freely, and with time you can have many different colors and forms that do well in your garden. Iris hartwegii, a species, is long lived in our hot dry area. Clumps can live for decades. I. hartwegii will cross with other PCI - the idea of creating stronger plants for hot, dry climates.

[Jupiter]

I half expected that answer, seed it will be and I'm happy to do that. I'd better get started! Email coming your way fermi.

[Lesley Cox]

Seed's the way to go Jamus. Consider joining the Society for PCs, an offshoot I think, of American Iris Soc. They have a fantastic seedlist and you can join with an Online sub which is only $7US annually. The pictures in the newsletter Online are thrilling!

[Jupiter]

First flower opened on the Agrostemma githago 'Ocean Pearls' today. I've never grown this before and never seen (or heard) of anyone growing it in Australia. I can't wait to see it in full bloom. So many buds.