Due to the dark and cooler nature of our part of the Dandenongs the plants flower a little later than in the flatlands of Melbourne. Today I worked in the garden and took some photos for you of the beautiful Kalmias. They bloom here in late Spring .
Members of the Ericacaea family, and a close relative of rhododendrons and azaleas, these unusual shrubs/small trees are native to North America and Cuba. How pretty are these flowers? The flowers are arranged in dense clusters and as you can see in the photos they almost explode when they open. I've found that the flowering time for these plants is relatively short and they can be difficult to propagate. Also I've read that the foliage is highly poisonous to livestock (not an issue here). Whatever the shortfalls, they win Brownie points for their sheer beauty!
There are four different coloured Kalmias in this garden as the photos demonstrate. I think that we are very fortunate as Kalmias are not readily available in most nurseries. I only know of a rare plants nursery in nearby Monbulk that sells a different variety to these. The Mountain Laurels seem to enjoy the acidic, volcanic soil of this environment as well as the cooler conditions. I think they're great!
G.
G.
Great work Gayle. I wish I had half the interest and committment as you do.... may be someday when I retire from Nephrology. Looking forward to seeing more beautiful creations from your lovely garden. There is nothing more enriching than looking and admiring a flower in bloom!!
ReplyDeleteLove
Charmaine
Laurel bushes grow in different light and soil situations. These laurel bushes easily grow thick shrubs and weeds are popped out due to its thick underbrush. The leaves are dark in color and are large in size.
ReplyDelete