Spring is in the air...

Camellias are on show, the flowering quince (above) is coming to life, the scent of pink blossom fills the air. The more constant warmth invites you into the 'outdoor room'. One can only wax lyrical at this time of the year. 

However, on the down side, and yes there is usually a down side, the wandering jew (politically incorrect I believe) and the onion weed are rampant. Months of 'laissez faire' gardening is evident and there is a lot of work to be done. Despite this I'm sure that St Fiacre, patron saint of gardeners, is smiling and I have  a renewed enthusiasm and energy to fluff up the garden. Here are some more flower pics from Kallista for you.

Note the little bird in the weeping cherry

Fun Fungi!

                                                           I know, long time no blog!

It is easy to ignore the garden in winter as the rain and cold are not really conducive to spending much time in it. Regardless there are still lots of interesting things happening, including the appearance of diverse varieties of fungi (although apparently most reveal themselves in Autumn). Kallista (as in our house & garden) is in a very damp and dark situation, opposite a creek. This makes it a perfect environment for moisture seeking fauna and flora. Having said that fungi can be found in many diverse global habitats, including deserts.

Here are some 'Fun Fungi that we located and thanks go to PK for some of these wonderful pics. 

Now, for a little background on these organisms. According to the "Australian National Botanical Gardens" website what you see in the garden is just the tip of the iceberg. Around 90% of the organism is underground and the part that you see on the surface has the function of producing and dispersing spores. The underground component, the mycelium, remains there throughout the year.

 

Fungi interact with other organisms, some in a parasitic fashion and others are beneficial to plants. As yet I haven't tried to identify ours and their relationship to their hosts except for this yellow one which I stumbled upon in the literature and our garden. It is most likely to be a Cytarria gunnii that enjoys the company of our Nothofagus (southern beech).

More Autumn @ Kallista images

Went up to Kallista again on Thursday. The day was cool and the light only moderate however, the colour of most of the deciduous trees was more vivid than the week before. Here are some more images.

Copper beech

Autumn in the Hills

                 Autumn has arrived at Kallista. However, as is the case with gardens that have a variety of Autumn species not all the trees are at their best at the same time. Each week presents a new display of colour and this week most of the maples are showy, whereas the gingkos for example are still green. Today I'll just show you some of the maple colour and introduce you to Robbie, my truly excellent gardening companion.

Robbie at work

G.

Ginger plants

Sorry for the delay in creating a new post but I became a little bored with the last one that I was writing (intermittently) and so I've decided to move on and publish what is new in the garden at present.

There is nothing more satisfying than something that grows easily from something pilfered in the neighbourhood!
I have always admired these plants and they are certainly abundant in many gardens of the Dandenongs. They have been in bloom recently and are wonderfully fragrant.
They produce a fragrance that is not overpowering and does not overwhelm you like the heady perfume of some gardenias can, more a gentle perfume that pervades the garden.

The specimen in this blog was seconded from the roadside at Kallista. It has had nothing but neglect and is flourishing.

Hmm...I'm often surprised when I actually research the plants in my gardens as it often leads to the questioning of my choice of plant. This plant variously known as: Hedychium Gardnerianum or Butterfly Ginger or Ornamental Ginger or Kahila Garland Lily is a class one weed! In fact it is one of New Zealand's worst rainforest weeds.

It is a perennial rhizamatous plant that grows to around 2 meters high. It is very hardy in many climates despite its tropical origins. The flowers are present from Summer into Autumn however the lush green foliage is present all year round.

This is obviously one plant that I need to keep in check. It is always the plants that grow beautifully and easily that attract the derogatory 'weed' label.


Friend or foe? I'll let you decide.
G.