May- June Garden News 2023

 

I seem to be spending most of my life these past two months watering as it has been extremely dry, badly needing some good falls of rain.

May has been busy with visits from ‘Banksia Garden Club’ and two ‘Probus’ Clubs.

I gave a presentation to ‘Carina Senior Citizens Club’, which was good as we did not have far to travel.

Arno King also visited and spent five hours here, lots of plants here that he was interested in, he will be coming back in September to take some Spring cuttings.

In June we travelled to Caloundra to give a presentation to ‘Pelican Waters Garden Club’, bit of a fuss getting set up but turned out well.

We had bus trips here from ‘Logan Village Garden Club’ and Caboolture Bromeliad Society’ both went down well.

Another presentation in June was to ‘Bribie Island Garden Club.’

We have given over the years over 200 presentations and feel it is now time to cut back, we will still accept bus visits as we enjoy those and it’ is relatively easy to prepare for them.

Not a lot happening in the garden, just a lot of Winter cutting back, old Heliconias, Costus and Gingers and of course it is time to cut back all the fruit trees.

While doing all this I have done something to my knee, very painful and X Rays show no damage so it will be off to the Physio for some treatment as I still have lots to do.

I have been trying to add to my Amorphophallus collection and the only way I can do this is through auction on eBay, I get beaten every time and the competition is fierce, I am limited in what I can spend.

Talking about Amorphophallus, I have emptied them out of their pots, cleaned the tubers and stored them dry in my shed on a layer of vermiculite, a big job.

My petrol pressure cleaner pump packed in, so I had to purchase a new pump from Karcher.

My new best tool is this Ryobi hand held Chain Saw, I can climb a tree, hang onto one branch, and cut with the other and I bought it at a great promotional price.

Talking about Ryobi One tools, my lopper broke, so as it has a six-year warranty back to Bunnings to get an immediate replacement.

Another job was our almost 30 year old swimming pool which had become quite badly stained over the years, I bought a product which claimed to get rid of all the stains, well it did, so much calcium, irons and other metals that had to be vacuumed off the pool floor, but it was well worth it to see our pool so sparking clean.

Some photos.

March and April 2023 Garden News

 

I did not post in March as I just could not get past the horrible weather that we had virtually all month. It was hot, humid, and very dry and I seemed to spend most of that month watering plants.

Anyway, in March we had visits from ‘The Budding Garden Club’ and ‘Mt Tamborine Garden Club’ and I also gave presentations to ‘Mt Gravatt Garden Club’ and ‘Bayside Garden Club’.

Mt Gravatt was disappointing as we carted a car load of plants there, take the out of the car and set up only to sell four plants.

In April we had a break see family at Agnes Water and had an enjoyable visit, it was nice to swim in the ocean and have time to read a book.

We had one bus trip that month from ‘Clayfield Ascot Garden Club’, only 16 members but were all nice and enjoyed the visit.

 

No big jobs in the garden just one building a new garden bench for Judy, otherwise putting mulch down and general maintenance, always plenty to do.

 

Garden News February 2023

 

Well February was quite a horrible month for gardening, only rained once and temperature was in the 30c or more most days.

Having been in our Birkdale property for 34 years I would say this has been the second driest summer we have had.

Must admit I am looking forward to winter because I I write this in March, we are sweltering at 35c, I am over the heat.

Anyway, that is enough of my complaining.

Genny Catlins sister invited a few of her close friends for lunch at a Mt Cotton restaurant, it was nice to catch up with those people and hear some stories about Genny. We will miss her.

Very little happening in the garden, spending most of our time watering.

Our Worsleya's flowered for the first time.

I did find time to build Judy a new plant bench.

We had six tables at the Cordyline Society pop up plant sale which was held at the Birkdale Multi Sports Centre on a Sunday, it was the first time we had done anything like this and the result was pleasing.

Some of the plants from February's garden.

I have quite a few jobs lined up but waiting for the weather to cool down a bit before I start.

Heat Mats for Propagation

 

 We have found this firm to be very helpful and their product is Australian made.