I would like to share the joy and fascination of plants in my garden.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Xanthorea - the one I lost
This one put out a massive stalk of a flower before it died from too much water. The Yucca next to it in the pot is an American variety which I got from a collector.
/t, you are correct in your observation. Let me explain. The current fashion is towards native gardens because of Australia's severe water shortage. I've been-there-done-that and let me tell you, most native plants (especially grevillias) look awful and a dedicated native garden looks like shit. When I put the tropical garden together six years ago, I wanted that particular tropical look. In fact, a lot of the palms in my garden are "water wise" and I had to select palms that can withstand severe cold and frost. The canary date palms (phoenix canariensis) will grow anywhere and are the focal points of the garden. Other palms from Mexico, USA (Washingtonia Filifera), China (Trachycarpus Fortunei and Trachycarpus Wagnerianus) can survive under snow. The Mexican palm Brachea Armata is also frost tolerant. The Strezlitsia Regina although a tropical plant related to the banana is quite frost tolerant and thrives in the garden. I also have Australian palms like the Bangalow, Alexander and Livistonia Chinensis, Livistonia Australis, Bismack Nobilis. The dwarf date palm (Phoenix robellenii) is also of tropical origins but survives the cold weather. Cocos palms are so common they will grow anywhere. I also have a selection of American and Mexican Yuccas that are extremely low maintenance.
people with ability to make green things grow always impress me, possibly because same said green things promptly curl up and die when placed anywhere near me
but i'd love to be able to work with living plants the way you do
I made a mistake with reference to the Bismarck palm. It originates from Madagascar as do most of the fascinating and beautiful tropical plants. There must be something special about that place.
madagascar, like australia, has unique lifeforms that are not found elsewhere
i know that's true of most places in the world, but especially so for these two places -- both magical -- they seem to have more and more varied highly unique species -- possibly due to evolutionary isolation
i think it's great that you get all of these exotics to live together (live at all) in your back yard
if i'm
ReplyDeletenot mistaken,
you're in south oz,
but your garden looks tropical
am thinking it must take serious green thumbs to keep the exotics going in your climate
or maybe i'm wrong about some or all of the above...
/t.
/t, you are correct in your observation. Let me explain. The current fashion is towards native gardens because of Australia's severe water shortage. I've been-there-done-that and let me tell you, most native plants (especially grevillias) look awful and a dedicated native garden looks like shit.
ReplyDeleteWhen I put the tropical garden together six years ago, I wanted that particular tropical look. In fact, a lot of the palms in my garden are "water wise" and I had to select palms that can withstand severe cold and frost. The canary date palms (phoenix canariensis) will grow anywhere and are the focal points of the garden. Other palms from Mexico, USA (Washingtonia Filifera), China (Trachycarpus Fortunei and Trachycarpus Wagnerianus) can survive under snow. The Mexican palm Brachea Armata is also frost tolerant. The Strezlitsia Regina although a tropical plant related to the banana is quite frost tolerant and thrives in the garden. I also have Australian palms like the Bangalow, Alexander and Livistonia Chinensis, Livistonia Australis, Bismack Nobilis. The dwarf date palm (Phoenix robellenii) is also of tropical origins but survives the cold weather. Cocos palms are so common they will grow anywhere. I also have a selection of American and Mexican Yuccas that are extremely low maintenance.
people
ReplyDeletewith ability to
make green things
grow always impress me,
possibly because same said green things promptly curl up and die when placed anywhere near me
but i'd love to be able to work with living plants the way you do
nice work, dude
/t.
/t, it's a passion more than a skill. It just takes a bit of homework to know what plants will grow where and what conditions they like.
ReplyDeleteI made a mistake with reference to the Bismarck palm. It originates from Madagascar as do most of the fascinating and beautiful tropical plants. There must be something special about that place.
ReplyDeletemadagascar,
ReplyDeletelike australia,
has unique lifeforms
that are not found elsewhere
i know that's true of most places in the world, but especially so for these two places -- both magical -- they seem to have more and more varied highly unique species -- possibly due to evolutionary isolation
i think it's great that you get all of these exotics to live together (live at all) in your back yard
/t.