My Blooming Garden

Cacti color

2011-12-23T07:35:00.000+11:00

Nothing to say. Just enjoying the colors of summer.

A view of the garden

2011-09-14T11:55:00.001+10:00

A perfect moment captured with my phone camera.

Backyard BBQ area

Front Garden

Backyard

Backyard and pool

Front garden succulent section

Pink Camellias

2011-08-13T09:47:00.000+10:00

All dressed up and nowhere to go.

Bangalow palm inflorescence

2011-08-07T19:12:00.001+10:00

Most people wouldn't get excited over the inflorescence of a palm (seeds) but I do. This is the first display from the many Bangalow palms in my garden. The palm is a mature specimen4.5m in height.

Orchids

2011-08-07T19:09:00.000+10:00

Most people think of exotic hothouse environments when you mention orchids. But, not all orchids are so sensitive. In Melbourne we have a huge variety of outdoor orchids that thrive in the natural environment.
This is my latest purchase and addition to my garden.

Phoenix canariensis

2011-08-07T08:22:00.000+10:00

The date palm bearing fruit (Phoenix canariensis) with agaves and aloe placitalus in the foreground.

Aloe Vera Flowers

2011-07-28T09:59:00.001+10:00

In the middle of winter, cold and wet and miserable, the Aloe Vera puts out a spectacular show of color to brighten up the winter days.

Strelitzia flower time lapse photography

2011-03-16T16:29:00.000+11:00

Bromeliad flower

2011-01-02T11:58:00.000+11:00

The ever reliable bromeliad putting out its beautiful flower. This one might be lost amongst all the other flowers in the garden, at the moment the gardenia is blooming underneath it as well. So I had to isolate it with a sheet of A4 paper. I think the result is that the viewer can focus on the magnificence and complexity of this flower.

Canna flowers

2010-12-26T15:00:00.000+11:00

The petals of the canna flower open progressively and begin as a bright orange color and then turn red. The spears showing at the top of the picture are flowers that haven't yet opened.

Canna leaves and flowers

2010-12-17T20:03:00.000+11:00

I'm fascinated by the dark leaves of this canna in contrast to the brilliant bright red flowers, not fully opened yet in this photo.

I emphasized the dark color of the leaves using the camera white balance settings.

Epiphytum

2010-12-16T06:56:00.000+11:00

The epiphytum is a succulent.
Just cut off one of these "fingers" and stick it into the ground or a pot.
Forget about it, do nothing and wait one year.
The reward is these gorgeous flowers.

Echinopsis 2010

2010-11-27T06:23:00.003+11:00

The last time it flowered it had only one flower. Apparently it's the ambition of owners to get as many flowers as possible.
I can't describe the perfume, it is exquisite, the most sublime fragrance that I've ever inhaled.

The flowers opens at night and last for only one day before it begins to wilt.
Bottom photo shows how flower begins from a few buds, then grows over many days before reaching maturity..

Rhododendrons in bloom

2010-10-14T09:23:00.001+11:00

A hardy variety of rhododendron that can surive the scorching heat of summer blooms this Spring.

Cherry blossom

2010-10-01T11:44:00.002+10:00

The colors of Spring
The difference between the pic on the left and the one above is a few days where the blossoms go from white to pink.

Azalea

2010-10-01T11:42:00.001+10:00

The colors of Spring

Cyclamen

2010-09-30T17:36:00.001+10:00

Here is a good representation of the beautiful color of my cyclamen plant.

Camellias

2010-08-19T09:42:00.006+10:00

Camellias are also known as winter roses.
They are the most neglected plant in my garden and until now, taken for granted.
Each year they faithfully bloom profusely to add color to the garden.
These are are three different ones out of many more I have in my garden.

Orchids

2010-08-13T10:17:00.001+10:00

More orchids, this time a different color than before.
Enjoy.

Aloe Vera

2010-07-19T17:10:00.001+10:00

The aloe vera plant, well known for it's medicinal properties is a succulent that produces a spectacular torch shaped flower. This one, grown from a cutting that was placed in ground has finally matured over the years and has produced it's first crop of flowers.

Winter Orchids

2010-07-19T16:58:00.000+10:00

Unlike the hothouse orchids that need a special environment to grow and flower, these orchids are an outdoor variety that require the cold nights before they bloom.

Bromeliad flower

2010-06-11T17:24:00.001+10:00

One of many different bromeliad flowers.

Bromeliad Part 2

2010-05-11T12:24:00.000+10:00

Here is a better pic of the bromeliad flower I posted last time. Enjoy.

Bromeliad

2010-05-05T17:01:00.000+10:00

This is just a preview shot because the flower hasn't fully opened.
As it is a preview, it was photographed by my Nokia 6220.
It has been in my garden for four years, harvested during a holiday in Palm Cove tropical Queensland, I didn't expect it to survive in the harsh Melbourne climate. To my surprise, it not only survived but rewarded me with this flower.

Trachycarpus under snow

2010-02-28T08:34:00.000+11:00

These are certainly not from my garden in Australia but these pix show how resilient the Trachycarpus can be. I guess it might not be tough enough for six months of snow in Canada. Sorry /t.

Trachycarpus Wagnerianus

2010-02-26T20:28:00.001+11:00

This palm is from the mountains of China. It can survive snow and it can survive extreme heat. It is a palm for just about anywhere regardless of climate. Unlike it's close relative the Trachycarpus fortunei, the leaves are more rigid, waxy and the ends only partly seperated. The casual observer might fail to notice the difference except that the Wagnerianus has long stems for the leaves and the fan shape is very compact. The Fortunei leaves tend to sag at the ends and look a bit more untidy.This year I've been lucky enough to have the seeds pollinated. that is they are fertilized and will available to germinate and spawn new plants.

The trick is in having the skill to make the seeds germinate. I've tried my hand at various other plant seeds and it's a hit or miss exercise.
Anybody willing to try is welcome to have a pile of seeds from this palm at the cost of postage for a letter to wherever you live.

Bromeliad

2010-02-26T20:17:00.000+11:00

The bromeliad Aechmea Weilbachii started out as a gift from a friend. One plant, one flower. The flower lasted for six months and I was impressed. Now, over a few years it has spawned pups and one has now become five. In two years it will have multiplied to double that as each plant produces two pups.
Our friend gave another one to another person and it failed to flower. All I can say is I must be doing something right.

Cactus flower

2010-01-12T06:57:00.000+11:00

We've had a few day of extreme heat in Melbourne with last night ranging from 36C to 30C and 43C during the day.
This flower on the grafted cactus is looking a bit washed out in color no doubt because of the extreme heat.

Canna Flower

2009-12-28T17:07:00.001+11:00

Here's an early pic of the canna in bloom. It's early because not all of the flowers on the stem have opened yet.
The color is just awesome. The leaves of the plant are huge.

This is a new variety of canna I planted last year which grows very high and has very large leaves.
In the background is a dwarf date palm and tomato plants.

Cacti flowers

2009-12-15T18:25:00.001+11:00

Getting these pics means being there at the right time of the day. Too early and the flowers are closed, too late and the same.
I know /t likes these so here they are, enjoy.

Flowers galore

2009-11-13T17:37:00.001+11:00

This cacti is doing well.

The Hippeastrum blooming this year for the first time in many many years.
No doubt the magic of cow manure fertilizer never fails to surprise me with how it helps flowering.

Bromeliad flower

2009-10-25T17:46:00.000+11:00

In a shaded part of the garden underneath the large cotton palm there is a mass of different bromeliads I have planted.
Today I was pleasantly surprised by the appearance of this flower on this very unassuming bromeliad. I've never seen anything like it before.
On a sad note, this may probably be the last post as Lexcen's garden is up for sale. The house comes with the garden for free.
It will be very sad to leave this garden which I have designed, created and tended to over the last eight years. I hope the new owners enjoy this garden, it is extremely low maintenance and all it requires is a bit of love and attention and the garden will reward you with many constant surprises as it has rewarded me.

Ameria maritima

2009-10-01T17:19:00.003+10:00

I wanted a plant that is colorful but extremely hardy because in summer the heat is scorching and other than petunias, not much can survive in a pot or hanging basket because there's no shelter from the afternoon sun.
This Ameria is ideal, and as you can see is flowering profusely.

Wnter blooms

2009-08-23T12:53:00.007+10:00

To the dedicated two followers of this blog, I bring you a bit of color from the winter blooms.
The Clivia flowers are blooming. The clivias were salvaged from a rubbish dump last summer.
The large leaves in the background are from impatiens.

The orchid is in bloom again.

The aeonium schwartzkopf flower is a wonder as it contrasts the dark leaves of the succulent itself.

I've had a draecena draco (dragonblood) tree in a pot which I finally planted in the garden as it's looking very sad and root bound. These marvellous trees live for up to 400 years so I'm not expecting much in my lifetime.

Here is a picture of a magnificent specimen that I can only imagine mine might grow into.

Phoenix canariensis

2009-07-20T12:05:00.000+10:00

The female phoenix canariensis is bearing a record load of dates this year.

Bromeliad flower

2009-04-04T13:03:00.000+11:00

I love bromeliads because they're such a low maintenance plant. Just plant it in a shady corner and forget about it. This one is the first flowering and I'm very happy with it.

Cacti flower

2009-03-13T21:47:00.000+11:00

I'm always impressed by the relative size of the flower to the cacti.

Crassula corymbulosa

2009-03-07T11:54:00.005+11:00

Crassula corybulosaThe flowers are so small you really need to get up close to view them.

Stelltzia comparison

2009-01-18T11:04:00.002+11:00

The flower of the triple headed strelitzia nicolai flower shown in comparison to the strelitzia reginae (bird of paradise) held beneath.

Hebe orphan annie

2009-01-12T20:34:00.001+11:00

This is an extremely hardy plant. The flowers a just a bonus as the leaf tips display pink coloration all year round.

Strelitzia nicolai flowers

2009-01-01T17:29:00.001+11:00

32 inches wide from end to end (80cm). The double flower of the Strezlitzia is full of nectar that birds love to drink.

Bananas are coming

2009-01-01T17:22:00.000+11:00

Bananas are coming and I'm so excited!

Cacti flowers

2008-12-26T09:31:00.000+11:00

Just another pic of cacti flowers. They aren't fully open until the sun shines directly on them, this is an early morning pic.

Birth of bananas

2008-12-26T09:29:00.000+11:00

The first ever sighting of the first banana to spring from the banana tree. Early days yet but stay tuned for the fruit pix.

Cacti flower new part 4

2008-11-26T20:24:00.000+11:00

Here you get a realistic perspective on size of the flowers. The close ups and just for enjoyment. Don't forget to click images for full view.

Cacti flower new part 3

2008-11-26T20:22:00.000+11:00

Cacti flowers new part 2

2008-11-26T20:21:00.000+11:00

New Cacti flowers

2008-11-26T20:18:00.001+11:00

I've been waiting for this cacti to flower for a long time, and I think it's well worth the wait.

Creative with bromeliads

2008-11-20T20:37:00.000+11:00

Bromeliads don't need soil to grow. In fact it was an inspirational moment when I decided to plant them on the trunk of the cotton palm.
As you can see, they are doing very well. They were small pups when I first placed them there with sphagnum moss and now they are mature.

Cacti flowers pink

2008-11-15T17:09:00.002+11:00

Cacti and succulents

2008-11-01T20:51:00.001+11:00

I was hoping for more than just 2 flowers on the epiphyllum.

I guess it's a little to early to show the cactus flowers but I'm excited and there's more waiting to spring open when the sunshine is just right.

Stay tuned.

Trachycarpus wagnerianus

2008-10-11T17:36:00.000+11:00

The inflorescense of the Trachycarpus palm is seen in the garden for the first time. Like all palms, there is a need for both male and female for the fruit to cross pollinate and create fertile seeds. (I've managed to germinate the seeds of thePhoenix Caneriensis palm because I have one of each gender). I doubt that I will be able to do the same here unless I artificially cross pollinate.

Succulent Aloe Plicatilis

2008-10-11T17:23:00.002+11:00

First sight of the Aloe Plicatilis flower.
This is a native of South Africa and develops a smooth trunk as the plant matures.

Oranges

2008-08-05T16:01:00.000+10:00

It's been a long time since the orange tree had this much fruit.
Credit should go to the cow poo used as fertilizer. This also is good for flowering plants and increases the amount of flowering.
Still waiting for my Magnolia to bloom, even though every other house has Magnolias flowers in full bloom.

Orchids

2008-07-05T14:49:00.000+10:00

The native orchids are in bloom. These aren't hothouse orchids but ones that thrive in the middle of winter in the garden.

Daffodils

2008-07-05T14:42:00.000+10:00

The winter garden isn't all gloom and doom as the daffodils add a touch of color.

Lush growth in the herb garden

2008-05-10T08:25:00.002+10:00

Just wanted to see if anybody is paying attention here!
Do you recognize this herb?

Chameleon Rose (updated)

2008-02-03T13:01:00.000+11:00

This rose starts life as yellow and then turns to pink. Flower on top in new bud opening and lower one is mature flower. Click on pix for a close up view.
Update:
I've managed to capture the rose in the middle of changing it's color.

Hibiscus flower

2008-01-31T18:20:00.000+11:00

The hibiscus is usually associated with Hawaii and other tropical regions. The famous grass skirts are made from the bark of the hibiscus. The flowers blossom and wilt within a day or two.

Bromeliads

2008-01-27T19:48:00.001+11:00

Bromeliads are admired for their spectacular flowers although not all bromeliads have flowers on a stem. (Guzmania top photo) These other ones for example are admired for the color of their leaves. The pretty flowers are just a bonus.

Adenium obesum flower

2008-01-15T21:34:00.000+11:00

This flower was a real surprise because I didn't have a clue what type of flower if any would be produced by this succulent. I just wanted a specimen of this type of succulent. The swollen water storing trunk is a characteristic.
This is the first flower of many buds getting ready to open.

Yet another cactus flower

2008-01-05T15:08:00.001+11:00

Cacti flowers

2007-12-30T20:46:00.001+11:00

This is a grafted cacti where the head astrophytum has been grafted onto another cacti.
The flower show promises more with now flower buds popping up everywhere and a new flower just about to open - see bottom left of bottom photo.

Cordyline flowers

2007-12-23T10:44:00.000+11:00

A cordyline looks like a grass. It has the long curving leaves that is typical of grasses but isn't a grass. Some cordylines develop a trunk and resemble a yucca as in the Cordyline Australis.
The cordyline known as Red Fountain doesn't develop a trunk and offshoots into clumps.
Cordylines are native to Australia and New Zealand.

Cacti flowers (Salcorebutia albopectinata)

2007-12-01T17:51:00.000+11:00

I have to be quick to capture these because they only open while the sun is directly on the plant and then they close up again.

Xanthorrea flower

2007-11-25T19:56:00.000+11:00

The Xanthorrea puts out a staff flower from it's centre. The flower spike then blooms to reveal the multitude of tiny stamens which will be pollinated by bees and insects. (double click pic for close-up view)

Tillandsia cyanea

2007-11-25T19:40:00.000+11:00

The Tillandsia family is a group of air plants, they don't need soil to grow. They are a close relative of the bromeliads. Notice the brilliant purple flower that grows from the pink paddle. (double click for full view)

Cacti flowers

2007-11-09T19:56:00.000+11:00

I am fascinated by cacti flowers. Their life span is always short but their bloom is spectacular. These are from a new group of cacti I bought last week.

Strelitzia nicolai flower

2007-11-02T20:45:00.001+11:00

The Strelitzia nicolai flower is as huge as the plant is big. Unlike the cousin strelitzia reginae, the flower doesn't have bright colors. Also, unlike the reginae, the flower doesn't have it's own stem but just grows out of the side of the the leaf stalk.

These series of pictures show a double flower, each pointing in a different direction but clumpled together. I've collected seeds from last years flowers and will be trying to germinate them. It's easier just to slice off a clump of new growth at the base and plant it, but I like to try my hand at germinating seeds.

Pleiopsilos

2007-11-01T16:29:00.000+11:00

Pleiospsilos.
These are a succulent that resembles a rock. Unlike the similar lithops, they do not tolerate full sun and require relative shady position to flower.

Echinopsis cacti flower

2007-10-28T21:39:00.001+11:00

I just picked up an echinopsis cacti at the local market today.
By day the flower remains shut but at night it opens up in all its glory.
I am absolutely fascinated by this phenomenon. Unlike other cacti flowers which open up only when there is full sun, the echinopsis does the reverse.
Of course I had to wait till it was dark for the flower to open and then take it inside and photograph it. I have to be quick because flowers usually last only one day.

Chamaedorae seifrizii

2007-10-27T18:27:00.000+10:00

This is an indoor palm that I've had for many years. It seems to be flowering constantly.
The incredible thing about it is that indoor palms never last for more than a year or two before giving up the ghost. This one is over ten years old.

Strelitzia flowers

2007-10-22T14:15:00.000+10:00

I wasn't happy with the color of the flowers in the previous post so I thought I'd try again and capture the true color of these flowers. Commonly known as birds of paradise. (Don't forget to double click on pix).

Strelitzia nicolai

2007-10-19T16:29:00.001+10:00

When I bought this one, it wasn't much higher the the top of the fence. (see post September 19th)
I've seen other strelitzias much taller than this one so I don't know what the maximum height might be.

Strelitzia reginae

2007-10-15T16:58:00.000+10:00

The Strelitzia reginae has a beautiful flower.
The relative is the Strelitzia nicolai also known as the wild banana is a giant of a plant but its flower lacks the color of its relative. The nicolai tends to grow upwards reaching staggering heights while the reginae forms clumps at ground level.
Strelitzia are related to the banana family and have leaves very similar in shape to the banana.
Unlike banana trees, which are very sensitive to frosts, streslitzias don't mind and are very hardy and easy to grow.

Close - up and view from the roof

2007-10-14T12:32:00.001+10:00

Sorry about the shadow caused by the camera. I'll be more careful next time.

The close - up shots are for /t and the roof shots was just an idea I had during the night.

Garden in Spring

2007-10-11T16:53:00.001+10:00

Summers are harsh on the garden because there isn't any shade. The plants have to be hardy to survive. Right now the colors are in full bloom during spring while the harsh Australian sun tends to drain the color out of the garden in summer.

More night shots

2007-10-02T19:54:00.001+10:00

There is a kind of magical atmosphere when the garden is lit up at night.

Trachycarpus Wagnerianus

2007-09-22T21:31:00.000+10:00

I've seen pictures of this palm in its natural habitat with the leaves loaded with snow.
A very hardy palm and gorgeous as well.

Cherry Blossom time.

2007-09-22T11:24:00.000+10:00

The pictures tell the story.

The Tropical Garden - the beginning

2007-09-19T06:55:00.001+10:00

Since /t is interested in my tropical garden I thought I should show how it all began. After we removed everything that was standing and brought in the bulldozer to create the levels which was just a slope in the property, the plants that we had carefully hand picked were planted. This was all six years ago. Much has changed in this time and the results speak for themselves.

Xanthorea - the one I lost

2007-09-18T21:20:00.000+10:00

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.

Another night shot

2007-09-17T21:24:00.001+10:00

Here's another attempt to capture the night scene of the backyard.

I've tried filtering the noise on the second pic.

Xanthorea

2007-09-17T21:13:00.000+10:00

Xanthorea is an Australian native tree, known as a grass tree or black boy.
These plants thrive on neglect, in fact they will even survive a bushfire and bounce back to life as if nothing ever happened. Of course, if they get too much water, they will rot and die.

I'm proud of this one because it's sprouting a flower, a spike that rises from it's middle and keeps rising to extraordinary heights. This is only the second flowering in six years.

Backyard at night

2007-09-16T16:37:00.000+10:00

I like the lighting effects in the garden at night. A little effort with spotlights makes a great night scene backdrop of a garden that would normally be invisible after dark.

Backyard

2007-09-16T16:34:00.001+10:00

Here's a pic of the cats' favorite drinking spot, the bird bath. Needless to say birds stay well away from it.

The orange tree

2007-09-16T16:27:00.000+10:00

After many years of frustration I've managed to coax the orange tree into bearing fruit. The magic ingredient is cow manure as fertilizer. In fact cow manure seems to benefit all blooming trees.

Orchids in bloom

2007-08-12T11:07:00.000+10:00

Phoenix Canariensis (Date Palm)

2007-06-30T16:46:00.000+10:00

I have two date palms a male and female.
The female is the fruit bearer and the picture shows a magnificent growth.

Bromeliads (updated) June

2007-06-09T16:31:00.000+10:00

These flowered in January and they're still holding on now, at the start of winter.

Flap jacks

2007-06-09T16:20:00.000+10:00

A very ordinary succulent with a very spectacular flower.

Bromeliads (updated)

2007-02-14T19:42:00.000+11:00

I started with one plant, after it flowered the flower wilts, the plant generates pups and then the pups flower. The four plants here are the pups from the original. In two years they should be double that number.

Astrophytim myriostigma

2007-02-08T19:56:00.000+11:00

This astrophytum, commonly known as a bishop's hat put out a flower in less than a week after being placed in its new home.
One day it's a tiny little bud the next day a blooming flower. It closes up at night.

Crassula blooming (updated)

2007-01-17T18:34:00.000+11:00

Now blooming.
Double click pic to get a close-up view.

Pachypodium (Succulent)

2007-01-14T19:15:00.000+11:00

I've been out buying new plants for the garden.
This is called a Pachypodium. It has triple clusters of thorns and a crown of leaves.
In fact, this isn't a cactus, it's a succulent from Madagascar. There is something about Madagascar that makes it home to my favorite plants.

This is aGymnocalycium Baldianum which is famous for its spectacular flowers. And another one with pink flowers.

This cute little ball is Mammillaria Duwei.

(Click on pix for larger image)

Echeveria shaviana

2007-01-06T18:42:00.000+11:00

Echeveria shaviana
Double click to see large image. Notice the lethal looking spikes on the cactus in the background.

Cactus flowers again

2007-01-06T18:24:00.000+11:00

This one caught me by surprise. I was backing out of the driveway when a burst of color caught my eye. Usually they flower one at a time so this was a real feast for the eyes.

Strelitzia nicolai

2006-12-24T16:57:00.000+11:00

The flower of the nicolai isn't as colorful as its cousin the reginae(bird of paradise) but it is huge. This clump weighs over 6 kilograms. It is sagging from the weight that the stem cannot support.
It oozes a sap to attract bees and birds.

Cycas revoluta

2006-12-11T02:11:00.000+11:00

This is one of the most common cycads, also known as Sago Palm although it isn't a palm.
The new leaves sprout from the center as you can see.
When they flower, it is a spectacular cone that also sprouts from its center.
You need a male and a female plant to get cross fertilization. The male and females both put out cones.

Another Cactus flower

2006-12-07T05:44:00.000+11:00

My Blooming Garden

Cacti color

A view of the garden

Pink Camellias

Bangalow palm inflorescence

Orchids

Phoenix canariensis

Aloe Vera Flowers

Strelitzia flower time lapse photography

Bromeliad flower

Canna flowers

Canna leaves and flowers

Epiphytum

Echinopsis 2010

Rhododendrons in bloom

Cherry blossom

Azalea

Cyclamen

Camellias

Orchids

Aloe Vera

Winter Orchids

Bromeliad flower

Bromeliad Part 2

Bromeliad

Trachycarpus under snow

Trachycarpus Wagnerianus

Related articles by Zemanta

Bromeliad

Cactus flower

Canna Flower

Cacti flowers

Flowers galore

Bromeliad flower

Ameria maritima

Wnter blooms

Phoenix canariensis

Bromeliad flower

Cacti flower

Crassula corymbulosa

Stelltzia comparison

Hebe orphan annie

Strelitzia nicolai flowers

Bananas are coming

Cacti flowers

Birth of bananas

Cacti flower new part 4

Cacti flower new part 3

Cacti flowers new part 2

New Cacti flowers

Creative with bromeliads

Cacti flowers pink

Cacti and succulents

Trachycarpus wagnerianus

Succulent Aloe Plicatilis

Oranges

Orchids

Daffodils

Lush growth in the herb garden

Chameleon Rose (updated)

Hibiscus flower

Bromeliads

Adenium obesum flower

Yet another cactus flower

Cacti flowers

Cordyline flowers

Cacti flowers (Salcorebutia albopectinata)

Xanthorrea flower

Tillandsia cyanea

Cacti flowers

Strelitzia nicolai flower

Pleiopsilos

Echinopsis cacti flower

Chamaedorae seifrizii

Strelitzia flowers

Strelitzia nicolai

Strelitzia reginae

Close - up and view from the roof

Garden in Spring

More night shots