Thursday, April 9, 2009

Color in my garden

I am not a great gardener! It's not that I couldn't develop the knowledge and skill but rather that I can always find an excuse to get out in my kayak on the bay. I came here nearly 6 years ago to a new subdivision with nothing except weeds and too tall pasture grasses. Since then I have planted things that look after themselves with minimal help from me. I have planted walls of green all around my half acre block and added color at intervals around. We are well into autumn now and here is some of the color that I have had around me over the last couple of weeks.
I had Tibouchina trees growing where I lived before coming here and decided to plant them again.
Heliconias definitely look after themselves. In fact the only thing I have to do is stop them from spreading too far.
Bird of Paradise is always colorful.
Cannas are another easy-care plant and the leaves provide nice color too.
Some things don't show much flower but have been planted for the leaf color.
Fennel flowering in the herb garden.

11 comments:

  1. Lovely colours in your garden Mick. I particulary like the Glory Bush - good choice to replant. I like the idea of an 'easy care' garden & more birding. Cheers FAB

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  2. What a lovely varied collection of plants you have in your garden. I was given a young Bird of Paradise plant for a birthday present last year. It is growing fast in the unheated conservatory and I hope it will flower in about another three or four years. Here in my part of the UK it has to be treated as a tender indoor plant.

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  3. Hi Frank and John, its a funny world indeed where I look enviously at all your lovely flowers and blossoming trees and know I simply can't grow them out here - and you have to grow tropicals indoors.

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  4. Well Mick it would be strange world if everything grew everywhere then we wouldn't have anything different to look at. Believe me many of us are jealous that we can't grow exoctics outdoors!

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  5. I guess its human nature to always want what is just out of reach!

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  6. I especially love the purple in the top photo Mick. Its my favourite colour.

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  7. Thanks NM - it does make a lovely splash of color.

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  8. Hi Mick. Your garden labours have obviously paid off with wonderful colours. I've tried Tibouchina over here but had to grow it in a pot so I could overwinter it in the greenhouse. I don't have it anymore as an unexpected frost killed it off!!

    It's strange to think you're headed for Autumn as we are getting excited about Spring! That means we can enjoyed each season twice :)

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  9. Thanks Tricia. Of course I didn't put in any photos of the parts of the garden that have turned into a real jungle with all the weeds! The recent wet weather combined with the last of the summer heat made everything grow a bit like 'Jack's beanstalk'! It will take a while to get things back into order.

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  10. Everyone needs a garden, mick. Nothing like a spot of greenery, some bird-atrracting flowers and insect-nibbled leaves for lifting the spirits.

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  11. Hi Snail, I agree - just wish it didn't take so much time from going out after shorebirds!

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