... then an hour later, this!
We're now halfway through the first month of our Autumn and the weather is getting in the way of a good start to our growing season. Autumn through to the beginning of summer is the best time in our gardens.
I've been running in and out of the greenhouse all weekend like an idiot moving trays of seedlings from the few-and-far-between sunlit patches to the rain-sheltered patches ... trying to encourage then along! The trays are so moist at the moment that I'm sure I'll see signs of mould soon! I've already lost some sunflower seedlings, some Marguerite daisies and Brachyscome.
I've also been trying to keep some rather friendly Agile Wallabies out of my courtyard garden and away from some new plants. Yes these are the culprits caught in the act!!
Don't be fooled by those cute faces ... they're really Portulaca poachers and the Salvia snatchers!!! NOT very happy with these cuties at the moment!
My other concern at the moment is what to do with the bulbs I received ... not having had much experience with these at all! Right now I've got them in the fridge because the daytime temperatures are still quite high - around 30 degreesC / 86F - and so are the humidity levels. They're to be potted up and I know the soil can get rather hot in those conditions.
I'm thinking that I should keep them refrigerated until the end of our Autumn ... that's around ten weeks away. If anyone has any ideas on this, I'd be glad to hear them. This is an experiment for me this year ... so I'll see how it all goes.
On a more positive note though ... I am rather happy with the first bloom on my Curcuma 'Anita'...
... my orchid is blooming once more ....
... and I've spotted the first bud on my Empress Toad Lily ... so exciting!!!!!!
Sorry I can't offer any advise, your conditions are so different to ours :-) I do enjoy your posts, I am learning so much! I had not realised that your growing season is just beginning as is ours! And the Wallabies :-) Ha! My goodness, I thought the squirrels were bad enough digging holes in our lawn.
ReplyDeleteThanks Chris ... usually the wallabies aren't too bad but these two are becoming a bit of a nuisance coming up onto the courtyard garden nearly every day!!
ReplyDeleteI once kept some bulbs in the freezer for a month, and then planted them. They did not germinate. But your bulbs may be different.
ReplyDeleteI love to see your friendly neighbourhood wallabies!But the damagey must be causing!!
I love the contrast of our worlds! Your kangaroo are like our deer! What a hoot... I had no idea they would come in so close and can imagine the damage they might do. Oh dear... as we move into the wild... wild things become our neighbors and we theirs! Great photos! I can feel your excitement over your toad lily... all the way here in Massachusetts! Enjoy! Our snow is melting!! ;>)
ReplyDeleteOh I'm sorry, your Saliva snatching Wallabies ARE cute. Darn, it would be so difficult to be mad at them. Although I do understand, our deer aren't ugly either, until they're mowing down your prized plants. I'll trade you some deer for Wallabies though, it would be fun to see them on my patio...just once :P
ReplyDeleteHi Bernie. Your orchid is so pretty.
ReplyDeleteNow those two look very guilty to me. LOL!
It may be a good idea to keep them in the fridge until it cools down.
And I thought I had it bad with the Squirrels eating my Orchid blooms. The Wallabies picture is quite unique. Hope they leave some plants for you.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like that at our place, rain and shine and it seems more rain is on the way. Bernie, keep your bulbs in the fridge not in the freezer.
ReplyDeleteThe cold will be beneficial for germination. Keep them in the vegetable crisper. I also keep the seed packets in the fridge, they germinate much better, esp. lettuce and onions.
The wildlife is cute and welcome, but not to eat your precious plants! How does one teach them what to eat and what to leave alone, I guess that would be a full time day and night job.
Your orchid photo is simply breathtaking, Bernie, with the sprinkling of raindrops. :)
ReplyDeleteI know they must be hellishly annoying, but those wallabies are so freaking cute! I think Carol is right, this must be like our deer here -- which I'd dearly love to be able to persuade to leave my garden alone. Last year they ripped up whole flourishing plants.
Thanks everyone ... I'm about to try out something called D-Ter which is showered over the foliage and is supposed to deter unwanted munchers. Hope it works in deterring the grasshoppers as well!
ReplyDeleteTitania ... thanks for the advice about the bulbs and seeds. I do have them in the fridge, not the freezer, and so far they seem to be happy. A couple of bulbs seem to be sprouting in there!
Still raining here too - I am doing the same thing Bernie, trying to keep my seedlings from becoming too sodden. Now there is a cyclone heading our way! Why are we so suprised when we grow tasty things that there are others that want their share! My bandicoot fencing is still working, but holding thumbs! I love your orchids - hope mine start to bloom soon!
ReplyDeleteAnd I was complaining about bunnies in my garden???!!! How do you chase away these guys?
ReplyDeleteAs for the bulbs, I would keep them in refrigerator too.
Your blooms are so beautiful and look so exotic for me!
Great clouds in that sky.
ReplyDeleteSydney - City and Suburbs
Those wallabees are cute...no question! But it must be really difficult managing your garden with their 'bad habits'!
ReplyDeleteHi Bernie - this post makes me feel a little happier that the wallabies in our areas are very very shy (and not quite so close to my town garden). But I still think yours look just beautiful - they look like they think that if they play 'statues' you won't notice that they are there :D
ReplyDeleteHi Bernie - thanks for visiting my blog and posting. I see you're in Australia. It's strange to see you talk about autumn, when we're all getting excited about spring here in the U.S.! I love your wallaby pics, but I can see that they wouldn't be welcome in my garden, lol! I have squirrels, raccoons and skunks, but they mostly eat up the leftover bird seed and leave my plants along.
ReplyDeleteBernie, your blooms are wonderful. And I'm sorry as I realize the wallabies are an issue for you, but they are adorable. It's hard to be mad at them when they look so sweet! And of course they're not a problem for me, here in Florida. Although I understand because deer here can be quite a nuisance.
ReplyDeleteWow, do they respond to the automatic sprayers? I know those work for my parents where they are overrun with deer. They are cute though, but I understand not liking them too much considering.
ReplyDeleteBernie I know we think those wallabies are cute but I have a few friends who just look on them as pests in the garden. I'd be horrified if one of my phalenopsis looked like that lol lol - I try to keep water and moisture away from the leaves never mind the flowers. At least you have the natural conditions that orchids thrive in unlike my artificial ones.
ReplyDeleteHi again Bernie - now on your other blog.... also impressive. With rather similar conditions (although I don't call it autumn till after Easter, when my mom always warned us to watch for getting cold - and colds!)I can tell you my golden rule for ALL bulbs: don't plant until the night time temps dip below 10 degrees C. Daytime heat speeds them up, nighttime cold keeps them going, throughout their cycle. And if your night temps don't drop below 10 (though I'd think yours would?) then bulbs aren't likely to succeed... good luck! Jack
ReplyDeleteI found you and your agile wallabies Bernie! I love all your stories as I spent 6 months up north from Townsville to "The Tip" mid 2008, so all the wildlife and frogs (in wall corners) just bring back familiar memories.
ReplyDeleteWhen we do revegetation work down here to deter kangaroos (and feral deer - sorry to those from Europe and America!) we use egg yolk and metal filings mixed together and stick it on the leaves.
The filings aren't nice in their mouth so they avoid, but it doesn't harm them. Once they get used to it you can probably just use egg. I wouldn't do it in the wet though as it would wash off.
It's great that you found me Bush Chick ... and it sounds like you do know a thing or two about the north. Like the idea of your wallaby repellent ... will give that one a go! Thanks.
ReplyDeleteSequoiagardens ... thanks for the advice. I'm definitely leaving the bulbs in the fridge until the beginning of our winter ... by then they nightime temps. do get down but mostly around the 12 degrees C ... I guess I'll just have to wait and see what happens.
ReplyDeleteHi Leavesandbloom ... I have to agree that the wallabies can be pests in our gardens. I'm lucky enough to have my two favourite garden areas located where the wallabies USUALLY don't go! It's just on occasion a couple will wander into the courtyard garden or greenhouse garden.
ReplyDeleteThose orchids are out in the greeenhouse garden which is only covered with shadecloth, so they're out in the rain and in bright sunshine all year round. They seem to love it.
Wallabies!!! And I thought I had problems with squirrels! You've got to admit, they are kinda cute . . .
ReplyDeleteG'day Wicked Gardener ... yes they're cute as long as they stay in the yard downstairs ... I've now found out one of the mothers with her joey has created a resting spot in the garden bed near the pond up in the courtyard garden. Definitely not happy about that!
ReplyDelete