Re: Autumn Down Under.(Was Spring Blooms..

david feix wrote:
> 
> Hello Moira,
> Interesting how different climates create different
> results...  My Abutilons readily set seed, but never
> have I seen one germinating on its own in my
> garden(s).  It seems offly early for even a southern
> hemisphere garden to be shutting down for the winter,
> here in Berkeley, my garden is just ramping up for
> another crescendo of bloom in early to mid fall, as
> the coolish summer days become more balmy in late
> summer/early fall here, and greatly favor the blooming
> of many fall into winter blooming subtropicals and
> highland flora from Mexico, such as Hedychiums,
> Salvias, Dahlias, Cosmos, and the early blooming
> Camellia sasanquas.  Alot of the South African bulbs
> can be counted on for late summer/early fall bloom as
> well, such as Nerines.  Do you get such early frost
> that late season bloomers don't do well?  
> In your climate, surely Camellia sansanqua, Gordonia
> axillaris, Leptospermum scoparium, Magnolia
> soulangeana, etc. could be counted on for fall into
> winter bloom, as well as many herbaceous perennials?
> Just out of curiosity, how cold do you typically getin
> winter, and when is your first and last frost?

Hi David

Just tidying up my correspondence file and found this query of yours, so
please forgive a late reply.

When I said my garden was winding down in late March, I did not mean the
season was actually ending, just that the main flowering season was
past. We certainly don't expect early frosts. In occasional years we my
get the first frost in late April, but more commonly not till about mid
May and in some years not until June. Our last frost date is commonly
during September, but the range is from August to October. Our heaviest
frosts are usually not lower than -3C, but about one year in ten we may
go as low as -6C the odd time.

Looking at the list in your last paragraph. I don't have Gordonia and it
is not at all common round here, though perfectly suited to the climate.
Camellia sasanqua is common enough in the district, though I don't have
any myself. However I do grow CC japonica (I particularly like many of
modern  miniatures which I mostly grow in pots), reticulata, salunensisX
and one or two of the smaller species. It is much too early for any of
these to be out, though all my plants are now well set with promising
buds.

Leptospermum scoparium in its wild white form grows all over the hills
in this valley, as it does in many parts of NZ. I have grown a number of
hybrids over the years, including miniatures, but all these have now
passed on. March is  in any case a bit early for them to flower. They
start in April and some can be found in bloom right up to January. The
wild form mostly flowers in late spring.

I was surprised to see Magnolia soulangeana included in your list of
fall bloomers, with us it would not be out until early spring, a little
later than M. cambellii and M stellata. 

When I wrote my border was colourful with Sedum spectabile (several
varieties) also some very nice Michaelmas dasies (Asters) and Monkshood
(Aconitum) along with a last flowering of Tradescantias in blue white
and cerise. I don't grow the larger Chrysanthemums, but have  a very
floriferous pink cushion 'mum which I have grown for may years. It is a
marvel, flowering from late spring to late autumn. A few Geraniums and
Salvias are still flowering and the Dahlias just coming to an end, as is
my lovely clump of Thunbergia natalensis, which has flowered all summer.
And just the last couple of weeks has seen the blooming of the Japanese
anemones, singles and doubles in pink and white. Oh, and this very day I
noticed the first toad lily (Trycirtis) was just opening.

Roses have put on a great show over the last few weeks, but we are now
down to the odd bloom and I expect such stragglers will continue until
June.

On the high terrace some Lavendula stoechis are putting on a final show
and the Argyranthemums waking up after a summer rest, but the Kangaroo
paws(Anigozanthus) are over. 

As to bulbs, The nerines are out, though my white N flexuosa failed to
flower this year, having been overgrown by an agressive Pelargonium,
which is likely to get its marching orders. Several people have had a
great show of Belladonna lilies out over the past month, but I don't
have any as my sunny areas are a bit limited.  Instead I have several
clumps of Colchicums of which the late species (C speciosum) is still
out. The first of the autumn-flowering crocuses have just come out in
the last week (C salzmannii) soon there will be big drifts in many parts
of the garden. 

Today I noticed the first spike on a new and improved form of
Schizostylis coccinia which I am pleased to see seems to have settled in
well.

And last, but by no means least of the autumn bulbs, Cyclamen
hederifolium in white and very many shades of pink is popping up in all
sorts of places (some I planted it in and a number it chose for itself).

Things like Primula malacoides, primroses and polyanthus bloom right
through winter along with the hardier Violas. Another plant which seems
to carry right through is sweet alyssum (lobularia maritima).

And that's the highlights of my autumn garden, but I had better stop
before eeverybody is totally bored. Things are probably a bit sparse
this year as we have suffered a protracted and quite unusual drought,
which has not yet broken (Though north of us some places have had far 
more rain than they want).

Moira

-- 
Tony & Moira Ryan <theryans@xtra.co.nz>
Wainuiomata (near Wellington, capital city of New Zealand)
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index