Re: Lambertia inermis

Peter and Margaret Moir wrote:
> 
> >From Margaret, Western Australia [AKA Beverley.......that's OK Moira!]
> 
> With regard to WA plants, yes, within certain parameters I agree that
> Eastern States plants are usually easier to grow in many gardens. The
> exception occurs in the true Mediterranean situation where summers are dry
> and not humid, and gardens not irrigated. In those situations the WA
> indigenes shine and shine, as once established the majority flourish with no
> summer water at all............in fact many resent it, which is why they
> aren't successful in climates where summer rainfall is the norm.
> The Queensland and NSW proteaceae for example are much more die-back
> resistant because they are adapted to a climate where simultaneous  warmth
> and moisture at the root is the norm. For our WA proteaceae that can be a
> death sentence.

Hi Margaret (got it right now)

I can see our main trouble with trying to grow your western flora around
Wellington is that we somply don't have a reliably Med. summer rainfall
pattern. I am filled with sorrow for what we locals have to miss -having
seen Leschenaultias growing gloriously with weedy  abandon on samdy
banks near Perth I was moved to buy one from my local garden centre (who
should have been shot for selling it anyhow), only to  have it turn up
its toes before its first autumn.

The irony is I cannot grow some of our local treasures either, for the
opposite reason. Celmisias and the mountain Aciphyllas simply turn up
their toes in our wet WINTERS as they expect to spend the cold weather
tucked up under a nice dry duvet of snow. Even the sharpest drainage is
not enough to ward off the wet from their collars and I cannot abide
covering things with little glass panes as the Brits apparently do.

Ah well! I can grow any miniature Cyclamen or double primrose with the
greatest of ease and success, but one always wants what one cannot have,
I guess.

Cheers

Moira
-- 
Tony & Moira Ryan <theryans@xtra.co.nz>
Wainuiomata (near Wellington, capital city of New Zealand)
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