Re: Lambertia inermis


----- Original Message -----
From: Tony & Moira Ryan <theryans@xtra.co.nz>
To: Mediterannean Plants List <medit-plants@ucdavis.edu>
Sent: Sunday, December 03, 2000 11:03 AM
Subject: 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)
>
Moira, aint that the truth? Half the population here in Western Australia
are busting their boilers and blowing away the environment trying to grow
rhododendrons and Japanese Maples and such, completely oblivious of the
treasures at their doorstep. And then there's the danger of gardeners
growing plants that are too well adapted to the environment, such as South
African and many mediterranean origin plants, and they become the most
colossal weed problems.......S. African bulbs are taking over here, soon you
won't see the lovely Leschenaultia on those roadsides......... . Sigh. If we
want to grow anything other than indigenes what a delicate path we must
tread!
Thanks for the reply,
Margaret.
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