Photo/s of the day.

[moonvoice]

From the garden.


Lechenaultia formosa - first flower of the season. (on behalf of Dani: one of the Lullfitzes at the Lullfitz native nursery told us that Lechenaultia formosa doesn't do well in Perth gardens (they died after a year / year and a half) because we lack the deep limestone substrate necessary. It's probably true everywhere else, but it's bullshit for us. Anyway, that was his explanation for why he didn't stock them. We eventually found some formosas at Bunnings, bought five, and they have lived for two years and flower bigger and better every year. This year it looks like they're shaping up to flower for about 4 months, if my calculations are correct. That's a fucking bumper crop of some of the brightest groundcover flowers you'll ever see in your life. Also? Totally hardy. Need no supplementary watering once established (though you can deep water a couple of times in Summer if necessary), no fertiliser, and look amazeballs, imagine a carpet of these for weeks at a time, and you have one of the best Lechenaultias out there.






Grevillea and acacia - (On behalf of Dani: To be very precise: Grevillea hybrid "Ellabella", and Acacia spathulifolia. The grevillea is the one in flower. These need no supplementary watering. The Acacia spathulifolia in particular needs absolutely no supplementary Summer watering even in tims of high drought and consistent heatwaves. Flowers in abundance and attracts local natives like jewel beetles. Additionally can take a very hard prune).





Spider and prey in Corymbia ficifolia

Comments

[silverjackal]

How large is the blossom on the Lechenaultia? It reminds me in shape of Lobelias, but the vegetation is also fascinating. In full flower it must be nothing short of spectacular. I'm also very intrigued by your Acacia -- it looks almost too exotic to be real. Thank you for sharing these! :)

[moonvoice]

It's a new blossom, so quite small (for this Lechenaultia). About a centimetre at the widest point.

[silverjackal]

And how large will it be at maturity? (I'm trying to picture what the whole thing will look like in full bloom. It's impressive just like that, so...)

[moonvoice]

Only about a centimetre and a half, but they're quite uniform. I have a picture of them here in flower (the red is unbelievably vivid):

http://moonvoice.dreamwidth.org/1007002.html

[drgnhlr]

Neat images - and oy the spider gives me the creeps.

[moonvoice]

It's very hidden, but yeah, I saw it under the leaf and was like; 'you creepy spider!'

[drgnhlr]

They are so good at that!

I like spiders, in fact, you may remember the year I had of them basically trying to take over my living spaces - without them, I'd have a hellascious bug problem! I just don't want them crawling on me, surprising me, or anything like that.

Spiders, scorpions and bugs of all kinds make my scalp crawl...*shudder*

[venturous]

iGarden too! in the too-wet swamp forest of southern Maryland. Love the ground cover, I crave a xeriscape sometimes, the humidity here makes moss grow on me, ugh!
but that acacia is stunning.
we have wild azalea blooming now, the last of the spring things. next is the too-green season, and lots of changes in the veggie plot. I'm excited by all the strawberry blossoms I have now. Must take pix!