Wednesday, September 15, 2010
A flower a day for September. #15. Clivia minata
Clivia minata. If you have a dry shady area that you'd like to liven up around Spring time then this is the plant for you.
Tough as old boots these plants will withstand very harsh conditions but then again like most plants they will enjoy and thrive in the better times.
The first three photos are of a cultivar of Clivia minata while last one is the species Clivia minata.
All are growing under Jacaranda trees in the front garden of Toowoomba's St. Vincents Hospital.
Tomato & Chorizo Soup
| The photo is courtesy of Peggie's blog |
I'll let you know how it turns out just as soon as I'm finished.
Cheers
Stewart
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
A flower a day for September. #14
Azalea 'Alphonse Anderson' is one of my top ten azaleas. How it got the name 'Alphonse Anderson'I can't find out but at a guess it is probably named after a plant breeder called, you guessed it too didn't you, Alphonse Anderson.
I'm not going to rewrite the bible here so I'm posting a couple of links that give you heaps of info on growing azaleas.
First is from Burke's Backyard
Second is from Gardening Australia. The GA link is more detailed and technical.
One thing I'd like to say is that I have seen this cultivar growing and thriving on natural rainfall, in full sun and thriving on neglect up to at least three mts tall. Absolutely spectacular when out in full bloom.Once established almost bomb proof.
A flower a day for September #13.Queens Park Pt. 3. A day late.
Yes I know I missed a day. After working in the cab all day I had nothing left for the blog and I'm so desperate to finish knitting my ugly blanket (all will be explained re the name ugly) that I just couldn't summon the effort to post but here it is now. The final installment of Queens Park.

It is just not possible to have Spring here without the vibrant new growth from the Photinia glabra 'Rubens'.
Having said that, seventeen years ago when I came back home to Toowoomba you could probably have counted the Photinia hedges here on one hand so their popularity has been meteoric because they can be found all over the place today.
From here on down it's assorted beds of annuals which go on to make a wonderful floral display.
| A sea of Pansies wash into a glorious display of Delphiniums. |
| The main entrance to Queens park |
| Cabbage anyone? |
It is just not possible to have Spring here without the vibrant new growth from the Photinia glabra 'Rubens'.
Having said that, seventeen years ago when I came back home to Toowoomba you could probably have counted the Photinia hedges here on one hand so their popularity has been meteoric because they can be found all over the place today.
From here on down it's assorted beds of annuals which go on to make a wonderful floral display.
The Knitting Room
I couldn't resist this. Jacqui from her blog Life in the Dome posted this for her latest post so I ripping it off her and posting it too cos I think it's so awesome.
An extraordinary group of elderly Tasmanians have stitched, knitted and crocheted an entire house and garden to produce a life-sized recreation of a 1950s home.
Here is a direct link to the story on the ABC
In creating The Knitting Room, the artists have lovingly transformed their memories into art.
An extraordinary group of elderly Tasmanians have stitched, knitted and crocheted an entire house and garden to produce a life-sized recreation of a 1950s home.
Here is a direct link to the story on the ABC
In creating The Knitting Room, the artists have lovingly transformed their memories into art.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
A flower a day for September #12.Queens Park Pt. 2
Not hard to tell that the Poppy is right up there as one of my favorite Spring/September flowers.
The photos show some of the marvelous work the local council Parks and Garden workers do.
It's also less than a week to go until the start of our week long annual Carnival of Flowers festival. You can find out all you need to know about the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers on the tcof web site.
Queens Park is a picturesque park, just a short walk from Toowoomba's Central Business District. The park's uses are diverse and facilities make it a great meeting place or a pleasant stop.
The north-eastern part of the park boasts an immaculately tended floral garden. While it's meticulously tended all year round, park displays are particularly impressive during Spring and September especially.
The south-eastern and north-western corners provide large expanses of grass for sports, with the addition of a special swing for disabled children's enjoyment. The south section of the park features modern children's play equipment. Throughout the park, sealed walking tracks and a bicycle track wind through the giant shady trees.
The park is also a focus for many community activities. The sweeping expanse of grassed area near the corner of Hume and Margaret Streets makes an ideal venue for events, including monthly markets on Sunday, the Carnival of Flowers parade and side-show alley in September and the Gospel Music Festival at Easter.
Queen's Park (26.3 ha), formerly a Crown Reserve, was handed over to the control of the Toowoomba Council in 1865. At about this time the services of Walter Hill, government botanist and superintendent of the Brisbane Botanic Gardens, were being made readily available to councils and others who wished to establish parks and gardens.
Mr Hill was brought to Toowoomba and, as well as designing and planning the development of Queen's Park, he advised the council on street tree-planting and supervised much of the work. Many of the trees planted in Queen's Park were imported by him from Europe, Asia, and many other parts of the world. Hill Street was named in his honour.
Carl Hartmann, a botanist from Germany, and George Searle, a local landscape gardener, also made big contributions to Toowoomba's Garden City reputation.The work of the early planners has provided Toowoomba with a magnificent oasis close to the heart of the city. In 1875 young trees were planted out along broad avenues throughout the park.
Today the grand old trees resulting from that far-seeing design, line shaded avenues where visitors can stroll at leisure. Careful tending of the mature trees, and expert replacement where necessary, ensures that Queen's Park maintains its leafy charm.
Cheers and lovin' them poppies
Stewart
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