Gardening in March - Canberra
It is the last day of March and we have had virtually no rain for 2 months - this places a great strain on the plants and the gardener. It has also been extra warm for March. Even today it was 32 C in the front of the house.
The sweetpeas that I planted on Valentine's Day are growing well - this way they make enough growth before it gets cold. In Canberra, planting on St Patrick's Day is too late. I have also planted anemones and ranuncus in pots. All of the ranunculus (well, 80%) are up, but so far only 2 anemone (8 %) have emerged. I have also planted a range of bulbs ordered from Hillview Nursery in Tasmania and Anemone nemorosa .
Gardening in March - Brisbane
This was originally written for a 1999 Gardening in the Sub-Tropics column in Your Garden magazine.
In the last few days, a passionfruit vine has appeared at our bedroom window. Climbing straight upwards, caressing the glass, the tendrils clasp the insect screen, anchoring its claim on our familiar arboreal view. Silhouettes of the large trifoliate leaves and curling tendrils aglow with the morning sun add a tropical flavour to our awakenings. The vine is a lusty competitor for a climbing rose, `Mermaid', which provides a thorny frame on which to clamber. Later, I expect to reap a harvest from this impassioned growth.
Silhouettes are an overlooked aspect in plant selection and placement. Literally the plant's profile, a plant's silhouette can improve garden vistas in early morning or evening light, and enhance moon-light garden-viewing. As well as the silhouette, there's the radiant glow of golden afternoon light bounced back from within foliage and flowers. Photographs taken at this time have an extra mellowness. As I finish off a gardening day, I often admire a late-afternoon-view of my plant-lined driveway looking out through the garage doorway, framed by virginia creeper (Parthenocissus inserta). Tall sword-leaves and butterfly flowers of blackberry lilies (Belamcanda chinensis), a tall standard rose, `Buff Beauty', and in the distance, palms and a mango tree are silhouetted against the sky. The leaf edges and the orange flowers have a translucent glow. Depending on the season, yellow nasturtiums and their circular leaves, coreopsis, pale pink storm lilies, daffodils shivery grass (Briza major) and maroon dahlias are tossed by gentle breezes and radiate the evening light. The virginia creeper clings and hangs around the garage entrance, along the verandah railing and the soffit above. Stray stems hang from ceiling to rail. Each five-bladed leaf is outlined against the sky. In autumn, if the larvae of hawkmoths don't devour them all, the leaves glow red, a token cool season gesture in this warm climate.
Immediately in front of the verandah, a Jacaranda provides summer sun shelter, spring mauve mist and a golden winter tribute. Blue skies and magic moonlight twinkle through the leafy veil. Night-time silhouette-magic is enhanced by the heady perfumes, Portwine magnolia (Michelia figo), mock orange (Murraya paniculata) and frangipanni and tinkling wind chimes.
My front footpath garden faces due west, so morning and late afternoon sunlit glow is an important feature of these favourable times for garden viewing or doing. If your garden can also exploit silhouettes and sun-glow, consider the colour and profile of the spring annuals and bulbs that are now being planted, and the perennials that will go in later. Whites, yellows, pinks and mauves are enhanced by the setting sun, a homecoming welcome glow in the fading light.
Last Spring, my sweetpeas were the best I have ever grown, the result of not-too-much mulch underneath, ample dolomite at planting, and a cool spring. Most of the flowers were pale mauve, a resonant colour in late-afternoon light. Plant some this month.
It is the last day of March and we have had virtually no rain for 2 months - this places a great strain on the plants and the gardener. It has also been extra warm for March. Even today it was 32 C in the front of the house.
The sweetpeas that I planted on Valentine's Day are growing well - this way they make enough growth before it gets cold. In Canberra, planting on St Patrick's Day is too late. I have also planted anemones and ranuncus in pots. All of the ranunculus (well, 80%) are up, but so far only 2 anemone (8 %) have emerged. I have also planted a range of bulbs ordered from Hillview Nursery in Tasmania and Anemone nemorosa .
Gardening in March - Brisbane
This was originally written for a 1999 Gardening in the Sub-Tropics column in Your Garden magazine.
In the last few days, a passionfruit vine has appeared at our bedroom window. Climbing straight upwards, caressing the glass, the tendrils clasp the insect screen, anchoring its claim on our familiar arboreal view. Silhouettes of the large trifoliate leaves and curling tendrils aglow with the morning sun add a tropical flavour to our awakenings. The vine is a lusty competitor for a climbing rose, `Mermaid', which provides a thorny frame on which to clamber. Later, I expect to reap a harvest from this impassioned growth.
Silhouettes are an overlooked aspect in plant selection and placement. Literally the plant's profile, a plant's silhouette can improve garden vistas in early morning or evening light, and enhance moon-light garden-viewing. As well as the silhouette, there's the radiant glow of golden afternoon light bounced back from within foliage and flowers. Photographs taken at this time have an extra mellowness. As I finish off a gardening day, I often admire a late-afternoon-view of my plant-lined driveway looking out through the garage doorway, framed by virginia creeper (Parthenocissus inserta). Tall sword-leaves and butterfly flowers of blackberry lilies (Belamcanda chinensis), a tall standard rose, `Buff Beauty', and in the distance, palms and a mango tree are silhouetted against the sky. The leaf edges and the orange flowers have a translucent glow. Depending on the season, yellow nasturtiums and their circular leaves, coreopsis, pale pink storm lilies, daffodils shivery grass (Briza major) and maroon dahlias are tossed by gentle breezes and radiate the evening light. The virginia creeper clings and hangs around the garage entrance, along the verandah railing and the soffit above. Stray stems hang from ceiling to rail. Each five-bladed leaf is outlined against the sky. In autumn, if the larvae of hawkmoths don't devour them all, the leaves glow red, a token cool season gesture in this warm climate.
Immediately in front of the verandah, a Jacaranda provides summer sun shelter, spring mauve mist and a golden winter tribute. Blue skies and magic moonlight twinkle through the leafy veil. Night-time silhouette-magic is enhanced by the heady perfumes, Portwine magnolia (Michelia figo), mock orange (Murraya paniculata) and frangipanni and tinkling wind chimes.
My front footpath garden faces due west, so morning and late afternoon sunlit glow is an important feature of these favourable times for garden viewing or doing. If your garden can also exploit silhouettes and sun-glow, consider the colour and profile of the spring annuals and bulbs that are now being planted, and the perennials that will go in later. Whites, yellows, pinks and mauves are enhanced by the setting sun, a homecoming welcome glow in the fading light.
Last Spring, my sweetpeas were the best I have ever grown, the result of not-too-much mulch underneath, ample dolomite at planting, and a cool spring. Most of the flowers were pale mauve, a resonant colour in late-afternoon light. Plant some this month.
