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Clivia originate from South Africa and are the perfect plant for the most difficult parts of the garden. They grow well in dry shady spots under trees, or in the shady spots in the open garden where other plants struggle to survive.
The plant has strap like leaves similar to agapanthus but darker green in colour and thicker in texture. The flowers are mainly yellow to salmon orange and produced in numbers on a single stem, lasting a long time.
Dividing up an old clump and planting new bulbs should be done in autumn, watering well after planting. Bulbs should be planted close to the surface with the neck protruding.
Clivias thrive in a shady spot in a frost free warm climate, they will survive an occasional light frost but are best grown in pots and taken inside during winter in colder areas. The plants flower best if they are let get slightly root bound and as Ive already mentioned dont require much water especially in the winter months.
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The Opening Ceremony
Every year around July my family look forward to attending the local show. For anyone entering, on offer in the pavilion to choose from are: Vegetable and Fruit, Horticulture, Cookery, Home produce, Needlework, Agriculture and amateur Photography for adults. And in juvenile classes the choices are Horticulture, Cookery and Sweets, Needlework/Handcraft, Crafts and Hobbies and Photography. they also offer a Fine Arts section, for both. Outside you can choose from the Horse section, Diary cattle, stud Beef, Woodchopping and a Ute show and shine.
If serious about entering you would start to plan well in advance, As soon as the schedule comes out its a good idea to get produce together and keep an eye on the garden for anything that will be ready, choosing art, photography and other projects completed during the year. All photography and art needs to be mounted, this can be done at anytime once pieces are chosen. The final days get a little hectic in the flower and cookery sections as these can't be done too far in advance.
Even after a winter of heavy frosts the flowers still managed to impress me.
The pavilion smelt amazing with help from the native orchids.
Some of my favourites, geraniums, roses, lavender, gerberas and snap dragons just to name a few, beautiful quilts in the background.
Grevilleas and flowering shrubs.
Another successful show. A great way to showcase your wares and meet people with similar interests. Great fun well worth all the work.
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Iris ensata
The Iris is popular for its variety of beautiful blooms adding colour to borders and gardens in spring and early summer. Flowers can be found in all colour and combinations except scarlet.
When choosing a position in the garden for these plants try for a sunny well drained spot. If the soill is poor try adding something organic. The Japanese Iris are the only ones that do poorly in lime soil all other varieties thrive on lime. There are two main groups.
Rhizome-rooted. A rhizome is a thickened creeping rootstock sometimes small and compact other times large and conspicuous as in the well known bearded Iris. Rhizomeous Iris will spread and multiply easily if given good growing conditions, to keep growth vigorous its a good idea to fork through and divide every four or five years after flowering has finished.
Bulbous-rooted are the other group, this type all have true bulbs like daffodils, bulbous Iris can be left for several years, to multiply you lift the bulb when all growth has withered and seperate the bulblets when well dry. Replant from Feburary till April.
Iris a versatile plant can be grown in a pot, beautiful cut flower. One to keep an eye out for at school/church fetes, garage sales, or gardeners with large clumps that like to trade plants.
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This sweet smelling plant gets its name from the ancients who recognized the plants ability to follow the course of the sun. After opening it gradually turns from east to west and during the night turns back east to greet the rising sun
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Gerbera are a clumpy perenial with coarse leaves that resemble a giant dandelion. The slender petalled daisy flowers are borne on a tall naked stem and measure about 10 centermeters wide, flowers come in most colours except blue and purple
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