Gordon's Garden Diary

18 Jun '08 12:00 am

Beautiful. I like the daylily and the rosa glauca. The azalea is a gorgeous colour. I think my favourite is the Climbing Westerland.

18 Jun '08 2:05 am

That looks like Five Finger Fern, Adiantum aleuticum (sp?), growing above the dirt sign. I've killed at least two of these in a vain attempt to convince them they could be happy here. (They were not.) I've seen them growing wild in Oregon near waterfalls. I suppose by the time they get as far North as you and with all your precipitation .. they must line up to grow for you.

I have a similar Tradescantia as your rescue plant. Mine is a culitvar called "Blue and Gold" but I'm pretty sure there are others in this color range. I think it makes a great, self-contained color contrast. Mine grow in the shade of the Gunnera and do very well except when a really warm day brings a big leaf down on its pretty head like a fly swatter.

Another enjoyable jaunt through your garden. Thanks Gordon.

18 Jun '08 6:53 am

Hi, Mark, and thanks for the name of the Tradescantia! That'll be its name from now on - it's good enough for me! As far as I know, the fern is called a Maidenhair Fern; perhaps it has a different name on your side of the border?? Anyway, I have 3 of them, all with slightly different leaf shapes. I bought one of them and gathered the others locally from the bush.

Cheers!

gordonf

18 Jun '08 7:03 am

Hi, Everyone!

Here are the rest of the pictures that I took yesterday in the garden; I hope you like them.

Cheers!

gordonf

18 Jun '08 8:14 am

Gordon, your garden is a treat. I love your Pelargonium Post - how are the pots attached and what's at the top of the pole? Question

It looks like it's next to a great looking euphorbia (I'm in a euphorbia-loving phase at the moment!). Sorry I can't comment on the mystery seedlings. I wouldn't know a baby Jack in the Pulpit if I fell over one (we don't grow them here)! Keep the pics coming.

18 Jun '08 5:31 pm

Hi, Kerole!

Thanks for the comments - the thing at the top of the post is a bird feeder for woodpeckers, etc. Here's a picture of one of them (a pileated woodpecker, our largest kind) eating there. As for the euphorbia, it's Euphorbia martinii. It has a rather hard life, as it keeps getting knocked down because it has grown into a black bamboo that needs pretty constant attention, digging up to reduce its spread, etc. Each time I get in there to do anything, the Euphorbia is in the way!

The pots are attached to the pole with specially-made hooks that I found at a local garden centre. They are made especially for traditional clay pots and come in 3 sizes. Unfortunately, the store doesn't carry them any more, so I'm glad I got them when I did!

Tomorrow I'll post a picture of one of my larger Jack-in-the Pulpit plants for you to see. This is a seedling from some seed that I traded several years ago with a gardener in New Brunswick, in eastern Canada. It won't bloom for 2 or 3 more years.

Cheers!

gordonf

18 Jun '08 7:48 pm

Gordon, you're a shameless show off Exclamation

All those gorgeous euphorbias looking ever so happy. I really do love that post - but without sounding really thick, what is the woodpecker eating Question

Sadly we don't have woodpeckers in NZ.

18 Jun '08 8:13 pm

Hi, Kerole - The woodpecker's eating a block of suet impregnated with various seeds and grains and small fruits like raisins and cranberries. In nature, i guess they eat nuts and seeds, but mostly they peck insects from the bark of trees. They love pecking on electricity poles and sometimes even hammer on metal chimneys, which can REALLY wake you up in the morning!!

G'night - it's 1:13 a.m. here!

-gordonf

19 Jun '08 3:44 am

Perhaps a cross with a pteradactyl? You sure do have the Euphorbias alright, Gordon. I think it is one of the most diverse and numerous plant families*. There are many that make great garden plants and for those of us carefully doliing out scarce water they are a godsend.

*There is an idea for book: All the obscure and interesting plant facts presented like an almanac or perhaps like the Guiness Book of World Records.

19 Jun '08 4:33 am

Hi, Mark & Kerole-

I think (not absolutely sure) that after the Ivory woodpecker (which may or may not be extinct), the pileated is the largest, at least in N. America. It's about the size of a raven or a fairly large parrot. Its feet are about 4 inches from front to back.

Speaking of ravens, Vancouver island is now the home to 4 pure white, but not albino, ravens. There's a pair down-island that recently hatched their second pair of white babies! All of the siblings are black. Birdwatchers are coming from all over to see the new ones (I saw them on t.v.). They hatched 2 last year as well, so scientists think that both parents must have the recessive white gene.

Well. coffee time! Then I have to take my neighbour fishing (he doesn't drive). Until later. .

-gordonf

Gordon's Garden Diary

You grow my favorite fern.

Blue & Gold, eh?

More Pictures

So lush!

Post

You should re-name your place Euphorbia-ville.

Woodpeckers

That woodpecker is enormous!

Woodpeckers