Gordon's Garden Diary

24 Aug '08 6:16 pm

Hi, Macflax-

I can't think of anywhere in Australia, except atop some southern mountain or maybe in the middle of the Outback, where some form of yucca wouldn't grow. The climate here is, I think, rather like that of Tasmania, and we do get regular snow in winter. I don't protect mine from the cold at all. In a climate like this, I think that full sun is a preferred location for this plant, and mine don't get afternoon sun. This probably accounts for them taking so long to bloom.

There are varieties of yuccas growing in the cold deserts of North America where temperatures dip well below zero in winter, so I don't think you'd have any trouble growing them!

I have a "false" yucca called a red yucca (after the colour of its flowers) which comes from the high deserts of Texas. I grew my plants from seed, and i plan to try at least one of them when I move north. With protection, I just may be able to get it to survive there! We'll see!

Cheers!

gordonf

24 Aug '08 6:18 pm

My goodness, you have a wonderful variety! Being on the west coast with that tropical climate means you can grow just about anything...and you do. Wink

I have moved my Shasta daisies to a new spot this summer and they love it. I have loads of them and the "crazy" variety, too. Our hosta isn't nearly as big as yours, but it is having a good year.

Now I am itchy to post some pix in my thread, so keep yer peepers on the look-out!

Deb loves your post with all the pots around it and she wants me to make her something like that. "Next year" says I. d'oh!

All your plants look so lush. Well done.

Christopher

24 Aug '08 7:48 pm

Hi, Christopher;

It's great to hear from you again! What've you been up to this summer? My poor garden has been pretty neglected, what with all the trips to the Interior and now all the housework in preparation for selling the place! It's only recently that I've really DONE much out there. It's a good thing that I overplanted so much that weeds can't get much of a foothold.

I used some special hooks that I found for holding traditional clay pots onto the post. They hook over the edge of the pot and the weight rests on a part of the hook that sits underneath that edge where the pot suddenly narrows (am I explaining this clearly?? Laughing

). The hooks are made of aluminum, I think. I think one could accomplish the same thing by making circles of wire coat hangers and placing the pots into the circles, then screw the whole thing onto the post. That's probably what I'll have to do whenever I move to the Interior, as I'll bet I won't find the special hooks there!

Come on, now - get busy and post some pics, eh??

Cheers!

gordonf

25 Aug '08 7:43 am

Doesn't it look great with the white Goat's Beard flowers?

25 Aug '08 11:54 am

Hi, Mark-

This combination works very well, providing the 2 plants bloom at the same time. Here my goatsbeard flowers earlier than my monkshood. However, there are other varieties of monkshood that flower earlier and later, so whenever I get to a new garden, I'll keep this combo. in mind, as both these plants are hardy up there.

Thanks for the idea!

-Gord

25 Aug '08 3:33 pm

Hi, everyone;

Here are today's pictures from the garden. I hope you like them.

25 Aug '08 4:04 pm

I love your favourite phlox, Gordon. And all the pictures.
Wow - look at those euphorbias, grown from seeds! Pretty impressive!
All the best for your eventual relocation, keep smiling (I know you will). And eventually you will relocate!
Cheers, M

25 Aug '08 5:04 pm

Thanks, Moosey, for the vote of confidence in my move!! Although it hasn't been very long on the market, and August is always a very slow month for real estate sales here, it seems to me that it's been forever!!

Glad you are enjoying the pictures!!

Cheers!

gordonf

25 Aug '08 5:08 pm

Lovely pics. The Heavenly Bamboo looks like what we call Nandina, or Sacred Bamboo, and isn't actually a bamboo at all. We have the big ones and the small ones (Nana) and some of the newer in-between varieties. I love the Himalayan Honeysuckle!

25 Aug '08 5:29 pm

Hi, MacFlax-

You're right - what we call Heavenly Bamboo is Nandina; and I have one of the "nana" varieties also. In three years it has grown to only about 2 feet high.

Cheers!

gordonf

Gordon's Garden Diary

Yucca

Blooms-a-plenty!

Great to hear from you again!

I meant to share this photo of Monks Hood from England.

Monkshood & Goatsbeard

Latest Pictures

Hi!

HEAVENLY bAMBOO