Thank you Fiskars!

In my 10 Things I hate meme post I complained that I was unhappy with Fiskars response time to my email query. I have my answer now. They no longer make replacement blades for my old secateurs, BUT...

They sent me a new pair! Yesterday they arrived, with a bonus holster which also has a pocket for my cell phone. Marvellous, Thank you Fiskars! I look forward to remaining a loyal customer.

Well, Ive no excuse now. I have 25 rose bushes to prune, so you know where I will be today.

(This is NOT a sponsored post. Thier gardening products and scissors are very good quality, and I have used them for years.)

Tips for growing Cymbidium orchids

Australia's spring is heralded by the wattles and cymbidium orchids. Heres one from our collection, which grows in a pot under a gum tree in the backyard.

'Cymbids' are super easy to grow, and are available at most large garden centres. We bring plants in flower into the house, but when the blossoms have finished they go back outside.

• Place your cymbid under a tree where it will recieve full morning sun, and dappled light for the rest of the day.
• Keep moist but not wet.
• The absolute easiest way to keep them fed is with slow release granules which are formulated for orchids.
• We also like to use liquid blood and bone, and pretty much feed all our orchids whenever we think of it.

Cymbidiums come in a wide range of colours, and thier tall spikes of bloom are always breathtaking. If you dont find one you like at the garden centre, there are specialist growers all over the world. Find them with Google, or your local yellow pages.

Budgie Sunday - Meet Goliath

Goliath is a two year old yellow face blue budgerigar. He got his name from being the biggest and fastest growing chick in his clutch. His parents are Goldie and Freebird, and he is much bigger than both of them - together!




Goliath is madly in love with Uno, a recessive pied green hen who also has a yellow face. Theyve been a pair since April. In May they shared a nest and had five eggs, but none hatched. Being the first time for both of them, thats not unusual or worrysome. Better luck next time now they've had some practice.

Uno's been known to treat him rather harshly, and even for todays photos I saw her be cruel to him once. But watching them closely, in the main she seems to really enjoy his companionship. I sincerely hope she stops toying with his heart. Shes not the only eligible hen in the aviary, and his loyalty and attentiveness has not escaped the attention of other hens.


Goliath likes to be everywhere Uno is, and when he can't for whatever reason, rivals move in. (Yes, Gorgeous George is one of them!) This burly budgie sends them packing just by returning to Uno's side. The rivals may be foolish to try for her, but they are not stupid.

Besides Uno, Goliath loves fresh carrott and pumpkins. I suspect not so much for the beta carotene as the crunch.

Happy Budgie Sunday Everyone!

Anticipating Spring: Acacia Cultriformis (Wattle)

The buds on our Knife Wattle (Acacia Cultriformis) are beginning to colour up. The inset in the photo gives you a hint of what the flowers look like once they open. When the sun hits these blossoms, the whole shrub lights up as if it were electrified. Here in Australia, the Wattles are the heralds of spring.

I believe this is called the Knife Wattle due to the shape of the leaves. We purchased this one at the Mount Annan Botanical Gardens in April 2005. The day we planted it, it was a single trunk only 61cm (2 feet) tall. Today it has several trunks just over 2 meters (7 feet) tall. At maturity we expect the shrub to be 3 meters (approx 10 feet) tall and 2 meters (7 feet) wide.

The cascading branchlets bloom in profusion, calling in all manner of birds. The bees love it too. We have horrible chalky soil, and yet it has thrived. As a member of the acacia family, as it grows it will improve the soil by adding nitrogen and breaking up the chalk. A winner all round, I cant for the life of me wonder why I dont see more of these growing.

Once this shrub hits full bloom, I will take its photo again. In the meantime, try to keep warm, and remember: Spring is coming!

Now Blooming: Encyclia Cochleata

I grow this Encyclia Cochleata mounted to a section of tree branch. This branch is hung in the same Callistemon (Bottle Brush) tree that I grow my Stanhopea in.

It began blooming in May when this photo was taken, but is still blooming now with more buds yet to open. Some Encyclia growers will tell you that if you are growing them correctly, they should never be without a flower, (but between you and me, I think they are just party-poopers.)

If youd like more information on Encyclias, a good overview can be found at Orchids of the World, and more detailed info at Encyclia Enthusiasts. Have fun exloring!

If at first you don't succeed...

Try, try again.

Its true of many things, but that old saying comes to mind today as I have once again been unable to get photos of the pair of Little Wattlebirds who have been courting each other in my gardens.

I spent about fourty minutes carefully stalking the pair around the prickly Grevillea Scarlet Sprite they were taking nectar from.

Realizing it was time to pack it in for the morning, I retreated to the kitchen to make a cuppa. While I waited for the kettle, the male perched on the faucet handle, and the female nearby him. Quickly, I picked up the camera and shot through the window. Dang! The shutter lag in my Kodak DX6490 failed me once again. Crumbs!

This afternoon when they return, I will just set up in the kitchen and try, try again.

Wordless + Lensday - Sunshine

Ringtail Lemurs at the Dubbo zoo, enjoying the winter morning sun.
Happy WW! Did you play?