Early Autumn on the Balcony

Autumn is proving very exciting! Most things are starting to look haggard & spent, like my standard & creeping rose. My standard fuchsia is finished flowering now & is no longer a bright, bushy green ball filled with pretty pink flowers. Yep, things are looking drab......but not my maples

It's their time to shine! They are getting fiery already. My Sango Kaku is a mix of amber, gold, olive & orange leaves attached to bright red stems & trunks. It's going to be beautiful once it's all golden & red.

 

My Inaba Shidare is really special. As I mentioned in a previous post, it's my first autumn with this tree so I've only read that the leaves turn crimson. I never dreamed they'd be as red as they are! They are almost Flourescent red. Will take lots of pictures of it once the leaves have all turned.

I've noticed my precious maple has been looking a bit off lately & I only noticed today it's covered in tiny bugs!!! I decided I'd try the old soapy water trick (dish washing liquid & water sprayed on the bugs will kill them- not all bugs though) & I'm hoping, hoping, hoping they leave my tree alone. My poor maple.

And finally, what I suspect is my very last Dahlia until Spring

Until next time readers,

Bel

Garden Bits & Pieces

A couple of little bits & pieces today. First up, been meaning to mulch my weeping maple with stones but keep forgetting. Well, I've finally done it. Here's some before & after's

 

 

Next up, I purchased a little garden mascot for the veggie patch! Husband rolled his eyes at this purchase, but he obviously can't see how cute it is to have a little gnome mascot for your garden now does he?

Here's a pic of my side balcony. Here, from the left, I have my cream dahlia, cat grass & cat nip for my siamese cat, a dwarf peach tree, my newly planted coffee plant, my much loved Japanese maple, a rescued fuchsia & a gorgeous apricot rose.

 

I'd like to re-arrange & re-pot a few things on here in the next few months, so stay tuned!

Bye for now,

Bel

A Dahlia on Death Row

I've taken up a little hobby recently. I've started going to the discount section at nurseries buying awesome, half dead plants really cheap & nursing them back to health! I'm loving it!! It's cheap & it's rewarding.

I've been wanting to buy a Dahlia after seeing the most amazing one at Cloudehill Gardens In the Dandenongs (they are the most amazing gardens!). I believe it's called Midnight Sun. Here's a photo I took of it. It's the plant with bright yellow flowers & dark purple foiliage. Such a dramatic clash of colours. I love it.

Isnt it amazing!!!??!! Here it is amongst the other plants & trees in the warm beds at Cloudehill.

So, when I saw a slightly worse for wear dahlia at the nursery half price, I bought it straight away. Mine has dark green foliage & gorgeous cream blooms with fluffy, bright yellow centres. It's such a beautiful plant & doesn't look like its on it's death bed anymore after some pruning & a big dose of seasol. It's pot is a bit average, but it's all I had at the time.

Funny, the Dahlia hadn't been in its pot for more than 3 minutes when a little bee flew straight on to my balcony, straight to the bright yellow flower centre & went to town in the soft pollen. His little face was covered in it. My son was suitably impressed with Mr Bee & once he was done collecting pollen, he was gone.

Mother nature hard at work on my humble balcony garden. Makes me smile.

Dahlia's need lots of sunlight & flower from spring through to autumn, so I'm getting the last blooms now. They like to always be moist as well so will need to keep on top of that. Not sure of its position on my balcony at the moment. Thinking about a bit of a re-arrange soon. To be continued.....

 

Until next time, stay well!

Bel