We had planned to go to our local HPS monthly meeting last Saturday but the sun was shining and the lure of the garden was so strong that we abandoned the idea and spent most of the day gardening instead, oops!
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| Usually Kniphofia thomsonii almost totally disappears in the winter but this time it remained evergreen and the old growth has gone floppy hence it's received a good trimming. White crocus have emerged between it and the Cotula hispida |
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| Eremurus have started to creep up, together with Cyclamen seedlings |
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| The garden recycling bin was filled up in no time! |
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| Trimmings get dumped in the middle patio first before they get taken to the recycling centre |
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| This Dicksonia antarctica fell down during the fire and was never propped up since then. Late in the summer it threw out new fronds much to our delight but as it was lying sideways the growth continued to go skywards... |
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| It was well rooted on to the ground before the event. We'll be propping it up again very soon and bury almost a foot of the trunk on the ground to give it the best possible chance of recovery and make re-rooting much quicker (and make it more stable too). It will be one of the first things we'll do in this month before the new growth comes out so the fronds won't be lopsided in relation to the trunk. |
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| This one wasn't a victim of the fire but of winter 2010-11. It will be used as a pathway edging. |
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| The gravel is heavily contaminated with ash, broken glass, and other debris that the top layer needs to be skimmed and replaced with fresh gravel |
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| Where a tall Magnolia delavayi once was has now been finally cut down to a stump. Some new growth sprouted at the base and we'll let that take over. Hopefully its growth will be vigorous. |
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| Some surprises - Chamaedorea radicalis sprouting back and... |
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| Chamaedorea microspadix making a comeback after this potted plant was totally burnt to nothing but a charred root ball. The plastic pot was gone and was just a black ball but the rains have washed the soot to reveal the roots and looks like also triggered it to throw out new growth. |
Mark :-)
This gardening blog follows our journey as we create our Tropical and Exotic themed garden. We hope you'll enjoy the journey as much as we do. We started our Exotic Garden in 2005 and this site will show its development, as well as our travels, both abroad and within the UK to gardens, nurseries and friends.
So sorry to read about a fire, it sounds pretty devastating. Plants can be tenacious though, good to see things starting to grow back.
ReplyDeleteThe fire seems like a distant memory now despite the many signs of it are still around which we'll have to clear out. Getting the jungle hut rebuilt and new fences re-erected has helped immensely. The replanting bit is going to be exciting :)
DeleteWhat keeps me going through the spring cleanup is finding all those little surprises hiding beneath the detritus. Aren't you glad you opted to stay home and garden?
ReplyDeleteSame here Ricki :) It was the best decision that time and so glad we did!
DeleteWow!! it is awesome how plants survive to this type of events! they've really got strength!!
ReplyDeleteThe Chamaedoreas were particularly Lisa, we're impressed that they're a lot tougher than we thought.
DeleteThe siren song of the garden has claimed many a soul. Such wonderful signs of life and rebirth as spring approaches!
ReplyDeleteSo true Evan! The topic of the talk and the speaker was very appealing but the call of the garden was too much to resist!
DeleteI'm so happy to read of unexpected surprises (of the good kind) in your garden, kudos to you for staying home and tackling the clean up.
ReplyDeleteThat felt great Loree, to stay at home and start the clearing out. Best decision that weekend!
DeleteWow, signs of new life are wonderful. I am so happy for you and I bet that they take off! I am cleaning up myself and doing lots of debris tossing.
ReplyDeleteThank you Candice! One other about clearing out is that the visual changes are instant which is very satisfying.
DeleteA wise decision as it sounds as if you had a most positive day. Now I thought that my wheelie bin was full but yours takes the prize. It's interesting how bin colours vary - here it's green for green waste, blue for paper, plastics etc and black for domestic. Have just visited my mum and did some weeding, tidying up etc. and was happily flinging stuff into what turned out to be completely the wrong bin :)
ReplyDeleteDifferent council different takes on colour :) these bins are so handy but being gardeners we could do with bigger ones don't you think so (storage might be an issue though)?
DeleteYou have signs of new life everywhere, this time of year is so wonderful, seeing what has survived the winter, welcoming old friends back into the garden. You must be so relieved that so much has survived your fire.
ReplyDeleteSo true Pauline. We're also starting see which ones that totally disappeared last year are actually still set to come back. The new growth spring brings plus the replanting is something we look forward to :)
DeleteThey say after a fire that the new growth that survived grows amazingly fast. You do have a lot to do this year but now that your time will be dedicated to this, it will be quick work for you guys.
ReplyDeleteCher Sunray Gardens
We hope so Cher, pretty confident :) there's a lot of truth to that especially if the rootball is intact which will help the top growth grow fast and recover. We're hoping our Magnolia delavayi will be like that.
Deletehah ! the phoenix begins to rise ! Spring is, in essence , a phoenix every single year, but after your fire, it will have so much more significance. Luckily the winter here in the uk has been gentle with us so far, so , as yet, we haven't lost anything (I'm whispering that bit!). 2010 was dreadful for us too and we lost tree ferns , palms and also lots of hebe hedging.
ReplyDeleteThat's so true Jane! Each spring is like a Phoenix rising again to start the yearly cycle. Winter 2010 was dreadful and so many losses were incurred indeed. This winter was such a fab bonus and very gentle to all our plants.
DeleteI love how things are resprouting, even ones that seemed gone for good. Also, I am intensely jealous that it is actually spring where you are.
ReplyDeleteSome of these new sprouters just took their time to send growth after being scorched, perhaps waiting for the following spring rather than sending out new growth immediately. We're currently having frosty mornings but at least day time temps are good and weather has been sunny lately.
DeleteI love seeing new signs of life in the spring. So much to explore in your garden. I hope the cleanup is quick and easy (as if it ever is, LOL).
ReplyDeleteTrue Gerhard, lol! Relatively quick and easy but more likely not as quick as we'd want it to be :)
DeleteThe resilience of plants - and people - never ceases to amaze me. I'm glad you have the time and the weather to begin enjoying your garden again.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kris! The weather is cooperating at the moment. Frosty mornings but daytime temps are good and sunny too. Could do away with the frost but may the sunny weather last! :)
DeleteLooks like you made the correct decision, Its good to get stuck in. I hope your Magnolia comes away nicely.
ReplyDeleteIt felt great to get stuck in Alistair, best decision that weekend :) we're very optimistic with the Magnolia wit the big root it has to back up the new growth.
DeleteI love this time of year, trying to figure out if you can sneak material into your neighbors' debris bins . . . It cheers me to read that you're getting some surprise regeneration. I can't wait to see what other surprises your garden gives you!
ReplyDeleteThanks Heather, hopefully lots of good ones and no more nasties :) Debris bins never seems big enough!
DeleteOh how we're longing for weekends with sun or at least not pouring rain so that we can get out there and work in the garden! Looking forward to seeing how the rebirth of your garden progresses!
ReplyDeleteThanks Peter :) I know you're a weekend warrior too just like like us and great weather especially over the weekend is always desired. Hope you have some good ones soon!
DeleteIt's starting to look good again. I must admit that wonky tree fern has reminded me to get yet another one and plant it nearly horizontal (a bit different). I don't really have much problem with garden waste as I tend to compost and shred everything cod I iz a propa gardoner :-)
ReplyDeleteYay to the rebirth!!!! I was just thinking about that today...and I think I may have finally come out of my funk too! Looking forward to getting in the garden this weekend :)
ReplyDelete