A Stroll Around The Gardens.

 

Last Tuesday I needed to take my bike to the workshop for registration, & was told it would be ready early afternoon so decided to hang around in Wollongong till it was finished. I went to the bus stop & jumped aboard the 'Gong Shuttle. Looking at the passenger demographic it dawned on me that we were probably on the way to the Uni, giving me the idea of a change of plan; why not spend the morning at the adjacent Wollongong Botanic Gardens, have lunch at the Uni & then do the quick walk back to the bike shop. The following photos were the result of my morning stroll:-

 

Dragon Trees (Dracaena draco) dominate the succulent mound, along with Aloes. I've worked out the former make good bonsai subjects:-

Plant on the left was set up last summer, the other two just recently.

Euphorbia tirucalli 'Firesticks' from the Horn of Africa make a bold statement in colour.

 

Massed Aloes in flower; notice the similarity to Red Hot Pokers' blooms. Both come from southern Africa & are bird pollinated.

The taller- growing or Tree Aloes are my favourite:-

 

Aloe barbarae at the nursery. This group make good subjects for pots:-

 

Two nice pot plants, the younger & the older.

Livingstone daisies add a splash of colour:-

 

Gasterias are found in arid regions but generally under other trees or shrubs; not all succulents are at their best in sun. A good candidate for culture in dry shade. 

 

More Euphorbias. This one is known as the Indian Fig as it produces edible fruits:-

 Close- up of the fruit:-

Contrast the shape of this mound-forming species with those covered previously:- 

Some plants in the Euphorbia millii group; variations on a theme:-

 

 

Some pink E. millii from the nursery:-

 

Carissa sp. sold as 'Desert Star' by the nursery trade. Perfumed white flowers with edible fruit. This plant is unusual in that new growth will die from oedema under prolonged wet conditions; most plants will transport excess water into the lower leaves to preserve the growing points, causing leaves to spot & blacken (eg. Yucca).

 

Queensland Bottle Trees (Brachychiton rupestris).

These make excellent features & should be more widely utilised in suburban plantings:-

 

 

Good-sized plants for sale at the nursery, $75 each.

 

Another favourite group, small Agave species.These make great pot plants, especially when kept as single rosettes:-

 

 

Agave weberi (below):-

Agave medio-picta alba at the nursery:-

 

Another favourite, Dasylirion acrotriche from the Americas:-

 

 

Lastly, don't forget the Camellia sale, $15 for 200mm pots. This is C. 'Yuletide', a miniature variety:-

 

C. japonica 'Buttons & Bows', just opening:-

 

 

More photos to follow in future posts.

Gardening. Have fun with it!

Russell.