Know that the lilies have spread their bells, over all the pools of our forest dells,
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Stilly and lightly there bases rest, on the quivering sleep of water’s breast.
Water lily – purity of heart
HELLO garden lovers.
Spring has sprung in glorious fashion across the valley, albeit a little cooler in the evenings than some years, but with more rain than was forecast.
The riot of colour, the lush green lawns and well tended flower beds have all benefitted and been a mark of this season’s gardens and open days.
Spring is heralded in my garden with the bold heads of the hippeastrums, announcing there presence like beacons of plenty, and the intoxicating fragrance of the wisteria, their long mauve pendulous racemes, hanging like jewels.
I returned home in late September from a two-week absence, traveling on behalf of The Garden Clubs of Australia, visiting clubs and garden shows, anticipating these spring delights, only to be welcomed by horticultural carnage.
The dreaded monolepta beetle had systematically chomped its way through my garden leaving a path of desolation.
Not a whiff of fragrance on the air, not a mauve bud to be seen, only the dried, shrivelled husk of springs promise.
The roses faired the worst from this insidious onslaught, looking like dried sticks with small pieces of pitted sandpaper attached, which had only weeks before, produced new buds and foliage.
My house sitter had managed to save the flowering buds of the citrus, ‘preferring fruit to flowers’ as he put it, by keeping a vigilant eye on them daily.
The only method of defence against the monolepta beetle in my experience is a keen eye and an arsenal of ‘no name’ surface or insect spray.
They tend to ‘overnight’ on a chosen target and as the warmth of the day rouses their forces, I go out early before the bees are active (very important) and Rambo style, empty my arsenal of aerosol.
Mission accomplished!
An unexpected delight in the front flower garden this year is the dazzling display of annuals I planted for my open day back in June, particularly the petunias.
Unexpected because petunias, pansies, violas and geraniums are the favoured delicacies of the resident possums.
The two wheelbarrows I had planted to welcome the visitors at the entry gates, lasted less than a week, but at least were blooming on the big day.
Word obviously went out the following evening via the ‘possum post’, and this gourmet barrow banquet was dispatched in a single night!
I only hope the little darlings don’t subscribe to this publication or my front garden ‘dazzling display’ will be no more!
Another spring delight are the waterlilies and Louisiana iris populating Lake St George, the dam.
The bore and pump I had installed earlier this year is keeping the dam level elevated, but only just, as the bore is only a ‘low yield’ affair, or to put it crudely - I could pee faster. But it’s enough to keep the roots damp and in turn give a spring floral display.
I’m still in the process of landscaping this area but early results are promising.
The dreaded beetles have gone and the roses are budding up again, fingers crossed the possums don’t read this column and we can all enjoy our lovely spring gardens.
Happy (pest free) gardening,
George