The Sages for warm climates;

Salvia guarantica, this one sports dark purple flowers. Can grow up to 2 m high and is an all year bloomer if you let it. I prune it lightly from time to time to keep it flowering.

Salvia uliginos, Bog Salvia; a very reliable bloomer all summer long. The flowers are a stunning sky blue. It tends to grow with underground rhizomes and has to be culled from time to time.

This is one of the most beautiful Salvias.The photo does not do it justice. The flowers are a dark blue with black calyxes. It also grows tall and is also easily propagated from green cuttings like many of the others.

Salvia perberula; the Rosebud Salvia is very showy. It grows 2 m long arms headed by up to 30 cm long flower stalks.The calyxes look like small bells from where the quite big dark pink flowers emerge. It is a stunning plant. Propagate in summer from cuttings.

Salvia greggii is very beautiful and flowers freely on a bush of about 1m high.

Salvia madrensis; wonderful yellow flowers. Splendid bush up to 2m. Flowers all summer long and has also attractive leaves. Propagates easily from cuttings or from root divisions.

A view of the garden;

I have many more Salvias which I will show in my next post

Salvia is the largest genus in the mint family with some 900 species of annuals, perennials and soft-wooded shrubs, including culinary and medicinal herbs as well as garden ornamentals. Many outstanding South and Central American species have been brought into cultivation just since the 1980's.


Believe it or not:
The seed is hope; the flower is joy.

Kalanchoe gastonis bonnieri; Donkey's Ears;

   My small succulent garden;

The still closed flowers;

Pretty mottled leaves;

  

   Very attractive bell like flowers emerge from the red sheathes.



Donkey ear plants (also known as Kalanchoe gastonis bonnieri) are plants originating from Madagascar that have leaves resembling the shape of a donkey's ear. These plants are succulents and may be grown indoors or outdoors, in a temperate climate. Donkey ear plants require little care to thrive, as succulents can go for a length of time without being watered. Donkey ear plants produce brightly colored blooms that are known to attract insects and nectar seeking birds.


Plant the donkey ear plant in a pot with soil, or outdoors if you can guard the plant against frost. Potted plants may be kept outdoors and brought inside during the winter. Select a pot large enough for the plant to allow it to grow. Use potting soil that is permeable and includes a mix of peat, soil and sand. Small rocks may be added to the pot when planting to encourage drainage.

Keep the plant in an area where it will receive both sun and shade. During the winter, place the donkey ear plant near a window to expose it to sunshine.

Water the donkey ear plant approximately once a week, or less often as needed. Do not saturate the soil, as over-watering can harm the plant.

Monitor the donkey ear plant for baby plants. Baby plants appear at the tips of the leaves. These baby plants may be removed and planted to create new donkey ear plants.

Courtesy  eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how


Believe it or not:

Whether you tend a garden or not, you are the gardener of your own being,
the seed of your destiny.-   The Findhorn Community

Photos TS
                                                                         

Dahlia Imperialis; Tree Dahlia; a wonderful show!

Tree dahlia/ Dahlia imperialis;
 fast growing perennial from South America.
 It grows three to five metres high with tall, sturdy  canes topped with large lavender flowers in autumn and winter.
Prune the plant in winter after  flowering.

* Remove all the dead wood.

* Cut down the canes that flowered last autumn; these are the ones to use for propagation.

* You can see a big bulbous bit at the bottom. That is the bulb of the dahlia that will shoot in spring and be three to five metres high again by autumn.

* Cut canes into 50 centimetre lengths. Ensure you have at least two nodes per cane, because they’ll actually root and shoot from those nodes.
* Lay a cane horizontally along a trench. They shoot from the nodes and in no time at all, you’ll get a lovely clump.
* When new growth gets to a metre high, nip the tips out. The canes won’t get as tall but will be sturdier and more resistant to wind damage.

Plant type: herbaceous tuber
Hardiness zones: 9-10
Sunlight: hot overhead sun
Soil Moisture: constantly moist
Soil: enriched soil, mildly acidic to mildly alkaline

Windblown blossoms, tiny droplets hanging on the petals like tears.


Believe it or not:
I had a lovely holiday; now I am back with new vigor!

Thank you to all who have send me a message. Very much appreciated.

....friends, I have a little rest from blogging....

....see you soon again...

SkyWatch Friday; A golden stream of light;

Early one morning;

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Photo TS

Rosella; Hibiscus sabdariffa; Rosella Jam;

Rosella has lovely soft pink flowers which are also edible. The leaves are edible as well and taste like Sorrel. They can be added to lettuce or other salads.

Here is a link to all the facts about Rosella http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roselle_(plant)

The red calyxes holding the seedpod. The calyxes are collected after the flowers have fallen. They should have a nice size, 2-3 days after flowering.The seedpod should still be green not brown and hard. It is used to make the Jelly!

Preparing the calyxes. I cut off the bottom and then it is easily peeled away from the seed pod. P. has made a little tool,to push the seed pod out, but I am quicker cutting off the bottom and the seed pods stay intact.

Here you can see the separated seed pods and the empty calyxes.
Put the seedpods into a pan and cover with water. Cook for about 40 minutes until it jellies nicely.

Here they are bubbling away... (the pods only)

When the jelly is ready add it to the calyxes. Use a sieve to separate the pods from the jelly.  I had a small bowl of calyxes and added 1 cup of sugar and the jelly from the pods and a little more water. Bring to the boil. After 10 minutes my Jam was ready. Do not cook longer then 20 minute as you do not want to lose the brilliant colour. In hindsight I could have used a little more sugar. The jam is sweet and sour, perhaps like the European red currant jam. Some say a little like cranberries, but it does not have the bitterness of cranberries. I think it is tastier.
It can be used as a savory to meat or as jam for breakfast.

Rosella Jam....brilliant!

Photos TS

Rosella (Hibiscus sabdariffa) is a species of Hibiscus native to the Old World tropics, used for the production of bast fibre and as an infusion. It is an annual or perennial herb or woody-based sub shrub, growing to 2–2.5 m (7–8 ft) tall. The leaves are deeply three- to five-lobed, 8–15 cm (3–6 in) long, arranged alternately on the stems.

Nutritional Facts

High in anti oxidants with very high levels of two of the most active anthocyanins

Phytochemicals

The plants are rich in anthocyanins, as well as protocatechuic acid. The dried calyces contain the flavonoids gossypetin, hibiscetine and sabdaretine. The major pigment, formerly reported as hibiscin, has been identified as daphniphylline. Small amounts of myrtillin (delphinidin 3-monoglucoside), Chrysanthenin (cyanidin 3-monoglucoside), and delphinidin are also present. Roselle seeds are a good source of lipid-soluble antioxidants, particularly gamma-tocopherol.

Believe it or not:

"Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love." 

— Mother Teresa

SkyWatch Friday; pointing to the sky;

Maryborough; Queensland;

Have fun and visit SkyWatch, click here

Photo TS