My Early Autumn Garden

As the first month of autumn draws to a close, here's a quick update. Some of the plants that suffered in summer's heatwave are showing signs of recovering. I bought a few, just a few, plants at the annual plant fair last weekend, I still have mixed feelings about whether it was a good idea to curb my impulse buying so much. It looks like last year's green manure crop has self seeded, though the flat leaved plants might be weeds. The leaves of the trident maple already showed some colour change in late summer and it's becoming quite noticeable now. There are leaf curling spiders all over the garden (the spider photo is larger so it's worth clicking on it for a better look if you are interested). 

Things That Go Bump In The Night

I love cats, but I'm getting a little tired of the fights in the middle of the night that have been happening lately. I worry about the cats too, one of the cats we had when I was a child needed surgery for a wound sustained in a fight, not a nice experience for any of us. 

Hottest Summer on Record, and Then It Was Like Someone Flipped a Switch

The Bureau of Meteorology says it has been the hottest summer on record in Australia.

In Canberra this summer was the equal 9th warmest on record. The average maximum temperature was 29.1℃, 2℃ above average. (That's 84℉.) There were 36 days over 30℃ (86℉) and 12 days over 35℃ (95℉). January was the hottest month on record, with a record high of 42℃ (107℉) on the 18th. Minimum temperatures were also slightly above average in December and January. Rainfall was below average although January was wetter than usual.

And then I woke up on the first day of autumn and it was cold! The water out of the tap for a couple of mornings was noticeably cooler. But March can still be hot. Today was warm and sunny again and we are expecting temps around 30 later in the week.

The brightest crepe myrtle is looking gorgeous and the others have also produced a few flowers. The daylily and the dianthus I planted last spring have finally decided to do something too.

Watch This Space

One of our crepe myrtles is looking good this year, it should be spectacular soon. Funny how the vibrancy of the pink varies though, not just in the photographs but in real life. Sometimes I glance out the window and think was it always so pale and other times I think yes, that's the amazing colour I remember from a few years ago.

I Wonder

I wonder why some crepe myrtles are already in full bloom and some, for example mine, are not? I wonder why some crepe myrtles, for example mine, take a holiday from flowering in some years? Hoping for more flowers this year though.

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day

I'm rushing this post a bit because I'm late and it's the middle of the night. I was starting to wonder if I'd have anything flowering in late summer but suddenly some of the plants have recovered from the heatwave and are putting on a show. I was especially pleased to see how many hebes are flowering. Check out other gardens at May Dreams Gardens.

Abutilon

Albizzia

Aquilegia

Brachycome

Hebe

Hebe

Hebe

Hebe

Hebe

Kniphofia

Liriope

Tulbaghia

Lawn Substitute

During the drought we decided to reduce our lawn and in this area we have replaced it with a groundcover. This is a native plant called myoporum parvifolium or Creeping Boobialla. It is supposed to be very hardy, frost tolerant and suitable for xeriscaping. At first we had some trouble with individual plants and had to replace a couple but the space is filling in nicely this year.

Last summer.

It flowers too.

Yesterday.