DFB's Greenthumb Project

[Tonz]

Got to say I am really enjoying following this thread, you guys are not ashamed to show what excites you, well done and its also giving me some ideas for a job Iam slowly working on.

[DFB FGXR6]

Another Camellia, this time a variety called 'Marge Miller'.



Marge Miller was bread here in Australia as the worlds first ground cover Camellia. It is from the Sasanqua species meaning it can tolerate full sun, however I would probably use this in a shaded position if you are in area prone to hot, dry summers.

These feature plants are available as a ground cover or as a grafted 90cm standard.

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

I My technique of winter rose pruning is extremely hard, the harder you cut, the harder they will respond with new growth in spring.

I hope the peach tree I just done this to is listening to your wise words.

[Work Horse]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

Regarding Pruning, most plants will respond well to a heavy prune however most people are scared they will kill the plant. I always love the reaction when people see me pruning roses. My technique of winter rose pruning is extremely hard, the harder you cut, the harder they will respond with new growth in spring.

Couldn't agree more re rose pruning!

Still some trepidation amongst some customers how hard I prune, especially roses that have not been pruned hard for a number of years.

I have learned the importance of removing older canes to allow younger canes room or to force the plant to throw up new canes.

Customers freak out because they believe the established canes are the best.

I don't count how many roses I prune each winter. I would never get out of bed if I did, but hundreds!

As I sit here typing, (wet today) I have 20+ scratches and punctures on my hands from roses. I always wear gloves and have not finished all my rose pruning yet!

1st world problems!

[roKWiz]

Been fussing over these 2 favourites lately. Robby and Buster.





Hoping they will grow into these.



and found the perfect use for a 4 speed Transit gearbox in my opinion.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by roKWiz

Been fussing over these 2 favourites lately. Robby and Buster.

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Hoping they will grow into these.

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and found the perfect use for a 4 speed Transit gearbox in my opinion.

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Nice work.

For some reason, I have never been a fan of Grevillea Robusta.

[DFB FGXR6]

I have been thrashing my Rover ProCut for the last few months cleaning up autumn leaves. Time to give the poor thing a rest now that I don't need catching ability.

Today's mower of choice, I have 7 , the Victa MasterCut 460.

[DFB FGXR6]

Today a spent a few hours helping to tame my neighbors garden. My little Stihl battery chainsaw was a perfect companion for this job.



No prize for guessing what I am doing tomorrow..............

[Citroënbender]

Has Cinderella left her slipper in the front right corner of your tray there?

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

Has Cinderella left her slipper in the front right corner of your tray there?

Sadly no, just two pairs of gloves.

[DFB FGXR6]

Winter time equals bare rooted roses. The last two days I have been unpacking, sorting, labeling and storing a large supply of roses ready for customers to plant in their gardens.







Combine strong demand and Covid, most of these roses are pre-sold. For some reason, people want to plant roses again. Three years ago we were reducing or supply, now we can't get enough. Swings and roundabouts.

[danzvtil]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

Winter time equals bare rooted roses. The last two days I have been unpacking, sorting, labeling and storing a large supply of roses ready for customers to plant in their gardens.

image

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Combine strong demand and Covid, most of these roses are pre-sold. For some reason, people want to plant roses again. Three years ago we were reducing or supply, now we can't get enough. Swings and roundabouts.

Same here in SA, last year only grandmas bought bare root roses, this year everyone is. Covid has changed mindsets all over the place.
A colleague of mine works at a rose grower, she was employed 18hrs part time, and is now doing 50+ hrs a week to keep up.

[DFB FGXR6]

This Buddha statue looks at home surrounded by Snow Drops.

[Work Horse]

Budda is surrounded by Snow flakes Leucojum aestivum

Snow drops Galanthus nivalis are a little different and much harder to grow.

Mum was showing me a few she managed to get up on the weekend and schooling me on the difference.

[DFB FGXR6]

One of my Favorite native plants, Thryptomene 'F.C. Payne'.



This winter/spring flowering low shrub can grow up to 1 mt in height in a sunny to partly shaded position. Thryptomene is exceptionally easy to grow, only requiring a light prune after flowering and not much more. When in flower, this showy plant never stays on the shelf for long in the nursery!

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by danzvtil

Same here in SA, last year only grandmas bought bare root roses, this year everyone is. Covid has changed mindsets all over the place.
A colleague of mine works at a rose grower, she was employed 18hrs part time, and is now doing 50+ hrs a week to keep up.

I don't know why but Roses have always been a favourite in country Victoria, both private garden and public.
Just about every small town has a huge rose gardens on display by the local council within a botanical garden.
Benalla is one of the best public rose garden displays I've ever seen.
The towns nickname is Rose city.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by roKWiz

I don't know why but Roses have always been a favourite in country Victoria, both private garden and public.
Just about every small town has a huge rose gardens on display by the local council within a botanical garden.
Benalla is one of the best public rose garden displays I've ever seen.
The towns nickname is Rose city.

Ha ha, I was "trained" to prune roses at the Benalla rose gardens. I say "trained" tongue in cheek as I knew how to prune roses before I was 15, I think I actually taught that class more than the instructor did.

[DFB FGXR6]

Grevillea 'Fireworks'.



Another small native shrub in flower now. Unlike some Grevillea's, this variety features softer blue-tinged foliage with the plant reaching about 1 mt at maturity. But it's the flowers that are draw card for this plant, vivid bright red and yellow blooms are produced from autumn to spring, attracting native bird life and the human eye alike.

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

Grevillea 'Fireworks'.

image

Another small native shrub in flower now. Unlike some Grevillea's, this variety features softer blue-tinged foliage with the plant reaching about 1 mt at maturity. But it's the flowers that are draw card for this plant, vivid bright red and yellow blooms are produced from autumn to spring, attracting native bird life and the human eye alike.

I planted some of these last year and they have taken off, the White Plumed Honeyeater's love them.

[DFB FGXR6]

The joys of working outdoors, sweating ya bum off in Summer and freezing ya nuts off in Winter. I'm generally a fan of Autumn and Winter days, however the frosty starts aren't much fun except for the photo opportunities.

[Beastie]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

The joys of working outdoors, sweating ya bum off in Summer and freezing ya nuts off in Winter. I'm generally a fan of Autumn and Winter days, however the frosty starts aren't much fun except for the photo opportunities.

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Great photo...

[DFB FGXR6]

English Daisy or Bellis perennis. Great winter colour for pots or the edge of garden beds.

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

The joys of working outdoors, sweating ya bum off in Summer and freezing ya nuts off in Winter. I'm generally a fan of Autumn and Winter days, however the frosty starts aren't much fun except for the photo opportunities.

Yep, One reason I've taken the last few weeks off. Regularly -4 to 0 in the mornings here with heavy frosts and fog.

[DFB FGXR6]

Ornamental Kale.



While edible, this relative of the Brassica family is said to be very bitter and unpalatable.

These plants add colour to the winter garden despite the lack of flowers like other annuals such as Viola's and Primula. Ornamental Kale will keep providing attractive colour until the weather warms up in spring, at which point they will bolt to seed and are then replaced with something else. Like it's relatives, Ornamental Kale is prone to Cabbage moth attack, treated with Vegetable dust, Dipel or Carbaryl.

Ornamental Kale garners much question and comment every year in the nursery, where we plant up several display pots. Often, once these are looking at their best, they tend to be not available to buy, making it somewhat a frustrating thing to explain.

[Citroënbender]

Will they return from the fallen seed?

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

Will they return from the fallen seed?

Not sure, not something I have observed. We tend to trim the flowers off to extend their display before ultimately ripping them out.

[Rallye Sport]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

The joys of working outdoors, sweating ya bum off in Summer and freezing ya nuts off in Winter. I'm generally a fan of Autumn and Winter days, however the frosty starts aren't much fun except for the photo opportunities.

image

Great pic, loving the cold mornings at the moment, the summers are getting tough for me but I get my best work done in the cool early morning air.

Regarding Grevillea's mt tamboritha is a good one to look out for, its a great, low, dense ground cover, so much so that it suppresses weeds and eliminates the need for much when used to fill out beds. Its tough too, I've had success using it in dry gardens provided its planted in late April to early May when theres still some ground temperature and the rains are beginning.

Not my pic but here it is

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Rallye Sport

Great pic, loving the cold mornings at the moment, the summers are getting tough for me but I get my best work done in the cool early morning air.

Regarding Grevillea's mt tamboritha is a good one to look out for, its a great, low, dense ground cover, so much so that it suppresses weeds and eliminates the need for much when used to fill out beds. Its tough too, I've had success using it in dry gardens provided its planted in late April to early May when theres still some ground temperature and the rains are beginning.

Not my pic but here it is
image

That looks great, especially with the contrasting Flax behind it.

[Tonz]

I gotta say you guys have lifted the moral of this whole forum.

My observations but there is no one up man ship
no arguments, not of the usual 'discussions' about I need to prove Iam right blah blah blah.

I am learning a lot although I suspect none of you are from SA, (frankly I dont even care about that stuff)but the list of plants you keep displaying esp. low care is encouraging.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Tonz

I gotta say you guys have lifted the moral of this whole forum.

My observations but there is no one up man ship
no arguments, not of the usual 'discussions' about I need to prove Iam right blah blah blah.

I am learning a lot although I suspect none of you are from SA, (frankly I dont even care about that stuff)but the list of plants you keep displaying esp. low care is encouraging.

Thanks for the feedback and comments.

Posting about plants and my cars helps me and my mental health and I'm glad it's bringing some joy to others too.