Topiary Love...❥

Topiaries are fun.

They are stylish and artistic.

Topiary adds a whole lot of flair and even formality if you desire!

I'm a huge topiary fan.

So when I saw this 'Totally Topiary' shaped like a cone,

I had to have it!

They are an excellent choice for a container.

Also for creating symmetry at an entrance by planting in pairs.

The growth period for this plant is September to February in the Southern Hemisphere.

And that is also when you feed it with slow release fertiliser.

During this time the plant requires regular clipping to maintain the shape.

They will need repotting every two years if planted in a container.

You can also let it increase in size by trimming off the new growth following the line of the original shape.

That's what I will be doing as I'd like this darling to be twice as big as it currently is!

And I know you are all wanting to know what this little plant actually is...

well - it is 'Lonicera nitida'.

Perfect for Topiary because it has a super easy going nature.

It has quick growth and loves a trim.

The flowers are insignificant but hey, it's all about the foliage!

'Lonicera nitida' can be grown in sun or part shade.
I'm leaving it to settle in the new pot for a week or so, 
then I'll be snip, snip, snipping!

Note: plant sourced from Bunnings Garden Centre.

#topiary #foliageplants #pottedplants

The Beautiful CAMELLIA SASANQUA....❥

Camellia Sasanqua is a hardy shrub/small tree that offers a beautiful autumn colour in the home garden.

The blooms range in colour from red, pure white, white with a pink tinge and many many shades of pink.

The flowers can be single with yellow stamens or multi-petaled doubles.

There are also sweet delicate miniatures.

Some are even scented!

Evergreen leaves are glossy green which is very attractive even when the tree is not in flower.

Camellias like a well-drained humus acid rich soil.

They will grow in full sun or part shade.

All they require for best blooms are regular watering, Spring fertilising and a light trim after flowering.

Once established Camellia Sasanqua is hardy, tolerating light frost in the winter and short droughts in the summer.

This amazing plant can be grown in pots, espaliered, and clipped to form a hedge.

 Or left to be a feature in small tree state in the garden.


#camlelia #smallshrubs #smalltrees 

Mini Tropical Mountainscape Garden...

Miniature gardening has become quite the thing!

It all started with the classic and much-loved fairy and pixie gardens,

and has evolved from there.

Now you can create gardens themed by dragons, dinosaurs, beach, alpine, tropical jungle or bonsai.

Just select the plants and theme that will suit the position you are placing the container in.

Once you have decided on the theme, and the soil requirements and plants to suit, you just add as much (or as little) accessories as you desire.

A coastal beach scene might have a white sand area with a mini Adirondack deckchair made from iceblock sticks.

A beach sign (also made from iceblock sticks).

Plants could be mini grasses, small-leaved succulents, small natural stones and tiny driftwood pieces.

The main focal tree could be a mini size fig or palm.

You only need to let your imagination have free reign to create any type of themed miniature garden. 

The one I've chosen to create today is a 'Mountainscape'.

To do this I used tropical type plants:

Rocks in various shapes and sizes.
Mini size 'Baby Houseplant' ferns x 2.

Coleus Baby Houseplant.
Tradescantia spathacea Baby Houseplant.
Black Mondo Grass (ophiopogon Black Dragon).

A Flamingo Flower plant (anthurium Andreanum).

Moss.

A round squat type planter.

I filled the container with potting mix.

 

Placed my rocks into position.

Worked out the best placement...

of plants and planted them.
Final touches - a rocky path and moss to cover the soil.

This Mini Mountainscape Garden is now gracing my afternoon sunny covered deck.

I'm thinking in summer I'll be making a beach themed Miniature Garden for this spot and move the Mountainscape inside while it's hot.

And if you are stuck for a school holiday idea for the kids, this is a fab fun activity for them to enjoy. 

#minaturegardens #mountainscape #minigardens

Hyacinth In A Teapot!

It's now the depths of winter here in the Bay Of Plenty in New Zealand.

Today has been the coldest day so far...

a mere 4 degrees at 10am this morning.

I am not a fan of the cold. 

 I am so grateful the beautiful Bay offers a Spring, Summer and Autumn with warm, hot, warm temperatures.

It really is a grin and bear it scenario in winter.  

When the weather is just awful and you are stuck indoors, what do you do?

Well, you fast forward Spring, and jazz up your home decor a bit, that's what you do!

So today I potted up a gorgeous blue-purple hyacinth into a funky teapot.

The white teapot was $8 from KMart.

 

The Hyacinth sourced from Bunnings.

A hyacinth in a teapot you ask?

Well, I say - why not!

It's a bit quirky, and once placed onto a French style tray, makes a super winter table centrepiece.
I also made a new table runner.  
You can find out how to make a 'DIY TABLE RUNNER' HERE.

It looks pretty. It smells divine.

And it's a reminder that Spring is coming!

Once the Hyacinth blooms have finished flowering which will be in 2 or 3 weeks time,

 I will plant them out into the garden border where they will rebloom next winter.

Hyacinths have a delightful scent and a stunning form.

If you grow them potted indoors they require a warm position with good light conditions.

Only keep the soil lightly moist as too much water makes them grow too tall!
It is best to place a wood orchid stake in the centre of the pot and make a thin wire loop to thread through the flower stems 3/4 of the way up, to pull stems together so as to avoid the weight of the flowers drooping over.

They do tend to grow towards the strongest light source, so turn the pot regularly to keep the plant in shape.
You just cannot beat the beauty and perfume of the Hyacinth.

#hyacinth #springflowers #bulbsindoors

Fancy That Yellow Chrysanthemum...

 

Over summer I had the complete 'white pot craze' happening...

And yellow was the flower colour craze!

In the plant rescue stand at the garden store, I found two half-dead chrysanthemum plants for $1.50 each.

Knowing darn well it's really had to kill a 'mum' I bought them thinking they would be perfect for my white pots on the back deck.  
And they grew... and they grew in their part shade position.

Healthy plants - no yellow flowers!

Lesson learnt - the pot must be placed in the FULL SUN ALL DAY to achieve the promised prolific flowering!

But by then summer was over and autumn had arrived. 

The myriad of white pots were all emptied of their plants,

 and the pots were put into storage for winter.

So these very healthy green foliage 'mums' were put into the garden bed.

In FULL SUN might I add.

Then look at what happened.

Flowers!

so many flowers!

Dainty yellow flowers.

And a month later we still have masses of flowers!

So really it's a lesson to read the plant label properly.

Full sun means just that!

Laugh out loud!

So in case, you have a space in your garden for an amazing pop of yellow then plant:

'Fancy That Yellow' Chrysanthemum.
From Zealandia's Living Colours range.

It's a new breed of free flowering chrysanthemum that is suitable for a low, ground covering in garden beds, pots, hanging baskets and bowls.

Just remember that FULL SUN is the secret to success with this gorgeous mini daisy Chrysanthemum.

It's fabulous for picking.
Plus the butterflies will love it too.

And the flowers last such a long time in a vase.

or teacup.

Which is what I used as a vessel to display the posy of blooms.

The teacup is Vintage Colcough.

Plant Name: Fancy That Yellow by Zealandia Living Colours

#chrysanthemum #yellow #floweringgardenplants 

#yellowflowers

The Front Porch And Potted Plants....❥

Summer arrived and it was time for an update on the front porch...

It's been a few years since any pots have been located here.

The pots needed to be plastic not pottery or terracotta as our summers are so hot, and the plastic pot withholds moisture much better.

I was visiting the K-Mart store and came upon these gorgeous white terracotta pot lookalikes in PLASTIC!

The grade of plastic is very heavy duty.

And the bargain price was just $15 a pot.

The white looks so good.

Into the front porch pots, I planted a 'Juniperus chinensis pyramidalis' conifer,

and a 'Chamaecyparis Boulevard' conifer.

They are both reasonably slow growing varieties.

So I am hoping to repot every two years in early Spring with a root prune to keep them a reasonable size of about one to one and a half metres.

Companion plants were added.

Viola Penny Yellow and Viola Penny White.

Violas are hardy little plants that flower continuously,

 as well as withstanding a semi-shaded position, 

which all of my three covered porches offer any plants that reside on them.

Violas actually provide more flowers per plant than a pansy does!

Feed with liquid or granular fertilizer and you'll get even more flowers!
So this is how early summer on the front porch looked popping with green yellow and white!

Because these pots looked so good,
and I became besotted with the colour yellow,
I bought another white pot, 
and planted a bright yellow-toned gerbera.
What a wonderful pop of late summer colour now the violas have finished.

You can see how much the conifers have grown!
And hiding beneath them are new self-seeded viola plants.
And as autumn begins to arrive I can say I have thoroughly enjoyed my white pots
planted with easy-care conifers and plants bursting with the bright colour of yellow!


#violas #conifers #plantsforpots #gerberas #frontporchplants

#pottedplants #gardenpots

Beautiful Impatients Tamarinda...❥

What can I say but - "I AM IN LOVE"!

In love with these beautiful Impatients.

The flower is stunning, with pops of the most refreshing mauve pink colour.

The dark green leaves are veined in a pinky red.

And what is even more perfect is, 

that this Impatients variety thrives in a part shade position.

That means it is ideal for my covered patio, which gets afternoon sun.

The plants' full title is Impatiens Tamarinda by Iconia.

The label describes this plant as a garden jewel and I would have to agree!

The flowers are jewel-like and actually remind me of the colours found in pink agate stone.

 The buds unfold just like a tiny rose.

 So to grow Impatients Tamarinda successfully:

 *You need to plant them in a part shade position. 

*Soil must be well drained.

*Give the plant frequent watering in the hot, dry summer months.

*Protect from frost in the winter as these plants are very frost tender.

*Liquid feed in summer.

*The plants can also grow in hanging baskets, patio pots as well as garden beds and borders.

Success with the above tips means you will be rewarded with:

*Lush green foliage.

*Beautiful curvy star-shaped flowers.

*Flowering continuously throughout the summer season.

Impatients Tamarinda  - to add colour to your garden beds, hanging baskets,

and deck plant pots.

I'M IN LOVE  - are you?

#Impatients #colourfulplantsforgardensandpots #flowers #flowering plants #summerplants #plantsforpots

#summerpotplants #potplants