These are the flowers we had in the garden in late spring 2020, mainly taken on 21 November 2020, a month before the December solstice. They're not
all overly pretty, but the purpose of the photos is to record what was in the garden at the
time.
Somehow the garden is not doing well. We've been here for 5½ years, and there's almost
nothing to show for it. A comparison after the same time in Kleins Road makes
that very clear.
In particular, the Paulownia kawakamii looks as if it will never grow. It's still only about 1 m high.
Here it is next to the parent tree in Kleins Road taken at the same age:
Both of those appear to have been accidents when Paul mowed the lawn. The first is on the
corner of the riding arena, and while it didn't directly impact the Paulownia, it might have
reduced the flow. The second is more direct: it's the dripper for the Corymbia ficifolia. Not
surprisingly, it's not looking happy:
It was moist, it had fertilizer, but it just died. Why? In Kleins Road they grew like
fury. It seems as if the roots had rotted away. Fortunately I have one more plant, but
where can I plant it?
Plants that aren't doing quite as badly are the ornamental cherry tree and the Banksia integrifolia. The
latter seems happier than last month, though there have been relatively few flowers:
Then there are plants like the Camellia japonica, which has flowered, but despite large quantities of fertilizer,
the leaves are still yellow. And it's hardly any bigger than when we bought it ten
years ago.. I suppose the positive way to look at it is that it has survived that
long.
Another plant that has—indirectly—survived 10 years is my last remaining cutting of the
Hibiscus
rosa-sinensis “Uncle Max”, which I got on my 60th birthday 12 years ago. The original cutting has died, but the one I planted outside is
showing some signs of recovery:
I suppose it's an indication of the sad state of affairs that that seems to be progress.
But later in the summer I'll take some cuttings and try to cultivate it indoors again.
The Clematis are doing
acceptably. The “General Sikorski” is flowering relatively well, while the mistreated “Edo
Murasaki” is at least growing; hopefully we'll see some flowers in the autumn.