Dahlias - The perfect flowers for late Summer to Autumn

It is time to buy Dahlia tubers, and with the huge variety available we have found the best catalogue of Dahlia flowers availoable in Australia.

Dahlias flower in late summer to autumn, and therefore spring is the perfect time to plant them.

Sometimes seen as a little 'old fashioned', they are actually a wonderful  plant for colour in the garden in autumn as well as being great for cut flowers.

In Australia, Jenny Parish (Country Dahlias) has the largest selection we have seen. And if you are looking for variety, this is the place to look.

You can grow dahlias in pots, the smaller growing types are easier, however if you stake the plants even the taller ones can be grown in pots.

For long flowering, deadhead regularly. Removing the spent flowers will help produce a second and even third flush.
The best time to plant dahlias in most of  Australia is in early November, in Queensland try September. You can plant as late as December, you will get later flowering usually in March.

Look for a position with good morning sun and shade or filtered sun in the afternoon.
Check out the  Country Dahlias 2014 catalogue for an insight into the wonderful varieties available.

Proteas and their relatives, Geranium and Pelargonium show.

Proteas and their relatives.

If you happen to like Proteas it is worth considering some other members of the Proteaceae family as well.

The well known Proteas such as the King Protea do take pride of place, however Leucodendron,  Leucospermum and the lesser known Serruria are all wonderful garden plants. 

From the top we have : Leucodendron Harvest, Leucospermum cordifolium, Protea 'King White' and finally Serruria florida x rosea.

All like a sunny position and a well drained soil and will flower from mid winter through to spring. Easily pruned and very easy care.

Geraniums and Pelargoniums.

One for the diary, Australian Pelargonium & Geranium Society
Annual Spring Show 2014

Bellfield Community Hall Melways 31E4
Corner of Oriel Rd. and Banksia St Ivanhoe Vic.3081

Saturday Nov 1st 12.00pm To 4.00 pm
Sunday, Nov 2nd 9.30am To 4.00pm

$5 entry fee - includes Morning / Afternoon Tea Good Free Parking at Hall - Plants and cuttings for sale

Time to plant Liliums

Liliums

It is time to plant easy to grow Liliums, they are excellent in the garden, plant the taller varieties beneath a low growing shrub and let them grow up through. You can also grow them in containers, a well drained humus rich soil and a sunny position is all that you need.

Lilium 'Red Sun' is one that lives up to its name and this is an Oriental hybrid.

Shirley and Jane from Tonkins Bulbs have just released the 2014 catalogue, you can check out the wonderful range online. 

Chrysanthemums mean Mothers Day - Easy to grow

Mothers Day means Chrysanthemums, and thats nest Sunday in Australia. So heads up.

You may not be able to buy Mum a Chrysanthemum like the 'Firewheel' pictured, however you can buy her potted plants instead of cut flowers. And after Mothers Day is over, you can plant them for her in the garden.

Chrysanthemums, are very easy to grow, you can rely on them to flower, and if you want to get those large exhibition type flowers, then learn how to pinch them back.

As for varieties, the colours and forms are endless.
You can read about how to grow, and if you want to learn about how to get those exhibition sized blooms, we tell you how to that as well. it's called, pinching back chrysanthemums.

New Catalogue from Tonkins Bulbs

A new bulb catalogue from Tonkins Bulbs has just been released. Lots of easy care bulbs and many rare species as well. Top left is Lycoris sprengeri as well, a rare, but lovely species.
Below is Morea glaucopsis, and look for the Snowdrops or Galanthus, great spring flowering bulbs that naturalise easliy.
See http://www.tonkinsbulbs.com.au 

Marcus Harvey also has a new web site for Hillview Rare Plants, www.hillviewrareplants.com.au