Fellow Traveller

We had a trip to Brisbane this week, it seems we took this lovely Green Tree Frog along for ride, How and why he got into the car door cavity we're not sure.

Rainbow Lorikeets

These delightful parrots are having a ball in our font garden at the moment. They are spending time between a flowering Corkwood tree and a Eucalypt "Summer Red" It's probably the only time I find squawking relaxing. The photos didn't turn out too bad, my camera has a telescopic lense on it but quite often it doesn't focus well. I wouldn't get this close without it

Our Tree change

Well, we are fully retired now and living in our lovely home at Tamborine Mountain surrounded by a beautiful garden full of Camellias, Vireyas and Clivias. The Vireya pictured is Souvenir De Mangles. Up here we are often in the misty clouds during the rainy summer season as you can see from this image. We have left Frog garden behind at Balmoral but we take with us lots of wonderful memories which are recorded on this blog. We have lots frogs on Tamborine Mountain but they might be a little harder to catch on camera. It has been a long time since I've posted. Larraine was ill for a long period and her recovery took priority. Hopefully I can keep it updated now that we are settling into our new home.

Open gardens Toowoomba

At the Carnival of Flowers which is held in Spring each year, a day is hardly enough time to take in all of the beautiful gardens that are open. The Wisteria at the top is growing on a large circular metal frame and makes a stunning feature in the back garden of this home.
Centre photo. This Clivia looks so much at home nestled in the tree. Bottom photo. I'm sure we'd all love a garden bed like this to grace our driveways. These photos are worth a click on.

Vireya Rhododendrons

I think that fascination with plants increases with age. That's not to say of course that some young people are not avid gardeners. But an analysis of the demographic at various garden/orchid shows etc. would suggest that some of us old timers predominate. Goodness what am I saying! I'm only 64 maybe i might be classified as a mid timer. Anyway enough waffle, my latest interest are Rhododendrons of the subgenus Vireya sometimes referred to as Tropical Rhododendrons. Like my other interest Hoyas, many of these plants are epiphytic in nature and have very small and fine root systems. They are found at altitude in mountainous regions of S.E. Asia and New Guinea. There is an abundance of hybrids in cultivation and most flower twice a year some even more. Above are just a few that have flowered for us this Autumn.

Tamborine morning

Edit PostsThe mornings at Tamborine Mt. are just glorious, so quiet and peaceful. This is the front garden. the Kangaroo paws are about 1.5 metres high now with lots of flowers. All the other plants in the garden are getting new growth as spring approaches. There are Grevilleas, Callistemons, Banksias and Eucalypts of various sizes and colours . It should be a paradise for the native birds when every thing grows.

Camelias

The Camelias on Tamborine mountain are delightful to see at the moment. The climate and the more acidic red soil seems to be perfect for growing them. We have a Camelia japonica growing at the side of our garden seat, the flowers of which are the 2nd photo down, we just love the compact form of the Japonicas and the attractive deep green foliage which doesn't seem to attract many pests. The final shot was taken at an open garden scheme plant sale at the Mt Cootha Botanical Gardens. This was a display table on the stand of Camelia Glen Nursery , a specialist camelia nursery on the Sunshine Coast. The array of different flowers was quite amazing.