Winter pruning

OK, I know I was muttering about taking the clippers to the hydrangeas months ago. Well holidays and other things got in the way. I have to confess that I have just completed the task in the past few days. My procrastination was not without its upsides. The mother of one of my neighbors bailed me up in the street and begged me if she could cut a bunch of the dying flower heads.
She planned to dry them. I handed her the secateurs and she was thrilled. Perhaps, I could have urged her to keep on trimming back to the new growth! Anyway, I finally set about doing the task over the weekend. Pat, my neighbour, has a pair of long handled Fiskars clippers and happily presented me with them when she saw me struggling to reach some of the higher branches. I trimmed the blooms back to the new bulging buds. Then, I cut into the standard ficus that is growing like topsy. (it was one of a pair but they grew so much they busted out of their terracota pots) I have been warned that it could get out of control and the roots will spread. I am keeping a watchful eye on it. But the thing I love about it so much is that it has flourished in a spot in front of my verandah, along the front fence where nothing else has grown. I planted a row of sasanqua camellias and the one in that very spot died. Then I planted another and it died. Now, that the ficus has grown it provides a lovely bit of privacy in front of the door. You see our house is very close to the street and privacy is sometimes lacking. I then set about chopping up the cuttings so they would be able to break down in the compost bin. Now, the next big task is to cut back the ornamental grape vine. It provides such magnificent colour in autumn. Just gorgeous.

Delightful Daphne

I am loving my daphne bush at the moment. Each day as I step out the front door there are more of the beautifully formed flowers coming into bloom.
Another one of my favourite flowers. The scent is gorgeous and if you can feel an emotional attachment to a plant I've got one with this one.
For more years than I can remember my late mum tried to grow a daphne bush in our big garden in Ballarat. No luck. Then one Mother's day my Dad turned up with a little pot of daphne. (possiby the most romantic thing he ever did!)
It was duly planted in the corner and over time grew and grew. It became a source of great enjoyment.
Later, I took some cuttings and this is how I now have my lovely, flourishing daphne.
I think that must have been nearly 20 years ago, as I have now lived in Melbourne for 22 years.
It is not in a very spectacular pot, but one thing I am led to believe is true with daphnes - they don't like to be messed with.
With that in mind, I am leaving it put in its rather dated fake Tuscan-look plastic pot! Last year, I noticed it was getting really leggy and decided it needed a good trim. I am pleased to say that it is looking more compact and flowering better than ever. It also enjoys a position on the verandah where it gets morning sun. Everyone should have a daphne plant. My mate, Olga, has no less than six.