A few more photos…

I am getting confused with names of succulents. They are either Sedeverias, Sedums, Graptoverias, Aloes, Crassulas, Kalanchoes, Aeoniums  or some other “similar” sounding names…

Whatever they are called, I love them. Here are a few more from the balcony.

This photo prompted me to write the opening paragraph. I love this baby… but I cannot tell you the name unless I hunt for its tag…

Sometimes I come across Blue Chalk Stick as the name of this lovely plant. I think it’s easier to remember than Senecio…

 

Kalanchoe… I think this specie is easier to recognised by the shape of its leaves.

Echeveria and sedum… someone asked if this blue grey bloom was a ghost plant in an earlier post.  That would be an easier name to remember…

Sedum (probably)… wearing my Learner Gardener’s hat, this plant should not be classified as a succulent. Unlike the others, it loves water, so it messes up my watering routine. 

Visit Teri’s Painted Daisies on Monday for Cactus Monday links.

Vegetables

are less confusing, I think...

There truth is I’ve given up on vegetables. They also mess up my watering routine and I don’t cook enough… These are my last few photos.

Have you seen a lonelier chilli?

Vietnamese mint makes me feel good as a gardener, like I’ve done something right. It just grows and grows and keep growing….

Oregano is also a happy plant on my balcony.

I love the smell of Rosemary. I cannot help but touch it.

Happy Gardening!

I’ll be taking a break for a little while. Please visit my other blog, as I will still be Enjoying the Good Life.

A few favourites

The plants have enjoyed summer, and I have enjoyed seeing them grow… It’s autumn now. I went out onto the cold windy balcony this morning to take these photos. Just a few of my favourite pots to share…

Echeveria Fred Ives with Crassula Diane spilling over the pot

On the right is Sedum Gold Mound, another favourite. I notice that it tends to grow too long in winter, but in summer, it’s nicer because it’s compact.

Another Echeveria with Crassula Diane in the same pot, and a Sedum in the terracotta coloured pot.

Hope you are having a nice week.

Back to the starting line

A friend offered me a yucca cutting some months ago. Reluctantly, I said “No, thanks. I haven’t got the space.”

No more plants please!

Recently, when I was at at friend’s house, she asked me if I would like some basil. I hesitated. “To cook with or to plant?” I asked, but it didn't matter what her answer was. I don’t cook much and I am running out of space on the balcony.

“To plant”. She went on the explain that she had basil growing in a pot, all ready for my balcony. How sweet of her!

“Thanks, but no” I answered. I don’t usually say no to plants.

It has been a year and a half…

..since I started gardening on my balcony, and since I started this blog. There were many experiments and lots of fun… but I think I will have to make some decisions about the space, and plants to keep and nurture. …probably easier that than deciding what to do with the rest of the plants!

 

What the experts say?

I consulted the books and these are just some things I need to consider:

• To plan on paper first
• Think about how I would like to use the space
• Think about my lifestyle
• Colour schemes and textures

So much to consider, so much to do. The last year and a half was like  kindergarten gardening… now I get to start the next phase and do it all over again at Grade 1.

What’s your experience?

Succulents in black and white

I hope you enjoy these 2 photos of echeveria and sedum from my little balcony. I am away from my computer for a few days, so I can't link in to Cactus Monday. I wish you a nice Monday and a fantastic week.

White Geranium and Orange/red kangaroo paw

A couple of photos taken today on the balcony:

White geranium

Kangaroo paw (Anigozanthos), with jade plant (Crassula Ovata) and sedum burrito in the background

Hope you are having a nice weekend.

Today’s Flowers

Agave Sketch and succulent blooms

 

Happy Cactus Monday.

House cleaning and watercolour painting go very well together. Today, I painted with watercolour. I am usually impatient when I have to wait for the paint to dry, so I went to and fro between painting and cleaning. That worked really well; I managed to let my paint dry and also cleaned the house :).

Here are a few photos from my balcony for Cactus Monday:

Red Kalanchoe

Echeveria - almost there...

Another red Kalanchoe

Sedum Gold Mound

Visit Teri’s Painted Daisies for more Cactus Monday links.

Have a nice week.

Assorted succulents

Happy Cactus Monday.

I hope you had a nice weekend. I have had a very nice weekend drawing, drawing, drawing and more drawing – you get the idea. So I am a little bit exhausted but I am on a roll, so more drawing today. Then I noticed that Teri has uploaded her Cactus Monday post. I can’t believe it’s Cactus Monday again; so here are a few photos, old and new that I have not used…

Sedum Gold Mound – this is a recent photo but yellow flowers have bloomed the last few days.

Aeonium – one of my favourite.

 
Senecio – these are not mine. A photo from the neighbourhood.

 
My aloe is having babies – oops, I am a bad gardener. This photo was taken a few months ago, and I have not separated the pups yet. I must check on the plant tomorrow morning!

Happy Cactus Monday and have a fantastic week.

Visit Teri’s Painted Daisies for Cactus Monday links.

Graptoveria

 

Does this look like it could be an evil man-eating giant flower one sees in the movies?

I can’t decide if I like it or not…It belongs to the Graptoveria on the left. I had forgotten what its flowers look like, so I was a little surprised when it bloomed.

I love Sedum Gold Mound. It is one of the first few succulents I started with.

Here’s a more interesting variety:

This is a photo I took while hiking in Korea. I have no idea what this flower/plant is, but it’s an interesting and unusual variety. I love the colour and shape. The flower was very low to the ground…

Maybe you have seen it in your part of the world?

Happy Sunday.

Today’s Flowers

Circular succulents, flowers and leaf

 

Hope you are having a nice week. Here are a few photos from various places that I have been to, including my little balcony.

Not much activity on my balcony, except the silent growth of plants in spring (yes, spring in Australia). We are having a lot of rain, so the succulents are placed under shelter, and  I have bought a new chilli plant. Each morning I look outside when get out of bed; excited at the prospect of seeing new flowers :). I love spring.

More photos next time.

Assorted succulents

Happy Cactus Monday.

Hope you had a nice weekend. It’s a busy week for me, since I’ve started taking Japanese Language lessons. It’s a lot of fun but rather difficult. I look forward to the day when I can understand an Anime film in Japanese!

Visit Teri’s Painted Daisies for more Cactus Monday links.

Succulent and flowers

Happy Cactus Monday.

I am sharing a few photos I took at a restaurant. Hope you enjoy these.

And a few more, these are taken on my balcony (below). 

  

 

Have a nice week. Visit Teri’s Painted Daisies for more Cactus Monday links.

A few more from the Melbourne Botanical Gardens

I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of visiting the gardens and taking photos there. Hope you enjoy these. 

Aloe blooms

Echeveria “Mauna Loa” – such an exotic name

Echeveria “baron bold” – I love this variety very much.

Sedum rubrotinctum

Senecio – these always look neat

Crassula coccinea

 

This birdie was watching me, or maybe he wants his photo taken…

Finally, here’s a view of the city from the gardens, with Eureka Tower on the left (the world's tallest residential tower with 92 storeys) and Government House (with flag. This is the office and official residence of the governor).

Hope you are having a nice weekend.