Friday, August 19, 2005

Only TWELVE days to go until ...

... no, not Christmas, SPRING. We've had a taste of Spring this week, although there are more cold days coming this weekend, but the promise is there nevertheless. Every year I anticipate this season, hoping that we will get typical Spring weather, ie. sunny days as well as plenty of wet ones.

Years ago some workmates complained once too often within my hearing about the wet days, saying "Raining again. We thought it was supposed to be Spring." I responded vehemently "This IS typical Spring weather. It's supposed to rain now. If we ever have a Spring like you people want, all sun and no rain, then God help us come summer time." Well, we've had a few of those now.

Helped my neighbour prune her roses yesterday. I wouldn't have been game to had I not seen Peter Cundall (Gardening Australia) ruthlessly pruning his roses a few weeks ago. Brought home with me an armful of Buddleia prunings, from my original plants. I even potted them up last night. If they all strike, can anyone tell me what to do with 30 purple and 20 mauve Buddleias? I can never stop at just 2 or 3 cuttings. I can't bring myself to throw away perfectly good propagating material. It's an incurable obsession, isn't it,
Calidore?

8 comments:

Calidore said...

Yes it is an incurable disease - and isn't it wonderful. Says me with so many buddliea cuttings in pots it isn't funny. Have you seen the lovely yellow buddlia? It is stunning.
Isn't the rain wonderful too. It was 24 degrees here yesterday, but today it is trying to rain. I hope it does, the plants are just waiting to burst into new life - well those that haven't all ready.

Alice said...

Calidore - yes, I have a yellow Buddliea, plus 2 white ones and a recently purchased pink one. I think two cuttings from the pink one have already struck.

Hope you get plenty of rain. Looks like we may only get a shower or two this time.

Shell said...

Yay for spring! I can't wait to see my new garden grow into its own, I've been excited about it all winter.

I'm fairly new with the taking cuttings thing, but I think I'll pot some on the weekend and see how I go - any tips? I'll have to do a bit of research and see what plants work from cuttings. BJ's Opa gave me a whole heap of potted cuttings a while back which I need to plant this weekend. I'm planning a big weekend of gardening and mulching before spring truly hits.

Don't you just love Peter Cundall - did you see him interviewed on 'Enough Rope'? It made me respect him more, he's had a fascinating and sometimes very difficult life.

He reinforced my belief that a garden truly is the antidote to a world weary soul.

Peggy said...

I love to read about you looking forward to spring while I am looking forward to fall here. I have been setting out mums and marigolds for my fall color. Hope your spring is full of beautiful flowers and rainbows!

Alice said...

Kirby Kid - I've never known them to mow artificial turf before or know it to have a 'cut grass smell' (ha,ha).

Kali said...

I love the sound of your day pruning roses around at your friends, and all that propagating won't go to waste I'm sure ~ maybe give them away each time someone visits?

Miss Robyn said...

I love this time of year...I pruned my roses a week or so ago, just like Peter did and they are already shooting !!
I love buddleias... shame we cant have a cutting swap!
Honey is really good as a rooting hormone...

Miss Robyn said...

looks like you have yourself some junk mail !! what a pain