“These are a few of my favourite things” that I see in the southern part of the state where I’ve been for the last few weeks.
The range of colours and beauty of the hydrangeas in the local gardens is wonderful; mainly shades of pink but in absolute profusion. They have obviously been there for many years and the climate must suit them also.
Agapanthus are also still putting on a great show in this cooler climate and most gardens seem to have rows of the deep purple/blue offset by the occasional white head for contrast. The colour seems to be particularly vibrant, maybe that has something to do with the continual cloudy weather and lack of sunshine in the area.
Another all-time favourite of mine are clumps of brilliant red hot pokers, and these are everywhere. I really must get some and have them in my garden. Many years ago there was a big clump on an abandoned railway siding near where we were living and they used to be picked each time I passed, along with some blue gum leaves, taken home and displayed in an old black cast iron boiler. Such a display, set on the old wool shed scales, was the decoration for our annual poll merino ram sales.
On the outskirts of Nimmitabel, there is also a clump of lemon yellow pokers. While these are beautiful I don’t think anything is as eye-catching and beautiful as the brilliant old fashioned orange/red favourites. They must be extremely tough and hardy as they can be seen in paddocks where perhaps there has been an old house. They’d get no attention and still thrive long after the dwelling has gone.
Many property mailboxes have clumps of shasta daisies planted around them and these, combined with the pokers, look great.
The roses in this area are still putting on a show and one house I drive by has a beautiful display of the pink Queen Elizabeth right along their front fence. Standard white icebergs are also a favourite and can be seen in most gardens.
Many lilies are in flower down here now also but an eye-catching display of the brown spotted, bright orange tiger lilies with their swept-back petals are another nostalgic favourite.
There are also large quantities of what I’ve always known as November or Christmas lilies growing along roadsides. Beautiful white lilies on long stems. These also are to be seen on roadsides around Stanthorpe and south of the border along the New England highway.
In some wet areas, I’ve also seen tall spikes of purple flowers that I believe is Hyssop. I remember them from a particular creek crossing on the Walcha to Niangala road and also on the New England Highway on the southern side of the Bolivia Hill.
The array of weeds in paddocks down here is amazing as they have also thrived in the good season. The farmer in me would love to get spraying to control nodding thistles, scotch thistles and saffrons. About the only thistles, I haven’t seen down here are Mexican poppy and black thistle! Maybe I haven’t been observant enough!
The areas of St. John’s wort are unbelievable and to think we used to worry if the occasional plant was seen. Spraying was a huge task and not very effective and we found that the only way to control it was to improve the pasture as it does not like competition. It didn’t eradicate it but it did control the problem.
It is a typical example of the definition of a weed – it really is a “plant out of place”. It is a useful herbal medicine but is a real problem in grazing country, causing scalding on the faces and ears of animals. If it is not controlled it can get to the situation that only black pigmented cattle or sheep can graze the areas of infestation. Many areas down here would definitely come into this classification as there appears to be very little else growing … the wort has out-competed everything else!
Stock that have been grazing paddocks with wort will also “fit” when they come in contact with cold water. I’ll never forget plunge dipping lambs in this situation and getting very alarmed when they had a fit in the dip and worrying that they would drown before I could get them out!
Also, a roadside sign that made me smile was one announcing “Fireweed … Act Quickly” and beside and around it was some of the largest specimens of this weed that I’ve ever seen. It also does exceedingly well in this climate and is seen everywhere along highways and pine forest roads.
There is a large concrete outdoor area at the back of the farmhouse where I have been staying with my family. Under one side of it some lizards have made a burrow. I don’t know what variety they are but they vary in length from about four inches for the young ones to 15 or so inches fully grown.
One of my granddaughters has a cavoodle that is an inside dog. Now, I’m not an inside dog person … dogs weren’t even allowed in the house yard when I was on the land … but she is a cute, friendly, black, curly-haired, floppy-eared, little thing. When I open the back door she races out and straight to the spot for the lizards. She has caught a few and they drop their tails but seem to survive OK. We have had a few in the house and that gives her much fun chasing them.
Her main advantage over the other dogs that are around is that she will come when I call her. It is quite a sight to see her bouncing flat out down the paddock, tail flying and ears flapping … makes me laugh every time!
Unfortunately this year the Warwick Horticultural Society has had to cancel the Annual Autumn Flower Show usually held in March.
Hopefully, things will be back to normal in time for the Spring Flower Show and Garden Competition in October. I’ll keep you posted as the year progresses.
