Gorgeous flowers everyone! I do wish I could grow something/anything but my last 2 cactuses died prematurely, so I'm thinking pictures are safer, at least for now.
Best wishes for many sales to all,
Thank you for the offer, JimmyCee. Customs may not like it. But I can get seeds here or at least from Germany (no customs problems there) All I need is a small area in the garden...
G'day all, here's those pesky bugs I mentioned (with info links) & a couple of my latest orchids in bloom.
BTW, the jar contains soapy water for them to drown cleanly.
First is an Assassin bug, not sure if it's good or bad for the orchids - but - if it's in the green house, it can go for a swim!
https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&r...B7CT3d_iY189kw
Second is my most hated enemy the Dendrobium Beetle - this has the very handy habit of dropping like a rock when disturbed (an escape strategy) but not if its into soapy water!
https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&r...Eth69xIMCol5iA
My collection bottle
Now the good stuff
An Oz native Sarcochilus hillii a very slow growing miniature plant. This flower is about 5 - 6mm across & appears almost crystalline in the sunlight.
Finally a hybrid - Phalaenopsis Brother's Gold
Hey old.... I'd suggest these 2 books on bugs.
I use them as reference and guides. They have turned my outlook on pest 180 degrees.
Assassin bugs are indicated to be a good bug to have around .
I won't kill any until I now know what they are, however cucumber beetles have their special place in my life..
Under my foot if I can get them.
Thanks Jimmy - yes I'll have to get something like them. Perhaps there is an Oz specific equivalent I could get.
I wasn't real sure about the Assassin bug - perhaps I did the wrong thing there!
It may even have been useful to leave it where it was?
But those Den. beetles are dead meat as far as I'm concerned.
Fortunately, they are seasonal & usually only appear in the growth/flowering periods, but ya have to be vigilant & weed them out when they do appear.
Like your cucumber beetles I guess.
Got another new fern yesterday - chain store again - they see me coming every time!
This is a common native to NSW & Qld - Asplenium australasicum or the Crow's Nest/Bird's Nest fern.
https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&r...nDfe3YAY3Ze-Dw
Had another visitor near my garden yesterday afternoon, quite a few around here, which is good, because they keep the snake numbers down!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXA0-YAoo9Q
Great pics Old, just love your Birds Nest Fern, and seeing that little chappie reminds me of a song my kids used to sing ....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQov_rFzmow
Oh NOOoooo EAR WORM - Yes, Crow's nests have always been one of my faves!
Well I've been at it again i.e. - bought another fern. This one is Pteris cretica var. albolineata, native to Europe, Asia & Africa.
But there is method in my madness here!
Ya see I have a nook in my outside covered patio area that is ideal for low light level plants, & to keep a tropical "feel" I figure ferns & maybe an orchid or two will fill the space.
The spot also has a window to floor level, so I'll be able to see the plants from inside as well.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pteris_cretica
I love to have green around so I planted rye grain here for the winter.
When spring comes along, I'll just dig this under, when it decomposes it will ad valuable nutrients back to the mix.
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