ARS Tasmania Newsletter – April 2014

• Date: 10th February 2016

IN MY GARDEN by Lesley Gillanders

On this cool morning thinking about what I can write, I look out the windows and see a damp moist garden after a full day of light rain yesterday and then overnight giving the parched soil an inch of gently soaking rain. An inch for my old head but 26mm for younger heads. This has given Ken a rest from every second day watering the young plants. Now he is busy potting on seedlings and cuttings of his favourites which will be given to friends, planted out or contributed to the Societies plant auction each month. I have been cleaning seed for Ken as it ripens Astrantia major had pretty red flowers which last well in the garden but have tiny little spikes which prick the fingers when cleaning the seed from the dried flower head. Several different Lilium species have been gathered and some already sown but they will not come up until spring. Ken will be able to plant more around the garden, also some of the established clumps will be divided. Lilium callosum, L.duchartei, L.mackliniae have grown well and Lilium lankongense which has a suckering habit has spread modestly. Lilium speciosum alba is still in flower also L. henryi with orange slightly reflexed flowers.

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