Warm breezes carrying light floral perfume from Plum Blossoms; a day of blue skies, and fluffy white clouds.
Here is a lovely flower opening on the Pink Star Magnolia in Bernie and Dorothy's garden.
A Purple Hellebore (Helleborus orientalis). 
A White-flowered Hellebore (sorry, not sure of the species) which goes green as the flower ages, and the seeds start to develop.
Here are the flowers of a "Cherry Plum" (once again, I am not sure of the species) - a wild form of a domestic plum, basically.
And this week, the second of the Waratahs which were planted as a community gardening project at the CTC@Robertson three years ago, has started to open its first flower. (The first plant of a few specimens which were planted, flowered at the CTC last year.) The flower is structured with large red bracts which protect the inner florets. These bracts are showing some signs of scorching, unfortunately. However, I am confident that the flower will open to a perfectly lovely Waratah. 
This is a seedling I was given by Mr Paul Nixon, a famous selector of the Brimstone Collection series of selected varieties of NSW Waratahs. This plant was grown from wild collected seed, so it is a genuine Telopea speciosissima - not a hybrid. This is apparent from the flower shape, and the heavily serrated leaves.These Waratahs are local to the Sandstone plateau just below Robertson, near Kangaloon, and the points further north. They are not native to the Robertson red basalt soil, however, they thrive in this soil. However, as they are local plants (to the area) and as they do so well here, Robertson is proud to feature Waratahs in public and private gardens in the village.
5 comments:
A nice description of a perfect spring day and beautiful flowers.
Ah, the waratah, Had them growing in a small raised bed in the garden in the early days, just magnificent. I envy you being able to grow them in your soil Denis.
Thanks Mick. It was a nice warm day.
Balmy. But to day we vote for 9 of 72 local council candidates. That's Barmy!
Hi Duncan.
In a country of so few large flowers, the Waratah is a real stand-out. Extraordinary plants. And, they just seem to thrive in our soil. It is similar soil to Monbulk where Proteaflora have their nursery.
Denis
Nice weather! Rained most of the day here. Nice waratah. I have a few in the fromt yard which do well Garden cultivars) and I just planted a Tasmanian Waratah a couple of weeks back.
Hi Mosura.
Rain, eh? We have had a few lovely days. Almost hot. Mind you we had a week of rain, not long ago.
Tassie Waratah is interesting. Tends to grow very tall I understand. We have a rare species which grows in the wet forests here. I have only found one plant locally. Definitely a Waratah, but hardly recognisable as such to most people. If I were in Tassie I would grow the local Waratah. But the Hybrid Cultivars, like Shady Lady are much more floriferous than the species. So I would probably grow both, as you are doing.
Cheers
Denis
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