An 'Aussie' Joins the Collection

Originally discovered on a windblown point of land along the southern coast of New South Wales, Banksia spinulosa 'Schnapper Point', commonly known as the Koala Blooms Banksia, is a compact, low-growing evergreen shrub/tree native to eastern Australia.

This plant grows with a dense, rounded, and slightly prostrate habit, typically maturing to 2–4 feet tall and 4–5 feet wide, has needle-like green leaves, but is not a conifer, although it resembles one. Happy in full-sun & semi-drought resistant, this plant should do well in so. california.

Since it blooms during what we call winter (Australian summer), producing large, cylindrical flower spikes (up to 40 cm long) in golden to bright yellow, often tipped with black, purple, or red styles, it will be appreciated even more.

 As with all of our little trees, you can access his Photo/History page @ Koala Blooms or from the Tree Inventory menu on the r-hand side of the page.

Just for Fun - Wk 6

 personal note: no, I'm not dead or anywhere close to it (yet), but I do have a life away from the patio & this blog, so I do not apologize for not posting for a few days..all is well.

NM Hatch Chilis 

The chilis are growing, though not as fast as the tomatoes. We continue to have cool, grey mornings(June Gloom here in so Cal), but sunny warm afternoons, which the plants love & they are thriving. I still have a full complement, but once they have fruit, I'm sure I'll have no problem finding homes for them.

Dwarf Tomatoes

The tomato plants have yellow blooms & there are small pods forming, which I presume will be fruit. I chose this particular cultivar specifically because it sounded like it was made for containers..the plants now are about 2-3 ft. tall & I don't think they will grow appreciably in height, but they are spreading out, to some degree. 

They are living up to their designation as "dwarf", although the real test will be when they bear fruit. They are compact, well formed, not 'scraggly' or looking malnourished, without taking-over the whole patio. They too, like the chilis, seem to like the cool morning/warm afternoon weather & so far, have remained "pest free".

Nothing else to report..tune in next week..