Bits of this and that

Autumn at our place.

I had been re-researching how to propagate liliums (the stem cuttings were a disaster), so called in at our local nursery late on Saturday afternoon to get some vermiculite ( I'm sure there'll be a blog to come about that ) and came home with these .....

......it was their early Easter sale and I was in my element.
 Fifteen plants for $39. Mostly cottage garden plants to plant in the garage garden ( might have to think of a new name for that).
And then after dreaming about how I would plant them, I went back this morning for more!

Eighteen this time for $52.
Talk about a happy girl!
Many of them need some TLC, but a trim and a feed and a water will work wonders.
In fact I may get to use some of this......

 They are mostly salvias and penstemons and a few other perennials.  This time I bought three of this and that instead of one ( as per my block planting idea for impact).

These two may never survive but they were $1 each and I am determined to nurture them back to life. 
They are called Wintersweet.

Peter Cundall says that they are straggly, deciduous shrubs that withstand heavy frosts and produce masses of lemon coloured flowers in July and early August.

          ( photo from pinterest)
He says that the fragrance given off is unforgettably sweet and that one sprig will scent a whole room in winter.
 I am equally determined to smell that fragrance one day. I have no idea how a healthy plant of Wintersweet looks at other times. The one I planted months ago was considerably more expensive and looks like this.....
( I'm hoping it's the deciduous look as opposed to the "I'm not happy here" look.)

It has been relocated to the inside garden where I can keep my eye on it. So now we have three!

**The lilium propagation has been re- scheduled.**


Amy was in her element last week.
 Some AFL footballers from Geelong attended her school for a workshop with the kids.
Apparently they took to it like a duck to water!

More people having fun......in Siem Reap Cambodia.

This little boy knows all about fun.

We are desperate for some rain.
And so are the birds.

The garden is looking dead  parched. 

Beautiful Cecile Bruner.