Plectranthus

After my last post, a couple of people commented on the purple shrub in one of my photos, so I thought I'd do a post on the Plectranthus.

Plectranthus, with some 350 species, is a genus of warm-climate plants occurring largely in the southern hemisphere, in sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar, India and the Indonesian archipelago down to Australia and some Pacific islands. It is closely related to Solenostemon and known as the spurflowers. Several species are grown as ornamental plants, as leaf vegetables, as root vegetables for their edible tubers, or as medicine

Source:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plectranthus

I have a number of these plants growing in the garden as they are very easy to grow, tolerate shade (of which there is much in my garden) and dry shade at that.  The one photographed in my last post is Plectranthus ecklonii 'Medley-Wood'. 

 



This one is behind the chook pen and is huge, sprawling everywhere and looks magnificent when in flower which it is now.

This one is Plectranthus argentatus.  It has lovely silver green foliage and pink flowers.  I've been poking pieces of this in the ground around the garden.  No need for much of a root, it takes so easily.

This one is either Plectranthus ciliatus of Plectranthus nico, I'm not sure.  It is a good ground cover and grows where other things won't.  I have recently pruned this heavily, so don't have much to show in the way of flowers or foliage.

This shrubby one is Plectranthus 'Mona Lavender' and is fairly new to my garden.  I love the dark purple stems of the flower head.

I also planted one of these, a Plectranthus oertendahlii but the chook has just about scratched it out of existence.  I've put a protective barrier around it now so hopefully it will recover.

Photo source
http://www.igarden.com.au/pics/plectranthus-oertendahlii-lrg.jpg

So there you have it, the lovely and versatile Plectranthus.  Thank you for taking the time to read this very garden focused post.  Perhaps it was time for some "Gardened Moments".

 Anne  xx

My week

Hello everyone.  Before I start, I should warn you this will be a photo heavy post, so if you are running short on time, you might want to tune out now.  I'd love it if you'd stick around though 'cos I've have some gorgeous photos to share.

First up we have the adorable Stripey who continues to give our family much pleasure.  I never cease to be amazed at the interesting ways they sit.

From the other side.

Yesterday I had some visitors of the feathery kind.  I have posted photos of these parrots before, but they are so beautiful I couldn't resist sharing more.

Adult female King Parrot

Adult male King Parrot

Sitting on the pergola

Together

We also had some Rainbow Lorikeets visit too.  While I love their beautiful colours, I don't welcome them because they are aggressive, very destructive and chase the more tame and gentle King Parrots away. 

Adult male and female Rainbow Lorikeets have the same colour plumage

We are off out into the garden now for a bit of a tour of what's been happening which is rather a lot now that spring is here and we are welcoming sunny days and warmer temperatures.
I've planted some of these carrots.  They look kind of cute with their little round shape.

The Cinerarias are flowering in colours that make me very happy, bright and bold.

Pansies, Primula (just about finished now), Polyanthus, Sweet William and Alyssum.

Alyssum, Sweet William and Campion and Fuschia coming into bud.

Stripey decided to join me in the sunshine.  Just after I took this photo, he decided to roll on the garlic I have planted under the Roses.  He was shooed away very quickly.

Tree Fern fronds unfurling towards that gorgeous blue sky.

Sunlight on some other Tree Ferns in the backyard.

Liquid Amber not yet in leaf.  I took this photo to show the contrast of the grey/brown branches against the beautiful blue.

The ornamental grapevine coming into leaf under the pergola which will give us lovely summer shade.

These lovely yellow flowers come from the following crimson/green succulent, of which I don't know the name.

While looking at some other succulents I have planted in a tub, I discovered the little fern trying to share soil space.  Some of the fern spoors must have taken a liking to this spot.

While walking around I spotted something else flowering brightly and discovered a Cyclamen in flower.  Such a pretty colour it is amongst the greenery.

One last photo (phew), an update on my painting.  I worked on the arms (forearm is a bit sinewy and thin, hand (thumb needs to be longer), defining the neck and improving the skin colour.  The face is still not the right colour and I just had to add some hair to the head as I was most disconcerted to be painting around an egg head.  Her hair is up and away from her face in a messy bun, so that's why I've painted it short.

Well that's it for now.  Have a wonderful weekend whatever you are doing.

Anne  xx