It's late autumn here in South Australia, but in reality, it feels more like winter as our rainy season has well and truly arrived. Though I aim to have a plentiful supply of flowers in my garden throughout the year, this month feels like slim pickings, however I still managed to find a few blooms as I wandered around with my camera recently. The standouts this month are the Schlumbergera sp. With their dazzling colours, they brighten the garden on cold, drizzly days. This one is Schlumbergera 'Millie'. Schlumbergera 'Millie' Schlumbergera 'Millie' with Iresine herbstii below This yellow / buff variety is a favourite for its unusual colouring:  On closer inspection, I noticed something unusual going on....     At first, I though the salmon blooms might sprouting from a separate plant (often several cuttings are placed in the same pot to create a fuller basket for sale). However, on closer inspection, I noticed that both yellow and salmon blooms are growi...

Until recently, an average day for me began with an early morning stroll through my garden, cup of tea in hand and Cosmo the cat weaving in and around my legs as we conduct our morning garden inspections together. Then I’d head out to garden for clients, or up to the nursery where I work part time. On days off, I’d usually be found pottering around my own garden.  Cosmo keeps an eye on the Agastache foeniculum Then I broke my ankle and all garden activities came to a grinding halt. The injury was a silly one; I inelegantly tripped on a door snake in our hallway, twisting and falling awkwardly. X-rays revealed the need for surgery and the installation of some gnarly metal hardware with a long period of recovery downtime. This was not the news this gardener wanted to hear! Ankle surgery and gardening don't mix   Not being able to garden has been interesting. My immediate thought, when the accident first happened was... ‘how on earth am I going to water my (600+) pot plants*!?’...