Pop Up

What do I like best about first rains? Funig! It pops up everywhere. Quite literally as this photos shows. Im not sure which type of toadstool this this, but it has pushed its ways through the the clumps of lawn clippings. Never underestimate how determined plants and fungi are to show their little faces to the world.

Technobin

It is part of our job to empty the bins around the parks, so we have quite the stash of Wheelie Bins. We just get the reject bins from the tip. You know the ones where you ring up the counsil and say that your bin is cracked, broken, or otherwise behaving in an unbin-like mannor and you are given a shiney new bin while the old one mysteriously disappears. Well, we get the pick of the disappeared bins. So some are newer and some are older, depending on when we restock. I was most ammused the other day to discover something resembling a QR code stamped on the side of the bin. I was unaware such technology was required for rubbish removal. Learn something new every day.

Teenage Mutant Ninja 30 Year Olds

I realise an explanation is needed. My friends inform me that Im a bit on the nerdy side, however what kid didnt like the Ninja Turtles? So lets all embrace that!One of the awesome things about working in parks is you find the occasional action figure.  I was excited to find a Donatello action figure as he was my favourite. My partner informed me that yesterday was the 30 year anniversary since Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles first came into being, in the form of a Comic Book. So I took my little found Donatello on some action and adventures in the day in the life of a gardener. :D

Joovie

This leafy looking specimen is a healthy little Creeping Fig. I have actually doctored the photo a bit and layered the two different looking leaves on top of each other. Creeping figs are one of a number of species of plants that are capable of having both juvenile and adult foliage at any stage of its life. The large flat deep green leaves are that of the adult foliage, capable of flowering and baring fruit. The smaller, heart-shaped slightly bumpy leaves are juvenile foliage that is used to grow and establish where the plant will grow. Creeping fig is a climbing plant and quite a vigorous one at that. So it uses the juvenile foliage to grow upon a surface such as a wall or tree trunk, when the plant has sufficiently anchored itself and grown the thicker, woodier stems it begins to grow the more adult leaves which are stronger in order to support flowers and fruit. If you are like me and prefer the much nicer looking juvenile foliage, simply prune off the adult leaves so the plant is forced to send out its juvenile runners again.

A word of caution with Creeping figs. They can be a very vigorous climber. We regularly have to prune the runners off the windows at work where it grows. If you dont have a way to keep this plant contained, or have the time to control it then please dont grow it. Its like Ivy, it will grow, smother, and take over.

Tricksy Little Weed

I'd like to introduce you to Commelina cyanea. It gets around on a few different common names such as Wandering Jew and Scurvey Weed. It is native to the eastern woodland areas of Australia which means that over here it is just a common garden weed. It acquired its common names from the fact its leaves look very simmilar to a South American Spiderwort plant also known as Wandering Jew, however that species flowers are white and it has a very weak root system. The name Scurvey Weed came about as the first settlers in the eastern states would chew on the leaves to keep Scurvey at bay. I do not recommend doing this in the present day and age, as we have pretty much stamped out scurvey and if you should mistake it for the spiderwort species it may not end well for you.

It is a prostrate ground cover weed that grows easily by seed. You have to be thorough when removing it as any pieces of stem left behind will quickly sprout root and youre back to square one. When it gets enough water it grows quite rapidly and the flowers are rather pretty. Most people I know get excited by vibrant blue blossoms and this plant is no exception. I have been told off a couple of times by people thinking that I am ruining the flower bed.

It took me a while to identify this weed when I first started in the Horticultural Industry over 10 years ago, as it was such a pretty plant that was growing in an annual bed I thought it was just another annual. Until it started taking over the bed.

Remember

On Anzac Day people can sometimes be seen wearing sprigs of rosemary at Dawn or Afternoon Services at the local War Memorials. There are 2 main reasons for this. The first is that since ancient times, it has long been believed that rosemary has properties that will improve memory and as such has been associated with fidelity and remembrance. The second is that the plant grew wild over the Gallopili peninsula, a place where many Australian and New Zealand soldiers lost their lives in a botched campaign. The boat carrying the soldiers landed too far north in a barren and exposed area of beach, the solderiers were ambushed by Turkish troops up on steep cliffs surrounding the cove. In the 8 months the soldiers were fighting in Gallipoli, 11410 ANZACs lost their lives. As the great grandaughter of  a man who was sent to that hell and was fortunate enough to return, I personally feel that this plant is a fitting tribute to such a memory. Most people I know are able to conjure up some form of hidden memories from the slight scent of rosemary. It is also tough as old hog nails, thrives in full sun and if you give it a little love and care, it is a most rewarding plant to have in your garden.

I had a friend once tell me that they didnt like dawn service and the like as they thought that it glorified war. It kinda shook me as I would go to ANZAC services as a teenager, I occasionally go to a Dawn Service. I didnt realise some people thought that way. To anyone who believes this please understand, nobody celebrates the old lie of the glory of war. War is hell. We celebrate and remember the mateship and comradery between those who fought for our freedom. To remember and give pause for those who never got to come home. And to stand together in hope that peace will prevail. Lest we forget.

Creepy Crawlys

Ok, I realise that this is mounds of unfair. I take a hiatus because life is being a bit on the crummy side and when I return I fill your computer screen with a vicious creepy crawly. Please bare with me. I have wanted to post about these guys for a while, and when my brain is in the mood for blogging then I really do try to take advantage of it. If it wants to tell you about centipedes, then you may as well listen, Im sure nicer things will follow. If you are arachnophobic, or scared of anything that has lots of legs, For goodness sake do not google this creature or its genus.

First rule of centipedes, DONT PICK IT UP! Im a little upset I wasnt quick enough to get a shot of his head, as it is the part of a centipede you need to avoid. Centipedes have modified pincer-like foreleg called "forcipules", in laymens terms this is a stabby like limb that injects venom. Avoid, I have heard it is many levels of not fun. Rarely fatal, more a swollen and extreme ouchy of unpleasantness. Worse if your allergic. Probably see a doctor.

Primarily nocturnal hunters, they do not have true vision like humans. They can have a cluster of eye like structures that in all honesty, mostly just tell the difference between light and dark. They pretty much rely on their antennae to find their way around, and the funny looking appendages on their tail also serve as antennae. Kinda like having eyes on the back of your head.