Floriade, Canberra, Wiradjuri reserve, drought.gardening.

G'Day,
Yesterday I went to Canberra which is about 3 hrs drive from here and Mum & I had a look at Floriade. It was a gorgeous day, in the low 20's and I didn't need a jumper. It is very dry there as you can see from the pics I took. Anyway the first pic is of a couple of Gymea Lillies that were in an arrangement. They are the most spectacular flower, their proper name is Doryanthes Excelsior, I have one in my garden but it hasn't flowered, they can be temperamental to get to flower out of their normal area. The ones in the pic were touching the roof of the marquee.
The main flower display at Floriade each year is designed with Tulips. Tulips galore, in all colours, sizes and shapes.
Iceland or artists poppies, I don't know which. They make a great display.
More Tulips.
Barrows full of 'em.
These are a couple of small Waratahs. These are our state's floral emblem.
Some bigger Waratahs and native flowers at the bottom of a huge arrangement. Also includes red and white kangaroo paws, apple gum leaves, paper daisies and gum flowers.
A perfect pink Tulip, with little English daisies underneath.
An almost black double Tulip with black viola underneath.
Blood red tulip.
A pristine white Tulip with white viola underneath.
Golden yellow Tulips again with the matching viola background.
Tulips, Tulips and more Tulips. They were planted in themed patterns that made up big pictures that you could have probably seen better if you could look down at the whole thing from above.
A Burgundy coloured specimen.
This red Tulip with white edges and the white one were my favourites.
Yep! an orange one. Also at floriade was a man who was pasing his whole body through a tennis racket. I left when he dislocated his shoulder to get it through.
A double bi coloured tulip.
Last week Mum, Michael, David and Rufus and I had lunch at Wiradjuri Reserve which is just below Wagga. I was shocked to see how low the water level was in the river (the Murrumbidgee) . I don't think I have ever seen it so low in all the years I have gone down here to the reserve. I have been going there since I was a little child. In this pic is my son Michael and Rufus, where in good years they would be under water.
Rufus. I'm the king of the castle! He is standing on a dead tree that is about 7ft across which is usually in the water and the top of it is all that can normally be seen.
Orange mesembryanthem in my front garden. (I hope that's spelt right) There is a line of them along my front fence. Their common name is pig face. Which my daughter thought was very funny when she was little, and she used to dissolve into giggles when she heard it because she thought it was very naughty to say that.
Spraxias, a bulb also in my front yard. I have lots of these. Also known as harlequin flowers.
A dark purple Iris out the back. I was given about a dozen of these last year and am still waiting for the rest to flower to see what colours they are. I know at least 2 of them are this colour.
Picnic at the river again. I took this one because 18 months ago the river level was up to where my car is parked. You can see the high water level bank in the back ground. The water level now is about 50 ft away.
This is looking across at the bend in the river at Wiradjuri reserve. You can walk across the river to the island without getting the tops of your legs wet at the moment.
River silt, I always liked the way that it dried and cracked into these great patterns. When we were kids I would try to pick up the bits without breaking them and float them on the water until they sunk, or skim them across the surface.

Looking downstream.
The amount of rain we have had this season is less than last year. There were such high hopes during winter this year of the drought breaking and farmers outlaid big money to get a crop in the ground, which emerged with great hope of a good season to make up for some of the damage done by the drought over the past 5 years. Now the crops have failed and are dying in the fields. A lot of the crops around here came up nicely, but now due to lack of rain, they are about 8 inches high. Some are being cut for fodder. They are too damaged to bother spending the time harvesting as the quantity and quality would make it simply a waste of time and money. sad.
I have been trying to work out ways to save more of the rainwater we do manage to get without feeling guilty of using water in my garden. I mulch heavily and treat the soil with wetting agents , compost and gypsum etc. . Costs money. Ground still needs to be wet underneath to hold moisture in the soil. I have a water tank which I collect rainwater from the shed roof, doesn't cost money, but there's not a lot of it. I adhere to the water restrictions in place. I mostly use the tank water on the potted plants and for my pottery shed. I don't know if it is fit for human consumption but I wouldn't trust it as my friend depended on theirs and found out it wasn't. I take the water from my fish pond and bucket it around the yard and use the clean tap water to replenish the pond. So I recycle that. I only keep the plants that have proven themselves able to stand up to the drought over the years. If they don't I don't bother with them. I am not willing to let my garden die as I love it so much and have spent so much time and money on it that it is like a part of me. I have heard people say lately that it is predicted that it will be another 2 years before things will improve around here.
Despite the drought, spring and it's new life keep going and proving to me what a wonderful world we are in and just how plants and animals have the skill and will to survive and duplicate themselves.
The biggest of the baby doves is learning to fly. Tonight it was up off the floor and I thought it had it's foot caught in the wire on the side of the cage so I went and got it and sat it on the perch. It was calm and not worried at all about me handling it.
Back to work tomorrow so good night.
Love Linda.