Tropical Zone Gardening: Restless natives of the Top End, 1 by tropicbreeze

tropicbreeze wrote:
Okay, I can hear the echo echo echo echoing. Re the hibiscus, I get a photo of the one in the pot. Naturally they grow amongst tall grasses so you have to do a bit of clearing to get a clear view.

Another ground orchid, Nervila holochila. These grow on the edges of monsoon forests and along water courses. Their flowers are only short lived but because they usually grow in colonies there are frequently a number of individuals in flower. This photo was taken in Holmes Jungle near Darwin. I have a large colony in the back of my property beside the creek. In about 5 years I've seen a sea of healthy leaves but never a single flower at home. The tubers must multiply and spread out. Planning, in my spare time if that ever happens, to bring some tubers up closer to the house where I can improve the soil and hopefully get some blooms. Can't see why I have to go all the way to Holmes Jungle to see flowers when the plants are here.

Photo 011

This message was edited Mar 22, 2009 11:57 AM