May in Western Australia is when cooler days are here, for a time at least, and we begin to get a little rain. We hope a LOT of rain, but over the past years that hasn't happened. The estimated average for May in the Perth area is 123 mm (4.92 inches); so far we have had a trace. But, believe it or not, there are a few cold fronts on the way over the next few days; at least that is what the weather bureau tell us.
Our roses are still showing some of the finest blooms and the deciduous trees we have are beginning to show that dramatic autumn canopy. As a matter of fact the liquid amber outside the door of the office in which I am writing is dropping its leaves all over the path. Never mind another spot of mulch for the flower garden.
Bulbs can still be planted and I am getting around to planting the daffodils, hyacinths, tulips, and crocus I bought at the last bulb seminar I attended at the beginning of April. The anemones and the ranunculus can wait until the middle of June.
Snails are around quite a lot at this time of the year and at the Garden Show I attended recently I came across a snail - bait which I am trying out over the next few weeks. The treatment is called "Beat-A-Bug". It is the registered trademark of Sheen Biotechnology Pty Ltd., and is packed and marketed by Beat-A- Bug Corporation Pty Ltd., 14 Owen Road, Darlington Western Australia, 6070. It is recommended that for the seedlings and the bedding plants you protect these rather delicate plants by spraying onto the soil around them and form an unbroken ring that the snails will not cross. It is also recommended not to spray directly onto leaves. The product is manufactured in Australia from high quality natural ingredients.
Over the winter I am planning to design a part of the garden that has been a bit of an eyesore over the past few years. I began by spreading mulch, lots of it, over a section of land, which is gravel to a depth of about 70-90 mm (3-4 inches). Then I will plant a series and variety of plants such as bulbs, melaleucas, and grevilleas. A very interesting and colourful plant we came across during the past week or so is the Salvia. The Salvia is a blue flower that grows to about 300 mm (12 inches) and the flowers are deep blue in colour, at least the plants I got are; they are called Salvia Gemstone Blue. I believe there are other types of Salvia that grow slightly higher.
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