In autumn, I am like a child. I marvel at the beauty of nature and get excited about new seeds, which are germinating in my garden and nurture them carefully as they grow.
I have spent the last few days sorting out pots of seeds that were sown two years ago and are now ready to be potted on or moved in to the garden. For me, this is a wonderful experience. To observe these seed germinate again this year from their sleeping dormancy is akin to watching a birth - a giving of life which is amazing in itself. It's time to bring them into the garden, or split into their separate pots to give beauty and splendour.
Many of these species, I call my favourites. Among them are Ixias, Lachenalias, Haemanthus, Nerines Gethyllis, Sparaxis, Cyanella, and Polyxena, to name a few.
I marvel at how a Lachenalia species can flower without light, water or supplements as one did in a pot a few years ago here at my place when it was inadvertently left in a shed to survive on its own.
I marvel at how a species can start to grow, often depending on its own built-in memory to grow, flower and seed and often die as a result - but the seed it leaves behind will perpetuate the species. Nature is a wonderful thing, which we so often take for granted.
Only during the last few years have I experimented with putting more species out into the open garden. I have often been not willing to do this as I have quite a good area where they can be grown in pots and thrive. However, as my space gets smaller with more pots sown each year taking up the space, I have found it necessary to put some into the ground. For me, this has been an educational advantage, as I try new species in the garden, which I have not attempted before.
One of the lovely species I have added this year has been Boophane disticha, which is growing remarkably well. They are amongst a group of Haemanthus coccineus, which has just finished flowering splendidly through our beautiful autumn weather. Included in this area is a large patch of Wachendorfia thyrsifolia, which is evergreen and flowers perfectly on long spikes each year.
I remember when I first got seed of this from South Africa, (I had not seen this one before) I planted the seed in 4 inch pots. This was all right the first season but as they grew, I realised that I had to repot quickly, as the plants grew so thick and strong. Eventually, after going to the biggest pot I could find, the plants still split the pot, trying to reach its natural size. I put them in a garden bed where they grew on beautifully. Even though our winter frosts sometimes burn the leaves, it doesn't affect the growth of the plant nor does it stop those wonderful flowers from appearing each year, nor the abundant seed it produces.
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