Roma tomatoes

December 2012

I should leave these green Roma tomatoes to ripen on the vines but as I will not be at St Helena for the next 2 months, I harvested them early.

Actually, I don't deserve a single tomato as I put the seedlings in at the end of September and went away for 6 weeks.  So they did not get TLC in the form of regular watering nor fertilising.  Still the bushes produced these tomatoes.

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[St H] Late Spring 2012

It's a pleasure seeing all the flowers and fruits growing here in St Helena.  It is mid November (Late Spring) and here are pictures of my petunias, my snow peas and my Roma tomatoes.

Dragonfruit

Some people love dragonfruit ( red pitaya (Hylocereus undatus)); others (including me) think that taste-wise, it is rather insipid.  But all will agree that colour-wise, it is a striking fruit.

Here is my dragonfruit plant growing from a Tuscany pot - not really the best way to grow it and I should really put it in the ground.

 

Poor brave little plant

This poor brave little plant has been brought to Jansen Springs, a place infamous for the death of many other houseplants (See Feb05-2010 entry).  On top of the poor light condition at Jansen Springs, the owner there is prone to (a) overwater or (b) under-water (depending on her mood) all plants and also there are three demonic cats which love to dig up all potted plants (just for the hell of it).
So poor little Syngonium, be brave.

[S] Growing from seeds

I have always enjoyed putting seeds into the earth and watching seedlings emerge.  There is something magical in the process and one can sense the presence of the Creator.
Today I planted a package of brinjal (egg plant) seeds and I look forward to seeing them germinate within the next several days.

[StH] Kangaroo paws

It's Spring 2012 and I noticed that flower stalks are coming out from my several bunches of Kangaroo Paws (Kangaroo Paws belong to the genus Anigozanthos which has 11 species).  They are supposed to be drought resistant and earlier in the year when the reticulation broke down and they were not watered for weeks during the hot dry days of Summer, they really proved that they were indeed drought resistant.  But because of the trauma they have gone through, I don't expect my bunches of Kangaroo Paws to flower as well as they did last year (see last 2 photos).

[StH] Reticulation

Station 3   -  Before pipes are buried

Reticulation is something that is not needed in Singapore (where it rains almost every other day) but in St Helena where we get almost 7 continuous months of no rain, reticulation is important when one is away for long periods.  I have finished reticulating the front and back and I am running 4 stations.  Since the start of September, the Water Corporation has allowed sprinklers to be on for two days in a week.  I am now using the Orbit 4 controller and I am very satisfied with it. 

[StH] Red Crown of Thorns (Euphorbia splendens)

September 2012

I have this particular plant growing in the front yard.  They are easy to propogate, flowers continuously (even in the cold of winter) and require the minimum of care.  I think this particular succulent is called 'Red Crown of Thorns'  (Euphorbia splendens)

May 2019

Because of the nearby lantana bush, two of this succulent have died.  The lantana was so vigourous it prevented any sunlight from reaching the succulents.

[StH] Will you eat this?

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This large cactus (Prickly Pear Cactus) grows over the fence into St Helena. I have been told that this cactus fruit is actually very nice in a salad. Will you eat this? I have not tried and I don't think I will ever do so. Mind you, never handle the fruit with your bare hands - it is covered with very fine spines which will penetrate your skin and are very difficult to remove (and will hurt you like hell too!)

This is what it would look like in a salad bowl

[StH] What's in a name?

What's in a name?  I was faced with a wide choice of organic fertilisers at the Garden Centre and was not sure which one to buy.  When I saw this "Rooster Booster" I laughed and thought it was a smart name.  So what do you think? 

[StH] Ornamental Grass

At the start of 2011, I had one nice compact bunch of Ornamental Grass.  Little did I realise that this grass is a real conqueror of space.  Despite repeated cutbacks in the intervening months, there were 4 hugh bunches of this Ornamental Grass when we returned to St Helena on 31 August 2012.  There is one bunch left now after I have put in quite a lot of work to cut them back.

[StH] Durn snails in my letterbox

These snails have been creating havoc to my letters.  They love papers and will eat large holes in all brochures and letters put in the letterbox.  I have put pellets in there to kill them but they keep multiplying.

[StH] Jasmines - lovely perfume

These two pots of jasmines are supposed to be planted on both sides of the Garden Gateway (which has yet to be bought, painted, assembled and put in place.)  So in the meantime, they sit in their pots - they are climbing plants and the flowers are white although the buds are purplish.

[StH] Azaleas - lovers of shade

I like azaleas a lot.  These three were bought to replace those that died when my reticulation failed in January 2012.  Actually I have gone through three episodes in growing azaleas.  The first episode in Chittering was very successful.  The plants grew well and every year I had a lot of blooms.  But I had to give them all away when we moved.   The second episode last year was disastrous because when the reticulation failed, they all died.
I am planting these three plants in the front of the house where it is shady.

[StH] Edge Trimmer

Being away for long periods mean a lot of maintenance has to be done when I am back.  This is a great appliance - it is an Edge Trimmer and it can give a nicer, neater look to the lawn.

[S] 3 different cacti /succulents

This pot of 3 different cacti/succulents was given by Shirley to Mark.  I don't have a clue to their names.

ADDED ON 30 AUGUST 2012 - I saw Shirley looking sadly at this pot - all the cacti/succulents have rotted away as they were standing in a pot of water.  I had not realised that there were no draining holes (I drill holes in mine) in this pot and therefore did not notice the water there.

[StH] Pink for Michaela

We see a lot of red bottlebrushes (Callistemon) everywhere - but there is a 'Perth Pink' variety. My neighbour (over the fence) has one such tree and when it blooms, it is really very nice. (Spring - October 2011)

[StH] Grevillea olivacea – Apricot Glow

In an effort to create a 'look' for the front of St Helena, I bought a Grevillea olivacea – Apricot Glow.  It cost me A$22 from Bunnings and I planted it out in mid July 2012.  Hopefully in a couple of years, I will get a 2m bush bearing this type of flowers.

[StH] I don't really like palm trees

I don't really like palm trees so when a group of Samoans came knocking to ask whether I wanted to take down any trees, I was glad to ask them to take this particular tall palm tree out.  June30-2011