For the last few years I’ve been involved in a project to create a new park and wetlands area in the nearby town of Terang, VIC, Australia. It’s been an exciting journey which is starting to show signs of coming to fruition. Don’t get me wrong, it’s an ongoing project with no set end date,Continue reading “Wetlands project”
Author Archives: The Flowerpot Pen
ANZAC Day
It’s a holiday here in Australia and New Zealand today. We are celebrating ANZAC Day. Sometimes I think what the acronym means is forgotten. For my overseas friends and followers who don’t know anyway, it stands for Australia New Zealand Army Corp and it was coined in World War 1 after the tragic and veryContinue reading “ANZAC Day”
A book review
I’m on holiday in the big smoke at the moment (Melbourne, VIC, Australia) and when I’m on holiday it’s become a bit of a habit to get myself a new book. Because, you know, you can never have enough books… This time I’ve treated myself to one called ‘A History of Gardening in 50 Objects’Continue reading “A book review”
Happy Easter
This Easter Saturday I’m on the train to Melbourne to visit two of my children. As you can see from the photo it’s a bright, clear day and the sun is shining. The paddocks are looking brown, but there’s a bit of green grass left. We need more rain in these parts, the north hasContinue reading “Happy Easter”
Listen to the most recent episode of my podcast: Episode Five https://anchor.fm/frances-bryant/episodes/Episode-Five-e1gkt1o In episode five of The Flowerpot Pen I talk about Camellias, take a brief look at some research into early seasonal onset of tree ring growth, and look at early female botanical artists. Show notes for your further perusal will start to appearContinue reading
Cooler days and cool fruits.
Daylight savings has at last finished, the slide into winter has truly begun. Autumn flowers and brightly coloured fruits are fulfilling their life cycles before some slip into dormancy. My first Camellia flower has appeared. I talk a little about camellias in the latest episode of The Flowerpot Pen podcast which is available now onContinue reading “Cooler days and cool fruits.”
More Autumn Colour
The deciduous trees haven’t really started their autumn colouring yet, but there’s plenty of colour in the flowers we have flowering right now. Two plants that give a gorgeous yellow/orange hue in the garden are the Ginger Lily (Hedychium gardnerian) and Leonotis (Leonotis leonurus). Leonotis is also known as Lion’s Ear, Lion’s Tail, and WildContinue reading “More Autumn Colour”
St Patrick’s Day
Happy St Patrick’s Day! Here in Australia where there is a very large group of people with Irish ancestry, along with many other countries, this day is a day to wear green, have a drink of Guinness or many, and say “Happy St Patrick’s Day!” to all and sundry. Another thing it’s ‘traditional’ to doContinue reading “St Patrick’s Day”
Autumn
Autumn seems to have hit. It’s been a bit grey and miserable here in the Western Districts. The garden isn’t without a bit of colour though, some roses are getting another flush of flowers and the late summer, early autumn flowers like Sedums are quite glorious. I’ve got a bit of an admission to make,Continue reading “Autumn”
Fuchsia Berries
One of the plants featured in my book ‘Unexpectedly Edible’ is the Fuchsia. These plants are grown for their enchanting flowers that look like ballerinas twirling en pointe with skirts floating in the breeze. They are among my very favourite plants and flowers, I have fond memories of a Fuchsia planted outside my bedroom windowContinue reading “Fuchsia Berries”
The Flowerpot Pen 