Mike Wells - Wellsley Horticulture

13/06/2026

I'm conducting a little experiment on two veggie beds this winter.
I posted photos on this page back on the 16th May.
These two photos were taken today.
Can you see any difference between these two beds in today's photos?
Planted with identical veggies from the same punnets.
Kale, spinach, lettuce, sugarloaf cabbage. Broccoli, mixed greens. Some radish from seed as well.

Please comment if there's any one bed looking better than the other, or any plant doing better than its twin.

Bed numbers in the comments.

02/06/2026

Endemic to Philip Island, a small, rocky sanctuary about 6 km south of Norfolk Island, this is Hibiscus insularis, the Philip Island hibiscus.
I've two small specimens growing in my backyard, up against a western fence.
Once threatened and nearly wiped out by feral animals on the island, it is now thankfully on the increase, both in the wild and as garden plants such as mine.
If you'd like more information on this wonderful plant, Jerry Colby-Williams has written a detailed fact sheet at: https://jerry-coleby-williams.net/2014/08/23/the-ultimate-hibiscus/
I might try some cuttings soon!

31/05/2026

Well that 75mm of beautiful rain over the last couple of weeks has certainly given the garden some much needed energy at the end of autumn and into our winter.
And the early camellias in my garden have responded by opening their buds and putting on a display of their regal blooms.
Only a few flowers on Camellia 'Scentuous' a light pink hybrid between C. japonica 'Tiffany' and C. lutchuensis. Having lutchuensis in its breeding means the flowers are quite fragrant, and when the bush is in full bloom in a couple of weeks it'll stop any visitor in their tracks as they pass.
Opposite is a small bush of Camellia japonica 'Elegans Supreme', a classic double pink bloom. This has only just begun to flower as well.
Both these bushes are shaded by a large Callistemon 'Wildfire' on the northern side of our house.
On the southern side of our house, Camellia 'High Fragrance' is pretty well in full bloom. There seems some confusion as to its parentage, with C. japonica and C. lutchuensis one selection, and C. hiemalis another. Nevertheless, it's a beautiful pink, semi-double bloom with a gorgeous fragrance.
Next to it is one of my favourite camellias, 'Minato-no-akebono', a japonica hybrid with the most elegant deep pink single flowers that are also fragrant. Can't wait for the mid to late season camellias to bloom now!

31/05/2026

The last of our current crop of 'Bacon' avocados from our young tree...
Weighing in at 472 grams, we can't wait to enjoy its creamy flesh when it ripens.
Fiddlesticks! Now we have to buy them.

29/05/2026

Just imagine how much good the money spent on these fireworks would have done had it been spent on making this earth more habitable for the future…
Please spend your extra billions more wisely Mr Bezos.

Billionaire Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin says it experienced an "anomaly", a term commonly used by rocket companies to describe a launch failure or explosion.

28/05/2026

Two more of my Japanese maples (Acer palmatum cultivars) in their autumn finest.
First is 'Shishigashira', or the Lion's Head maple, second is 'Dissectum Atropurpureum'.
Interesting how the Lion's Head will drop all its leaves, whereas the Atropurpureum holds a large percentage of its leaves until spring, when the new growth begins.

28/05/2026

A canopy of currawongs....
Near World Gym yesterday.

25/05/2026

Another Japanese maple in my front yard showing its autumn hues.
Acer palmatum 'Red Feathers' is a delightfully dwarf specimen with stunning, finely-dissected foliage.
(Behind is 'Dissectum Viridis', the subject of my last post.

24/05/2026

My Acer palmatum 'Dissectum Viridis' on this cool, drizzly morning.

23/05/2026

Starting to collect a few bulbs...
This is Haemanthus albiflos, the toothbrush or white paintbrush lily.
It typically flowers in autumn, and is evergreen. It prefers a shady spot in the garden, and is one of the easiest bulbs to grow. It'll handle being crowded in a pot, with the mature bulbs reliably flowering each year.
Dividing only needs to be done around every seven or eight years.
This pot is about 3 years old.