Lessons learned

The Queen Anne's Lace (QAL) and Nigella seeds have germinated, but not the Blue Lace Flower (BLF). The BLF seeds are in the same mini-greenhouse as the QAL and I need to give the QAL some air now but not the BLF. So lesson-do not sow two different types of seed in the same mini-greenhouse because they may germinate at different times and then need different conditions to grow.

The Nigella seedlings have little furry things on them which I really hope is not mould. It has been teeming with rain now all day and so the now uncovered QAL seedlings will be saturated, which will pre-dispose them to rot. It's amazing anything survives at all, really, especially with me looking after them.

Queen Anne's Lace seedlings. If I leave the plastic mini-greenhouse lid on now they have germinated, then will grow long and thin trying to reach proper sunlight. 

Nigella seedlings. Apparently they hate being transplanted. I didn't read that bit of the instructions until after I sowed them in the tray.

Yesterday I ordered more Russian Sage, again because I failed to read the whole blurb when I ordered the first one, which explained they looked better and fared better in groups. I also ordered A

"Sweet Lili", also known as Hummingbird Mint, which is a gorgeous pink tinged with apricot. 

Image: http://lambley.com.au/plant/agastache-sweet-lili

I am trying to decide on a white climbing rose for the sort-of white garden next to the front fence and after much research have decided a white Iceberg is probably the best option. I have a mental picture of a garden connoisseur friend rolling her eyes when she reads this, but the other roses I have looked at are not sufficiently white or may not suitable for Sydney's humidity. I would rather not learn the hard way while watching black spot decimate the plant. Here is a Mlle Sombreuil:

Very pretty and Old Rosey, but too cream. Another lovely one is Lemarque:

http://www.treloarroses.com.au 

This Claire Austin is lovely. Grows 1.5m high and can be trained as a moderate climber:

http://www.treloarroses.com.au/

And here is the Climbing Iceberg:

http://www.love-of-roses.com/Iceberg.html