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The Oz Garden Gallery

Spikey is Back

20 years ago

You certainly have to watch yourself walking around my back yard as "Spikey" was on the path

to "Chooky Heaven" this morning basking in the early morning sun............. Isn't that great.

I love the way they play dead when you are near even the eyes dont move......Cheers..MM.

Spikey:

{{gwi:2114738}}

I cropped this pic so you could see its head:

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Now I am hoping someone can ID this little shrub for me.

Unknown Shrub:

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Looks like the last of the Hippeastrums:

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Gerbera:

{{gwi:2114742}}

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Comments (5)

alisonoz_gw
20 years ago
Spikey is beautiful, no doubt keeping down the garden pests. We have a couple round the place have to keep rescuing them and taking them out to the front garden as I'm afraid the dog would kill them (wretched thing she is in that respect).
Love that gerbera colour!
Your mystery is actually a weed, sorry. Or it is if anywhere near bushland, Ochna serrulata or "Mickey Mouse Plant". Possibly OK to grow as a house-plant in a sunny spot if you dispose of the seed but outdoors the birds will spread them.
User
Original Author
20 years ago
Consider it gone Alision, I showed your answer to hubby as its his plant, a neighbour over the road gave him two in pots about 2 years ago when he moved house but one of them has died because he did not water it

This is the first year it has flowered and hubby was so proud of himself as he is not a gardener.But he is quite prepared to dig it up tomorrow, it is only about 18 inches high and it hasn't been in the ground very long only a few months. Thanks for your Help with the ID...Cheers..MM.
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Thanks everyone, Yes there is a lot of wild life on the block could be because we live across the road from a river, then there are lots of interesting places for them to hide on our block everywhere I went today I almost fell over Mrs Spikey, now everytime I hear hubby yelling "Your spikey is back" I kind of race down the steps with the camera But this time is wasn't Spikey this is smaller with no white markings so I named it Mrs Spikey. She or it just stays there watching us, it lets me get right up close I even touched its tail, it didn't seem worried in the least, mind you the eyes never stop moving, they are fasinating to watch as they stay so still for so long. No Dee the camera is too heavy but as hubby and I spend all morning out in the garden, you would be able to understand how we see so any things. Michelle it has been very hot down there my Sister and Brother have both rang and told me all about it, I feel so sorry for you all there but much cooler today. A glorious relief no doubt !! Thanks Heather, I like the wildlife too... GH I bet you have heaps of visitors on your block it looks like a great place they could live in comfort.... Cheers..MM.
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goldhills
20 years ago
Lovely colour gerbera. Plant is definately ochna, my father used to have one years ago. Would make a good xmas tree indoors with the glossy green leaves and red flowers :)

Spikey is a good name. My father and grandfather used to call them jewey lizards, must be an old local bush name as I've never heard anyone else call them that. I would have been a teenager before I found out their proper name.
ginnybee
20 years ago
Another lot of lovely pics. MM your Gerberas are very nice I wish I could grow them but will just have to enjoy yours, pity about your Micky Mouse plant as they are so pretty, I have seen them for sale in the nurserys,
Jan.
barbarah_70
20 years ago
I agree with Alison re the Ochna serrulata. It is a really terrible environmental weed.
They are extremely hard to remove once they take hold and are spread far and wide by birds.

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