Garden Railway Forum

Hydrostatic Dazza wrote: ↑Sat Nov 18, 2023 10:34 pm MAM (POR head horticulturist) and Plod (POR navvy & general all round moaner) made the pilgrimage to Nielsen's Nursery Sat morn. This was followed by 8 hours of Plod moaning about in the garden but the last few hours he had a glass of Red in hand which may or may not entertain the neighbours? A dwarf Baeckea at Cutting Mawr crooked it (maybe too much water) and so two new Baeckeas were planted and some other thing whose name Plod has forgotten. (he is not the sharpest took in the shed) Cutting Mawr should look super in a year or two's time. Plod also planted some new cacti which he is always excited about. One he got has flowers that smell like Road Kill in the Aussie summer sun. MAM presented a pot to Plod and insisted it goes into this pot while muttering something about "after a whoof of it you cannot un smell it" More flowery stuff was also put about and then Plod spread some diluted worm juice here and there as he preaches to all in ear shot "good effing stuff this stuff is...." Today will see Plod in the Red Room Workshop working on the coalie. He wants to put a servo on the fire door and refit the water pump after he drilled the missing hole (dopey dill) in a banjo bolt for more steam testing in Dec.













Flickr

What is the name of the plant with the brown flowers my SWMBO had one for years but it finally died and I would like to get her another.

GAP wrote: ↑Wed Dec 11, 2024 9:11 pm
What is the name of the plant with the brown flowers my SWMBO had one for years but it finally died and I would like to get her another.

It looks like something like a Huernia (aka Lifesaver plant), possibly Huernia variegata or more likely Orbea variegata. I have some Huernia schneideriana (red dragon flower) which is similar but has a smaller, deep red flower.

My species identifier app says Orbea Variegata, native to South Africa apparently. AKA Variegated Carrion Flower. (The app I use is called "Seek" - very useful for identifying plants/insects).

Lonsdaler wrote: ↑Thu Dec 12, 2024 9:22 am My species identifier app says Orbea Variegata, native to South Africa apparently. AKA Variegated Carrion Flower.
Screenshot_20241212-091636.png
(The app I use is called "Seek" - very useful for identifying plants/insects).

We got this fella at a native nursery in Queensland
We keep it under the awning at the bridge so when it flowers we con people to sniff it.

Hydrostatic Dazza wrote: ↑Mon Jan 02, 2023 8:44 pm SBR is baking off nicely after 48 hours.

How is the SBR holding up after a year and the hot weather?

Beautiful planting Dazza and becoming very nicely established. Well done both of you.

Soar Valley Light wrote: ↑Fri Feb 21, 2025 7:16 pm Beautiful planting Dazza and becoming very nicely established. Well done both of you.

Thank You

GAP wrote: ↑Wed Feb 19, 2025 9:09 pm

Hydrostatic Dazza wrote: ↑Mon Jan 02, 2023 8:44 pm SBR is baking off nicely after 48 hours.

How is the SBR holding up after a year and the hot weather?

Some of it is booming. I cover it with it strips of shade cloth and keep daily water on it and the past summer was a wet one. However some of it dies off badly, we think it is grub that starts gobbling up the roots and it spreads from one spot and outwards from there. This has happened before and later on I do bit of transplanting of good sections into the dead areas it grows well again. Some parts are unaffected. I need to research this more. I will get some pics or what is going on.

GAP wrote: ↑Wed Feb 19, 2025 9:09 pm

Hydrostatic Dazza wrote: ↑Mon Jan 02, 2023 8:44 pm SBR is baking off nicely after 48 hours.

How is the SBR holding up after a year and the hot weather?

Whoops, Plod misread and got into his head you were asking about the White Star Pratia gound cover.

The SBR ballast is holding up with out problem. Only where the track bed was dirty has some of it lifted in small spots when hit had with the garden hose jet before a running session. But it is a small job, about an hour, to touch it up when Plod becomes suitably motivated.

Hydrostatic Dazza wrote: ↑Tue Apr 01, 2025 3:53 am

GAP wrote: ↑Wed Feb 19, 2025 9:09 pm

Hydrostatic Dazza wrote: ↑Mon Jan 02, 2023 8:44 pm SBR is baking off nicely after 48 hours.

How is the SBR holding up after a year and the hot weather?

Whoops, Plod misread and got into his head you were asking about the White Star Pratia gound cover.

The SBR ballast is holding up with out problem. Only where the track bed was dirty has some of it lifted in small spots when hit had with the garden hose jet before a running session. But it is a small job, about an hour, to touch it up when Plod becomes suitably motivated.

Where did you get it from?

GAP wrote: ↑Tue Apr 01, 2025 7:24 am

Hydrostatic Dazza wrote: ↑Tue Apr 01, 2025 3:53 am

GAP wrote: ↑Wed Feb 19, 2025 9:09 pm

Hydrostatic Dazza wrote: ↑Mon Jan 02, 2023 8:44 pm SBR is baking off nicely after 48 hours.

How is the SBR holding up after a year and the hot weather?

Whoops, Plod misread and got into his head you were asking about the White Star Pratia gound cover.

The SBR ballast is holding up with out problem. Only where the track bed was dirty has some of it lifted in small spots when hit had with the garden hose jet before a running session. But it is a small job, about an hour, to touch it up when Plod becomes suitably motivated.

Where did you get it from?

The SBR, Davco Lanko 751 is from the big Green Box, builders section.
The 2- 3mm granite chips are from Stubbytubby succulents in SA
The process is all in this thread some where in the pages. All inspired and mined from this forum.
White star Pratia is on line and delivered.

Saturday evening running. Photos by HughB

Brilliantly shot Dazza

Just like the real thing

Rik

There was a big NYE and NYday Steam Gala at the Potters Orchid Railway. Plod MAM were far too busy to take pics as there was up to 25 people at the gig and 10 stayed overnight. Lots and lots of trains but here is Hugh's pics of the first trains for 2026





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Some really beautifully-composed shots there. Thanks again for the invite, always a pleasure to visit the POR.

Your line is maturing beautifully and the careful placement of viewing points gives some stunning pictures.

Lonsdaler wrote: ↑Sun Jan 11, 2026 10:58 pm Your line is maturing beautifully and the careful placement of viewing points gives some stunning pictures.

Thankyou. It is naturally evolving with each passing season, new plants, some die, some propagate.
Plod can only devote a limited amount of time due to work, life and other projects such as the Garratt build, so the extension loop, buildings and more signals are a long way from being started.

Brisbane sub tropical Moss.
Who would have known ?

Steve's coalie tossing clag into the blue sky during last Sundays celebrations of a botched Roman execution.
He is also doing community service by keeping the mosquitoes away.