Lily of the valley shooting makes me realise that it is almost October, and 88 days till Christmas!
Tag Archives: garden
Rebirth
Winter Blooms:
Winter Solstice Colour:

Pink Salvia

Pink Camellia

Can you spot the tiny red orchid?

Perennial Basil

Camellia, ‘Donation’

Nemesia

Tarragon

Out of focus fuchsia with the Bragmansia, behind, still flowering before the first frost.
Tomorrow is the shortest day in the Southern Hemisphere; this day was celebrated in years gone by. Now, day by day, the days will lengthen. We haven’t had our first frost yet, being close to the coast. This will happen and cold days will continue, even with the surprise cold days into October. Spring bulbs are beginning to shoot already.
21 June is a day of friend’s birthdays. So Happy Birthday to Janet, Sandy, Des and Leonie!
Seasonal Change:
Turn, turn, turn. Michelle W.
Seasons change so quickly! Which one do you most look forward to? Which is your least favourite.
Winter is a time of consolidation. A time to think about those over stuffed cupboards and giving excess to the op shop. Mulching leaves for the compost heap and making sure the compost heaps are full and prepared for spring. Pruning, weeding, planting and always being surprised by winter colour. When the garden is seen to, there is writing; a perfect occupation for rainy days. At night sitting in front of the fire knitting, what could be more pleasant? I wonder how long we’ll be allowed to have a fire? I feel privileged to have experienced such heating, as soon it will be a thing of the past.
Every season has its own special attributes. If I had to choose my least favourite, it would be the very hot days of summer, when it is over 40 degrees.
Here are some photos of some of my winter pursuits:

Shade cloth removed and sugar cane mulch applied.

winter flowering camelia

Budding cineraria to brighten a shaded area.

All year colour

Abundant Lisbon lemon tree

Geranium

Knitted cat for Hazel.

Lipstick Acer ready for planting, to replace fallen tree.
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Keeping on top of things:
Baggage Check: Prompt by Ben Huberman We all have complicated histories. When was the last time your past experiences informed a major decision you’ve made?
Having retired from the paid work force, our major decision to move to a country town where we can live in peace was in 2008. So the only big decisions now are considerably smaller than they once were.
This week has seen the pruning of our 12 palm trees. This has created masses of refuse, which I then booked in for a free pick-up. Cleaning up under the palms; picking up all of the fruit, or seeds, to stop germination took an afternoon. They are very heavy, so am hoping the garbage truck doesn’t refuse our bin due to the heavy weight.

Pruned palm trees
Tomorrow will see the removal of a defunct heater/air conditioner, weather permitting. The new system will be on the roof, and so can’t be put in if it is raining. The new system will be bigger and able to warm the large room that it is there to heat. I am delighted that the rubbish removal will also include the old heater as well as some other unused items in the garage. This will all be done before my son, daughter in law and one year old, arrive for the long weekend.

Young orange tree

Salvia

Lisbon Lemon Tree
Perhaps my experience as a teacher has helped me recognise the necessity of keeping on top of things to maintain an orderly existence. So, my major decisions may seem trivial to others, but are a vital concern to us, and once attended to, will allow us to recognise the next batch. The garden remains an ongoing activity, so shall share some shots from our sunny winter day.
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A winter walk:
Some glorious winter days have allowed me time in the garden. There is still much to do. I shall share some photos that were taken on our late afternoon walk. The pincushion Hakea is always a delight, an Australian native. The tree dahlias were shooting their heads over the school fence.

Pincushion Hakea

Tree Dahlia
Happy Easter!

The small eggs were found in 1970 in Cabbio, Ticino in the one store there.

Fading fast

pink ones under cover.

Autumn leaves vary in colour and are quite pink under cover.

Studio in background
Couldn’t resist posting these autumn leaves and showing you the eggs I’d hidden away, and finally discovered.
Happy Easter to you all!
Shades of Autumn:

The Virginia creeper is turning.

Pineapple Salvia, that really smells of pineapple.

Looking up.

Autumn delight

Such colour!

Thanks for your visit, hope you enjoyed a little Autumn colour.
Time to garden:

Tomatoes, our staple

A new tiny snail, I haven’t seen before.

A gentle change

The Acer drops seeds and the seedling are being potted up.

Roses still blooming

Looking up

Autumn colour

Delicate semi-shade plants

In Victoria known as Virginian Creeper, in Tasmania known as Boston Ivy. These creepers are growing on the water tanks.

Chilli plant in front of zucchini

Verbena, still a few jewels to be found.

Baby cyclamen, treasures .to be nurtured

Finally, figs for the birds and us. Thanks for your visit, Barbara