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

 

Drought tolerant plants

Melaleuca hypericifolia

Kings Park Special, a common Callistemon street tree in Pearcedale.

 

Melaleuca hypericifolia is one of those plants that is so undemanding and yet beautiful with or without flowers. It is a very similar flower to the Callistemon. Like the Callistemon it is suitable to make into hedges or windbreaks, though mine is stands solitary near the front entrance. The birds love it. I like the way this plant has a gentle colour and is more unassuming than the Callistemon, that shouts to be noticed.

Callistemon hedge at Pearcedale Primary School

Sunday Colour:

Planting on the nature-strip

Gardening in Australia in Spring:

Front garden

potted delights

First lily of the valley bloom

The first of the lily of the valley

Welcome new leaves

Shade loving Clivia

New leaves on Mt. Fuji double cherry tree

Eclectic mix in back garden

Succulents planted into recycled guttering to help insulate the studio.

First rose of spring

Fig leaves returning

 

A nose for these things:

 

My neighbour, Moyra’s Daphne

Daphne is a perfume that is delicate and fragrant. In Australia it is out at this time of the year. I have just moved my pot today from the shade under the lemon tree. It is not yet out, nor is it doing well. Daphne loves the morning sun, as do most plants. My neighbour’s Daphne plants are fully out, so thank you goes to Moyra for letting me photograph hers.

Perfumes are a strong stimulant for memories. For me the perfume of Daphne takes me back to my childhood, to my Mother’s prized plants. They were big enough to pick large pieces to bring inside to fill the house with their aroma.

Ben’s freshly baked bread and the smell of coffee percolating are wonderful homely smells too, but today the plants take precedence. Freesias, violets and Boronia are the next flowering plants that are in my top five favourites. The spring bulbs are not far behind with their heady aromas. A world without smell or perfumes would be very dull. Can you smell the Daphne?

Nosey Delights: From the yeasty warmth of freshly baked bread to the clear, summery haze of lavender flowers, we all have favorite smells we find particularly comforting. What’s yours? Ben Huberman

Moyra’s Daphne plants

Our forgotten plant

 http://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/nosey-delights/

Collections, what makes us do this?

Collecting things has been something in my blood. From the shells that I constantly filled my pockets as a child, to the buttons, stamps and swap cards. There’s an endless list. Today I’m going to share with you my blue bottle collection.

Each bottle has a story, history, if you like: who gave it to me? where it was purchased? which town or country? and the associated memories. This is the trouble when you get old, the memories accumulate. What do we do with them? Some live inside these bottles! Perhaps a short story lies within?

Some chillies and herbs from the garden. The little teapot, with ‘I love Mother’ came from a wall cavity, when my son was renovating their flat in Sydney!

I would love it if you would share some of your collections. Then I might be brave enough to show you some more….

Perhaps my failing now is for plants; such temptations lie at the local nursery. What tempts you?