The delights of gardening:

Lily of the valley shooting makes me realise that it is almost October, and 88 days till Christmas!

Spring holidays

Today is going to be 21, before another cold spell. So we’re off to the beach to make the most of the day. School holidays are here and so I shall be missing with another break from blogging.

Maybe the boys will teach me to use the lap top?

Thanks for your company. Look forward to reading your posts on my return.

Twilight in the garden:

Crepuscule climber

Clematis

Pierre de Ronsard, a romantic climbing rose

Crepuscule climbing rose in foreground

Peace climbing rose

3×10,000 litre tanks getting covered by Virginia creeper

Shade house complete and vegetables planted

A garden is never finished:

Chris has started putting in the structure to create shade for the vegetable patch for summer. (Piping on Star pickets.)

Self sown poppies need to go to put in vegetables.

Developing archway to cool the studio.

Another shot of the back pottage garden.

Fresh leaves rejuvenate the BBQ area.

Peace in Pearcedale:

Photos from my iPhone showing a spring morning with plants coming to life again:

‘Seduction’ rose

Crabapple in memory of Brenda

‘Seduction’ rose

Apologies for the black spot on the climbing Peace rose

Progressing portraits and a few spring flowers:

Rachael in watercolour by CP 15-10-14

Barbara in gouache steadily evolving 15October ’14

Rose ‘Seduction’                                      

Rose, ‘Duet’

Aquilegia, or Granny bonnets amongst ‘Seduction’ rose buds.

 

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

 

Spring in Pearcedale:

Picked a bunch of these delectable smelling violets yesterday

Grevillea, a plant the birds adore

Another Grevillea, bird’s paradise

Banksia tree planted on our nature strip.

As I shall be having the grandchildren to stay my posts will be more spasmodic, as by night time I’m depleted!

Shall return….

 

Another juvenile Banksia, also on our nature strip.

Monday painting update:

Today’s update  of Christopher’s painting is not totally true, but I boosted the colour to enhance it, so that it was more visible. His work needs to be seen in reality, rather than a photograph. There is a wonderful translucent quality to them.

Christopher Pyett’s painting of Barbara in progress 8-9-14

 

 

Maybe I should show you the windy spring day outside with the lawns mown too!

Spring in Victoria, Australia

Boronia has a fantastic perfume