Why does the border of agapanthus down the street always flower before mine do?
The first of the crepe myrtle flowers has appeared.
Isn't this a cute little bug?
Friday, December 30, 2011
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
It Felt Like Summer!
Today finally felt like summer! Sunny and 26℃ 79℉.
The euonymus is flowering. This variety is evergreen and has tiny flowers. I don't think it has flowered this well for a while.
The dianella now has berries, I don't think I've ever seen them this large.
The kniphofia also has seeds, I'm not sure I've ever noticed them before, certainly not this big.
The euonymus is flowering. This variety is evergreen and has tiny flowers. I don't think it has flowered this well for a while.
The dianella now has berries, I don't think I've ever seen them this large.
The kniphofia also has seeds, I'm not sure I've ever noticed them before, certainly not this big.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Post-Christmas
Boxing Day was spent enjoying a couple of traditional activities, eating leftovers and watching sport on tv. The start of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race was followed by turkey brie rolls, then there was the start of the five day cricket test match between between Australia and India, followed by turkey with salad for dinner. The pepperberry salad dressing made by Red Kellys which we tried for the first time was declared a success. The pepperberry tree is native to Tasmania.
Some stores were open for post-Christmas sales but we didn't really feel like dealing with the crowds. After encountering inferior quality goods brought in specially, items normally sold together like cups and saucers or salt and pepper shakers each having a price on them making them twice as expensive as you'd assume, markdowns that were only just marked up before they were marked down, confusing signage giving the impression that everything on a rack or in a particular area is marked down when it isn't, and so on, I'm a little cynical about sales these days anyway.
Today I raced around photographing the hebes as the rain threatened to come down. All this rain seems to have done them a lot of good, I haven't seen so many of them flowering so well for a long time and the ones that usually struggle a little in the heat of summer are still looking lush and producing wonderfully large flowers.
Some stores were open for post-Christmas sales but we didn't really feel like dealing with the crowds. After encountering inferior quality goods brought in specially, items normally sold together like cups and saucers or salt and pepper shakers each having a price on them making them twice as expensive as you'd assume, markdowns that were only just marked up before they were marked down, confusing signage giving the impression that everything on a rack or in a particular area is marked down when it isn't, and so on, I'm a little cynical about sales these days anyway.
Today I raced around photographing the hebes as the rain threatened to come down. All this rain seems to have done them a lot of good, I haven't seen so many of them flowering so well for a long time and the ones that usually struggle a little in the heat of summer are still looking lush and producing wonderfully large flowers.
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Merry Christmas
Wishing everyone a Very Merry Christmas
and a Wonderful New Year!
We had a beautiful sunny morning and the garden looked lovely. Hubby had run around with the lawnmower yesterday because with so much rain the lawn has been growing like crazy. By lunchtime there was thunder in the distance. We ate pancakes with ricotta and fresh berries made by my son while watching the replay of last night's Carols By Candlelight (must have Denis Walter, Silvie Paladino, Marina Prior and David Hobson at Christmas). And then the rain pelted down. Many Aussies choose seafood for the Christmas meal but we've always stuck with turkey, except for the year we had the kitchen renovated. We had seafood the last couple of days, prawn salads for lunch and fish for dinner, all made by my very clever son. Now the house is filling with the delicious aroma of roasting turkey, and there's cake for later, and shortbread for much later if we have room.
I hope everyone has/had a lovely Christmas Day. My thoughts are also with those awaiting the cyclone in the Northern territory, those dealing with the aftermath of today's bad storm down in Victoria and yet more tremors in Christchurch, all the people who spend this family-oriented day working away from home serving their communities and their countries in various ways, everyone missing someone or worried about someone at this happy festive time, everyone adjusting to different circumstances at a time when traditions and reminiscences occupy people's minds... I'm sure I've forgotten someone, I guess I'm just trying to say I know not everyone is gathered around a festive table tonight without a care in the world, and I'm sending good thoughts to you.
May 2012 be a good one for everyone!
Thursday, December 15, 2011
December Garden Bloggers Bloom Day
I almost didn't notice it was Garden Bloggers Bloom Day again.
The Calibrachoa, Salvia Sierra Pink and Hebe Blue Gem are still flowering well, and the Lychnis still has some blooms as well.
Gazania
a newly planted Marigold
yet another variety of Hebe
Callistemon 'Little John'
Pelargonium
Lambs Ears
Nandina
Silk Tree
Salvia
and yet another variety of Hebe
The Calibrachoa, Salvia Sierra Pink and Hebe Blue Gem are still flowering well, and the Lychnis still has some blooms as well.
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