26 August 2006

Lastly today is this tiny little blossom. It's self sewn, about 4 years old and flowering for the first time this year. The tree is now about 2 metres tall and the flowers are tiny, tiny, tiny.

Pretty though. What kind of fruit is it? I don't know. But that's part of the fun of gardening sometimes. You let things grow where they will and give them a chance to shine - if they don't out they come. This one will probably stay around for a while, there is that touch of desirable pink after all! Posted by Picasa
What a little stunner this is. A Dendrobium kingianum, but which one I don't know. I've had this plant for many years growing in a pot. I decided a couple of years ago to release all my orchids into the garden. This one I put on top of the soil between two large old logs which I then filled with leaf mulch. It's actually growing underneath one of the lovely pink blossom trees from a month back.

This year it really looks likes its appreciating my efforts on its behalf. This flower stem is completely out and there are probably another 4 or 5 stems to come - which should stretch the flowering season out enormously. I sprinkle a little cow manure on it occasionally and that's it. Posted by Picasa
The promised white blossom following the gorgeous pink has arrived! Two very large old pear trees add their beauty to our garden. Ruby is on the jetty - she's pretty gorgeous too. She loves gardening, especially if I can spend the time to chase her all over the grass. Actually it is a pretty good game because all you have to do is stand in the middle of the lawn, she runs around you, you making little feinting moves in her direction, and she runs madly away. Uses up oodles of energy for her and none for you! And as I am already tired from lugging around hundreds of bags of cow manure and mulch I need the energy saving part of the game. Posted by Picasa

13 August 2006

Another native flowering at the moment is Hardenbergia violacea. I am rather puzzled as to why the kangaroos don't eat this one, which is growing naturally in our bush, but they have eaten the ones which I bought from the nursery and planted in my garden! Why? My poor little bought ones can't manage to keep any new leaves on their skeltonised frames. As they valiantly try to put out each new leaf it is eaten over night. The only evidence a pile of little kangaroo poos, just to show everything digested nicely thank you very much.

My darling husband pointed out the resemblance of each flower to the cartoon character from our childhood, Yosemite Sam, big hat, cross eyed look and huge moustache. Look at a close up of the flower and you will see what he means. Posted by Picasa
Here we are still in winter, although many plants are beginning to bloom. This is a native beauty known as the Wonga Wonga Vine, real name Pandorea pandorana. Its tiny little flowers are charming and as it gently entwines itself through shrubs and over wire fences it looks very pretty indeed. Posted by Picasa
This is a dear little Salvia. I think one of the Salvia Greggii but I am not absolutely sure. It appeared on the edge of my garden one day about ten years ago; a poor straggling little thing it was. I took pity on it because I liked the colour and it has rewarded me ever since by slowly multiplying. It sailed through the drought and now has two beautiful patches of colour about 2 metres square. It seems to flower all year round and when the plants get a little straggly or when I want to grow some more I simply cut off old flower heads and sprinkle them in the new spot. Up they come and flower very quickly. How simple is that!! They are easy to keep in check and don't spread where I don't want them too. I never have to water them and look at just how beautiful they are. Posted by Picasa

4 August 2006

Half way through winter and this is what you see. Double pink peaches flowering away - makes for a happy me, (pink being my favourite colour), and very happy bees also.
As the pink blossoms are finishing the white double peaches start, and then the pear trees. It will be interesting to see if everything blossoms madly in an effort to reproduce. Certainly the autumn colour was much more intense with the dry weather. Maybe the blossom trees will be trying extra hard too?

Spring is so brief here. Technically it is not yet spring of course, but when it officially starts the weather suddenly warms up, everything comes out and then finishes, almost before you have time to enjoy it.

When we lived in Canada I was able to watch each new blossom appear in a long succession, whereas here it happens almost overnight and then just as quickly they're gone until next year.

Still there are some lovely flowering trees to look forward too. Posted by Picasa