Apple trees

I have two apple trees in my garden.  One is the Cox's Orange Pippin and the other, the humble Granny Smith.  I came across the Cox at a heritage apple event and liked the look and taste of the fruit.  If I am not mistaken I planted the two trees seven years ago.  They have blossomed but never set fruits.  This summer I am seeing a few fruits growing bigger and I am protecting them from the birds and possums.  My intention is to see them ripen on the trees.

 The Cox's Orange Pippin.

The Granny Smith.

Jacaranda

The jacaranda tree is looking pretty but is not suffused with the purple blue that I am seeing in some places.  In the summer of 2011 the tree did not show a hint of the green leaves at all.  Whatever the reason for the paucity of flowers the tree is still a beauty, attracting birds and bees.

The panicle of purple blue flowers.

butterflies and budlia

The butterflies are having a fine time in the garden.  The budlia, also known as the butterfly bush attract butterflies that sustain themselves on the nectar from the tiny florets.

December flowers

The roses are making a comeback but not as glorious as at the beginning of spring.  There are enough flowers for picking especially from the big hydrangea bush.  The pink hydrangeas are in pots and I am still looking for a good spot in the garden to transplant them.

The blue and pink hydrangeas are adding colours to the rather dry summer garden.

This alstroemeria psittacina is sometimes known as the Christmas lily because of the green and red Christmas colours of the flowers which are prolific at this time of the year.  In some states this plant is regarded as a weed because it can be quite invasive.  It is easy enough to pull out where it is not wanted.

The red and yellow roses making a comeback after the pruning of the first flush in spring.

The last of the red poppies.  I have been collecting the seeds for next spring.  The seeds will be sown in winter.

This pink hollyhock comes up every spring.  I have been trying, unsuccessfully to propagate the seeds.

The blue and white agapanthus are a definite symbols of summertime.

bromeliads and ferns

Bromeliads and ferns do well in the cooler months of the year.  When we had our first over 30 degrees day a week ago I was quite worried about the ferns and bromeliads.  The tree ferns are looking good but are too tall to be covered, should we get another very hot and windy day.  A few years ago the tall tree ferns were singed by the February heat and it took a couple of years for them to recover.  The lower ferns could avoid the hot wind but would go brown when the temperature is too high.  I water the ferns and bromeliads when the temperature becomes unbearable.

bromeliads, red and green

low growing ferns

two tall tree ferns

Poppies

Last winter I sowed some of the poppy seeds, mauve and red, in different part of the garden.  In one of the planter boxes I found quite a few self sown seedlings.  I decided to leave them there rather than clear the box for vegetables.  Now the poppies are blooming beautifully and I will wait till the seeds are ready before pulling out the plants.

The veggie box of poppies.

Red and mauve poppies.

Bright red poppies.

Changing look in the spring garden

The blue bells and the wild ixias look quite dejected with all their flowers gone.  I will dig up the bulbs once the leaves turn yellow.  Other bulbs are flowering in their place, such as the Arabian star flower, the gladiolus callianthus or sword lily and the white ixias.

The Arabian star flower alongside an early rose.

Gladiolus callianthus.

White ixias.

The broad beans are ready for picking and there is a glut of flat leaf parsley.

Kalanchoe white and pink.  It is time for me to look for other colours.  The kalanchoe is so easy to grow.

Pink geranium in a hanging basket.

Blossoms from the Granny Smith apple tree in my outside garden.