Last of the flowers

Sometimes we forget that flowers will die and the colours and shapes we enjoy so much will disappear from our garden scene.  Fortunately for me, there are always others budding and blooming. This spring my hoyas have been flowering very well.  I have three pots in my garden.  Two are sheltered by the jacaranda tree and one sits in the corner of the back verandah, with the hoya trained along the post.  This particular hoya was so prolific but I did not get a single picture when there were so many flowers hanging down looking so unreal.  I took a picture of this last hoya, wending its way on to a fern leaf.

The ever so tall budlia bush/tree can be seen from my kitchen window.  Over spring I enjoyed watching butterflies making the most of the nectar.  The other day all I saw was the last few purple flowers with the rest looking unsightly deadly brown.  I took my saw and secateur to the bush and brought down the limbs that were at least double my height.  There will be new growth.  In cutting down the budlia I brought more light to the Granny Smith apple tree and the elderflower tree which have enough berries ripening for me to make some cordial.  I picked the remaining budlia flowers and put them in a vase which I left on the front verandah.  That attracted a colourful butterfly.

Cucurbit

I think, vegetables from the cucurbit family are quite easy to grow.  They can be prolific, given the right conditions.  I have growing in my garden, white squash, cucumber and zucchini.  There are some pumpkin seedlings from the compost heap and these I have put in a large pot and hopefully I may get a pumpkin or two out of them.  I have placed the pot in a sunny position and there is room for the vine to grow along the fence.  The roots can wander out of the pot into the ground.

Cucumber vine with flowers and a baby cucumber.

Cucumber, burpless, ready to pick.

There are baby squash beneath the leaves.  I will pick some small and will leave one to grow to maturity for the seeds.

Zucchini, a bit slow but I have picked a couple of tender young ones.

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