Blossoms

 Cherry blossoms in full bloom.

Apple blossoms

Damson plum blossoms

Spring garden

 

bluebells

a gathering of flowering bulbs

potted tulips

collection of pot plants on front porch

Geraldton wax flowers

a native bush, name unknown

pink echium and lime green euphorbia in the outside garden

blue echium

mass planting in the outside garden

pile of autumn leaves and soft pruning to turn into compost

Blossoms and other spring flowers

 

The blossoms of the flat peach are attracting the bees.

The deep purple bearded iris is doing well in the outside garden.

The forest lily is not showy but always a pleasure to see the flower in spring.

The orchid opens up in winter and continue to delight through spring.

The scarlet camellia.

The rhubarb flower.  I have been picking the leaf stalks.

The forget-me-not knows how to find a spot in the garden.

These grape hyacinths manage to survive the overcrowding.  I may have to plant more bulbs next autumn, in a pot.

These white and cream ixia flowers will soon fill the garden with their cheerful colours.

The beginning of the spring bulbs and other flowers

 

The first daffodil

Jonquil

White jonquil underneath a type of grevillea

Snowflake

Aeonium or houseleek in bloom

Lobelia

Borage

Broccoli - edible flower

winter treasures

 

This double white tree dahlia, is too tall for me to protect it from the frost but the nearby tree must have given it some protection.  The more exposed trunks were blackened by recent frost.  Fortunately this bloom looks into my kitchen window for me to enjoy.  The daily rain has stopped the frost, another protection for this tree dahlia which starts to bloom when the frost happens, unlike the mauve variety which delights the neighbourhood with the masses of mauve flowers.

I am looking forward to this forest lily (veltheimia) to bloom in late winter or early spring.  If nothing else the glossy leaves brighten up the winter garden. The lily self sow and I have been giving away the seedlings.  I shall find a spot for the seedlings, where I can enjoy a mass of the flowers in winters to come.

a sweet treasure

 This beautiful red capsicum was growing in a planter on my back porch.  The plant was strong but produced only one fruit.  It took a few months to grow from a fertilised flower to a red ripe vegetable.  It was too beautiful to pick but if I had left it on the plant it would eventually grow old and unsuitable for eating.  I picked the capsicum and decided to eat it raw.  I was so surprised by the sweetness on my tongue.  I have never tasted capsicum that sweet.  Knowing that a vegetable can taste so good makes the long wait worthwhile.  Next growing season I will try and grow a few more capsicum, in the same position, which could be the reason for the special flavour.

The Winter Garden

 

I hope to see this croton grow to a meter to display its beautiful leaves but in our temperate climate I am not sure if it will survive the winter.  It gets plenty of sunshine and is protected on the front porch.  I can only wait.

I have been waiting for this sole fruit on my pomelo bush to mature and it may be ready for picking soon as the rind is turning pale.  When I planted this bush a few years ago I was not hopeful of it fruiting.  This is a beautiful surprise.

Brussel sprouts forming on this potted plant.  The leaves have large holes from feeding the caterpillars.

These broccoli plants are crowded and will need thinning.  Th young leaves can be steamed or stir-fried.

This curry leaf bush is looking good at the moment. I hope it will survive the frost.

View from my kitchen window of this clump of very tall white tree dahlia.  The flower buds are still small and I hope they will survive the frost.