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.

Flowers in Autumn

 

Cyclamen and Cape Violet

Banksia

Protea

Cosmos

Mauve Salvia

Chrysanthemum

Petunia

White Tuber Begonia

Begonia

Harvest

 

Pomegranate

Olives

Feijoa

Butternut and Purple Congo potato

Chillies

Capsicum

Late sunflowers, autumnal bulbs, flowers and edibles.

 

sunflowers in autumn

a late mauve poppy

red lily

belladonna lily

pink nerine

orange nerine

blood lily

roses still blooming

cape violet

marigold

okra

lettuce

tomatillo

chillies

green cayenne

harvest - scarlet runner beans, squash and tomatoes

snow apples from my friend Helga's tree