Tag: plants

Categories
Annuals Barbie's garden Gardening Home page features Perenniels

Last October Days

After the heat of yesterday and the windy morning, I finally ventured out into the garden to see what needed tending. Besides the blown-over trellis and the build-up of weed, I was amazed to see lots of new growth and happy flowers. I am amazed at how much a garden can really give you when you offer some love and care.  I treasure the surprises and the jump-for-joy moments, like the new Louisiana Iris in the front garden, the first new Rose or the Broccoli sprout and the sweet carrots.

My first rose bud. It is so sweet and gloriously scented!

[one_half]Dianthus in full bloom next to the Tea Tree[/one_half]

[one_half_last]New rose bushes with Powis Castle[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Salvia Hot Lips in the rose patch[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Some rose buds, Fuchsia growing tall[/one_half_last]

[one_half]What a beautiful colour-Louisiana Iris[/one_half]

[one_half_last]A single perfect flower-just lovely![/one_half_last]

[one_third]Artemesia[/one_third]

[one_third]My Auntie Henna Rose[/one_third]

[one_third_last]Fuchsia lush and green[/one_third_last]

The Grass Feature is coming alive. The grasses are in their 3rd Season, so this is the year for them to shine!

[one_half]The grass feature is amazing[/one_half]

[one_half_last]All grasses are in full growth[/one_half_last]

[one_half]The riverbed still looking good[/one_half]

[one_half_last]This will be so nice in summer[/one_half_last]

Well, the front garden is in full display. The Leopard trees are about to bud and within a few weeks will be rich and green with new leaves. Now let’s see what the back garden is doing …..

The Carnations are still blooming – together with the Yarrow. Both are new to my garden and seem to be happy in the new bed.

[one_half]Chamomile- great tea[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Sage – Salvia[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Calendula – my first ever from seeds[/one_half]

[one_half_last]A favourite medicinal flower[/one_half_last]

My first Fennel plant with flowers – from this one I will collect the seeds.

[one_half]Babiana are so pretty[/one_half]

[one_half_last]My first carnations that didn’t die on me[/one_half_last]

[one_third]Sweetpea up the ladder[/one_third]

[one_third]The new bed[/one_third]

[one_third_last]Buffy hiding from me[/one_third_last]

[one_half]My new apple trees in bloom[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Quinces are now starting[/one_half_last]

[one_half]New strawberries – I love spring![/one_half]

[one_half_last]Blueberry bush also producing[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Watering hole next to the Tansy[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Another watering hole[/one_half_last]

[one_half]My first Lily-behind the pineapple sage[/one_half]

[one_half_last]A dove in her new nest in the potato bush[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Blue Cornflowers in the meadow[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Don’t know what this is-but pretty[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Another unknown flower in the meadow[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Another non-name flower[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Wild growing Nasturtiums[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Meadow flowers coming to an end[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Best Lemons ever![/one_half]

[one_half_last]Loquats are nearly ripe![/one_half_last]

I have so many more photos,but I think I will post them on another day. There is so much happening in my garden right now and I haven’t even touched on the veggie patch.

Til next post – Happy Gardening xxxxxx

 

Categories
Annuals Barbie's garden Gardening Home page features Perenniels

Wet October day

Well, the sun is hiding behind dark, ominous clouds and the rain is coming down. I know my garden loves it and after a few warm days, I am quite happy sitting indoors. Just survived a bout of nasty flu and a quiet weekend inside with a great book sounds like a good idea. I did, however, take a quick walk around to see what needed my attention, but my plants all waved me inside.  They are all happy. The Gardener can rest! xxx

[one_half]My Potato Sacks are looking great[/one_half]

[one_half_last]The raised veggie bed looking full[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Beautiful apple blossoms-how lovely![/one_half]

[one_half_last]Rose patch is filling out nicely[/one_half_last]

[one_half]The rain is being enjoyed by all[/one_half]

[one_half_last]The potato bush is heavy with blooms[/one_half_last]

The sage has re-grown from the old plant in the veggie bed. I am enjoying the flowers. The Chrysanthemums are also thriving.

 [one_half]Beautiful sage[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Buds closed on this cold day[/one_half_last]

[one_half]The Grass patch is looking amazing[/one_half]

[one_half_last]All grasses are in growth-mode[/one_half_last]

[one_third][/one_third]

[one_third][/one_third]

[one_third_last][/one_third_last]

Well, I thought I could pack away my fuzzy blankets – 🙂 The cold is still creeping in this October month. Well, I’m gonna wrap up warm now and will see you all in the week.

Happy Gardening xxxx

Categories
Annuals Barbie's garden Gardening Home page features Perenniels

Another rainy day

Oh well, the spring sun was covered with clouds today and the rain came tumbling down – again. But Spring is all about the warmth and the rain – the flowers and the showers, right? So here is my garden today – wet and warm. The Spring feeling is in the air and the blues have melted and the spirits are high. I’ve been in the garden all day yesterday – pulling, clearing, weeding, cutting……..

I wonder what colour this Iris will be??

[one_half]I have groups of Irises all over the garden[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Going to be a glorious Spring!![/one_half_last]

[one_half]Sparaxis in bloom[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Festuca Glauca a strong favourite[/one_half_last]

[one_half]The Blue Bed – all the flowers blue or purple![/one_half]

[one_half_last]Azaleas loving the rain![/one_half_last]

[one_half]More Sparaxis, heavy with rain[/one_half]

[one_half_last]My Raspberry Lavender, lovely colour[/one_half_last]

A single Freeshia – what a delight!

[one_third][/one_third]

[one_third][/one_third]

[one_third_last][/one_third_last]

[one_half]Veggie patch all wet – again![/one_half]

[one_half_last]View from the front porch[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Newly cut grasses – waiting for the spring growth[/one_half]

[one_half_last]View from the back porch[/one_half_last]

[one_third]Front lawn needs mowing[/one_third]

[one_third]Rose bed clipped[/one_third]

[one_third_last]Erigeron creeping furiously[/one_third_last]

[one_half]Getting my seeds planted, while weather poor[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Took Thyme clippings – growing very well[/one_half_last]

I am quite surprised how much I managed to get done this weekend, despite the rainy weather! My garden is budding and growing in leaps and bounds. The rain is always welcome in my neck of the woods – only not days of it!

I hope my next post is on my Irises blooming!! 🙂

Happy gardening xxxxxx

 

Categories
Annuals Barbie's garden Gardening Home page features Perenniels

Something stirring in my garden

I have not been getting the “spring is a coming” feeling! I have been so preoccupied with work and family birthdays and just feeling cold these past weeks in August that my poor garden has been so neglected. I have to admit that the “feeling has not been there”. I gave my favourite hobby a break. But the blooms are happily awaiting spring, regardless of the absent gardener. I have seen new colour and flowers and new shoots and buds today…… something is stirring in my garden…. wow, look!!!

[one_half]Azaleas are taking[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Love the flowers[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Lavender is blooming-Yipee![/one_half]

[one_half_last]Purple and raspberry colour[/one_half_last]

[one_third][/one_third]

[one_third][/one_third]

[one_third_last][/one_third_last]

[one_half][/one_half]

[one_half_last][/one_half_last]

[one_half][/one_half]

[one_half_last][/one_half_last]

[one_half]Broad bean flowers in my veggie patch[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Borage blossom buds[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Lobelia, lavender, dietes & borage[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Gerbera still blooming[/one_half_last]

[one_third][/one_third]

[one_third][/one_third]

[one_third_last][/one_third_last]

[one_half][/one_half]

[one_half_last][/one_half_last]

[one_half]Blueberry bush starting to bloom[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Meadow still a good show[/one_half_last]

[one_third]Mint bush[/one_third]

[one_third]Lemon tree in the meadow[/one_third]

[one_third_last]Veggie patch looking bushy[/one_third_last]

I am so excited to see that the garden is about to explode with colour!!! Bring on Spring!!! I’m definitely going in the garden this weekend!

Happy Gardening xxxxx

Categories
Barbie's garden Gardening Home page features Miscellaneous

Wander about the neighbourhood

The weather was so beautiful on Monday that my hubby and I took a meander about the neighbourhood. We live in a quaint village that is surrounded by wheat, canola, cows, sheep and even pigs! I love this time of year, when the fields are green and the canola is bright yellow – hey, wait! It’s not spring yet! The canola is early! Oh well, looks like the patterns are changing and we will be seeing more of this as the seasons come and go. There was snow on the nearby mountain range, but not close enough for me to show you a spectacular photo. But here are the pics I did take!

Love the pigs xx

What’s happening in your neighbourhood?

Happy Gardening xxx

Categories
Barbie's garden Design Gardening Home page features Perenniels

New patch plantings

Hi Chris – I know I mentioned this to you last week already, but I had little time to get the photo’s done and up for you to see. I know I keep telling you how I love your Nandina, well I have now bought some as well as azaleas to go in my shade patch in the back garden. Everything else I have planted here has died; either ripped out by chickens, or rotted away or just simply faded into nothing. It is such a focal position next to my back deck. In summer it is the only real shady area in the back garden and all the birds flock here for warmth in winter and to cool off in the summer. It is a watering hole and it’s also where the chameleons and bees hang out. I have created a rock pile for my frogs and lizards and the bucket just for fun! There is a yearly arum lily that comes up in winter… look you can see it popping out of the new stone path. I’m going to keep it because it has been there ever since we moved into the house. I remember putting the big tree stump on that area one year and it still managed to push through, so I love plants that love to be here, no matter what the circumstance!

[one_half][/one_half]

[one_half_last][/one_half_last]

Here are the white azaleas and the nandina pygmaea-Dwarf Bamboo – planted behind the Tea Tree and the Pineapple Sage. These shrubs will give shade in the intense afternoon sun in summer. I also have a few Irises I cannot wait to see flower in spring. I have a few Lilium bulbs too. The Arum Lily that comes up every year is Zantedeschia, a genus of herbaceous flowering plants in the family Araceae, native to southern Africa from South Africa north to Malawi.

[one_half]Nandina Pygmaea[/one_half]

[one_half_last]White Azaleas[/one_half_last]

[one_half]A thatching plant but not Cape Thatch[/one_half]

[one_half_last]I have pruned the Pineapple Sage[/one_half_last]

[one_half]The yearly arum lily plant[/one_half]

[one_half_last]The Shady Patch corner at sunset[/one_half_last]

I really hope that this will be the winning combo. I am looking at a more perennial garden patch here with lots of flowers and little work. A bushy, flowery area with nice colourful foliage. I love the Nandina now – the reds are so beautiful. I selected white azaleas because I wanted something neutral as perennial and I can add colour with bulbs and other annual flowers here and there.  I am now going to sit back, water and wait!

The weatherman says storms ahead, so I guess the weekend will be spent in front of the fire with a good book!

Happy reading….I mean gardening xxxx

 

Categories
Annuals Barbie's garden Gardening Home page features

Winter in my garden

I have to say that I was dreading winter – but there have been some really warm days and the rainy days have been spent indoors with a warm fire and always some seeds to plant on the back deck. I want to show you what’s been going on in my garden, especially in the back where the new meadow is growing so beautifully. I am really enjoying my garden and the chickens have been kept under lock and key…. well, they have “play time” which is well supervised! They have areas where they are allowed and we stand guard while they scratch and dig!

Here are some photos of the raised beds – now prepared with seeds sown.

[one_half]Strawberries doing well[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Beds are all neat-grass brown though[/one_half_last]

The Irises are looking healthy and I can’t wait for the first blooms!

[one_half]Lobelias are looking pretty[/one_half]

[one_half_last]One of the bulbs in bloom-Gladiolas?[/one_half_last]

[one_half]New seedlings in the veggie patch[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Wow! Look at the meadow blooming[/one_half_last]

[one_half][/one_half]

[one_half_last][/one_half_last]

New beginnings – these last two photos are of the new bed I have created at the back of the garden to hide the bare wall. I hope that it springs to life this summer! Well, I hope your gardening days are bringing you joy! What’s happening in your garden?

Happy Gardening xxxx

 

 

Categories
Barbie's garden Gardening Home page features Miscellaneous

What’s this?

While I’ve been cleaning up my garden and planting seedlings, I have been watching these two strange “weed” bushes developing in the corner where the old conifer tree was. I wanted to see what they would eventually become, but I am now curious to know what the dickens these are!

The first bush has a very familiar looking flower – similar to a tomato and the actual potato plant!

[one_half]The plants are in this corner[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Here’s a closer look[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Here is the leaf structure[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Leaf and a flower from the side[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Here is the flower[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Full plant again[/one_half_last]

Any clue??

Then, right next to this plant is this alien looking thing! Quite a scary looking horned-pod head!! The rest of the plant is unassuming and quite small. No flowers anywhere. I would love to know what this is!

[one_half]Look at this weird thing! Any ideas?[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Let’s take a closer look[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Here is the leaf structure[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Here is where it is[/one_half_last]

I hope one of our gardening buddies can help solve this mystery!

Happy Gardening xxxxx

 

Categories
Barbie's garden Gardening Home page features Miscellaneous

A wet winter garden

The weather man has predicted rain and more rain and cold temperatures, so for this weekend we made soup and collected firewood for the  fireplace and the only thing missing is a good book. I did take some time during the week to take note of the chores still needing my attention. The chicken run needs a landscape artist – sigh! …. and the next lot of seedlings need sowing – ok! ….. and the lawn needs mowing …..argh! No, I’d rather take some photos! My garden is looking beautiful through the eyes of the camera – it does not see the chores that need my attention!! The rain has washed it all clean and it has a fresh face ….take a look at what I saw!

Fuchsia bush is blooming again – I love the rain drops on the leaves!

 

The sunbird is back! He is looking for a mate!

The Mighty Mugwood tree is collecting rainwater!

My second favourite tree in my garden – Tea Tree (still a young bush)

Protea bush in full bloom and loving the weather

My raised bed with brand new seedlings – all self-seeded from last summer. There is celery, chamomile, Sparaxis and comfrey. Love definitely grows here!

I have Nasturtiums all over my garden – self seeded as well!

Celery – so good for you and so easy to grow – they are popping up everywhere!

Love in my garden!

Cleomes still charming the camera lens!

[one_half]Cleomes and the meadow in the background[/one_half]

[one_half_last]The guava tree and wet meadow[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Bulbs growing in between Soapwort[/one_half]

[one_half_last]My Leopard tree soaked and loving it[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Roses getting a cleansing shower[/one_half]

[one_half_last]The grass feature with its birdbath-full![/one_half_last]

[one_half]My grasses looking divine in winter colour[/one_half]

[one_half_last]More grasses after rain[/one_half_last]

My Artemesia Powiss Castle is just stunning when it rains.

The aphids on this wet rose bud don’t look to happy!

This rose got a real good soaking. But looks happy!

Are you also having a wet weekend? What’s happening in your garden?

Happy gardening xxxx

Categories
Annuals Barbie's garden Design Gardening Home page features Perenniels

Back garden highlighted

Hi Chris, I have been busy with planting and cleaning and creating and just enjoying the back area of my garden. I know that I have these silent moments where no one knows where I am and what I’m up to – even my hubby looks for me…… I am in my garden. I have become very close to my garden again, now that the time has come to reawaken and refresh all the beds. I take long moments just looking and imagining. I look at funny corners and visualize an old chair or an old ladder with a creeper growing up it, a bucket or a few old pieces of wood and some stones.

Here is what I’ve been creating and planting…….

[one_half]My new area of interest-near the back wall[/one_half]

[one_half_last]The new bed under development[/one_half_last]

Still needs lots of work, but the idea is there and I want a lush area of green in the back garden. It has been stark and barren for too long – cheerless and somber before I got my hands on it. I want to have this organised jungly effect. A place you forage for vegetables and fruit and berries and medicinal flowers…..

There will be grenadilla, yarrow, grasses, peaches and blueberries all growing together.

[one_half]Grenadilla will creep up an old ladder[/one_half]

[one_half_last]With neat little walkways of interest[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Old wood holding bird bath bowls[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Wood and stones always featuring[/one_half_last]

I have tansy and borage bringing scores of bees and butterflies to pollinate the peach and blueberry blossoms, Black Pearl peppers and Irises all enjoying the same bed. I love the idea of adding flowers in amongst herbs and vegetables and fruit.

[one_half]Grasses in between finishes it off[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Each area has a water feature [/one_half_last]

And these beautiful pots on the big table on the back deck just paints this lovely picture of rest and tranquility. Thank you, my friend, for this lovely gift – they work so perfectly in my garden and soon the Freesias will be blooming!

Happy Gardening xxx