After a week of work committments, my head has hardly moved away from the computer. This has left me with the feeling of “cabin fever”! I was so pleased that we had a holiday on Wednesday – International Workers Day (Labour Day) – and I was NOT going to spend another moment sitting! I was in the garden, playing with the newbie chickens and Skollie (who has calmed down quite abit!) and filling holes and racking leaves. Just your normal “getting-back-the-garden-feel” activity! All was looking quite alive and still a few flowers around. There was some new growth too!! Here are some photos of the back garden activity!
Dietes Grandiflora is blooming
Here, the Dietes is amongst flowering Stevia. Now stevia is used as a natural sweetner. I add the leaves to my herbal tea. It has a distinct taste, but the benefit of a non-sugar sweet is always a bonus!
The busy bees are still harvesting the nectar! Hey – leave some for me!
I love the Mexican Petunia in this patch of the garden. I think it prefers the cooler months in my neck of the woods!
One of my favourite favourites! Borage is growing again. This is a self-seeded plant!
I like Tansy alot – it is soft and gentle and the bees also love it. I can cut it down and within a week or two it is back! The leaves are the best in making a natural pesticide. I make a tea with Tansy and Artemesia! Works really well! I also add some soapy water!
I was worried the Ice cream bush would not last the hot days of summer, but here it is!! Bushy and beautiful. I love the colours and these change as the seasons move on.
As you can see under the Ice Cream bush I have a patch of re-planted thyme and my new solar light. I have 2 dozen of these in the garden and they light the way when I need last minute herbs for dinner!
Oh wow! My Chasmanthe is growing!! Can’t wait for these to flower! This is their first grown since I planted them last season. They are bulbs that grow every year.
My grasses are in their autumn colours now – I really like this yellow look!
I hope you have lots growing in your garden.
Happy gardening xxxx
11 replies on “What’s growing in my backyard”
That ice cream bush is lovely. I think I saw one of those in Florida when I was there. You still have so many things blooming, even in fall. I hope your schedule is a little lighter now, and that you’re enjoying the autumn!
Oh – I hope so too! I am missing my garden 🙂
Love to see your garden in fall…it looks so lively compared to mine in fall…wasn’t sure if you had a harvest day post coming but I had an interesting harvest already!
Hi Donna – I had no harvest post yet – 🙁 Will have to get my camera and get some snaps!! Just been so busy!
Your photographs are really beautiful!
I grew a lot of Dietes in my last garden. I loved how heat tolerant it was, and even when not in bloom, the leaves provided some lovely structure in the garden. I keep thinking about adding Stevia to the herb garden. It’s become very popular here, but I’ve never grown it. I didn’t think to add the leaves directly to my iced tea. I really am going to have to try it this summer!
Your garden looks so lovely Barbs, mine is a mess 🙁
Will have to show and tell soon …
missed you. Thought perhaps you have been busy with your daughter’s garden?
Hi Diana!!!! No, not busy with daughters garden … we laid lawn in the big bare patch and the rest has to wait till we have time again. Unfortunately I’ve been totally focused on work and just have not had a minute to spare, but we are getting there and I’ll “be back in the garden” real soon 🙂
Thanks my friend – It was so rewarding to still see so much colour! I hope to come and see you soon so we can catch up! 🙂
Love the dietes. And stevia! I have thought about growing this – I think you just convinced me to give it a try! The ice cream bush is very interesting – it does look happy in your garden.