Category: summer

Australia · garden flowers · in my garden · native Australian birds · native Australian plants · rain · subtropical weather · summer

Australian and New Zealand Native Plants

Joanne23 Comments
First ‘Little Ewan’ flower

In previous posts, I have mentioned that during the past year, I have focused on revamping my garden, by removing plants that I wasn’t happy with and trying new plants in their place.

A new plant to me was ‘Metrosideros Little Ewan’, otherwise known as a dwarf New Zealand Christmas bush. I thought I’d give it a go, so bought three tube stock plants. Much to my delight, I noticed this week that I have my first Little Ewan flower.

‘Little Ewan’, looking down into the centre of the flower

The clusters of red spires look to be growing from a yellow base; also, there is the tiniest hint of yellow at the end of the soft spires. The plant is still tiny but grows to one metre in both width and height. It will be lovely to see the plant in flower when it reaches its full maturity.

First finger limes

Finger limes are native to Australia. Referred to as “bush tucker” by aboriginal people, the fruit, when cut open, has the appearance of caviar! My tree is young, and this is the first summer it has fruited. I have been lucky enough to try finger limes previously when my neighbour brought some off their tree for us to try. When I cut open my first lime, I will take photos to share here. 🙂

Finger lime tree in bud

I am still learning the intricacies of finger lime tree growth, but I predict we may have a few more limes appearing before summer is over.

Lilly pilly buds

Also in bud is my native Australian Lilly Pilly shrub. This shrub is growing in a pot currently, but I have plans for it to become a feature plant in one of my newly renovated gardens.

Wet, wet, wet!

A post of Australian natives wouldn’t be complete without a photo of kookaburras. As you can see, we have summer rain here which I am thankful for – it is keeping the temperatures lower each day, even if the humidity is a tad high! During the mid-month of summer, I am grateful for any reprieve I can get from the heat. 🙂

Australia · garden flowers · gardening · in my garden · roses · subtropical weather · summer

In A Vase on Monday

Joanne9 Comments

… and A Week of Flowers ~~ Day 4

The vase I chose to use this week is one I bought several years ago on a whim, and have rarely, if ever, used. That will change from now on, as I hadn’t realised – because of not using it – that this vase is perfectly sized and shaped for displaying narrow-stemmed flowers, such as gerberas and Susanna Mitchell daisies.

Amid the colourful gerberas and pale yellow daisies, I have also added two Olivia Rose Austin and two red roses …

I bought the red rose bush several years ago and planted it among other rose bushes. None of the plants grew well in the position I chose; some didn’t even survive! So a couple of winters ago, I transplanted the surviving rose bushes. The red roses are from one of them. Clearly, the plant is much happier growing in its new garden bed.

This beautiful, delicately scented, pale pink rose is Olivia Rose Austin, a David Austin rose named for his granddaughter. After seeing the gorgeous flowers on the first Olivia I bought a few years ago and enjoying them so much, this winter I bought a second plant.

I received my first gerbera plants as a gift about twenty-five years ago, and they are still growing well. In my subtropical climate, I have learned that if a plant thrives, even when neglected, it’s a keeper. This palest pink gerbera flower is a recent addition to my garden. I love the fine, two-toned petals, pink at the ends with white closer to the centre of the flower.

This orange gerbera, while not as finely featured as its neighbours in the garden, is an extremely striking plant. Visitors often comment on how lovely it looks.

The red gerberas are from my original plants. If you look closely you will see a small hitch-hiker, in the top, right-hand corner of the photo, who ended up indoors with the flowers. Escaping from the heat of the garden, obviously. 😉

Anthemis ‘Susanna Mitchell’ daisies are a new addition to my garden this year. They seem to love everything about the soil, heat, drought and rain my subtropical climate throws their way, and are thriving! Susanna is a spring bloomer and her flowers are coming to an end; there are still plenty of blooms left, however, to enjoy indoors.

Like last week’s vase, this week I have positioned my vase on the mantlepiece in the family room. By next week, I will have started to decorate the room for Christmas, so space will be limited in this room and every other room in the house! I will always find somewhere for another vase of flowers though. ❤

Thank you to two Cathys – Cathy at Rambling in the Garden for hosting In A Vase on Monday each week. And also to Cathy at Words and Herbs for suggesting A Week of Flowers to brighten everyone’s days for the week.