Kiki and the Garden

Its the end of July, and while I need to touch wood while I say it, there have been some very cold days, but overall its been quite a mild winter.  The garden is positively bursting with signs of an approaching spring.

The wattle is about to burst forth, just looking at it sends my heyfever into overdrive!!

The violets are out in force, mostly white but some pale blue as well, all very pretty :)

The prunus is about to provide another spectacular display.

Only have one hellebore, all the way from Tathra, and this one looks like it could be about to say 'FEED ME, Seymour, FEED ME!!' LOL!!

The jonquils are putting on a fine show.

The grevillias are at 'P-O-P' (point of pop)!

The hardenbergia is making the gum tree look very flashy.

The humble Hebe struggled through the intense summer, but is coming back now.

Flowering Quince, looking forward to these gorgeous blooms.

The daphne, huge and loaded with flowers and scent, that even with a heavy cold I can smell and enjoy.

Cape Daisies, not a big fan, but they are survivors!!

Kiki keeps herself trim, taut, terrific - well at least the pug version of that - by chasing birds around and around and around the orchard!

Spring has Very Nearly Sprung

Yesterday I snapped the first daffodil, and the prunus blossom in glorious sunshine and mild temperatures, today its returned to winter with a vengeance, very cold, sleet no less, biting wind... horrible.... but before....

Also captured these traffic light geranium leaves.

And the grevillea I meant to photograph the other day when the battery went flat :(

Hellebore still looking good, and the little primulas are blooming on too.

The violets have started to flower and they are mostly white, with some pale blue, will have to get some of the dark violet ones to add to the mix, they look very pretty.

#5 is doing  a good job of mothering her 5 Black East Indies ducklings, her first time in the mothering role.  She hatched 2 herself and accepted 3 more from the incubator ;-D

Meantime, I have my 3 inside, in the brooder.  They are on daily sink swims, but cant get all 3 in frame at once!!  They are spoken for and going to their new home on Sunday.

This is one budgie family.  Mum is the white and blue bird in the background, Dad is the bright yellow and green bird in the middle and the 3 babies are the result of 2 nests, first one produced one female, the second, one male and one female, all very similar colour, lemon and blue/green.

This is an escaped pet, re-captured and now living safely.  Was very tame when he arrived, but now happy to be a 'wild' aviary bird  LOL!!

No, Kiki is not supposed to stand on the arm of the couch!!