Spring in the Garden

Its been a good wet winter, and I was expecting (? hoping?) for a lot more flowers in the garden, but there are a few bright spots of colour.... and a lot of weeds!!  Time to get to work!!

Garden News and Old News

The old news is that Mum's visit came to an end over a week ago, and she journeyed home on the train, now safely back in the wilds of Templestowe!  No baggage handling on a Sunday, even if you've got a first class ticket!!

Also in the old news category is my trip to the Charles Ledger Show at Moss Vale where Mark from Alabaster Alpacas kindly took the time to explain the difference between a good suri alpaca, and lesser one.  I saw lots of lovely animals and had a good time chatting, but when I got home found the only photos I'd taken were of some camels that were sharing the show grounds that day!

The flowering quince is looking speccy again this year, and I'm pleased to say that the crimson rosellas have so far left it alone!!

It has however had some pruning thanks to Ruby, who fancies herself as a bit of gardener, her favourite job is pruning... wish she'd do the fruit trees!!  LOL!!  Both ears up now, and looking a lot like her mum Minto :)

Gardeners and Garden Gems

Sometimes the dogs want to give more help in the garden than is actually useful!!

Kiki:

Ruby (now with her second ear up!!) .... who has been pruning my kiwi vines whether I like it or not!!:

And some 'shots' of colour around the garden, blue star flowers - several clumps amongst the roses:

Some lovely little daffs, a bit bashed by dogs!!:

The daphne a riot of blooms again this year - star!!  And heavenly perfume :)

The flowering quince, tons of flowers and ignored by the crimson rosellas this year... maybe thanks to the dogs?

Have been looking around the shops for a red japonica, since the flowering quince is doing so well, but then I found I already had one!!  Not very big yet, but very pretty :)

A couple of pockets of grape Hyacinths looking lovely :)

And not to be forgotten the natives are also doing well, the grevillias are in full swing:

 Jonquils, nearly past it:

And just 2 flowers so far on the prunus, small but perfectly formed!

The Garden in Bloom and a Trip to Sydney

The garden is ablaze with colour at the moment, and the orchard is waist deep in flowers!!

These are pear blossoms:

These are Nashi pear blossoms:

Bless it the flowering quince is having another go at blossoms after the crimson rosellas stripped it of its first flush.

The wisterias are also in bloom, the blue in the more usual flowers first and then the leaves:

And the pink in 'everything all at once' mode:

Whenever we are outside Morse wants to know what we're doing??

Yesterday we drove to Sydney to deliver Yoo Yoo and Jesse to their new home with Liz and Tori.  Their block is quite steep and backs onto a reserve, perfect for alpacas and the boys settled in quickly to their new surrounds while we enjoyed a delicious lunch before our homeward journey.

We also got to meet the delightful Cricket :

Who also comes in a lumpy mat version:

And dear little Scooter, who bears more than a passing resemblance to a meerkat!

In the Garden and Best Seat in the House

The garden is ablaze with colour at the moment, the Cootamundra wattle is in full swing:

 The flowering quince is looking beautiful:

And the prunus is covered:

Two new trees in the orchard - thanks Mum - a blood orange and a mandarin.  The orange was growing sideways and is looking a bit unhappy about having been straightened, but there you go!

Fatty loves to sit on top of the oven any time its turned on, warm cockles are a fine thing!

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!