Flowers - A to Z Challenge

My Yucca trees are in flower for the first time.

It’s the end of Summer here and whilst the weather is still warm, the season is definitely moving towards Autumn, if somewhat slowly.  I’m not complaining, I love Summer but Autumn is just about the next best thing.

The flower is sensational but I can’t get close enough to be able to tell if there is any perfume.  At first I thought the flower would be short lived [maybe a couple of days] but after three weeks it appears to be continually developing.

I have no desire to remove the flowers, they can stay exactly where they are, and I can enjoy them day in, day out from my kitchen window and naturally when I sit by the pool to enjoy a good book and a cuppa.

Bloomin' Marvelous

If I planted a flower 

Every time I thought of you, 

My garden would bloom forever

Nature's Fury

Mother Nature was a fearful sight last night.  The radio and television stations had been warning Melbourne citizens in Australia that a wild storm,  flash flooding and possible disruption to public transport was on it's way.

 "Take care" the radio announcers yelled at me all day.  "Stay in town and see the storm out before travelling home" cried the television news updates.  The tempest display was expected to hit between 4pm and 7pm.  Early morning discharged huge amounts of rain, then at lunch time sun poured down in hot and over-bearing glory.  My garden revelled in the attention. 

 Basically it was a beautiful day.

By 4pm I was outside picking my precious roses to save them from damage.  I put everything away that  might get hurled around in the storm.

By 5pm the wind was gathering momentum and the birds were no longer singing in the trees, they were starting to panic.

By 6pm my son was home from work and calling out " Mum, get out here". 

"They sky is amazing.  It's the end of the world", he yelled over the howling wind.

 With trusty digital camera in hand I stood and stared at the sky in awe.  There was no fear, the 'fight or flight' response didn't kick in, this display of nature was beautiful.  

When I finally took control of my senses, I started snapping. 

 This was amazing, rarely do we get storms like this.

This magnificent display was followed by heaving rain and flash flooding just as they had predicted.  

Mother Nature was actually teasing us, by 7pm she had all but blown away over our home and taken her anger further across the land.  

It was a mighty display and today everything is back to normal.  The sun is shining, the birds are singing and the wind is blowing.  My garden survived and is loving the abundance of rain and sun that nature bestowed upon it these last 24 hours.

 I wonder what she has in store for us next?

My Garden's In Harmony

My son tells me I read so much and so quickly that I ‘inhale’ books.  He’s right; I love the smell of books and paintings.  I can spend an entire day in an old book shop smelling the books and when I visit an art gallery I smell the paintings.  I inhale antique shops too.  I would hate to lose my sense of smell, take away my eyes and ears but please leave my nose alone. 

The weather today is hot and windy and I know that my precious garden struggles with these conditions.  I lovingly mulched my entire garden two weeks ago; it helps during these sluggish, hot and windy days.  I’ve been nurturing my garden for ten years now and it’s no longer a baby it’s a young and boisterous child.  I have to tidy it, trim the edges, and provide food and water and lots of love.  Oh how I love my garden.  Oh how it makes me works so hard for that love.

With my nose on high alert I take a stroll around my garden sniffing the breeze, picking up the orange blossom perfume and the lemon balm and crushing some lavender in my hands to release the minty aroma.  

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I peek at the cauliflowers and see a beautiful white caulie protected in the folds of the plant like a mother holding her child in her arms.  The broad beans are waving in the wind and sharing a moment with my ruby rose bud.  

The silver beet towers over the tiny carrot seedlings protecting them from the wild wind and searing sun.  Celery lives contentedly beneath the old grape vine alas a youngberry bush is threatening to consume the vine and the celery.  Coriander and basil sway in harmony and the sweet peas dance in rhythm to the howling hot wind, slowly they go.  

The olive tree stands majestically centre stage, proudly displaying young fruit.  In the heat of summer it will burst forth with olives, it never lets me down.  

The Freesias and Boronia have settled back into the earth to re-energise for another year.  They did me so proud and how I miss them.  

The cumquat tree is bearing fruit and will take their place willingly.The perfume in my garden continues to intoxicate me and I have to drag myself inside. 

 Goodbye lemon tree, till this evening Miss Daphne.  Don’t get cross Miss Gardenia the wind will soon settle and you can doze in the afternoon sun.

Perfume, Sunshine, My Garden is Springing

Snow White watches over a lavendar plant

Well, in Australia it's the first day of Spring.  It's a cloudy day so far, maybe some rain later.  Walking around my garden with a cuppa in one hand and camera in the other, the sun comes out to greet me.  Warm sun, delightful fragrances wafting through the air, best friends Lilly and Goldie romping around in the dewy grass and birds in full voice.  There's an orchestra out there.

I don't know what this plant is but it's related to a weed I'm sure.  I do remember that I bought home one tiny cutting of this plant when I was visiting a friend.  That had to be 10 years ago and now it's every where.  At spring time it comes into it's own glory, so it can stay but has to be gently guided in the right direction regularly.

Evidence of the sunshine, just in case you don't believe me.  Truly, truly the sun was shining.

Bird House Tree

This is one of the many trees I have and seems to be housing a large flock of birds.  Unfortunately, not native birds, they are the non-native Myna birds and whilst I would never hurt them, I don't like them.  They are mean and nasty nest invaders.  They are also swooping like crazy at the moment.  I don't even care to take their photo, that's how much I dislike them.

Miss Jasmine

This Jasmine creeper is contained in a tidy corner.  As you enter the backyard the perfume invades ones senses.  I adore the perfume, some find it a bit too much.  What ever, Miss Jasmine is in all her glory at the moment.

Miss Nectarine Blossom

This is my nectarine tree just starting to blossom.  She gives beautiful fruit each year, but it's a race between me and the birds.  Probably those damn Myna birds.  Other visitors range from Rainbow Lorikeet and Honey Birds (don't know their proper name) Kookaburra, Magpie, Bellbird, Ravens and heaps more.

Mr Olive Tree

This mighty warrior might not look much presently, but he is my sensational Olive Tree.  He is the master of my garden.  Every summer he is laden with fruit and he calls out - "Chris get these blasted olives off my branches thank you very much".  His companions are Kangaroo Paw (Yellow and Red) but they won't appear until summer.  Then they flower so quietly that I might not see them straight away.  They are so shy.

Miss Smelly
This purple ground cover daisy likes to drape her tendrils over the rocks and onto the driveway.  She is a sunbather but not such a sweet smelling kinda gal.  Still her beauty outweighs her odour - um it's the best way to describe her.

White Willow

I love this other ground cover which is nearby to miss smelly daisy but alas if I don't get out there soon and get rid of the weeds which are threatening to overtake her she will be no longer.  I call her White Willow but that's not her botanical name.  Have no clue what that is.

Heaven Scent

My new Boronia is standing by my back door because I can't get enough of her perfume, mingle Boronia with Freesia sitting in the herb garden nearby and what do you get? 

 Heaven, that's what you get.

A lonely Cumquat

Well, yes she is lonely at the moment but Rhonda from Down To Earth told me how to remove some branches to give more air and light and she is now well on the way to producing a bountiful crop this summer.

Mr I saw you a mile off foolish shopper

The garden shop saw me coming when I purchased this punnet of brocolli.  I had it in the veggie patch about a week when it started to flower and then go to seed.  What the heck!  Any way, this demonstrates my limited skills when it comes to vegetable growing, but I will not be fooled again.  In the meantime, he can stay because I like his flowers and so do the bees.  I'm embarrassed but not shaken.

Thanks for visiting - hope you like my garden family

Inspiration comes in many forms

Easy Crochet Slippers
The pattern was designed by Pip from  Meet Me At Mikes .  They are so easy to make, I've actually made two pair.  The pattern is clearly embedded in my head I hope to make more for friends.  Pippy Slippers pattern can be found here.

Lavendar Heart Pillow

As part of the Dala Horse Craftalong I purchased this pattern from Carina's Craft Blog and after having some fun with the embroidery pattern decided to make a lavender heart pillow.  This was an easy pattern to work with and could be modified to suit your own style.  The possibilities of what you can make with this design are endless.

Brilliant Bread
I found this great recipe for Brilliant Bread from Cath at Elastic Mom.  Again, another simple recipe and it tasted great.  What I liked most is that I could improvise and add whatever I had in the cupboard in the way of herbs and spices.  Or I could make a sweet version if I wanted.  Check out the recipe for yourself at Elastic Mom.

Mother Earth
Last but not least, I just have to give Mother Earth a round of applause for the beautiful day she presented today in Australia.  Ipicked these Freesias from my garden but only did it once the sun went down as they were all facing towards the sun in adoration.  They are now in the house and the perfume wafts throughout.  Picking these glorious flowers means more will pop up tomorrow and the next day and many more days to come.  Thanks Mother Earth and everyone else that has inspired me today.

Spring has Sprung

Freeisa's are out in their full glory and I so wish you could smell this divine plant.  These gorgeous flowers will come inside later today to make way for more blooms in the garden.

I've got garden weeds on my mind today

link back to DOWN TO EARTH Rhonda has much more interesting things for you today.

If I planted a flower each time I thought of my family and friends my garden would bloom forever

What's on my mind today is my Scarecrow

 What do you think of my Scarecrow?

Should the hat stay or go?

Every day I talk to my seedlings and ask them to grow just a little bit more and every day I yell at my dogs to stay away from my little green babies.

Link back to Down to Earth the best blog