How about this…two posts in one week! It may be an indication that life is returning to some sort of normality. Fingers crossed.
In my last post I wrote about an issue with my computer, explaining that I had to leave it at the shop for a few days, a few internet-free days. Did I miss Facebook? No way, especially as that is where the hacked message came from. However, I did miss this blogging world. I missed finding out what you were up to, catching up on the news.
I think it is a special place we have nurtured, a warm and welcoming space. We have built friendships across the globe. While we may never meet in person, we are friends. Dr Snail posted recently about the loss of her blogging friend Patricia. It is a loss that touches all of us who may have read Patricia’s wise posts.
So, come my friends and sit with me in my Spring garden. Let’s forget about droughts and fires and the insanity of the world for a little. We will have tea, or coffee, or even a glass of wine, and cake and natter about whatever comes to mind! We will find a little space in our lives to just sit and enjoy.
For my garden is now in a fit state to have visitors. The weeds have gone. I have moaned about them before and some got to be about a metre high.
The compost bins were being engulfed.
And then my brother came and like a whirlwind uprooted them all.
Thanks to his hard work I have weed free spaces and can easily find the compost bins.
I am delighted by the flowers that have not only survived the neglect, but seem to have thrived on it.
Sit with me and enjoy the foxgloves that I planted last year and are coming into their own this Spring. Admire the three different coloured irises ~ you can see one of them behind the foxgloves. The aran lilies are past their best, but the salvias are thriving, and it seems to be a glorious year for roses. (Remember how pruning the roses was the only thing I did in the garden over Winter? I am reaping the reward of finding that small pocket of time!)
Let’s admire the complexity and beauty of the foxglove spires. Can’t you just imagine the little fox paws inside these?
It is still rather weedy out the front, but let’s ignore them and admire the poppies that are exploding into flower.
I must show you the seed heads of the salsify. I am not sure that the neighbours love these seed blowing in the wind, but I think they are wondrous.
I managed to get the tomatoes in before Cup Day ~ that’s the marker for the right time to plant tomatoes in Melbourne. (And yes, we do get a public holiday for a horse race. We get another for the grand final of the Australian Football League. That’s how obsessed with sport many Melbournians tend to be ~ the rest of us just enjoy the day off!) There are strawberries to be harvested too.
Thank you for sitting and strolling with me, for taking some deep breaths and enjoying what the botanical world has to show. Your company is very special to me and I thank you for that too. Here’s to friendship, and foxgloves!
44 replies on “A catch-up in my garden”
It’s interesting to see some of the same flowers in your garden (poppies, foxglove, salvia) that I have in my own garden (although mine have all gone to sleep for the year). Good job on the weed clearing…which reminds me I have a little catching up to do with my weeds.
Oh, and I want that cat stepping stone!
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I want the cat stepping stone too 🙂
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Maybe we can have joint custody :))
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Too tricky to send through the mail!!
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The stepping stone was made for me bu a friend who is crazy about mosaic. We joke that she would mosaic us if we stood still long enough! Interesting about similar flowers in our gardens. I suspect our climates are rather similar, although maybe you get more Summer rain than we do in Melbourne. Or it may just be that we like the same flowers!
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No, except for this year that was weirdly wet, it’s normally quite dry here in the summer. I guess the threat of being turned into a mosaic would keep you moving around that friend 😄 Here’s to good taste in garden plants!
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I sounds like the climates are very similar. My friend has moved on to mosaicing skulls ~ animal, with horns/antlers, not human!
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amazing what has survived a bit of neglect…hiding behind some weeds, which a gracious man has come and “just got on with it” and he obviously knows his weeds….and then there is your inspiration of the actual flower heads – both inner and outer.
and yes, it’s nice to see you posting again…
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My brother used to have a lawn mowing business, so yes, he knows his weeds! The irony is that he always disliked weeding when he was in business. He would not accept the job if the yard was too weed infested. Luckily I am Family! As for the neglect, I suspect we are getting to be too worried about perfection. It is good to know that not everything needs to be micro-managed.
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May I borrow your brother? And while you’re at it, do visit and come and sit in my porch swing seat with a nice cool drink, and admire the scents and colours of the tropics. My gardenia is flowering, and I have picked a few of the flowers and packed them into a clean jam jar with some organic coconut oil, hoping that their spicy sweetness will infuse into the oil. There are buds and a few blossoms on my frangipanis, the orchids and hippeastrums and gerberas are mainly over, but the Bankok rose is in bud, the ixora and azaleas, brunfelsia, euphorbia and pineapple lilies are all blooming, and I’m looking past all the weeds with great determination…
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Oh, that sounds perfect, Kate. Gardenias have such a beautiful perfume. A visit is a must. With many of the medical appointments out of the way I am feeling like i can see a little further, and maybe all the way to a trip up north next year!
As for my brother…maybe if you include the travel expenses!
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I keep forgetting you are in a different hemisphere, and I kept thinking … why is she working in the garden now? Why are those flowers bloomin’ NOW??? And then, it came to me … Australia … southern hemisphere. Your flowers are gorgeous. WE, on the other hand, had our first snow today. Sigh.
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Is it unusual to have snow this early in November? I am glad to be able to share some of my flowers with you!
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Not unheard of, certainly, for I remember a few years ago that it snowed several inches on Hallowe’en. But, it’s more likely to have snow a bit later in the month. What we had was but a dusting, and it was gone soon after. I’m not ready for winter yet! Keep sharing those flowers!!! 🌻
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I certainly will post more flower photos!
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Many thanks! We currently have about 3 inches of snow and it’s still falling. Sigh. I guess winter has arrived!
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You have a lovely garden area! I will look forward to your posts during our South Dakota winter!
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My garden is just the right size for me. Many years ago I fantasied about having a large spread, but I realise now that it would be impossible to maintain. As you can see even something small can get away from me. I am glad I will be able to bring some Summer cheer to your Winter!
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Losing blogging friends is terribly sad, I think because we have such commonality we share and comment and like, we have shared interests that connect us beyond time and distance.
Your garden looks lovely, I don’t mind a messy garden, in fact I prefer them to neat freak… your brother is a gem, so wonderful to clearly see its beauty. And, you know posting a pic including that cat stepping stone is just tantalising.
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You are so right about the commonality. I love how we can reach out to others and build those bridges. However, people can drop out of our community, and we may never get to understand why. In the real world we usually, eventually, hear why we longer cross paths with someone.
My cat stepping stone always reminds me of the friend who made it for me.
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That was a lovely visit to your garden – so sunny there – it is grey and dismal here but on the other hand we need the change of seasons -nothing can keep on growing for ever we need that period of resting that winter provides.
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Thank you for visiting with me! Winter is a time to nurture ourselves and the garden. I would love to say we have beautiful sunny skies, but unfortunately, despite it being Spring, it has been grey and cold here too. 😞 However, I prefer that to the bushfires and drought they are experiencing further north in Australia.
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Your brother is amazing!!!
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Isn’t he! He asked me where I wanted him to start and off he went. Three hours later it was all cleared! Yay!
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Incredible!
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Isn’t it lovely to have a helper in the garden Anne. My helper came last weekend for a one of his twice yearly visits. I love your foxgloves and poppies, and salvia are on my shopping list for spring to fill a few gaps in my front garden.
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I love salvias. They are such no-nonsense plants, and don’t need much water. They come in so many different colours too. I have never grown foxgloves before, and I will certainly put them in again.
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Thanks for the mention. I am still reeling from Patricia’s death. However, it makes me realise how wonderful it is to make these connections with like-minded people across the globe – what a wonderful community we have built.
Thank you also for sharing your beautiful garden – foxgloves seen to be present around the world… another thing we have in common.
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There may be people who don’t understand how you can be so affected by the death of someone you never met. But it doesn’t work like that, does it? We make deep connections through our posts and comments, and, so, a loss is deeply felt.
There is something so appealing about foxgloves. I mentioned to someone else that I have never grown them before, but I will certainly pop them in after these are finished. These may even self seed, and wouldn’t that be nice?
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I do miss foxgloves – they don’t seem to grow in this part of France. Yours’ are beautiful.
I want your brother. Please send.
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Until I grew them, I never realised that there could be a foxgloves shaped hole in my garden. I am sure you can grow other delights in your garden.
If you lived in Japan my brother would be there in a flash! He has developed a strong love for the place. Unfortunately he is not at all interested in France or anywhere in Europe. And I am not sure that I could find a parcel box big enough for him!
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I love the beauty of your flowers. And would love to sit in the shade with a cup of tea and a slice of cake. I have returned to my home tonight from my European travels. What I saw in the dark was some very sad plants and others that are worthy of triffid status. Some serious pruning and weeding is called for.
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Welcome home! i have enjoyed reading your travel posts, and seeing the off-the-beaten-track places you got to. I know how depressing an overgrown garden can be, but there will be life under those weeds! As you pull them out, think of all the fantastic places you have seen. ~grins~
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Sometimes brothers (in my case a baby bro) do come in handy, eh???
😉
Love your garden area, Anne.
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They are wonderful creatures! Thank you for visiting in my garden with me.
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Well, it was snowing here yesterday so your flowers were *extra* wonderful to me! I try and try to grow foxglove and have had no success. This is a lovely, soothing post.
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I am so pleased that I brought some Spring sunshine to your life, Kerry, although I imagine that the first snow falls are rather soothing. I am glad I can share my foxgloves with you.
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Please send your brother round ASAP – I have a garden in need!
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~smiles!~ If you live in Japan he would be there in a shot, other than that I am not sure. He certainly worked a miracle in my garden!
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What a wonderfully warning post! And I so love the foxgloves, poppy and seed head pictures. Gorgeously compelling for drawings and paintings. I’m right with you!
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Thank you for visiting and chatting! I created some poppy paintings last year, and the patterns and colours on the foxgloves intrigue me. Who knows?
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What a lovely brother you have, Anne. It’s nice to see your flourishing garden come out from beneath the weeds. You really are getting projects done around the house. Well done.
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I am getting things done, aren’t I? And there are still a few major projects to go. Perhaps now I am seeing these problem areas in and around the house through fresh and determined eyes.
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Fresh and determined wins the day, Anne. You are on a roll. I applaud you. xo
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