Spring has Sprung.

Has it been six months already since I have made a new post on this blog? My, how time flies when you are having fun.

Since I have been away, I have dealt with a couple of illness's in the family, got a new car, had the pool repainted yet again (as it cracked), a new concrete driveway put in and had two lovely visitors from the U.K.

Was great to see Tony and June (friends from way back when). She loves her flower arranging and is very good at it. They have left for Brisbane now and intend going down to Adelaide as well before going back home. Safe trip to the both of you and thank you for the MARMITE.

Anyway, back to Spring.

Everything in the garden is beautiful. Just love this time of year.

A close up of the Wisteria that is on the fence near the pool, also the same colour as the pool.

A close up of the Eremophila nivea (Emu Bush) that I also have planted in the pool area in a large tub. Similar colouring to the Wisteria and looks very good with the other things planted.

Back down to earth

We have seen Granny's garden from the air http://salsgardensanctuary.blogspot.com/2008/11/ireland.html
Now it's time to have a look around at ground level. This selection of photographs were taken in different seasons and over a couple of years.
As I adore pale pink in the garden, I have put those first. Clematis I think.

A selection of mixed shrubs including Rhodies and trees for colour all year round.

Clever planting here.

Back patio with a fish pond. A naughty bird keeps coming and pinching the fish! Naughty bird.

A well manicured lawn surrounded by shrubs.

Beautiful Rhodies feature well in this garden.

Autumn in the front garden.

Thank you Granny, for showing us around your much loved ( it shows) garden.

Passionfruit (Panama Red)

I planted this passionfruit vine just over six months ago. Mainly to cover an ugly fence, but then there was the added bonus of having the fruit too. While living in the Blue Mountains many years ago, we did try the yellow banana shaped passionfruit, but that one only gave us lots of vine and flowers, but never fruit. So you imagine my surprise when only a few months goes by, and we have this already. The very first fruit ripened and fell to the ground, unbruised and ready to eat. As you can see above, there are many more to come, and that picture only shows about 1/8 of the vine. The neighbours on the other side of the fence are thrilled too.

Cut in half to reveal it's fleshy, sweet and tarty pulp.

I Googled passionfruit to find some history of the plant and it is THANKS to New Zealand Passionfruit Growers Association for providing it.

The purple passionfruit (Passiflora edulis) is a native of the rainforest margins in the Amazon region of Brazil and perhaps also of Paraguay and northern Argentina. It has adapted to the cooler sub-tropics and the high altitude tropics.
There are many other passiflora species spread widely around the globe and about 50 species are native to New Zealand, Australia, the Pacific and South East Asia.

The flower...

Passionfruit acquired its name from Spanish missionaries who thought parts of the plant's flower resembled different religious symbols. The Jesuit missionaries who accompanied the Conquistadors to South America saw in its striking flower a means of illustrating the Crucifixion; the 10 petals and sepals represented the apostles, the crown of thorns was seen in the filaments, the five anthers represent the five wounds, the three stigmas were allied with the nails used to pierce the hands and feet of Jesus and the vine's tendrils were equated with the whips.

Flower image courtesy of Google images.

A New Zealand Garden.

This garden belongs to a cyber friend of mine in New Zealand, Kerry.

It has been used for her sons wedding a wee while back and is again being used for her daughters wedding in late March.

I love her clever use of both annuals and perennials, giving colour all the year round.

And what a lovely peaceful spot to have a rest. Mind you, knowing what I know of Kerry, I am sure she doesn't do that too often. Like most gardens, there is always something else to do, and can be seen as soon as you sit down.

A very well thought out garden. Thank you for sharing Kerry. Good luck with the upcoming wedding.

Burnt

This summer is really taking it's toll on my garden. With severe water restrictions still and the tank water being kept for the vegetables, roses and ferns, the poor grass is really suffering. And a few plants have been lost in my mini rain forest too. Picture above is of the centre of the lawn area, where it gets no shade at all.
Have you ever walked on potato crisps? Did you notice the sound? Well, that's what we have here. A noisy lawn.
Can some one please do a rain dance as our praying for rain is not working.
I hung 10 items of washing on the line today, when I had finished, I checked the first item, and it was dry. So I got it all back in again.

The Humble House Plant.

I am sure we have all had this Rubber plant as a house plant, and some of us might have put it in to the garden!
Hubby and I went for a drive today and ended up at a pub in Budgewoi N.S.W. Only a few kilometers from our own suburb. We got talking to the now owner, and he said that this *plant* was put into a garden bed only 20 years ago. The garden bed has long gone, and the tree now provides a good shaded area for drinkers and those having food from the restaurant. I am no good with doing measurements by eye, but hubby reckons it would be around 20 metres high and about 30 metres across.
Here is some info about this Rubber Plant.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ficus_elastica
Thank you Wiki, and thank you Google images for the picture below.

Are you going to put yours outside now?

Okay, I am sure , if you live in cooler climates than we do here.

Please, do Google Budgewoi N.S.W. And

see this wonderful area I live in.

The Central Coast has old and new suburbs,

Budgewoi being on the lake and the sea.

We have been here now some 21 years and not once had a frost. YAY.

Breakkie Time.

King parrot tucking in to apples and mango.

Bourke parrot keeping a look out for danger, while the others eat.

Blue Princess parrot (male, left), Green Princess parrot (male, bottom right) and pair of Indian Ringnecks (female is green) tucking in to the seeds.

Pohutakawa

An Internet friend from a forum I belong to, lives in New Zealand. Kerry had a bunch of this fabulously bright and Christmasy flower in her sitting room over Christmas. When she showed us the photograph of her vase, I just had to investigate more. Such a wonderful colour, so festive. Thank you Kerry. In New Zealand people look forward to the flowering of the pohutakawa, Metrosideros excelsa, which is popularly known as the New Zealand Christmas Tree. Pohutukawa [pronounced po-hootah-kahwah] is a coastal tree often growing with its roots clinging on to the rocky sides of cliffs or where the land begins and the beach sand ends. The flowers are often featured on New Zealand-produced Christmas cards.