No Comment (but I'd really like to)......

Arghhhhhhhhhhh. After getting my computer 'fixed' a month ago, they changed the security settings, and now, often when I go to leave very thoughful and intelligent comments (!) on my favourite blogs, it won't let me. Overzealous security settings....

Just to let you know, that I am still following your blogs, but can't comment to let you know!! This is especially for Tranquil Townhouse, Claudia, Alex, Virginia, Oeke Design, and the Swedish blogs - you know who you are. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK - I love my quick morning fix of catching up with what you have posted, all set for some inspiration.

R xoxoxoxo

View from my computer - Sparaxias this week....

Sculpture in the garden

A small sculpture in my garden that gives me lots of pleasure is this simple concrete thingy, but it is the MOSSES on it that I love. Aren't they just gorgeous?? It is nestled amongst Phlomis russeliana - one of the top plants for any style of garden. Looks particularly good contrasting with Libertia formosa, or Aristea major. Love it!

As for this brazen dancing hussy, who has been eatting FAR too much chocolate - she may not be to everyone's taste, but she makes me smile, and adds character to my garden.  The bluebells are Spanish (I think) and they are HUGE - make a fantastic show compared to their polite wee English cousins....

 

ps - I've never noticed before how the tree looks like a face, with two eyes at the top, and a long nose.... Haha!!

Urns

 A garden full of plants is gorgeous, but extra elements such as urns and sculpture can give focus and direction to a garden. I have these urns by my front door at home, flanking the steps. I have just replanted them, this time with succulents, so I won't have to water them over summer.

Trying to link the colours from the garden behind into the pots. I do use the dark reddy purple foliage a lot, (Flaxes, Heuchera, Euphorbia etc) but I love it, so why not??? It looks particularly good with lime green foliage, and red flowers (Daylily seen here). Love it!!

Black Tulips in Neudorf Vase

 My favourite favourite colour of flower - 'black' tulips.

  I wonder how true black they will actually breed them in the future?

I took these photos today, in my office. Couldn't resist. Love them in the striped Neudorf pottery vase from Nelson. Love the simplicity. Hope you do, too??

Have a great day! Rx

Ranunculus

 

Ahhhh - at last - my ranunculus bulbs are about to burst into flower. Planting bulbs indicates an optimism that these ugly little dry brown things are going to turn into something glorious in the future. This is so true of Ranunculus. Look at the colours!These are growing (should I say 'glowing'?) at my office, but I also have a secret stash of them at home just for picking. Love them!!

Have a great week - I'm off to spend time with our cherubs for school hols. R xoxoxo

Just going to leave you with this photo of our road (yes - four km of gravel!), chocka block full of Kowhai in full flower. Superb!

NZ native Kowhai Trees - Sophora species - in full bloom along our road Oct '11

Click, click, click - spring photos galore!!!

Ah SPRING!! My camera has become like a permanent (heavy) pendant around my neck, as I have it out constantly, clicking away at all the spring delights. Just can't help myself after the drabness (?) of winter..

I thought I'd share photos of our New Zealand equivilent of the Australian Wattle tree - THE KOWHAI - Sophora tetraptera. Our countryside is a blaze of yellow at the moment. The nectar feeding birds like the TUI and the WOOD PIGEON (Kereru) are having a great party in them at the moment. Go hard, I say!!







Kowhai in my parent's garden 



Prunus shirotae Mount Fuji

My all time favourite flowering cherry tree - Prunus Mount Fuji.

For a few years before I had babies I worked for the Masterton District Council. Whilst there I was lucky enough to plan some parks and do some plantings around the town. 13 years later, and the trees I planted are making a fabulous show. These trees in the photos are at Henley Lake playground, planted as a Sister City reciprocal tree swap with a Japanese city (??too long ago to remember the name!!). I sent them Kowhai trees (Sophora Tetraptera) in return, 100% cleansed of soil etc for quarantine purposes. I often wonder how they are going over there. Mr Adachi are you out there??? Look how great your trees look!!!

It is the horizontal branch structure that I like, and they hold their orange/red autumn leaves for many months. Not only that but they thrive in our wicked winds, too. You've got to love them for that alone!!!

Sparaxis..

Loving the changing colours of spring. Yellows one minute, reds the next. This weeks love is the red sparaxis in my home garden. Planted en masse, or dotted it about, it doesn't matter - just love the jolt of colour they bring. I have teamed these with Ophiopagen (Black Mondo grass) which picks up the black throat of the flower. They only last a month, so are great to poke in for a burst of strong colour.......