Recent Posts
”The best thing one can do when it’s raining is to let it rain.”
The sun is out like a welcome visitor after heavy fog, cloudy days and rain. Reminiscent of living by the coast, the recurring rain and storms have been a part … Continue reading ”The best thing one can do when it’s raining is to let it rain.”
”The best thing one can do when it’s raining is to let it rain.”
The sun is out like a welcome visitor after heavy fog, cloudy days and rain. Reminiscent of living by the coast, the recurring rain and storms have been a part … Continue reading ”The best thing one can do when it’s raining is to let it rain.”
”She who loves roses must be patient and not cry out when she is pierced by thorns”
The romance of the rose and its alluring fragrance is momentarily forgotten when a prickle imbeds your leg or fingers as you work in the garden. I say prickle, not … Continue reading ”She who loves roses must be patient and not cry out when she is pierced by thorns”
“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.”
Why does the vegetable garden need to be a separate garden rather than part of the total garden landscape? With this at the forefront of my mind I’m planning a … Continue reading “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.”
“I like solitary pursuits, such as reading or pottering about in the garden. ”
Fortunately some of us enjoy solitary pursuits because we sure have spent some time lately secluded. Here we are again at the end of another fourteen-day self-isolation, and more lockdowns … Continue reading “I like solitary pursuits, such as reading or pottering about in the garden. ”
“Anyone who has time for drama is not gardening enough.”
Gardening brings a sense of balance to life’s up and downs and a garden to work in is a beautiful way to enjoy being outside in the elements, intimately connecting … Continue reading “Anyone who has time for drama is not gardening enough.”
“If you think one day you will get it all done, and then you can relax, you are bound to be disappointed.”
Season end and the last of the roses are still blooming because here in the southern hemisphere, June heralds Winter. The onset of early morning frosts, cool nights and even … Continue reading “If you think one day you will get it all done, and then you can relax, you are bound to be disappointed.”
“A flower is not a flower alone; A thousand thoughts invest it”
Flowers are the universal sign of happiness, love, forgiveness and condolence, and a natural way to brighten our decor. and mood. They are an integral part of our lives and … Continue reading “A flower is not a flower alone; A thousand thoughts invest it”
“I am the lover’s gift; I am the wedding wreath..
I adore flowers in the home, particularly roses cut fresh from the garden, but I don’t find the act described as ‘flower arranging’ at all inspiring. History tells us of … Continue reading “I am the lover’s gift; I am the wedding wreath..
“Autumn paints in colours that summer has never seen”.
Autumn is here in all its entirety. A sudden change in light, skies clear and the chill of first frosts. Glorious with no rush or panic, unlike Spring, that holds … Continue reading “Autumn paints in colours that summer has never seen”.
Bountiful blooms even without a green thumb!
Potted geraniums ( accurately known as Pelargoniums ) in Australia do not have the same panache in the garden world as the glorious displays of geranium window boxes everywhere across … Continue reading Bountiful blooms even without a green thumb!
Keep calm and garden on…
Silence in the air this morning, not a breath of wind outside as first light peeks over the horizon, the hills in a smokey blue haze. Inside is quiet, too, … Continue reading Keep calm and garden on…
“Summer’s lease hath all too short a date”
Summer’s end, but I’m not ready for the chill of winter yet. Nonetheless, I’m eagerly waiting for slightly cooler days so I can be in the garden for longer than … Continue reading “Summer’s lease hath all too short a date”
The Tea Garden
My favourite garden project is my ‘Tea Garden’, a small area, started in 2018, that is viewed from the kitchen window and surrounds a large arch seat. There is a … Continue reading The Tea Garden
There are no right ways to make a garden -only alternatives.
Considering the state of the ground my garden started in, I decided to be less hard on myself and claim that my garden is a success so far. If you … Continue reading There are no right ways to make a garden -only alternatives.
“Roses do not bloom hurriedly; for beauty, like any masterpiece, takes time to blossom.”
The garden is blooming in abundance once more, and I’m delighted. We have had a glorious summer apart from the disastrous early start that saw many roses lose their leaves. … Continue reading “Roses do not bloom hurriedly; for beauty, like any masterpiece, takes time to blossom.”
“Weeds are stubborn.Weeds are independent.Weeds aren’t tolerated”
Prominent in the garden this week are the weeds, and they are clearly winning the battle for the limelight. There is something about summer in a garden that does not … Continue reading “Weeds are stubborn.Weeds are independent.Weeds aren’t tolerated”
“If it’s hot, it’s hot. If it’s dry, it’s dry. If it’s raining, it’s good.”
Happiness reigns because it is raining at last in the garden and the topic on everyone’s lips in the country this week will be “How much rain did you get?” … Continue reading “If it’s hot, it’s hot. If it’s dry, it’s dry. If it’s raining, it’s good.”
“I like to keep myself wrapped in layers of sleep and wait for the geraniums”.
Going off topic today to talk about the pretty, colourful plants we call geraniums. What is known as geraniums may be pelargoniums a native plant from South Africa. These plants … Continue reading “I like to keep myself wrapped in layers of sleep and wait for the geraniums”.
“One Rose is Enough for the Dawn.”
Often visitors ask me what my favourite rose is, and I usually can’t decide, but in recent weeks and on reflection, I think it is Lady of Shalott. I have written about … Continue reading “One Rose is Enough for the Dawn.”
“The garden suggests there might be a place where we can meet nature halfway”
A romantic country garden is a popularly held dream by many, an escape to a simpler, more relaxed way of life. In reality, though, it is a far cry from … Continue reading “The garden suggests there might be a place where we can meet nature halfway”
“A rose in a desert can only survive on its strength, not its beauty.”
Buff Beauty is the rose I’m highlighting this week. It has just started to bloom and looks splendid. Buff is not well known in Australia as a colour and may … Continue reading “A rose in a desert can only survive on its strength, not its beauty.”
“I am following Nature without being able to grasp her… I perhaps owe having become a painter to flowers. ”
Nurture; nur·ture a verb (used with object), nur·tured, nur·tur·ing. “To help develop, help grow, nourish, sustain, to promote growth” Nurture is the best word to describe my growing of Claude Monet and … Continue reading “I am following Nature without being able to grasp her… I perhaps owe having become a painter to flowers. ”
“Patience is a flower that does not grow in everybody’s garden”
Patience is a necessary life skill, especially worth developing for gardeners. As we work hand in hand with nature to create and maintain the garden of our dreams we know … Continue reading “Patience is a flower that does not grow in everybody’s garden”
“When the flower blooms, the bees come uninvited. ”
“In all the recipes for happiness I have ever seen, ‘something to look forward to’ has been given as an important ingredient. Something to look forward to! How rich the … Continue reading “When the flower blooms, the bees come uninvited. ”
“Summertime is always the best of what might be.”
“Christmas is the tenderness of the past, courage for the present, and hope for the future” This year Christmas has been hard with restrictions on family gatherings, the constant sadness … Continue reading “Summertime is always the best of what might be.”
Delbard Painters Series
“What I need most of all are flowers, always, always.” Claude Monet, 1840-1926 Impressionist painter and life-long gardener The great Impressionists painters emerged in 1870’s France and were known for … Continue reading Delbard Painters Series
Then Spring Came
Spring has returned. The Earth is like a child that knows poems. Pablo Neruda Spring, the gorgeous season of the year, has arrived in the garden. The garden suddenly a … Continue reading Then Spring Came
“There are always flowers for those who want to see them”
Winter has struggled to take a firm hold this year. The usual severity of the white, crisp frost has been light around the garden this winter ( so far) The … Continue reading “There are always flowers for those who want to see them”
La Rosa Paul Cezanne
Art is a harmony parallel with nature. Paul Cezanne The beautiful rose, Paul Cezanne- JACdeli, is part of the Delbard Painters Collection. Bred in France in 1992 and named in … Continue reading La Rosa Paul Cezanne
“Each moment of the year has its own beauty, a picture which was never seen before, and which shall never be seen again.”
– Centre front in my mind and heart over the last few months are my roses. Living in isolation in a rural environment is quite usual, although not quite anti-social … Continue reading “Each moment of the year has its own beauty, a picture which was never seen before, and which shall never be seen again.”
“The rose and the thorn, and sorrow and gladness are linked together.”
If unexpected self-isolation can teach us anything, we must be grateful for simple things that perhaps we sometimes take for granted. Our personal freedom, health, and loved ones are the … Continue reading “The rose and the thorn, and sorrow and gladness are linked together.”
The Autumn Rose Garden
“One of the most delightful things about a garden is the anticipation it provides. Autumn is my favourite season of the garden year. Many days and nights of late, I … Continue reading The Autumn Rose Garden
“At the heart of gardening there is a belief in the miraculous.”
Miracles do happen as Mirabel Osler once said in the quote above and my garden is testament to this. When I first glimpsed the destruction from the ravage of January … Continue reading “At the heart of gardening there is a belief in the miraculous.”
“There is no gardening without humility…
“There is no gardening without humility, an assiduous willingness to learn and a cheerful readiness to confess you were mistaken. Nature is constantly sending even its oldest scholars to the … Continue reading “There is no gardening without humility…
“Success and failure, triumph and disaster. That is the rhythm of life in the garden.”
As a beautiful new rosebud, the new decade begins. But it is a sombre morning today to wake to the shock of the plight of thousands of people in bushfire … Continue reading “Success and failure, triumph and disaster. That is the rhythm of life in the garden.”
“It is the time you have wasted for your rose that makes your rose so important.”
Water As the year closes and mid-summer moves on, the garden roses need some care and attention if you want the blooms to continue into Autumn. Water is the number … Continue reading “It is the time you have wasted for your rose that makes your rose so important.”
A new year is simply the turn of a calendar page — and a beautiful chance for us to turn over a new leaf.
It is customary in Australia to ring in the New Year with the excitement of fireworks, parties, friends, and champagne and the good intentions of new year resolutions. I have … Continue reading A new year is simply the turn of a calendar page — and a beautiful chance for us to turn over a new leaf.
Christmas is the day that holds all time together.
All we need in Australia this year for Christmas is RAIN. Apart from wishing for rain my hope is that everyone enjoyed a wonderful Christmas with family and friends and … Continue reading Christmas is the day that holds all time together.
“Hope is one of the essential tools of a farmer or gardener.”
“You have to have a sense of humility when you grow plants-never forget that nature is in charge” Sebastion Bras How could we ever forget that nature is in charge … Continue reading “Hope is one of the essential tools of a farmer or gardener.”
“The hum of bees is the voice of the garden”
Summer is upon us and the days are becoming extremely hot so that my time in the garden is earlier and earlier in the morning. No use leaving watering and … Continue reading “The hum of bees is the voice of the garden”
Carla Fineschi Rose Garden, Tuscany
Our long-awaited day to visit the Rosa Botanica -Carla Fineschi Gardens in, Italy, an hour south of Florence, arrived. (Visited May 29th, 2019). Set on a Tuscan hillside in the small town … Continue reading Carla Fineschi Rose Garden, Tuscany
“And the shower of roses spun around me, inviting me to take part in their ever-present waltz.”
It would be lovely if the sentiment expressed in today’s quote were the reality in the garden now, but the roses are still not as prolific as anticipated. There are … Continue reading “And the shower of roses spun around me, inviting me to take part in their ever-present waltz.”
“Traveling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller”.
My love of travel and exploring the world is quite a contradiction to that of growing a rose garden. So how can I bring them together in my life and … Continue reading “Traveling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller”.
“I’ve always felt that having a garden is like having a good and loyal friend. ”
I love inspiring quotes. At times I’ll come across a quote that rings so true to me, and is exactly the sentiment I had thought of but not quite been … Continue reading “I’ve always felt that having a garden is like having a good and loyal friend. ”
I have never had so many good ideas day after day as when I work in the garden.
Gardening is a means by which you can attain many valuable hours of solitude without being thought of as unsociable. John Erskine Isn’t that the truth? The allure of a … Continue reading I have never had so many good ideas day after day as when I work in the garden.
Who killed the Lady of Shalott?
The Summer glow that radiates from The Lady Of Shalott Rose is one reason it is one of my favorite roses. The colours are rich, in shades of deep apricot, … Continue reading Who killed the Lady of Shalott?
When I first began with roses, moving into that vast territory of scent, form and colour. I knew nothing.
The title quote by Mirabel Osler rings true to me as I knew nothing at all about roses when I began. Now three seasons on and three hundred roses later, … Continue reading When I first began with roses, moving into that vast territory of scent, form and colour. I knew nothing.
Monstera deliciosa
On-trend at present and almost ubiquitous in design and decor magazines, homemaker stores and lifestyle TV shows, is the classic, indoor plant, Monstera Deliciosa. It is not a rose, so … Continue reading Monstera deliciosa
The Joy of a Well Designed Garden
“Art is the unceasing effort to compete with the beauty of flowers — and never succeeding.” Marc Chagall, 1887-1985 Think like an artist when designing a garden and use the … Continue reading The Joy of a Well Designed Garden
“Life is itself a school, and nature always a fresh study.”
It’s pretty tough in the garden sometimes even though Spring’s colour and fragrance have replaced the cold and frosty days of winter. We have experienced extreme weather this Spring with … Continue reading “Life is itself a school, and nature always a fresh study.”
“Perhaps optimism is a rosy interpretation of the facts, or perhaps optimism is a factual interpretation of the rose.”
What have I been up to in my garden in recent days as I move forward with optimism through the gorgeous Spring season? There are many new roses this year … Continue reading “Perhaps optimism is a rosy interpretation of the facts, or perhaps optimism is a factual interpretation of the rose.”
Gardens Of the Architect
“The greatest piece of gardening in the world is a little staircase in the Generalife,” Russell Page The gardens of the Generalife, Spain in Arabic are ‘Jinnah al-Arif’ which means … Continue reading Gardens Of the Architect
“To Plant a Garden is to Believe in Tomorrow”
In almost every garden, the land is made better and so is the gardener. Robert Rodale When I reflect on the past few years of growing a rose garden, I often … Continue reading “To Plant a Garden is to Believe in Tomorrow”
“Every spring, like it or not, we are all beginners, all over again.”
Perfect blooms in the garden this season are scarce because I’ve had a few setbacks. The roses are not looking good at all. Growing roses definitely has it’s up and … Continue reading “Every spring, like it or not, we are all beginners, all over again.”
Giardino Della Gherardesca
In between the 15th century Palazzo Della Gherardesca and the “Conventino”, a 16th century Palazzo, once a convent is an 11 acre botanical garden in the Renaissance city of Florence. … Continue reading Giardino Della Gherardesca
The earth laughs in flowers.
I happened to be away from my garden for just four days this week. Returning, I found that Spring has triumphed sending out masses of blooms all around the garden. … Continue reading The earth laughs in flowers.
“In search of my mother’s garden, I found my own.”
I love the quote above from Alice Walker, the American writer and author of ‘The Colour Purple’. It resonates with me and encapsulates so much in just a few words. … Continue reading “In search of my mother’s garden, I found my own.”
You don’t have to garden to garden.
What gardener hasn’t dreamt of the possibilities of a new garden and lost themselves for hours in catalogues for bulbs, seeds or roses? Imagination can run amuck with ideas of … Continue reading You don’t have to garden to garden.
“Everything in the garden is rosy”
“If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant.” Anne Bradstreet, 1612-1672, I am enjoying the changeable weather of Spring, including the early morning and evening cool … Continue reading “Everything in the garden is rosy”
Spring, Roses and Dust
Spring is here that wonderful time of the year when gardens come into their own and the colours entice us to spend more time outdoors. The signs of new growth … Continue reading Spring, Roses and Dust
Modern Roses
“A garden is a complex of aesthetic and plastic intentions; and the plant is, to a landscape artist, not only a plant – rare, unusual, ordinary or doomed to disappearance … Continue reading Modern Roses
The Wild Rose
“To contemplate roses is to punctuate one’s days with poetry.” Wild Roses are also called Species roses. Roses native to the Northern hemisphere and considered to be the roses that … Continue reading The Wild Rose
Heirloom Roses
Roses exude charm and beauty but why are there so many different types and where did they originate? Today I’m uncovering the mystery of rose classes and what is meant … Continue reading Heirloom Roses
The Palm Garden
What continues to astonish me about a garden is that you can walk past it in a hurry, see something wrong, stop to set it right, and emerge an hour … Continue reading The Palm Garden
It was roses, roses all the way.
The sentiment in the Robert Browning quote in the title could easily have been written about David Austin the English rose Breeder who, with his team in Shropshire United Kingdom, … Continue reading It was roses, roses all the way.
