Season end and the last of the roses are blooming because here in the southern hemisphere June heralds Winter. The onset of early morning frosts, cool nights and even some welcome rain brings a blessed break from weeds, heat, dust and mosquitoes. My garden is in limbo at present, which I guess is okay as … 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 adored the world over; the perfect table centrepiece, lavish display in a foyer; the wedding bouquet; the remembrance wreath, or admired in beautiful gardens, estates, … Continue reading “A flower is not a flower alone; A thousand thoughts invest it”
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, with the random scramble of mice in the walls and the predictable sounds of scurrying across the floor in distant rooms. We are in the … Continue reading Keep calm and garden on…
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 plum tree outside the fence that, together with the arch, provide a perfect place for a quiet reverie and a cuppa, especially in Spring. When … Continue reading The Tea Garden
“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. The mild season has been especially welcome because we have spent so much time at home this year and able to take care of plants … Continue reading “Roses do not bloom hurriedly; for beauty, like any masterpiece, takes time to blossom.”
“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 be recognised as a chicken variety called the Buff Orpington, a large, docile, quiet variety, considered a heritage bird. But for those in the know Buff … Continue reading “A rose in a desert can only survive on its strength, not its beauty.”
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 rejecting the strict rules of fine art and looking at the world in new ways. Instead of realistic portraits in a studio, these painters thought they … Continue reading Delbard Painters Series
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 have dreamed of roses blooming in our Australian rural garden. My mind's eye has imagined being at home, tending my roses and preparing for winter. … Continue reading The Autumn Rose Garden
“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 regions of Australia who are stranded and frightened on the South Coast of NSW and Victoria. It is hard to be cheerful when so many … Continue reading “Success and failure, triumph and disaster. That is the rhythm of life in the garden.”
“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 other tasks too late because once the sun is up the heat builds very quickly. I love this time of year, and I'm patiently waiting … Continue reading “The hum of bees is the voice of the garden”
Carla Fineschi Rose Garden, Tuscany
“But he that dares not grasp the thorn, should never crave the rose” Ann Bronte Our long-awaited day to visit the Rosa Botanica -Carla Fineschi Gardens in Cavriglia Italy, an hour south of Florence, arrived. (Visited May 29th, 2019). We were met by a lovely Italian woman sitting in an old garden shed out of the rain … Continue reading Carla Fineschi Rose Garden, Tuscany
