A new year brings a plethora of resolutions one of which is to actively participate in the Six on Saturday garden challenge once again. I am sad to say I have neglected my garden for several months due to a persistent knee injury, so on hobbling around my plot the number of flowering plants came as a welcome surprise but the bugs and weeds not so much!
1. A Walk in the Garden
The white bird of paradise plant became too tall to remain in the big black tub on the terrace so we dug it out and replanted in the back garden. Fingers crossed it survives as it is in an exposed location.
While the pink bougainvillaea is taking a well-earned rest the mauve bougainvillaea is still offering the occasional flower.
2. Succulents and Cacti in Flower
This is a small collection of the succulents in flower.
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3. Flowers
I only have one rose which I grow in a pot so I am delighted to see it survived the torrential rain and strong winds in early December to produce such beautiful blooms!
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Every summer the leaves of the Gazania frazzle in the sun, turn brown and then resemble a bird’s nest. I promise to dig them all up but I don’t. I strip the plants with a hand rake to remove the dead foliage with the resolve their days are numbered.
I love hibiscus. Mine grow best in pots and flower most of the year. Sun or partial shade they always reward me with flowers.
After for not flowering for years my bird of paradise flowers almost continuously for the last year.
4. Vegetables
My raised vegetable garden is looking rather forlorn with more weeds than veg. The only edible inhabitants are the brussel sprouts. Once these have finished cropping, we aka Mr. P, will dig over the plot and add the rotted compost and fertiliser. We are undecided what to plant and will be looking for inspiration.
Considering the brussel sprouts were planted in July as plugs not seeds, they were not ready for Christmas. They are also covered in bugs who I think actually enjoyed the semi-regular douse of soapy water.
5. Fruit Trees
I have a few fruit trees but they struggle. We only had 55 oranges on the main tree this year and unlike last year, the fruit was bitter. We wonder if it was due to watering with the grey water from the washing machine?
The ornamental orange trese growing are still producing oranges so plenty to freeze as ice cubes for my summer gin and tonic.
The kumquat tree growing in a pot, dare I say, is doing well and has given birth to several baby kumquats. Earlier in the year I removed nearly every young leaf that was attacked by citrus leaf miner and I was concerned it would not survive. It lives in a sheltered sunny spot and we just need to remember to water it as it is not on the watering system.
The peach tree needs to be pruned but I lack courage.
The lime tree which had also been attacked by the leaf miner has ot made such a good recovery. Time and patience will tell.
The black fig tree planted last spring is trying to decide whether to live or die.
6. Work in Progress
Although I’ve already removed some of the height from this Oleander it needs further pruning. It’s way taller than me and as I’m vertically challenged and can’t climb on steps, I’ve resorted to long-handle extending pruners which proved quite a challenge. I’ll attack it again tomorrow.
That’s it for this week.
Check out more gardens over at the Propagater’s Blog.
This was more than two weeks ago. As I see the pictures now, it seems late to prune peach trees. The weather is nice now, but it really is not too terribly late. I suspect our climate is comparable to yours.
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Fantastic to see all the bits of your garden here. Your succulent border is impressive, but I really love your abracadabra rose.
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Superb garden. Liking your style of writing too. You’ve certainly got some amazing plants and a wide range of types too. Your hibiscus grows happily in your garden, here in England I’ve got same colour flower but it is firmly sat in its pot giving me the occasional flower in succession at this time of year. The bird of paradise is amazing. The oleander puts mine to shame. Thanks for sharing your garden.
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Wonderful as always
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Gorgeous garden!
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I love your Abracadabra Rose, never seen one like it. Your Orange tree is spectacular too! Lovely to see a garden in the sunshine – we seem to be in months of grey with just the odd, treasured, day of sun. 🙂
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What I love about the rose is that everyone is different! Yes, the sunshine is a bonus but the mosquitos not so much.
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We had heard from you a long time ago, but here you spoiled us! All your photos are beautiful and make me want to be there now.
Welcome back and I hope your health will be good in 2020
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thanks, fred. fingers crossed!
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Really love the agave, altho all your blooming plants are wonderful to see. That rose is unusual & seems to be knocking it out of the park. Hope your knee improves, improves, improves. Glad to see you back again.
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Yes, I adore that rose and just relieved it has agreed to grow in a pot. 🙂
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Welcome back. I hope you’re knee improves soon. It all looks good to me. The orange tree looks very well. We freeze the juice of lemons (from a supermarket not a tree) in an ice cube tray for later use. Nice to see some sun!
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That’s a good idea. I cut the lemons in quarters and freeze them. I’d love a lemon tree but so far no luck. Yes, sun but no rain for weeks. The ideal scenario for me is when it rains at night and we have blue skies during the day 🙂 Win Win!
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All looking very nice. Lovely collection of succulents.
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Thanks, 30. I’ve neglected my succulents for months and sadly a couple have died.
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