My Garden on A Little Gentian

So chuffed to have my garden appear on the blog of the lovely Penny Harrison, freelance journalist, photographer and avid gardener. A Little Gentian is a treasure trove of gorgeousness and natural delights. Make sure you check it out, especially if you love having a little peek at other people's places! Don't miss Penny's beautiful garden on her About page.

Floriade Loveliness

You can never get tired of Floriade. Each year is so beautiful. The sunshine is always en force, and the flowers--in their carefully-planned layers--always so showy, from start to finish.

We had my mother-in-law here this weekend and it was a joy to take her for a wander in the blooms. The kids, as they do every year, painted a Rotary gnome, and we ate fairy floss and rode on the Ferris wheel and soaked in the sunshine and stunning vistas.

I particularly loved the amazing grotto of inflatable white flowers in the trees this year, the inflatable white balls on the lawns near the stage, and the array of superb cubby houses which are being auctioned and raffled for charity. Mid-century modern cubby, anyone? Only for the chicest of tots.

Only 'complaint'? Floriade, please bring back the poppies!!!

Do get there for a wander, if you can.

Spring Snow

blossom snow outside our bedroom

I simply adore this time of year, when blossoms pop and bulbs squirt blooms from the ground. Each year, our resident bulbs multiply and the moment warmer weather creeps in, it's so exciting to see how far they've spread.

Most years, shortly after our blossom trees are packed with pink and white, the winds come along and whisk the flowers away--always far too soon. This year, the winds haven't yet stolen their glory, and instead the blossoms are showering down, all over our yard and decking, mimicking snow.

Our aganpanthus {above and below} didn't fare well this winter, with hard frosts, so I've been 'trimming' them of dead leaf ends. They look a little shabby now but they'll rally, and the bulbs popping up around helps make them pretty.

My husband just popped in some new Kangaroo Paw {below} for our front garden which receives full, hot sun year round. I'm hoping they do well. Here is one standing proud before a bowing erlicheer.

This lovely thatch of blue iris {below} has also come up bright and is already flowering. Our lavender is thriving, too but our standards and tulip trees are yet to leaf.

What a lovely time of year.

sunday afternoon in the garden

Every now and then I feel overwhelmed by the desire to wander my garden, taking photos. It tends to happen only moments before the seasons begin to shift--when you sense that atmospheric change in the air, and you feel compelled to capture it.

Here is a little wander through my garden, from an errant volleyball to maple tree, bi-winged samaras. The crows nests in pots were snaffled from my dear friend Mary's garden on the Sunshine Coast and are doing really well. The puddy tat belongs to our next door neighbours. She's one of a pair we don't let go home.

Our Eco Warriors Father's Day

My darling husband has been a little spoiled today. He was treated to his usual Father's Day breakfast, including my daughter's delicious blueberry pancakes {it's 3pm and we're still not hungry}, then we went out and about and then spent the afternoon in the garden--something our entire family loves to do.

It has been the most glorious Spring day here in Canberra. The sunshine has roused us from wintry hibernation and we've been soaking in the rays and tumbling in the leaves and turning the warming soil.


Husband brought home a compost bin yesterday {finally! above: looks like a giant takeaway coffee} and we've whacked the thing together and installed it next to the veggie patch. The kids have loved adding cuttings and food scraps and rolling the bin over and over like we're playing chook lotto. The veggie patch also got a thorough going-over--weeding, turning, enriching--prepping the soil for our summer bounty. We've already decided on:

beets

beans

potatoes {which are pretty much already in there}

cherry tomatoes of many variety

Lebanese cucumbers

zucchini

basil {next to the tomatoes}

parsley

thyme

{we already have rosemary}

oregano

mint {in pots--and chocolate mint, too}

watermelon

spring onions

pumpkin

strawberries

and maybe capsicum again

I spent a bit of time drinking in and photographing {and taking cuttings for indoors, above} the blossoms on our fruit trees, too. They just enchant me. I can't help smiling when I'm around them. I get really cranky at the inevitable Spring winds that come up just when the blossoms are in full bloom, and cause them to scatter. Away from me. It's not right.





Can you see how happy I am to be slathered in sunshine and plant shadows?




It's been lovely to wander around our garden and appreciate. Here are just some of my beloved birch trees.

I've been hankering for a Waratah to put in the garden, so we'll get one this week and I'd really love to try growing some native flowers from seed.

So, it's been a gorgeous Father's Day/Blog Tour launch day. Here is my husband's bounty--above--along with several foot massage vouchers from the kids {which I'm going to steal}. It's only a few small tokens that celebrate how lucky we are to have him {the satchel was a gift from his colleagues after a recent job move}.

I never really had a father and the one father I adopted left us far too soon. Imagine the joy it brings me to see my children grow up with a loving, dedicated, funny, gorgeous, hardworking man. It's sometimes overwhelms me and I often think it is me who benefits the most from Father's Day.

Whether you're a dad, about to become one, love someone like a father, or are remembering someone precious, thank you for being there for our kids. How they need you.

All in all, it's been the perfect Dad's day and gardening day and celebration of the launch of my Eco Warriors to the Rescue! blog tour {full schedule here}. I feel fresh and zesty from the great outdoors--something I haven't felt enough lately.

I hope you can follow me on tour, and I hope you had a lovely Father's Day, wherever you are.