The merry month of August; Rose loves August.

01/08/2017

I am happy with a small home, a large garden, 

my family, a few true friends. Books many and more. Hmm... computer, Ipad, camera, mobile...and my roller skates.

Rose loves August;

05/08/2017



Morning snack, sitting in the herb garden and eating a  juicy Mandarin just picked from the tree.



It is Aussie Mandarin time and the best are from your own trees. There is no comparison. Delightful, the orange fruit glowing between the dark green leaves asking to be picked and savoured.

The form "Mandarine" derives from the French name for this fruit. The reason for the epithet "mandarin" is not clear, hypotheses range from the yellow colour of some robes worn by Mandarin dignitaries to the mandarin fruit being an excellent kind of Chinese orange.

Molecular studies revealed the mandarin, the citron, the pomelo and the papeda were the ancestors of most other commercial citrus varieties, through breeding or natural hybridisation; mandarins are therefore all the more important as the only sweet fruit among the parental species.




This peach tree comes with a little story attached. I found it growing down at the gate entrance. Some stranger must have eaten a peach there and its discarded seed must have landed  in the verge garden at the entrance. Merrily it has grown to a little tree and flowered many springs but never had any fruit, but wonderful double blossoms. Then once upon a time Peter dug it out and brought it up to the little home orchard. There it has flowered and born peaches. The peaches are flat and a bit floury, but quite nice when eaten early. This year again it is flowering beautifully, but it will need a pruning as the branches are now trying to reach the sky.

It might be a Saturn peach tree, Prunus persica var. platycarpa, are a variety of peach with white flesh and a flattish, round shape. 









Plum trees are a good addition to the home garden . In spring they please you with pretty flowers and later with luscious plums. They must be protected with nets from fruit fly.





A very cool August morning today, the sun is out and birds are busy at the feeders.



Rainbow Lorikeets



Female King Parrot and native crested Pigeons,




Female King Parrots



Male King Parrot





I've watched you now a full half-hour;
Self-poised upon that yellow flower
And, little Butterfly!  Indeed
I know not if you sleep or feed.
How motionless! - not frozen seas
More motionless! and then
What joy awaits you, when the breeze
Hath found you out among the trees,
And calls you forth again!
~William Wordsworth, "To a Butterfly"

Photos from this morning 15/08/2017

Colours 
from a small corner of the garden.



Not only the famous Claude Monet; “I must have flowers, always, and always.” 




Oh, Petunia, sweet, tough, elegant, double, single or miniature and glorious colours, you have it all.



Purple Basil a true favourite in the herb garden for its beauty and its great attraction to bees.




Monsieur Tillier has a glorious time. I sing the song of a Rose.




Such simple Fibonacci Darlings, so endearing.






...and now it's time to feed the hens and take Bobby for a walk. It is 7:56 AM and a fine, sunny day.

16/08/2017

Having breakfast in the herb garden, looking up and around listening to the many bees collecting  pollen and nectar.











Enjoying the simple pleasure of scented roses and a clear blue sky; what colours!



My guess it will be an early spring and summer. Just spotted the first Wisteria flowers, looking closer  the climber is full of buds. I have already send my prayer to the weather gods. If they comply is an other question. Today at 5:00 PM It was still 25° C.




Daisies from another perspective. 
 Together with the self sown purple Petunia , in my view a splendid combination.
I have noted, that in a odd way nature makes the best combinations. It seems to me canny that flowers throw their seeds where it suits them and  at the same time enhances other plants nearby.




This Sunday morning; 27/08/2017

Frolicking bees on a china rose "Old Blush".



Nearly burying themselves into the flower to get all the pollen. 

      


Kalanchoe, orange bells captured from beneath, a mother of thousands as the folks tale goes.

..take care friends of the gardens. See ya...in true Aussi characteristic mode.

 A last word from my good friend Epicurus
“I have never wished to cater to the crowd; for what I know they do not approve, and what they approve I do not know.” 

Last day in August;
it seems to me it was a long month, probably in my imagination.

Some of the hybrid Azaleas are still in flower. Kurume A,  I have pruned back as they have finished their fiery display.




Mangoes are in full flower, heavy boughs. Hope we have a good Mango year.






Love the exuberance of flowers on our native tea trees. Swarming with drunken insects.




Some native shrubs waiting to be planted next. 



  
Mint tea in the herb garden.

Goodbye for now friends of the gardens, hope to see you in September.



© All Photos from my garden/ texts Ts 
if not mentioned from a different source.