Another Saturday already: it is hard to believe it is half-way through February already. In a week where a temperature of 20C was recorded in Antarctica and a reported huge decline in insects ‘splatting’ on windscreens, environmental issues yet again make worrying news. Our gardens provide green spaces for wildlife and plants, even in a small way, and we can each do our own tiny bit to help the environment around us. Thanks once again to The Propagator for allowing us to share what is going on in our gardens.
I’m actually going to start with the weather. It has been warm, mostly sunny and dry, very dry, as you can see from the lawn in the Botanic Gardens below. I’ve had the watering can out most evenings at home.
Doing well are the bay tree, the rosemary (especially after being fed with some extra nutrients) and the tarragon. Not doing well is the purple sage, which looks like it has already had its day, though I will cut it back and keep my fingers crossed. The lemon balm is struggling again…I just don’t think this plant likes me! A couple of the edible viola are flowering – see the featured image at the top.
There are all sorts of wee things going on, such as this nasturtium and it seeds lashing onto the branch of the lemon. I just love the shapes. I know I should do something about it, but I enjoy seeing nature take over. However, a little colony of vine hoppers seems to have taken hold in one small corner of the garden. It is the season when the nymphs go through their final molt and change into the small brown adults that look like small smooth winged moths. There are things you can get to deal with them, so I somehow need to get to a garden centre. They leave a black mould that isn’t that good for plants.
Indoors, the cinnamon basil continues to grow, and the ordinary and purple basil seem to be doing fine. I did as advised and left the Thai basil alone, ignoring it as much as possible, and it seems to be doing much better.
I was lucky enough to catch a couple of our welcome local insect visitors such as this butterfly, enjoying the oregano flowers. Look carefully and you can see its proboscis.
Finally, an alstroemeria seed pod. It is so pretty, and shows how life keeps going. No wonder the front of the house is covered with these flowers in season.
And that is all from Wellington for this week. As usual, I am looking forward to seeing everyone’s beautiful gardens in other parts of the world.
You can find Thistles and Kiwis on Facebook, and also on Instagram@thistleandkiwis. As for Twitter….am totally inactive these days. If you want to get in touch, email me on thistlesandkiwis@gmail.com
Thistles and Kiwis 
Fabulous photo of the butterfly! And a wonderful positive post. Thanks 🙂
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Thanks!
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I never saw an alstroemeria seed pod so close. Thank you and nice shot !
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Thanks!
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Pollinators love the Oregano growing here as well – I love it when gardeners half a world apart can share the same experience!
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Yes isn’t it great?
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Those oregano flowers are just lovely. Wish we could send you some of our rain!
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Auckland has gone without rain for 40 days – the longest period recorded. Meanwhile, there was flooding in the south of the South Island….
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Dead calm and ten below zero (Fahrenheit) this morning. Not much to show in my garden. Which means I enjoyed yours more than ever, especially the bee and the butterfly. If all around the world, people with small gardens, like yours and mine, did what they could to encourage nature and insects, well…
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Yes it is nice we can see things going on in other parts of he world in other seasons. Next year I am going to make a bigger focus on bee and butterfly friendly flowers.
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Always great to have flowers that attract buzzing, fluttering guests.
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It is indeed!
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Great butterfly photo. Always fascinates watching them suck up with the proboscis.
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Thanks! Yes it is fascinating to watch them eat.
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10 to 15 years ago the front of my van used to be covered with insects but not anymore it is frightening. 20 degrees in Antarctica is very worrying.
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I know…hadn’t really thought about it until someone at work mentioned the lack of insects on vehicles and then I read that article. Worrying.
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GREAT SIX! It’s good to see the plants and flowers outside doing well. We are covered in snow again. Thanks for sharing!
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Oh, interesting, your butterfly looks like our Sulphur butterflies here, they are very difficult to get a picture of…well done. hope it rains! and not too much.
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I think I was very lucky to be in the right place at the right time with my phone to hand! Actually, it looks like it might rain this evening…
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