I missed SoS last week as we were in Nelson for the weekend – it was a lovely weekend break, and we felt refreshed and revived when we got home. There was a lot to tidy up this week, and I was able to get bits done after work one day which was a nice relaxing end to a tiresome day. Here are my six for this week, with thanks once again to The Propagator for allowing us to share what is going on in our gardens.
Let’s begin with the weather, and the dry and mostly sunny days we have been having: the blue skies below are from Friday. Today started with a much needed heavy shower, though you would hardly know it had rained looking outside this afternoon. This weather and time of year means cicada time. If you want to hear what they sound like from dawn to dusk, I found this clip on YouTube! You can see one in the picture below and a left over nymph skin.
At number two, and also used in the featured image at the top of the post, it is nice to see the Japanese anemones beside the house have started to flower. These were here when we moved in, so I am not sure which ones they are exactly, but they are lovely, and we enjoy them.
And so to the herbs for number 3…the sage, the red basil and the replanted marjoram are all looking good. The purple sage though has gone….just frizzled up and gone. I moved it about, gave it more sun/less sun, but it was obviously never to be. I have moved the cinnamon basil outside, and really need to move the plants to a bigger pot – a task for Sunday morning I think.
On Wednesday, I posted a whole set of pictures of seeds. The seed head of the bee balm bergamot is almost more beautiful than the flower, so I make no apologies in publishing another picture.
At number five, a couple of ‘surprises’, namely another nasturtium flowering when I thought that plant had finished, and a tiny sunflower. I had popped a seed into a small pot, meaning to plant it on once it had germinated, and somehow it got forgotten. The plant has flowered, although quite small, so I just topped up the pot with more compost and have just let it be, a little splash of yellow.
And….at number six….a bulb catalogue. It would be so easy to go mad and order too many, but given limited space, maybe I should contain myself a little!
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 
Fab picture of Bee balm bergamot seed head !
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Thank you!
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The cicadas are calling here as well – at times deafening! The Japanese anemone is gorgeous, and I’m still to have success growing any! There is a small specimen in the front garden bed, but it is not happy. I might just pot it up and find a new spot for it! The bergamot seed head is stunning!
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They seem to like the spot beside the house – and a little benign neglect I think too! I love the bergamot seed head and am going to try and collect the seeds.
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I love the photo of the Bergamot seed, like some weird planet from outer space. I hope you’re not experiencing the drought conditions that are occurring further north.
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Yes you are so right re the bergamot seed! It is dry here, but we have had some rain, and nothing like the drought conditions in the north – yet.
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I loved the header photo of the anemone, but the one of all those buds is just wow. I stopped growing bergamot because the flowers underwhelmed me, but that seed head is certainly worth having. May have to reconsider! How strange that your purple sage didn’t survive – any idea why? I thought it was fairly robust, drought resistant, etc., etc. Odd, how some plants will take off in one garden, sulk in another. Can’t wait to hear about your bulb selection!”
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Yes the seed head is quite something. I have no idea re the purple sage – I expected it to be robust as well. I did wonder if it didn’t like too much sun, so moved it, but it didn’t seem to help. Bulbs…cannot make up my mind!
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I love Japanese Anemones, they are such pretty flowers, though they can take over somewhat. And the noise of cicadas – always takes me back to a warm country. When I moved back to England after living in South Africa for many years it was one thing that I noticed, how quiet the evenings were without that background clicking.
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I don’t mind them taking over really…they fill in a difficult space (well, our garden space is difficult full stop). I’ve lived here 7 years and still find the sound of cicadas exotic.
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Love those anemones! How lucky to have them at your home when you moved in. Listened to the cicada clip. A sound of late summer. We have grasshoppers that make a similar but higher- pitched song with a metallic ring.
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Yes indeed – a sound of late summer. The anemones are one of my favourites.
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You’re planting your muscari as those in the UK are coming into flower. I’ve got some pink ones but the blue ones are always a winner – matches those skies you have there. Just grey here in the UK today…
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Thinking of getting some white ones this year to go with the blue…but there are so many bulbs to chose from and limited space!
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You’ve reminded me of the joys to come when the sun shines! (the weather in the UK isn’t joyous at the mo) I love Japanese anemones and don’t mind their spreading habit at all..
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Hope you get some spring sunshine soon. I love Japanese anemones too – so pretty,
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Danger danger! Step away from the bulb catalog. Awooga. Awooga.
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🙂
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Bulb warning!! buy more. Your herbs look great, do you grow Culantro? an odd one. Love the Anemones. We have Cicadas here in summer.
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No I haven’t grown coriander/cilantro. I love it is a herb thought. Yes…bulbs…more is always better???
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Nice to see so many sunny and warm looking pictures. Do you have to keep on top of the Anemones. When I had some they became a bit of a nuisance and spread everywhere..
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I have to admit I have let the anemones do their own thing, but they have spread quite a bit this year.
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