Don’t you love today’s date? 10 + 10 = 20. Or is it just me? Anyway, here we are a good way through October already. You can really feel the days getting warmer, although I can still grab my winter coat should I need it. I saw an email today to say that my begonias and hymenocallis are on the way, so looking forward to them arriving and getting them planted. The rhododendron is looking spectacular at the moment: I was even admiring it from the other side of the road this morning as I waited for a bus. All in all we are moving towards summer. Anyway, thanks once again to The Propagator for allowing us to share what is going on in our gardens. Check out the participant guide if you want to join in.
So first up, the echinacea which as really made a spectacular comeback. It is one of the plants that is needing some spring attention, but I am happy to see it grow again.
A before and after picture at number two…it is time for a big spring clean of all the pots. It is also time to get seeds planted, if only I could find the time. We were out today, and we are out tomorrow, and I am travelling for work next week….maybe next weekend?
I know you have all seen lots of camellia pictures on this blog in the past few weeks, but there are still so many flowers on the bush in front of the house – and they looks beautiful – so here are some more.
And so to the herbs…the lemon balm and chocolate mint have revived beautifully in the warmer weather, there are a few flowers on the chicken thyme, and the hyssop is also looking good. I really love my pots of herbs!
At number five, a New Zealand native, kawakawa. The flowers look like spikes, and in summer, the female flowers ripen to a deep orange. There are lots of bushes around the house, so expect more pictures in the weeks to come.
At number six, what I think is some sort of viburnum. There are two bushes at the side of the house, and one on the slope leading up to the house (pictured below). There are a few in the Botanic Gardens: always a good place to check as the gardens are next to where we live and so have the same conditions and climate. Like so many of the well established shrubs and trees, we have no-one to ask or check with.
So that’s it for me this week. As usual, I am looking forward to seeing everyone’s beautiful gardens in other parts of the world. Hope you are all well and enjoying your gardens in whatever the season is with you.
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 
I hadn’t noticed that today 10-10-20 is a special day given the numbers. 😂
Are kawakawa plants invasive? They look like …Maybe I’m wrong.
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They are native plants so tend to get left alone, but can be just a little invasive!
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The Viburnum is a show. I gave up on echinacea as the slimy ones liked it too much. However, maybe I should try growing one in a pot. Hmm…
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Try echinacea in a pot and see what happens!
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What lovely spring flowers and sunshine! Yes, the first activity in many of my maths lessons was “What can we make from today’s date?” The students thought it was a game, so it was even more fun than “real” maths…..but all maths is a game, isn’t it?
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Yes maths is all about solving puzzles…or I used to think so…but I can’t remember the last time I ‘did’ proper maths – school?
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Your Echinacea looks great! And the Viburnum – possibly V. japonicum? Enjoy 10-10!
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I spotted one in the Botanic Gardens and tried to find the label…might have another look!
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Camilla photos are always good! Your garden looks wonderfully lush—and the delicate viburnum flower is very appealing.
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That rhododendron is spectacular. And as far as I’m concerned, you can never have too many pictures of camellias. Didn’t notice the numbers, but thanks for pointing it out. What fun!
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Pretty Viburnum whatever it is…waiting for the Kawakawa flower..
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I’ll be keeping my eyes open for female plants that turn orange!
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Looks like a Plantain flower native here. They don’t turn orange 🍊..
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I have had people come into my work and ask if we sell Kawakawa trees, sadly we don’t but we see them scattered just about everywhere up here.
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They are all around here too – as you say, just about everywhere!
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I really like your beautiful blog. A pleasure to come stroll on your pages. A great discovery and a very interesting blog. I will come back to visit you. Do not hesitate to visit my universe. See you soon.
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