What a glorious sunny autumn day! Bright blue skies, warm sunshine and everything looking happy and cheerful. It is Anzac Day tomorrow and Monday is a holiday, so there is a bit more time to enjoy being in the garden provided the weather holds that is. In any case, 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. Let’s look at this week’s six.
First up, this week’s update on the tecomanthe speciosa or Three Kings vine. The first flowers are beginning to bloom as you can see. Hopefully, next week there will be more to show off. In the picture below, you can also see the colour of the sky today as well….
There was no excuse not to get out on the terrace today. I got a lot of tidying done, and also sorted out pots and started bulb planting, though only getting as far as the anemones which have been sitting in the fridge as recommended. Of course, I have run out of suitable potting compost (not to mention space, but the latter can be ignored….), so the rest of the new bulbs will have to wait to another day. I very sensibly bought some name tags this year – though I do know there are several pots with mystery bulbs that will hopefully surprise and delight come spring.
At number three, this week’s nasturtiums, both orange and the delicate yellow flower. I am already considering what ones to buy for next year. If anyone has any good suggestions, do let me know and I will see if I can get them here.
There are still some cheery violas to brighten our days. Such a happy flower I think (and I know some of you do too). I was surprised to find the supermarket basil still going strong, so might be able to get a few more leaves from that over the coming week to add to whatever I am cooking.
Over in herb corner, the lemon verbena and variegated sage are looking good, as are the thyme, pineapple sage and parsley. I came home from work on Friday and found a fully ripe wild strawberry, and then another one today, so ate them both before anything else did.
In the ‘up and coming’ corner, we have the first of the mahonia flowers. Love it as a plant or hate it, I think it is a cheery thing to have next to the house. There is something beautiful in its ugliness. Next week, all being well, I should be able to show off the salvia, the buds of which are already there.
And to end, the way I began, with some white flowers. This time, the dahlias which are still looking good and finally thriving. The featured image at the top of the post is one of them, and below are a couple more. I am hooked, and will definitely be getting some more for next year.
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 
Your nasturtiums are so lovely. I tried to grow some from seed last year, but they failed to prosper. Do you have any tips on starting them from seed? The wild strawberry is a thing of beauty. Some mahonias are native here, so I have been cultivating an interest in them. So far, the ones in partial shade seem to be a lot happier than those in full sun.
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No I don’t have any tips – other than making sure they get lots of sun, or at least that is what mine seem to like. The mahonias in our garden are beside the house and in partial shade so you might be right about the best place for them.
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Orange nasturtium is the start. White Dahlia – Dahlias are a fave of mine I have several yet to plant!
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I’m hooked on dahlias now – will have to find some other small ones I can plant in our space.
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I probably say this every time, but I do love violas. The pale yellow nasturtium is very pretty. My nasturtiums are just starting to germinate.
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Hope you post some pictures of your nasturtiums! Violas are just so pretty.
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Having seen your posts in the past – I have just sow in pots 2 named nasturtiums. Empress of India and Tip Top Velvet. Both are a deep orange/scarlet colour.
Will let you know how they grow.
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Oh yes please do!
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Gorgeous these 2 colours of nasturtiums and this dahlia is very pretty. Mine are only showing the tip of their nose right now … I can’t wait.
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Look forward to seeing your dahlias!
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Looks like a beautiful Autumn day! A cold but sunny Spring day here. I am about to plant some more nasturtiums – mine are from the Mr Men children’s range for my seven year old son and are called Whirlybird Mix!
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What fun – Mr Men seeds!
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I think you must be the undisputed Queen of nasturtiums and, of course, herbs. I sowed some nasturtium seeds outside a couple of weeks ago but no shoots yet. If nothing appears soon, I may start some in the greenhouse.
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Oh love that you think I am the queen of nasturtiums! I do hope you have some luck with yours. I guess we have a good spot here.
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My neighbour has a cool room with hundreds of Dahlia tubers waiting to go in the ground (it’ll be another three weeks, maybe four, likely, to be safe) and has offered me a few of her ‘extras’…maybe, eh? Your pale Nasturtium looks very similar to the packet of seeds I ordered for this year – ‘Vanilla Berry’ – I loved the description: “Top setting blossoms in soft vanilla with strawberry etched throats.’
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Lovely description of the nasturtiums – hope to see the results! Yes I would take those ‘extra’ tubers.
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That top photo is luminous. What a beauty. Also, still have lots in bloom even as autumn progresses.
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It is still quite warm here – it was in the low 20s C yesterday afternoon.
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Love all the different shades of nasturtiums. I have just planted out N. ‘Alaska’, which has variegated foliage, I’m looking forward to seeing how it turns out.
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Sounds like an interesting nasturtium – look forward to seeing how they turn out too.
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Looking forward to seeing the flowers on the vine.
Nasturtium-wise ‘Princess of India’ has a nice red colour to it. I’ve had a few nice ones in the past, but I can’t remember their names. I should imagine some of yours have bee cross pollinated, so if you collect the seed from them you should get some interesting things!
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I have saved quite a few seeds and replanted them, those I haven’t pickled that is! So far the replanted seeds are just orange, but am working on it.
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Oh, please show pictures of those white dahlias regularly. They certainly are a show!
Enjoy the holiday weekend, Barbara.
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Thanks!
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I’m counting the months on my fingers and make your season the equivalent of late October here so your Dahlia is really looking exceptionally good for the time of year. I take it they do die down in winter with you? Do they get frosted or just get messy and stop flowering?
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This is my first year of dahlias in this spot, We don’t get heavy frosts where we are, and it seems from what I have read that you only need to lift the tubers in colder areas. I will ask gardening friends what they do here in Wellington.
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Beautiful photos & foliage, what a nice little yummy surprise at the end of your working week. I do love the Dahlias, It’s nice to potter around like you say, especially when your weather is so glorious. I hope you have a glorious week ahead.
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Thank you! The weather looks fine so far this morning.
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I have also come to love violas. I bought some seeds this week, then realised I’d picked up the wrong packet and bought pansies which are not planted until October. 😦 The more dhalias I see featured on gardening blogs the more I am beginning to like them.
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Oh sorry about the violas, but pansies are gorgeous too. I think dahlias are becoming fashionable again.
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Dear T&K, I am slowly working my way through old emails. I found your post welcoming autumn (which I’d doing now) AND anticipating planting bulbs (which I should be doing now). I was delighted to see your photograph of the daffodil planters — having recently and repeatedly admired the blooms that emerged six months later. How lucky for me to straddle past & present all at once!
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Oh how lovely to have gone back to an old post! A lovely reminder of what I did then…and the results now.
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