“The shortest day has passed, and whatever nastiness of weather we may look forward to in January and February, at least we notice that the days are getting longer. Minute by minute they lengthen out. It takes some weeks before we become aware of the change. It is imperceptible even as the growth of a child, as you watch it day by day, until the moment comes when with a start of delighted surprise we realize that we can stay out of doors in a twilight lasting for another quarter of a precious hour.” Vita Sackville-West
Substitute July and August for us in the Southern Hemisphere and this quite sums up how things are here at the moment. It is definitely getting lighter in the mornings when I am walking to work and you can sense spring is not that far away (actually, all you have to do is look at how far the daffodils are coming along). 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.
I have a confession to make. The bright blue skies and display of camellias in the featured image is not today: it was Wednesday, when we had lovely weather with sun and blue skies. Today it is pouring with rain. Really pouring down so that I can’t even pop out for some nice ‘raindrops on leaves’ pictures. The rain isn’t just here in Wellington: there is flooding Westport and some parts of the top of the South Island, as well as some parts of the city. Yesterday we had gale force winds that nearly knocked me over, and it doesn’t look too good for tomorrow (showers rather than rain). It isn’t cold though – 15-16C. Below you can see the view from one of the downstairs windows at lunch time today.
Anyway, I did manage to grab a couple of pictures yesterday, a bud and fallen flower, which is from the big bush you can see behind the white one in the featured image at the top of the post. At least you can see what the flowers are like in a bit more detail. All the bushes are still looking wonderful, even (or especially) in the rain.
So we have to move indoors, and I really don’t have much to show here that wasn’t in a post a couple of weeks ago. Here is the little cyclamen plant that keeps soldiering on, producing flowers, dying back, coming to life again. It could do with a little love and care to be honest.
I also have a few cacti such as the two below and a ficus, that will need to be replanted come the spring but which keeps on going in that sunny window spot.
Of course, I have a couple of indoor spider plants (outdoor ones were featured last week. The one below has been with us since we first moved here and is the ‘mother’ of all the other plants. And yes – that is a Swedish flag behind it.
Finally, look what arrived this morning! A soggy seed catalogue! Maybe I should just pop the kettle on and make a cup of tea to enjoy with a freshly baked scone and find some miniature sunflowers and other things to order…..
That is it for me for now – not very inspiring this week, but hopefully better weather will return for next 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.
Addendum: after I wrote this post, the rain became even heavier. The rain against the kitchen window reminded me of being in a car wash. My pots got saturated and flooded. It has at least stopped now.
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 
A freshly baked scone. Yum. It’s funny, I’m getting bulb catalogues arriving in the post!
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Hope you choose some nice bulbs!
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On the contrary, I find tea and scones very inspiring……morning coffee and afternoon tea are the best bits of the gardening day. 🤭 Those camellia put on a good show all year round.
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Yes breaks for tea and coffee (with treats) are always good!
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Blue sky or rain , this camellia is still pretty. ( yummy scones … 😋)
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Sunshine this morning after the storm at least (and yes the scones were good!)
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I enjoyed your post – particularly the scone. I hope the weather quietens down for you soon.
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Sunshine or at least bright skies this morning at least – time to dry out a bit!
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It feels like there’s torrential rain world wide atm. But at least you have camellias and spring is coming to your part of the world.
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I know what you mean regarding rain. The camellias are looking lovely at least and as you say, spring is on its way.
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I love perusing seed catalogs. very calming before going to sleep.
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I just wish I had more space to plant things! But that is an ongoing problem for a lot of us 🙂
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There is terrible flooding in parts of Europe at the moment with loss of life. Here we are having a mini heat wave and I’m sitting under a tree in the shade feeling very grateful. Enjoy those scones!
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I know – quite awful situation in Europe. We did enjoy the scones!
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I think you’ve got the right idea – get the kettle on and put your feet up! If it helps, I always take pictures and write the post in the week. I don’t seem to be able to find the time on a Saturday!
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I sometimes do take pictures during the week but this week it didn’t happen. At least it is dry this morning.
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definitely a few days of rain and more rain – gales as well at the other end of the country – yesterday felt like a very short day with not a lot of daylight from around mid arvo, I had the lights on. I’ve spent a lot of the time, disentangling the wildness of washing out on the rotary line, bringing a few things each day to hang in less wet areas. Today the towels got to be on the front porch on my large rack & basically blown semi dry, until I could see rain was imminent so they are indoors…
I’ve a friend in Westport who has a lot of water in her yard, and some in their garage – plus they were compulsory evacuated at 2am the other morning…but are now home
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There has been some wild weather!
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Sounds depressing! At least it’s winter rain. I am aghast at the summer floods in Germany and Belgium.
Hope you enjoyed your catalogue and scone!
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Yes it is all a bit miserable really. The floods in Germany and Belgium are shocking.
The scone and catalogue were both good!
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The cyclamen is lovely. We are in a similar position here, with sunny days alternating with lots of rain. But I also feel spring is coming over the distant horizon. I am in a summer dress today, but this week we are set for cold and rain again. I don’t really mind too much, except the rain puts me off gardening!
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My heart sank a little thinking as your days get longer, so ours get shorter again here in the northern hemisphere but the picture of your cyclamen cheered me up as we look forward to autumn.
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Scones without cream! Just wouldn’t be acceptable in Cornwall or Devon. As your days lengthen, ours shorten, so I’m glad its still fairly imperceptible.
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Oh I don’t like scones with cream…..heresy I know!
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The weather has been unusually wet for us in Queensland too, but we have been surprised with a few days of, albeit weak, sunshine. The plants will be pleased to have their ‘feet’ dry out! Cyclamen are wonderful plants for some winter cheer, although mine seem to do better outside in the shade. Seeing your seed catalogue reminds me that I need to source some seeds for spring plantings. Hope this week is a lot drier for you.
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Looks like today will be sunny at least. Cyclamen are lovely aren’t they?
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Love the Swedish flag in the picture ❤️
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