Here we are at the end of November already, and in four weeks time we will be celebrating Christmas Eve or Julafton with friends, family and lots of food and drink. In the meantime, the plants have gone mad, growing at a tremendous rate and surrounding us with green at an alarming rate. Anyway, thanks to The Propagator who encourages us to share what is going on in our gardens in all parts of the world. Check out the participant guide if you want to join in.
At number 1, the first dahlia. My new plants are still looking strong and healthy, so fingers crossed for more flowers.

Next up, the camellia in front of the house which is just covered in flowers still. The steps to the house need daily sweeping thanks to fallen blooms. So lovely even though the bush could do with a good tidy up by someone with a long ladder, a good head for heights and the knowledge to do it properly.
In third place, more rock lilies, renga renga lily or arthropodium cirratum. They are everywhere just now, with their lovely delicate flowers.
Over to “herb corner”, and there are still some lovely chive flowers to add to salad. The supermarket mint with small leaves is doing surprisingly well, and at least one of the tarragon plants produces enough to use in the kitchen. I also spotted a couple of tiny, ripe wild strawberries on Friday too.




Also growing fast are the few sunflowers I planted and now need to be moved on. The hymenocallis has grown every time I look at it.


The buds are beginning to appear on the alstroemerias – not long to the flowers appear.

That is my six this week, and 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 @thistlesandkiwis. As for Twitter….am totally inactive these days. If you want to get in touch, email me on thistlesandkiwis@gmail.comix
A beautiful selection this week.
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Thanks Anne!
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Very pretty Rock lilies especially highlighted with the stones and lichens in the background (as well as the plant which gives small light green leaves with heart shape)
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That patch backs onto the ‘wild’ ground next to the house so there is always something creeping over into that spot!
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That’s a beautiful Dahlia. I almost went to pick that strawberry from the screen.
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I am afraid I ate the strawberry…. 🙂
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The rock lilies are so pretty and graceful, lighting up the shade like that.
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I do like them even though they do spread a bit.
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Yes, those rock lilies are a hit with me too. Lovely to see your colour and sunshine.
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We have had a lot of lovely weather recently. Of course, today is grey and damp….
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That’s impressively early for the Dahlia to be flowering, I could never manage Dahlias and Camellias together. Lovely simple and elegant bloom too.
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This dahlia flowered far longer than I expected and is now starting early – no complaints though! Most of the camellias are finished now, but the one in the post flowers later and keeps on going for ages. Again, no complaints!
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What a wonderful first Dahlia! It’s so nice to see greenery and colours!!
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Thanks! Things are looking lovely at the moment.
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What stunning summer flowers! Certainly brightens up a rather gloomy day here.
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Your camellias are flowering abundantly. Any advice on successful tarragon husbandry? My past attempts have fallen short of success.
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Tarragon – three weeks ago I was wondering what to do with a very poor looking plant. One of the plants has sprung into life, the other one is looking very shaggy and I might just give up on it. I could say ‘partial shade’ but honestly, I wish I knew!
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French Tarragon (the tastiest) needs a sunny spot and well-drained soil. They hate cold wet roots which is why I can rarely overwinter mine. The top will die off, but should regrow in the spring. I tend to treat it as an annual.
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I think the rock lilies are really pretty with heir cascading flowers. My dahlias are way behind in flowering, and I think I have lost a couple this year. Your herbs are looking good. My chives also surprised me with flowers, and my new alpine strawberries have been fruiting erratically.
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That’s good to know Jude. I’ve been wondering why my plants don’t survive!
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Good idea to treat tarragon as an annual. One of my plants has bounced back but the other one is in a spot that a lot of plants don’t like.
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Dahlias and camellias together sounds strange. I love those Rock lilies.
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As someone said this week…..New Zealand is a long, thin country in the middle of the Pacific which makes its own rules when it comes to gardening. Like it!
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So much beauty!
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Your rock lilies are certainly a hit, they are so lovely as is your dahlia, very impressive flower!
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I am so pleased with that dahlia – I’ve had lots of flowers from that plant and just love it.
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I love the renga renga lilies, not one that I have heard of before. Your camellia is a beauty. Everything else is coming on, can’t wait to share them with you. 🙂
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That is a pretty dahlia and I also like your rock lilies.
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I love my dahlia too – it was my first one 🙂
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(I seem to have placed my comment in under Jude’s comment 🙃 )
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