Easter weekend already. While I have got completely used to Christmas in summer, Easter in autumn just seems all wrong somehow, given its connotation with new life and rebirth. Still, it is a time of harvests, of some amazing fruits and vegetables and definitely a time to share the good things with others. And so to this week’s Six on Saturday, a time when The Propagator 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.
There is a fair bit of new life out there, including the first signs of camellias. The bush that borders our house and our neighbour is always the first to flower, and here is the first bloom I spotted yesterday. The buds in the bottom right picture belong to the overgrown bush in front of the house that needs a professional to come and trim.
So to this week’s nasturtiums, and two lovely specimen. I think the dark red ones are called ‘Bloody Mary’.
In herb corner this week, we have the most recent thyme I bought (I have a few and do use it quite a bit in cooking), one of the curry plants, one of the mints that has come back to life and more of the magnificent rosemary
My dahlias started strongly this year, but after a period of hot weather followed by humid days, the plants developed powdery mildew which is quite common in these parts. I treated them all, cut them all back, and watched…and watched…and this week I saw this bud on one of the plants. Fingers crossed it opens.
It’s mahonia time here again, with those yellow flowers that I happen to like – or at least in the situation they are in next to the house, where the bright pop of yellow replaces the gorgeous pink of the Japanese anemones which are in their last days.
To end, the tecomanthe speciosa or Three Kings Vine which this year seems to be producing lots and lots of flowers. I managed to catch one bloom that had fallen off onto a leaf, and another one that looked like it was resting on a branch. There are lots more buds, and against the blue sky, they look wonderful. I checked out the plants in the Botanic Gardens, and we have far more flowers, but equally our plant gets a lot more sun. Every day I go out and look at it and smile.
So that is my six for 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 @thistlesandkiwis. As for Twitter….am totally inactive these days. If you want to get in touch, email me on thistlesandkiwis@gmail.com
Thistles and Kiwis 
It is so interesting seeing what grows when in different parts of the world. The Camellias in Autumn for you and Spring here. I was only thinking this week about how Easter in Autumn feels. We once experienced Christmas in NZ, haymaking in December was a strange site on the farms for us UK farming folk.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Camellias flower here from late summer through to early winter, though I feel the one outside our house seems to go on for months! Lovely of course.
LikeLike
Seeing your perfect Nasturtiums has reminded me to check out the seeds I sowed a week or so ago.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes do and let us know how they are fairing!
LikeLike
First Nasturtium flowers have arrived here. Of a red almost similar to the first that you showed to us ( but the second which is much darker is also beautiful !) Have a good weekend.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh good! Have a happy Easter weekend!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Three Kings Vine, horray! Loving the dark nasturtium, so Fred can have the first one and I will have the second 🙂 Happy Easter to you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
..and Happy Easter to you!
LikeLike
I can understand why the Three Kings Vine makes you smile. It is lovely. I’d never thought about Easter falling in Autumn in the Southern hemisphere, only Christmas in the Summer. That would take some getting used to.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, your garden pictures are beautiful! I am so looking forward to being able to garden in the more temperate climate I have moved to, once I am in my place with an actual yard. Currently my north-facing balcony is almost always shaded, which limits me to shade loving plants only. But in mere months it will all change and I find inspiration in your photos! I won’t be able to grow all that you do, but I’ll be growing all the herbs, at least!
Deb
LikeLiked by 1 person
Herbs are great to grow because you can actually use them and only need pots too. I don’t use all the ones I grow – some are just to look pretty,
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for the reminder to get going on my herb garden. It’s been so unseasonably cold on Vancouver Island that I have been neglecting this task
LikeLiked by 1 person
The Camellia is presumably ‘Kanjiro’ or a similar hiemalis type. They’re not the first of the autumn types to open here, which would be sasanquas at the end of September, so are pretty much exactly six months different from the same ones here. We wouldn’t ever get them overlapping with Dahlias though.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh thanks for identifying the camellia – must go and check this out. I have learned over the years not to try to match the seasons here with Northern Europe, where winter lasts 4 months instead of 6 weeks!
LikeLike
Yes, I can see why you smile at your Three Kings Vine, lovely. Pleased to see the nasturtiums still flowering. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I thought about you when I went nasturtium hunting for the blog post – glad I could oblige this week!
LikeLike
Three Kings Vine flower on a leaf — styled especially for you (and me)! Thanks also for highlighting the mahonia. I had a pair at my old house and now realize I miss them!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was so lucky to spot that!
LikeLiked by 1 person