After storms earlier this week – including a tornado in Paraparaumu (about 50km away) – we have had lovely still and sunny weather. Today, in fact, has been lovely, and while I should have been out in the garden tidying up, I baked a cake instead. Anyway, thanks to Jim at Garden Ruminations, for hosting Six on Saturday, whose knowledge of all things plants and gardening makes him an ideal host and move on to what can be see at the moment outside.
I’ll start this week with the Japanese anemones, now slowly coming to the end of their season. The bright green seed heads are almost just as beautiful as the flowers themselves.
As one flower fades for the season, we can see lots of buds on the camellias in front of the house and the bush we share with our neighbours. We are looking forward to the display later.
Meanwhile, the mahonia flowers are coming along nicely, slowly beginning to open. While the majority of plants are next to the house, there is one ‘rogue’ plant below the house beside the steps. It is looking good this year so far.
I spotted this surprise solitary borage flower in amongst these well eaten leaves. Not expected, but pretty in any case if you ignore the leaves.
Herb corner is where it is all happening, with flowers on the lemon verbena, the pretty leaves of the rue and lots of thyme and sage all ready for use in the kitchen.
Staying in herb corner, the beautiful red flowers on the pineapple sage, which this year are stunning. Repotting the plant earlier this year and moving it seems to have made a big difference.
Anyway, 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.
Thistles and Kiwis is a Wellington, New Zealand based blog written by Barbara, who likes cats, summer, good food and pretends to garden.
You can find Thistles and Kiwis on Facebook, and also on Instagram @thistlesandkiwis. If you want to get in touch, email me on thistlesandkiwis@gmail.com or lofgren@thistlesandkiwis.org
Thistles and Kiwis 
The pineapple sage looks very attractive.
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The flowers are quite distinctive – looking at them now.
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How lovely to see the sun! A tornado sounds pretty scary. I also love the pineapple sage flower, it makes up for not being about to smell the wonderful foliage.
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Although the tornado didn’t hit us, the storm that night was really loud and woke us up.
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Like all the others the pineapple sage has a nice red colour and the mahonia is full of promise!
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I’m so pleased with the pineapple sage flowers this year – a lot more than in previous years.
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Aah, some lovely sunshine and some great plants enjoying it. We have had a storm – not a tornado – but no sunshine to follow as yet. Sage plants are such an interesting group. Love the red of the pineapple sage.
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You can really see from the flowers that it is part of the salvia family. They are just so bright.
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Yes the Pineapple Sage is such a beautiful shade of red. A beautiful, but sometimes different, season of growth replaces another.
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Yes…our autumn is still full of beauty.
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The pineapple sage is indeed beautiful, but as always, it’s the Japanese anemones that caught my eye. So very lovely.
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I also love the Japanese anemones – just such a lovely group of nodding heads to greet us.
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What everyone else has said about the pineapple sage. Lovely. Cake making should always take priority over gardening. May I enquire what the cake was?!
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It was a plum cake to use up some slightly overripe fruit.
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I didn’t even know that sage came in pineapple! Great looking flower. I love having fresh herbs just outside the door. Do yours stay green all year long? Bernie
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If you rub the leaves, they smell of pineapple – quite an artificial smell somehow but definitely pineapple. Some of the herbs stay green all year, others don’t.
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Love that amazing pineapple sage 🌸💞 I usually have that in the garden, but, it sometimes dies from the cold/heat
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It is very pretty and smells good too!
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Beautiful Pineapple Sage, did you bake a cake with it? I have been baking too – key lime coconut cake!
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No I didn’t use it to bake with. I made a plum cake. Yours sounds excellent.
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mmmmm
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