Well, winter has finally come…it has turned much colder and today it has just rained and rained. In fact, it has been the coldest day this year. Thus it is definitely a day to be indoors, drink tea and, I confess, watch an old episode of Vera while clearing some clutter rather than doing anything plant related. 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 sneaked out and got a few pictures of things despite the rain. I didn’t need to get wet to get these pictures of the camellias in front of the house…still looking pretty.
At number two, bulb progress can be see all around, with things popping up all over the place, even the muscari are showing signs of life. Maybe I will be lucky with those this year.
Moving indoors, the peperomia polybotrya continues to grow with its lovely teardrop shaped leaves. It did look rather sad after our time away, but it seems to have perked up a bit now.
Still indoors, and time for a cacti update…well, two of them at least. The one on the left looks as if it is waving to us.
Back outside, and since this bush is also next to the house, I could also photograph the berries without getting wet….hence them featuring this week.
Finally, the hellebores are beginning to flower – see the featured image at the top of the post too, picture taken on Friday. Ours are always a little behind the ones in the Botanic Gardens, but they are now flowering and looking good.
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 
Is the peperomia indoors all year round? Or do you take it out a little bit and if so from when to when? It’s an attractive plant that I don’t have yet.
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So far I have kept it indoors all the time, but I should think about putting it outside even for a short while in the summer.
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What is the plants with the berries?
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I actually don’t know!
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Could be a Skimmia japonica?
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I’ve just looked that up and not sure…there aren’t so many berries. I think it might be some sort of box?
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Spring is around the corner for you! I have just been looking through Spring bulbs for sale.
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Yes….we have hardly had a winter yet too.
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Hi, Barbara- It never ceases to amaze me how beautiful your garden looks all year round. It is very hot summer for us today. We will be at a ballgame looking for shade and wearing tons of sunscreen! Go Jays!!!
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Hope your team won!
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Gosh, hellebores. Spring/Autumn aren’t far away.
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Beautiful sculptural cactus! Hellebores are heralding spring.
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Yes….signs of spring already.
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The hellebore looks very healthy. Ours always tend to look a bit tatty.
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We have two clumps and one is always ‘nicer’ than the other.
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We have had rain and unseasonable temperatures too this week. And I still have hellebores in flower! Go figure!
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The weather is all peculiar….
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I am watching the Women’s World Cup in Wellington- wowser. That’s a hard rain! No wonder you stayed inside.
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Yes – it is raining again today (Sunday)/
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It’s literally pouring. Doesn’t look like fun playing in that, and the spectators look cold!
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Yes it is cold and wet here! Still Sweden won so my husband is very happy.
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I felt they deserved the win.
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Winter is definitely different in New Zeeland 🙂 I enjoy seeing the differences in nature between our countries. Excellent photos!
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Yes….having lived in Northern Europe most of my life I don’t mind winters here!
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Lots of beautiful things growing even in winter.
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Yes it is always green here.
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How lovely to see your Hellebores and Camellias. Your Muscari are looking promising – I’ve been delaying looking at the bulb catalogues but know that I’ll succumb soon
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Bulb and seed catalogues are always tempting.
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