Will you dance?

among the daffodils...

Lemon tree very pretty

Now is the time to give your citrus some extra love and care with some fertilizer (they should have new blossom and tiny fruit buds) and make sure you keep the water up to them

 and keep and eye out for bugs, particularly citrus leaf miner which seems to like all the fresh soft leaves that are sprouting now. As I only garden organically I simply remove a leaf when I notice this bug's larvae or eggs on the leaf or you could wipe the leaves with a olive oil and detergent wash - this could double as your daily meditation too!

By George!

Lovely surprise in the garden this week is Iris reticulata "George". My goodness the colour is deep and radiant in a little corner under the Acer, matched with violets and purple hyacinths -all planted this past Autumn and now flowering at the same time. Very pleased.

 Very abstract pics as I am learning my new camera! but the colour is true.

A Splendid Fellow

I went to take a pic of the lovely Nerines and this fellow photobombed me.

 Don't worry darling Venus, no one is as wonderful as you!

A thought of God in white and green

I went to hunt the scent of violet in the cold still of this winter day and found a sweet surprise - the seasons first snowdrop.

Close to the sod

   There can be seen

A thought of God

   In white and green.

Unmarred, unsoiled

   It cleft the clay,

Serene, unspoiled

   It views the day.

It is so holy

And yet so lowly.

   Would you enjoy

      Its grace and dower

   And not destroy

      The living flower?

Then you must, please,

Fall on your knees.

The Snowdrop by Anna Bunston De Bary

Camellia Song

 Camellia oracle of winter bliss

You are the promise of springs renewal

Midst the slumbering landscape

Like winters splendid jewel 

Camellia japonica 'Melbourne White'

Your miracle of life

So delicate and so sweet

You adorn Victorian homes

Upon these earthly streets 

Camellia 'Sugar Dream'

The beauty of your elegance

Your fragile blossom lingers

The softness of your petals

Pass through my waiting fingers

Camellia japonica 'Albertii'

I celebrate your symmetry

Your absolute perfection

Creation of that Life divine

You are but God's reflection 

Camellia x vernalis 'Yuletide' one of my favorites.

You are a life long lesson

A song that's ever sung

From the deepest winter spell

You bring forth the morning sun

Lynne FincherSpringarden

Camellia sasanqua 'Rose Pendant'

Camellia lutchuensis

My own darling flower.

Such a wonderful time to explore Melbourne gardens right now with camellias in singing bloom across our town. This year I am trying to take cuttings to propagate so I have an heir and a spare to take us through the hot summers to come so wish me luck!

Before and after or is it the other way round

 Unfailingly, year after year this white allium (an onion to us plain Janes!) treats us to a thrilling show of shooting starlight blooms for months, where the bees are the encore de Havilland flyover celebrating the joy of Summer. And such nice manners too! Maintaining a neat green clump of strappy foliage until the magical seed heads come along. I have been harvesting all week in the sunshine - drop me a line and I shall send you a little bit of magic.