Spring in the Garden: Irises

When we first moved in to this apartment, a bit over a year ago at the tail end of last winter, there was a row of bulbs planted in the garden.  Spring game and they grew lush and green, and we waited for them to flower.  We waited, and we waited.  And then Summer came and then Autumn and they gradually turned brown and shriveled up, leaving me pondering what on earth they were - decorative grasses perhaps?  But this Spring we've discovered they are magnificent irises which have suddenly bloomed like crazy, allowing us to rejoice in all their purpley blue glory!  

ps. Isn't 'irises' the most awkward plural you can think of?  I think perhaps 'iris' should be like 'sheep' - both singular and plural - don't you?

pps. Happy June 1st!  Isn't this year just screaming past at an alarming rate?  Yikes...

Spring in the Garden: Maple

Oh hello, Monday.  You again hey?  What I really need is a week in bed with cups of hot tea and endless crosswords, but what I get instead is you, with all your to do lists and wants and demands. Bleurgh.

Nevermind, here are some pretty pictures of the Japanese maples in our garden, which have burst to life after Winter which such force!  They always cheer me up.  I remember we planted a Japanese maple in our front yard when I was a kid, and it always seemed so exotic and pretty and fragile.  It didn't do too well though, partly I guess because it's the Japanese maple, not the Melbourne, Australia maple.  And partly because it was somewhat overawed by the giant, giant oak tree (this thing was, is, huge!) that was also out the front and that no doubt pinched all it's water and sunshine.  Boo to the bully oak!

By way of comparison, here's what the maple looked like four short weeks ago:

Hope your week is kicking off to a good start! x

Spring in the Garden: Azaleas

As I've already confessed I am not a gardener.  Luckily we have a garden full of low maintenance plants that just do their thing,* and I am constantly fascinated and amazed by their transformation through the seasons.

A few short weeks ago the azaleas where just a bunch of straggly brown twigs.  Now, thanks to some sunshine, warm weather and lots of rain, they are literally bursting forth with green growth and a carpet of bright purple blooms.  Lovely!

*(Plus we also have some people that come to our apartment every fortnight or so and keep all our plants happy and healthy - they are Korean retirees actually, with a passion for plants, and they do an amazing job).

My Black Thumb of Death

[crochet cacti by planetjune]

I do not have a green thumb.  I don't even have a green-tip-of-my-pinky.  In fact, my thumb is so not green I recently managed to provide a slow painful death for a succulent.  Yep, a succulent.  Those plants that are sold as 'impossible to kill' and 'perfect for the non-gardener'.  

So it was with a slight sinking feeling that I recently received a gift of grow-your-own basil.  But ignoring my track record I followed the picture instructions (plant seeds, water - tricky stuff!), put the pot on the kitchen window and held my breath.  And guess what?  It's sprouting and growing and totally not dying!  Ok, so it's not quite at the 'honey can you pick me some basil to toss in this pasta' stage yet, but may there is still hope for my black thumb of death?

To be continued...