Peastraw

My peastraw is beginning to break down and go all black. In theory it'll turn into lovely mulch quite soon. Looks like it might be working too.

These ones look just like huge lamingtons to me.

 

Vitamin C for Winter

They say that vitamin C is good for warding off colds, and what better way to get it than with a fresh orange?! Such a great crop I've got this year, it seems like the tree has finally got old enough to produce. Last year I only got about 6 oranges in total.

Winter Flowering Hebes

A couple of my newly planted hebes are starting to flower in winter. Hebes all seem to flower at different times, so it is a bit of a lottery as to which type you get. Winter flowering will be good for any bees that are still out and about, give them something to snack on.

Magnolias

 One of my magnolias has started to flower. So it must be winter. The other magnolia got trimmed at the ground by the neighbours, so time will tell if it is still alive. But this one is such a welcome sight as we head into the depths of winter.

And the soft soft buds, like lambs ears, but on a tree.

How is your imagination?

Squint your eyes a bit and pretend that all this gloopy clay is in fact beautiful hand made terracotta pavers, and that the sun is shining down, and you have a cool drink in your hand, skimpy clothing on, and are reclining in a comfy chair.  Got it?

The hebe hedge

It's winter! Things are supposed to stop growing! But everything seems to be shooting along. These little hebe plants, which are to become my hebe hedge creating my safe enclosure around my Harmony garden, are just powering up. I'm not about to get the hedge clippers out yet, or even make some cuttings from them, but they must have doubled in size since I planted them.

More enterprising students

 At the Clevedon Markets this week there were some students who have finished an assignment (I presume) and created a business selling bug houses for your garden. They had the whole works - business cards and banner, and printed t shirts. Plus a range of bug house styles, a bird feeder, and kitset ones if you don't want one of their lavishly decorated ones.  They had built the houses from up-cycled materials, and considered their environmental impact. Good work to them!