winter flowering plants

I love plants and I think they are the champions or the star performers of our gardens like ornaments and sculptures they add that special personal touch. They can stamp a garden that in many respects says this garden belongs in a particular geographic region. Or does it? Many plants can live in different climates and different countries they just need the right conditions to thrive this could be called a micro climate situation. Where the growing environment is altered slightly to benefit and extend the range of plants that can be grown in situ. This means the plant will flower at different times in the growing season compared to the same plants growing in a different region. This I find is an interesting and rewarding benefit of a garden that is designed to maximise the growing environment for tender plants. I am keen to find situations and techniques people have used to allow tender plants to grow in regions where it is not considered possible. You're welcome to leave any related comments. Below is a collection of photos of plants in flower in Canberra, Australia for the end of May into June. I will be adding to this collection on a regular basis. Please check back at another time.

Your new garden could be spectacular

Ever wondered why you love being outside in a garden.  Is it ever just one thing that makes the experience memorable and enjoyable?    Many elements of the outdoors  play important roles in  making the outdoor garden an enjoyable place to relax.

I believe many of us take the experience of being outside for granted, or rather we know what is not nice.  However I think at times we struggle how to improve our outdoor spaces.  There is always a flood of new products that come onto the market at the beginning of each season.  Taking account of the new releases can help but you still need to put everything together in a tasteful manner.  My tips include the following:

1. create an ideas file these include photos, sketches or wish list. For example you might want a vertical garden http://www.verticalgardenpatrickblanc.com/ for something different
2. get to know the latest product releases for plants and new  hard landscaping features like pre cast pavers and blocks or perhaps water features and ponds.  http://trade-winds.be/product.php?id=39&la=enhttp://trade-winds.be/product.php?id=39&la=en
3. Go and see a designer to plan how you could pull together your ideas into a solution.  The key is to have a plan be imaginative and willing to give it all a go.

After doing this process you will see many options and usually just how much can be achieved is controlled by your budget.  A rough idea on how much you want to spend is important.  A flexible approach and desire to achieve will always yield a beautiful outdoor space.

The value of a new livable outdoor space is not recognised immediately in monetary terms but rather in the surprising amount of use and joy it will provide.  As soon as a new garden is created it begins to repay its value to you and as the plants begin to mature it continues to add joy!!

My New fork

I am absolutely wrapped in my new heavy duty garden fork.  Funny thing the delivery driver thought it was a bed head, we had a good laugh when I told him it was a garden fork.

Here is a photo link

http://twitpic.com/1thvaz

I guess you can understand what he thought.  This is known as a Gundaroo tiller, more information can be accessed from the link

http://www.allsun.com.au/BroadForkL.html

My poor old heavy clay soils are going to re-structured!!!

Value of fresh food

Today I had the pleasure of visiting a commercial vegetable garden near Gundaroo, taste the fabulous produce and enjoy the surroundings with my wonderful wife. The taste of fresh roasted corn cobs on the bbq is amazing. Corn fritters and tomatoes and the hot chillies were exquisite. Thanks to the chefs from the Gods cafe ANU.

Growing organic vegetables is a very satisfying thing, it is kind to the environment, tastes better and is cheaper.