Firstly one giant white cosmos above, it's a real beauty. I planted seedlings that i'd bought from the garden centre and altho they are pretty the plants are quite small and insignificant. This white one was from a seed that i'd sown in a jiffy pot, and the plant is huge, waist high and now covered with these large white flowers. I'll have to sow more next year now i know it works.
Above and below is a gladi, normally called a gladioli in most other countries but we call them gladi's or glady's for short. This one grew from a corm i found in the back shed of the old house which was going to be sold to a developer, so i "saved" it. 
The old man who used to own the house and garden was close to 100 when he was forced to move, so all of his plants that i have saved are very old rootstock, and very precious to me. 
I've got a lovely bunch of broccoli, or so i sang to myself as i picked them. Did you know that after cutting the main flower head of the broccoli you can continue to pick and eat the offshoots for several weeks more. It really is the vegetable that keeps on giving. These side shoots are delicious.
A shy blue tongue lizard, photographed thru my BR window as she/he disappears at the slightest sound. It did not occur to me that when i built this retaining wall and it's ag drain that i was providing a home for someone. The lovely lizard eats the snails in my garden, that's why i don't use normal snail bait as it would kill the lizard as well. These critters are much more effective at keeping the snails down.I hope to get back to you all again by the New Year but right now i'm doing some very heavy landscaping and when i get inside at the end of the day i just go into freefall. If i don't see or speak to you before Sunday i hope you all have a wonderful New Year and may only good things come your way in 2012. cheers
Beautiful flowers. I love Glads. The spring rains here usually bend them over.
ReplyDeleteI put saucers of beer in the garden to get the snails. There are probably critters out there that I don't know about that eat them too.
BTW, a new neighbor a few blocks over put in raised gardens. I took Terry over to see them in person. Smart move on my part. So, in the spring for sure, I'm getting raised gardens.
Good Gardening.
Happy gardening, Happy New Year! The broccoli side shoots are my favorite part. I actually like the stems better than the head part. And I wish I had a lizard to eat my snails...
ReplyDeleteMay only good things come your way in 2012. Happy New Year to you, too.
ReplyDeleteHugs~
Gorgeous blooms. My gladis are a while off yet. I livening deep red colour of yours.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a fan of snail bait either so your blue tongue does a great job in exchange for a lodging.
I'm so pleased you and Coralie have enjoyed Molly's videos.
Best wishes for a great 2012 for you both x
Carol i've never grown gladis before so i have yet to learn what will happen to them in the wind and rain.
ReplyDeleteDeb i agree, they are the sweetest.
Thanks Terri and to you too.
Sarah, Molly's videos were a hoot.
That gladdie is a beautiful colour!
ReplyDeleteI see you have changed your header picture again. Cute knitting! I must figure out how to get a picture there myself.
Hi Kaite, catching up with all the news as I've been away, in Katoomba...I did wave to you but you probably didn't see me, as you've been so busy in the garden!
ReplyDeleteAll the best to you and your mum for 2012.
...oh and like your new header too, is it a trivet, or a piece of lovely art?
always such beautiful flowers and the grass is so lush. wishing you and your mom the best in the new year.
ReplyDeleteThanks Vireya, and i'll email you privately about the header pic.
ReplyDeleteNanette you're badd, if you'd let me know i would have driven up to Katoomba, it's only 1 1/2 hours drive from here.
Thankyou deanna, and the same to you and your family for 2012.
Oooh, feel like I've been smacked lol sorry Kaite, thought about it, but I didn't know what son had planned and then we were a bit busy.
ReplyDeleteGood news though...I'll be back there in April, I'll be sure to let you know when and we can catch up...
Coming here always delights in brilliant color and beauty, both natural and handmade. Wishing you and your mom a lovely 2012!
ReplyDeleteThe glad is wonderful and I'd like to see a photo when it's in full flower. It was one if my mother's favourite flowers, so it's a little nostalgic for me. As for th Cosmos, let it go to seed and you'll have a lot of volunteer seedlings next year.
ReplyDeleteNanette you make sure you do contact me in April, i'll keep it in my thought diary.
ReplyDeleteNancy what a lovely comment, you can come again! Wishing you and yours a superb 2012 also.
AMD i'll try to remember to get my camera out early in the morning before the sun hits it.
promise I will kaite, wouldn't be game not to, you know where I live :)
ReplyDeleteMy favorite place to go on Friday - and like all the beautiful colours in your header!
ReplyDeletelove your Glady too! I find those difficult to grow but it might be my sandy soil which seems to take years to improve.
Most of all I adore your lizard! I haven't seen one ever since moving back to Adelaide - I miss them.
Thanks for sharing! wishing you and Coralie and Charlie a really good New Year!!
Happy new year to you Kaite. Your garden looks lovely...happy little protected lizard...
ReplyDeleteA happy creative year to you Kaite!
ReplyDeletea happy garden lizard is a good friend. lovely lovely garden.
ReplyDeleteCosmos are beautiful, but we weren't able to grow them - we had far too many hungry earwigs that happily chomped them off the minute they popped through the ground. Sad, because the birds love the seeds.
ReplyDelete