Tuesday 30 December 2008

Summer Show;


In the afternoon the shadows bring mystery and coolness to the hot, sun washed garden.

Two summers ago I planted a Tibouchina grandiflora, it has grown into a sizeable bush with a display of huge, silky flowers.



Let us in....



My mystery climbing rose has put on a second flush, the summer is kind this year to my roses.





Sniff sniff...Billy is never far from where I am....



It looks like we are getting a nice crop of grapes.



Forgotten Glads pop up....



Every Summer the Ipomea horsfalliae puts up a show. All insects love this climber especially the tiny native bees.



Lagerstroemia indica grandiflora, is a sight to behold, the whole tree is like a huge bouquet of flowers.





I wish you all a very Happy New year and hope to meet again in 2009









Friday 26 December 2008

Skywatch Friday;



SkyWatch Friday;



The end of a beautiful day; Ballina Northcoast NSW.

For more SkyWatch pictures please click here.
Photo T.S.

Monday 22 December 2008

Christmas Colours;

Christmas Colours;



Merry Christmas;

Succulent;

Quiscalis;

Mussaenda;

Geranium;

Clerodendrum climber;

Angelwing Begonia;



Photos from my garden.




Thursday 18 December 2008

SkyWatch Friday;

SkyWatch Friday;


Waiting for a new sunrise.
For more Skywatch Friday pictures around the world please click on

Photo T.S.

Tuesday 16 December 2008

Simply intriguing;

My Sky Sunday, 14. December 16.00 PM;


Gasteria flowers;


Hibiscus;


Euphorbia millii grown from seed;


Tibouchina Noelle has different coloured flowers;

Geranium;




The common name is Pride of India;




Australian native plant, Hibbertia scandens, also called Snake Vine. They are easily grown from seed.
Believe it or not:
When Napoleon,who had a mathematical brain, first saw the pyramids, he worked out that the cubic content of Cheops would be enough to build a ten-foot high wall round the whole of France!
Organic tip of the week; Strawberries;


Nutrition Info
Strawberries are well known for their high nutritional value and medicinal properties. Just eight strawberries daily provides more than 20% of the daily recommended folate intake for expectant mothers, and more vitamin C than an orange! They are also high in folic acid or folate. Folate is a water soluble B vitamin which helps prevent birth defects such as spina bifida in newborn babies. Strawberries are the richest fruit source of antioxidants after blueberries and cranberries. Strawberries are high in dietry fibre & one of the lowest calorie fruits available making them excellent as a dietary food. High in fibre pectin, they are antiviral and anticancer in general. They also benefit the cardiovascular system. They may cause allergies in some people.
Interesting Facts about Strawberries
Native forms of strawberries adapt to various climates and are indigenous to every major
continent except Africa, Australia and New Zealand. The fruit size of the very early strawberries was very small. Seventy per cent of a strawberry's roots are located in the top three inches of soil. Strawberries are the first fruit to ripen in the spring. One cup of strawberries is only 55 calories.

Ciao; thank you for your visit.









Thursday 11 December 2008

SkywatchFriday;

SkyWatch Friday;


Broadbeach under a rainy summer sky;





The beaches in Surfers Paradise are ready for the holidays; {This one is Broadbeach.}





Sky, Sea and Sand.


For more Skywatch Pictures please go to http://skyley.blogspot.com/


Photos: T.S.

Monday 8 December 2008

Australian native trees and shrubs;

Australian natives, flowering now in my Bush garden;


Brachychiton acerifolius; Illawarra Flame Tree;
(Please click pictures to see more details.)




Grevillia baileyana; White Oak;


Backhousia citriodora; Lemon scented Myrtle;



Syzygium wilsonii; Powderpuff Lilly Pilly;


Banksia robur; Swamp Banksia;


Pittosporum rhombifolium; Hollywood;


Metrosideros queenslandicus; Queensland Golden Myrtle;


Pandorea jasminoides; Bower of Beauty;


Elaeocarpus reticulatus; Blueberry Ash;


Baeckea sp. Clarence River;



Believe it or not:
"If you want to be happy, set a goal that commands your thoughts, liberates your energy, and inspires your hopes." - Andrew Carnegie







Thursday 4 December 2008

SkyWatch Friday

SkyWatch Friday;




The summer sky is full of clouds, unsettled, shifting and changeable;

Sometimes if you are lucky you can see...

an angel!


For more (I can not promise more angels) but beautiful photos from worldwide skies, please go to http://skyley.blogspot.com/
Photos. T.S.