An other day....autumn

A cloudless sky this morning at 7AM.

Floppy petals of Hibiscus "Elephant" ear. This Hibiscus always wants to reach the sky. As soon as I pruned it back it"s up there again. The flowers are very beautiful, big, white just with a tint of pink.

I bought vanilla beans to make vanilla sugar. I had Vanilla orchids...but...my climate here is not really well suited...excuses!

Vanilla sugar. I whizz the whole vanilla beans with the sugar. The little bits of black one can sieve out, when using the sugar. This sugar has a really intense vanilla flavour. It is not cloying like artificial vanilla which one mostly can taste in bought patisserie.

Bromeliad, Cryptanthus, commonly called Earth stars. This ones grow for ages in this hanging pot. In summer the pot is sheltered from to much sun by a grape vine. In winter when the grape vine looses its leaves the earth stars benefit from more sun which is not as fierce in winter.

In autumn new Banksia flowers are emerging. This is the Coast Banksia and grows very well in my garden, it doesn't mind heat, wet or dry times. Banksias belong to the Protea family.

They are named after

Sir Joseph Banks, 1st Baronet, GCB, PRS (13 February 1743 – 19 June 1820) was an English naturalist, botanist and science patron. He took part in Captain James Cook's first great voyage (1768–1771) and around 80 species bear Banks' name. He is credited with the introduction to the Western world of eucalyptus, acacia, mimosa, and the genus named after him, Banksia.

(exerpt from Wikipedia)

A seed pod coastal Banksia. They have to be burned to open the little chambers to release the seeds.

Galahs feeding. Cracking open the "stone hard" seedpods of a Sheoak or Casuarina. They are very hardy yet graceful looking trees. Some species have a "weeping" habit and look spectacular. I love them!

Serene and quiet.




Believe it or not: Parsley flourishes where the missus is master. (look at my parsley.)

Music to listen: The Best of Kiri Te Kanawa, Hoki Hoki Tonu Mai, Kiris songs are balm for heart and soul.

Books I read: The complete Book of Great Australian Women by Susanna De Vries.

Africa House by Christina Lamb, revised ed. published 2004

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http://thechutneygarden.blogspot.com/

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White.......plants and such....

Cockeli, Coquette, cocky doodle doo, she was part of our family for 18 years. She never flew away. Last Year she took to the sky, returned a couple of times and since then we haven't seen her anymore. She wasn't a great talker...hello cocky...from time to time she added a new word.
I miss her. Yesterday she was still here, today she isn't, tomorrow she might come back.

Memories...the"converted" diary. It has beautiful pictures and would be a shame to discard.
Today...

Snowy roofs...this picture is from my diary 1991....Yesterday today and tomorrow!

Gardenia belongs to the familyRubiaceae. Is native to tropical and subtropical regions of Africa.This particular plant was a present from a nursery man which nursery I frequented often when I planted my garden from scratch 20 years ago! Yesterday today and tomorrow.

In 1991 I received a beautiful diary from dear friends, both sadly passed away now. I still use the diary I have converted it into a "cookbook" ! Yesterday today and tomorrow!

My dear Soefeli 1995-2006....sadly Yesterday.

Rose Perle Dior loves autumn, winter and early spring to display its flowers. It propagates easily in winter from cuttings. Yesterday and tomorrow.

Yesterday!

Penta lanceolata...beautiful....easy to grow and propagate from green stem cuttings. Holds well in vases, flowers all summer long. The plant to grow in a mixed border. It comes in a big array of colours. Sometimes it mutates and I get a new pink or red. Yesterday today and tomorrow.

Calla "Lilis" make a statement. They like best a moist cool place to grow.

Yesterday and tomorrow.

Cruzifix Orchid shows its flowers for many month. Yesterday today and tomorrow.

Dendrobium Orchid flowers in September/October in my garden. "

Yesterday and tomorrow.

I was on the last voyage the Galileo made to Australia 1974. "Yesterday"






Believe it or not: It is said that a good vegetable cook never needs a garbage bucket. Ladies Home Journal.


Pictures: T.S.





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