This Month In The Garden

JUNE
Initially, I didn't think that there would be much to photograph in the garden this month.  How wrong was I.

The cacti are doing surprisingly well.

Above is the centre of a Swamp Lily, at least I think that this is what it is.  It's an Australian Native which we've had in the ground for around five years and is yet to flower.

Cherry Tomato in flower.  There's been a good crop this year but the fruit is too sour to eat.  Perhaps the fruit have not had enough sun.

Strawberries are fruiting now too...but I really thought that summer was their growing season?

Some of the wattles are in flower. Here are a couple of ants making their way to a feast of nectar.

Angophoras have been sprouting all over the garden.  I love the colours and the textures of the seedlings.  Unfortunately, most sprout in awkward positions and are not viable.  This one is growing in alongside a potted Kaffir Lime bush.  

I planted six or seven of these Conestick bushes in the garden about seven years ago.  This is the first time that flower heads have formed.  I'm looking forward to seeing the first flowers.

When it comes to Cymbidium Orchids, I think I can safely admit to having a green thumb!  Already, there are about eight spikes forming on my four potted cymbidiums.  Unfortunately, they are all the same variety and I have given away tens of these plants over the past twenty five years or so. Each year I promise myself that I will purchase a new variety but I've never got round to doing this.

It's still June, so I was very surprised to find that the mulberry tree is full of new buds.  Sorry, but the picture quality is not good.  I was so surprised by this find, I just had to post.

  Now that the Winter Solstice is over, the days can only get longer.

Happy gardening!

Lazy Day.

Went to my little grand daughter's second ballet class this morning.  So cute. Four little girls, and one boy. 
Afterwards, I did a bit of shopping and then on returning home began preparing tonight's dinner - gluten free pizza.
I make a pizza which I call White Pizza.
I have eliminated any plant from the Solanaceae  family from my diet and therefore cannot have the regular pizza with tomato paste.
So on my pizza I have ricotta cheese, olives, roast zucchini, artichoke hearts, mozzarella cheese, herbs, (basil, marjoram, sage) mushrooms, pepper and olive oil.
Sometimes I add thinly sliced fennel to the mix.
A portion of the ricotta cheese is thinned with soy milk to a thick paste which I use in place of the tomato paste, spreading on the gluten free pizza base before adding the remaining ingredients. 
In the afternoon, I did some sewing on the curtains I'm making for the large sliding door in our dining room. 
And my little grand daughter had a play mate come and visit.
Here are the curtains, being pressed before measuring and pinning.
Since taking up patchwork and quilting classes, I have come to realise how much easier sewing can be, and how much more of a professional finish can be achieved simply by pressing as you work.