This Month In The Garden.

JULY

After a brief absence the Bronze Wing Pigeon is back but is not allowing me to photograph it even though it's not at all shy. 

Broadbeans, strawberries, tomatoes - all doing well and setting fruit despite the wild weather we've had recently.

Most of the herbs have barely survived the cold snaps and I'm sorely missing them especially the sage.  I couldn't help myself this week and bought a measly bunch for $1.99 to add to a soup I made.

I have two zygocactus (both inherited from my MIL) and I always thought they were both the same.

They are not, this one, which flowers later than the other has a much deeper pink flower.

The Rhodanthe has burst forth with paper white flowers.

Initially I purchased twenty two of these plants - only two (and a half survived)!

I've wished for a white violet for a couple of years now, this one popped up on its own!  

I'm assuming that the regular violet growing close by may have mutated.

A busy bee - the flower is a Boronia? Crowea? Wax Flower? If you know then let me know!

The appearance of these little native pea flowers are a sure sign that spring is not far off.

Our mulberry tree is a weed.

It self-sowed in the most inappropriate spot in the garden between two rocks, beneath a couple of Banksia trees and right next to a thoroughfare.

It has to go. Each year I tell myself I will take a cutting and plant it in a more favourable spot in the garden.

But then we got our Grand Daughter some silkworms and I haven't even pruned the tree this year so we can have sufficient leaves to feed them. (That is if the eggs hatch).

She can't have pets because she lives in a rental and found the silk worms fascinating.

This year the tree is smothered in fruit.  This is a sure sign that there will be a battle between humans, birds and possums!

A Silver Eye enjoying a bath.

Another feathered visitor waiting a turn in the bird bath.

This sandstone retaining wall, which I built some years ago, has a nice growth of moss on it now.

Our garden has an abundance of what builders call 'floaters'. Their presence put a restriction (among others) on the building footprint.

Colourful Friday - Leaves.

Winter ground cover.

A spiny wattle.

Pittosoporum (Native Daphne).

Crowea? Wax flower?  Not sure. If someone can positively identify this plant please let me know.

This potted plant comes from North Queensland.

I think it's a Cordyline.  The colour of the leaf's edges is fluorescent pink.

Another unidentified plant indigenous to our local area.  Once again, help identifying it positively is welcome.  Perhaps a tea-tree?

Geebung or Persoonia.

Lomatia.  

This is a minute selection of (mostly) local native plants growing in our bush garden. 

Our little garden (just over one thousand metres squared) is slowly becoming one of a kind in our street.  This is because our neighbours, one by one, are turning more of their native gardens into usable space for their growing families.

This is not a criticism, just an observation and an incentive for me to preserve as much as I can in our garden as a reminder of what the area originally supported in the way of Wildplants.

Also feel welcome to visit earlier posts:

Banksia Serrata.

Raindrop.

I'm linking this post to Daisy Quilts.

Thanks Robyn for hosting.

WIP Wednesday # 37

It's been a busy week in our household.  Mostly because of this guest bedroom redecorating project. Check out the post to see what else needs doing.

I've recovered enough from my 'flu and bronchitis to finish off the front and back of my mohair sweater and have started the sleeves.

Here's a sneak peak of my second Dr Seuss Cot Quilt.  Quilt number one is being bound at present.

WIP Wednesday is hosted by Lee at Freshly pieced, check it out.

Guest Bedroom Progress

It's been a busy week.

Managed to get most of the guest bedroom complete.  

Still need to get a bedside table lamp, a new floor rug and I would like to make some bunting for the blue wall.

The pleated blind is waiting to go to the cleaners so had to make do with the roller shutter for this photograph.

A new patchwork quilt would be nice too!

In this corner I plan to put a small desk which is waiting for a renovation.
The cushion cover is a crocheted cover that I picked up from Frou Frou during a sale...just because I liked the look of it.
The framed embroidery is one I completed in 1997 and has been in hiding a good part of the time since then.

The Bears belong to Youngest Son (who is now 24 year old).

I couldn't resist making new clothes for this one - I knitted a little top and made a pair of bloomers for it.  Grand Daughter loved it and spent hours dressing and undressing both the bears.

In the background are more beautiful lace pillow slips from Frou Frou.

Art works are by Lindy Longhurst. I love Lindy's work and the larger one was one of her first pieces.

They were in the master bedroom but I'm feeling that it's time for them to move on.  I didn't really want to part with them and I think they suit the guest room perfectly.

Still a lot of work to do but I'm feeling very satisfied with how things are turning out.

The room now makes the rest of the house look so dreary that it has urged me on to start on the next room - The Study!

Wednesday Already Dr Seuss?

I've labelled this my "Bitza" quilt...not only is it bits of this fabric and bits of that fabric but it's got bits of every theme in it too. Dragonflies, butterflies, cats, dogs, pigs, frogs...you name it.

I'm continuing to hand quilt the border and now  putting a bit of detail into the butterflies...just couldn't resist.

Dr Seuss cot quilt number one is quilted and awaiting binding. I've machine quilted this one  as I've got a deadline (baby due in less than tree weeks).

The second Dr Seuss cot quilt top is almost done but alas no photographs yet!  Hopefully next week.

We're redecorating so I've had no choice but to make curtains for the guest room...almost done.

And I'm contemplating joining the Freshly Pieced Summer Sampler QAL. Okay, so it's already into block number five...hmmm.

French General and Japanese Dragonfly quilt tops have seen no progress!

Drop by and visit Lee at Freshly Pieced to see how everyone's progressed this week.

Managed to complete curtains before posting...here's a sneak peak at the newly painted room with curtains hung...I'm loving it so far but it was a shock to the system at first as it was a TOTAL change.  Can't wait to replace furniture etcetera.

Don't forget to drop by and visit Lee's Blog at Freshly Pieced.

Colourful Friday

Triangles

¬in not so obvious places¬

A middle-eastern rug

And another.

In the edge of a crocheted doily. 

Another rug.

A favourite etching.

And a second favourite etching.

I love collecting lacy handkerchiefs.

A sun-catcher at the verandah door.

And another.

Thanks to Robyn G @ Daisy Quilts for hosting

Colourful Friday-Triangles.

Drop by and visit her here.

Hope you all have a happy and safe weekend.

This post is linked to Daisy Quilts Colourful Friday - Triangles.

Thrifty Thursday.

Do I like chenille?  Not particularly but I instantly fell in love with this double bed bed spread when I spotted it in my local St. Vinnie's store yesterday.

Why?  Well, the colours are just so ME!  It's not often I see something and KNOW immediately that it's right.

And at $25 it's a bargain.

Here it's on a king single bed but it fits perfectly on a double bed too.

Only problem now is do I use it on the guest bed or do I use it on the loft studio bed?

Pink and green...my favourite colour combination.  Just a blush of pink, and such a soft, soft green.

The browns go perfectly with the guest bedroom rug too...hmmm.