Kiwi harvest coming up

There is an abundance of kiwi's again. I am picking them in the last week of November and the last ones on December fifth, the kiwi's above our extension.

I pick about four fruit boxes full. The jam is still to be made (Dec 10)

Chrysant

These chrysants are standing on the corner near the kitchen. The whole summer there was the promiss of what would come in autumn. In September I started to doubt whether it would every happen. But here it is!! Light purple with yellow harts.

I had bought this one last year. After it flowered, lots of little plants shoot up at the base. I should have separated them, but didn't. Now they are stalks , while I probably should have topped them for bushy look. So hard: topping!

Sedum

We have too much of this stuff, but it is to be said: a beautiful color and nice flower. Just one plant would be enough....

The rear of the garden

This picture gives a nice view of the rear of the garden. The sun shines through the Hazelnuts bush. The Conifers I will try to cut back a bit this winter.

More paving fun!!

Margrites and Cosmos

The Margrites and the Cosmos keep on going. The Cosmos will finally give way to the rain in a couple of weeks.

Huge leaves of the Plane-tree.

My little helper in paving!

We are building paths through the rear of the garden, to open it up more. It is more fun with her!

Bottlebrush in flower

Amazing this Australian friend wants to flower after the dutch summer.

Green oasis

What a green oasis this seems as I am posting this now in February!

In the foreground in the 'rock' garden, the red Valirian is still flowering. It likes it there, but it thrives anywhere, no need to take up the Sunny spot.

The guided trees in front of the shed still have their leaves, and the Maple is just loosing it's leaves, giving a bit more sun shine in the garden now that the Sun doesn't go as high anymore.

Helianthus

We'll have to see if this Helianthus survives the winter - in the pot.... This insect was liking it so far!

Chrysanthum

Chrysanthum with Sage

Forest white flower

This plant I have high expectations of. It is a forest plant, and should fit in, right there! So far it is doing really well.

Dianthus

An autumn flower from this Dianthus, also one of the sales items!

Persicaria

It was a great big bush of outgrown Persicaria. But like last year, I gave it a second life by cutting the old stuff out. It is a bit more work, caring to keep the little flowers, but worth the effort. Second flowers

The New Asters

My joy of the week. I am really pleased with where I placed the new Asters. Somehow they really go well with the Lavender,. And I wanted it placed so that the Rosa Sedum in the background got enhanced. Now see if it survives the year for next year.

Ah, the imperata. Here still in pot. But this is the spot, I found later. From the kitchen I can see the red leaves waving in the wind.

It opened my eyes to the value of grasses. I have never really warmed to this grass hype of these days, but this was looking jolly.

Aguillera

Well, this one likes it here! Obviously, it spontaneously flowered in October!

Sedum in bloom

Ah the sedum! It is still massive this year, although I already removed quite a bit. It is rather boring all year, but the bloom is actually quite nice.

The sedum at the back is not visible from anywhere by this spot, so it will be replaced by something higher.

Wealth of new flowers

I visited the great nursery near the office. All plants for 1.50 and twelf for the price of ten. An offer I couldn't refuse. Some great flowers!

What is there? Asters, Gras Imperata, nice and red, Nepata, Echinacaea. Trillia for under the trees.

Malva for the second time

The Malva flowers for the second time this year. In the front Coreopsis and a small Rose that I just bought at my new favourite nursery (De Groot).
And the most beautiful flower in the background!

Further just noticeable the Oost-Indische Kers with the red flower and the blue flowers.

How it is this year

It has been dry in July, and I have watered too late. The pink Scharnier flower did not come into bloom, but is rather a green bush in the middle of the lawn.

Then there is the high white field flower, just in front of the Lavender, I have no idea what it is. It is not all that eventfull , but it attracted lots of bees and bumblebees. I left it standing for what I thought was nice sculpture later in the winter, but later I re-thought and cut it down. It blocks the view more than anything else.

The Cariopteres was very blue this year. Obviously the cut I gave it in spring was ok.

In the foreground the Margriet and Cosmos, both white.

The Sedum right at the back just blushing pink.

Crocosmia

I didn't know this plant, although it is well known. I am absolutely enthusiastic: it is easy, bright, and very artistic. I have heard that once every couple of years one should split the bulbs. We'll see. It was a dry July, so they finished flowering early. Next year a bit watering, sure!

Blue candle sticks

Was this flower here last year? Is it a stray? It flowers for a long time and bright. Lots of bees and bumblebees. A great plant.

Some thoughts

I have recently had some ideas about the garden.

One started with a little book that my mother lent me. "The maintenance free garden". It sounded a bit boring. They were talking a lot about gritt and stones to cover the garden. And mulching of course. All of it I am not much into. I mean, mulching sounds good, but hardly happens ('Hurricanes hardly happen', My Fair Lady). But then I got thinking. Yes, it is a good idea to use mulch, or cocaonutshells to cover up the ground in between plants.

I am still trying to achieve a mixed flower garden, like little clumps of plants, but none the same throughout the garden. The problem is a lot of plants disappear at some time (summer plants in winter), so I find it hard to remember what is where. Still looking for good software for that (Cad? Gis?). And if the plants haven't disappeared, then it is impossible to get through the jungle. But the idea is worth keeping.

The other one, was a funny phrase by Maarten 't Hart in his monthly garden blog in the newspaper. It is not a gardening blog, rather a way to comment on the world from a metaphore. He was talking how his parents had a vegetable garden, and they weeded with the bible in mind: weed was the 'evil'. However Maarten always thought "What will this plant become". This is the dilemma I face in spring too. Simply because I don't know my plants, of course.

An Anemone?

I did not notice these last year, but surely they must have been there. They look a bit like Anemones. They are behind the last pond. And later in the season completely overgrown by the other flowers.

The pond and lilies

The pond is full of algae, water plants and beautiful water lilies.

And: 'pettere' of course!! Splash the water with your feet.

Tree top view

A glimpse from the first floor.

Pink Dianthus and more flowers

Ces is feeding the fish. Time for a nice photo in the green. Look at those Dianthi there, they are definitely in the right spot here, and so beautiful. I'll try to get more types. There is already the red one, that featured a month ago or so.

Lily

Abundant, rewarding flowers, these lilies. At least, last year they flowered for months. They are in two spots, behind both ponds. They indeed give a nice entourage for the ponds, with the hanging leaves.

Malva

This is Malva or 'kaasjeskruid'. A fieldflower that we find on the roadside here. But so bright and jolly. I'd like more of this, it is already more than last year. Funny enough I found some white Malva too, I think. Near the gold fish pump.

Garden in flower

Cherries

After the red berries now it is time for wonderful cherries. Black, blacker than in the photo. Thick, at least as thick as these types get. Just by picking the cherries in reach, I get 1.2 kilo and that makes me 4 jars of jam. Doing it the quick and dirty way: boil them with the stones, and then press them through the culundar. Gets rid of the skins too.

A bit of a nasty aftermath though: the cherries drop on the neighbours floors, and we get a gardener to remove some branches. Some of the branches on our side go too, too much! Well, let's hope they grow back again.

Lion's mouth and my Grandmother's garden

The Lion's mouth bought in Switzerland. My grandmother used to grow them against the garage, a rather sunny spot, where the shade would only start at 3 pm. But she had them about 60 cm's high, this must be a different breed... It is probably an annual too... we will see next year.

I guess a lot of my gardening reminds me of my grandmother. The Pelargoniums, the grape vine, the red berries, Roses. She grew them all. In the Summer, when we staid with her, every evening it was time for "Blumen giessen", watering the flowers. She would drag an enourmous water can through her garden and water all the roses, who stood in the full strong Swiss summer sun and liked the extra water. The vegetable bed was easy peasy in comparison. I can also still see the water reservoir she had behind the house: a watertap ran into a metal square container. And the water stood there for at least 24 hours before being used. A good way to take the chlorine out.

Kamille-like weed rescued

Another weed that got rescued. I love the brightness! It is a keeper.

The pond full of algae

Yes, the algae have definitely overtaken the pond. And still it is looking beautiful. I am still doing the dredging approach in small phases. The pond must also be leaking, seeing how fast it drains. I suppose at one time we will have to empty the pond, but I am fearing that day, it must be frightfull to kill all the animals inside.

In Memoriam the Eucalyptus

In Memoriam the Eucalyptus

Blue bush

Wonderfull delicate flowers on this little bush. I am glad I rescued it from overgrowing by the pelargonium.

Red berries

And the red berries!! Why they are so abundant this year, while we didn't have any last?? Is it the rain? We have already had 6 portions for two people out of them.