Tropical Flowers

Back in Thailand we are appreciating the warmth.
Always interesting to see what plants in my yard have survived the neglect.
In spite of a long absence I still have a few flowers to provide a little colour.

A few of them made it into a vase, and a quick trip to the flower market for some gladioli ( they grow them in this town) to fill another vase.

Back in New Zealand

Arriving back in New Zealand I am once again overwhelmed by how over grown everything is. The grass is out of control, and the weeds in the garden are huge. But one step at a time, and slowly I'll get it all under control once again.
When it all gets too much I wander around with my camera and record all the great things that are happening in the garden even without me.

 

 

First thing I go out armed with scissors and cut some flowers to fill a vase or two or three.

 

 

 

 There seems to be quite a lot of flowers hidden under the weeds. From the sweet smelling roses and jasmine to the hot coloured canna lilies. It's a little bit like a treasure hunt.

 

The last of the December peaches are ready to harvest, and the avocados are thick on the tree.
The lemons are turning yellow and the early apples are ready to eat.
There always seems to be something to harvest.

 

 

 

 

It is easy to get distracted from the work, but it is time to put the camera away and pull out the lawn mower. At least I know there is something to look forward to when the work is done.

 

 

 

 

A few flowers

My garden in Thailand is very small and doesn't get a lot of attention.
It consists of two narrow strips , one either side of the entrance and a collection of potted plants on one side of the house (that get points for their persistence rather than their good looks.)
However just as I pack up and head out to New Zealand, I find their are a few spots of beauty and colour to be found there.

 

I am lucky to live close to a market, so I can always find bunches of flowers there to bring home when I really need some flower therapy.

 

 

Flowers to fill the vase

After grumbling about how hot it has been since we arrived in Thailand, we have just had a few rainy days which has left the air cool and clean. Hopefully this marks the beginning of the cool season.
We discovered a fun little restaurant down the road from us that serves one of our favorite soups - khao soy. All the dishes, drinking vessels and cutlery are made out of coconut shell. How fun. The soup was delish also.

 

Then it was off to the market to buy some flowers. Alas my garden here has too few blooms to sacrifice to a vase. Though I did find some foliage to add.

 

 

Mid Summer

It seems to be coming up to mid summer, though I'm not sure the weather knows. Is it me or are we having a lot cooler summer than usual.
The seedlings I planted out over the last few weeks are slow to take off. At this rate summer will be over before they mature.
But the lettuces are still producing. The self seeded ones that we came back to at the beginning of the month are starting to finish, but there are a lot more coming along to fill the gap.

The rhubarb is unstoppable, and the perennial herbs are loving all the rain we've been getting.

The flowers seem to be all blooming at once, so it is a riot of colour in the garden. I haven't had the hose out to water yet, and it seems like we are getting more rain tonight.

Thyme waiting for no-one, and new lettuce plants coming along.

 

Decorating with flowers

When we arrived in our newly rented house with our tired old furniture I knew something had to be done.
So I spent a few days with paint and transformed a table, chairs and shelving unit.

Of course then I had to take an emergency trip down to the flower market to get some cut flowers to fill the vases.

 

The rains have arrived

For the last few nights we have been getting rain, thunder and lightening. All very dramatic. As a consequence the days are cooler and fresher, and the city looks fresh and clean.
I am enjoying the numerous trees on the sides of the road that are in flower now.

 

The golden rain tree is especially graceful with its buttery yellow clusters of flowers dripping from its branches.

 

 

It is hard to miss the firey mass of red flowers adorning the flame tree.

 



 

For inside the house I have been buying bunches of alstroemerias and orchids.

 

Both are long lasting flowers in this heat. Though I think the orchids do especially well. I've had this bunch in the vase for 10 days now.