A birthday in the bush....

Hello Dhaaarlings...

Princess and the Empress took a trip to the bush recently 

To wish a dear family friend a happy birthday...

The Empress made a special cake

for a Special Birthday...

It even lit up!

Our friend was so pleased that we got a tour of the garden to celebrate

Succulents abound as they are very hardy in the harsh summer conditions

As do Gum Trees...

One of which was covered in masses of lovely pale pink blooms

 This year they even managed to grow and harvest some Pumpkins

And Rainbow Chard/ Silverbeet...

It is such a contrast after years of ravaging drought

We came home with bags of Quinces and Grapefruit the size of baseballs!

So I'm off to find some recipes Dhaaarlings and to fire up the preserving pan...

Brown Orchid...

Hello Dhaarlings...

 You might remember that I went to the local orchid club show a few weeks back?

 I picked up a couple of pretties in my excitement. and one of them I have been waiting patiently to bloom...

And this week it finally has...

It is a lovely Brown Cymbidium

 

It has cheered me up to no end...

I think it has been well worth the wait...

 Don't  You..

Mr Da Vinci's Rose...

Hello Dharlings...

 the sun was shining brightly today so I managed eventually to drag myself from my death bed and do a quiet lap of the Palais Gardens...

Cecil was blooming beautifully...

Potato Patch corner has started to get underway...

And the Lawn needs mowing again...

The Flag Iris are doing spectacular things...

Then suddenly amid my wanderings I was accosted by some hideous and I think somewhat Psychotic Gnomes...

They started appearing in all directions....

And manifesting in all shapes and sizes

At one stage I felt that I was being followed...

By a gnome playing the piano accordian...

It must have been the delerium

 Until I was suddenly brought back to my senses by this...

It was Mr Da Vinci's Rose...

It's beautiful blooms snapped me from my delerium and the horror of the psycho gnomes...

Thank you Leonardo....

I think I need to have another little lie down now after all the exitement from that little adventure...

And a very large glass of Scotch...

And next time I take a stroll in the grounds I'm taking a big stick...

to ward off the Psychotic Gnome attacks...

Your welcome to join me...

A Rose By Any Other Name....

My favourite Rose is blooming again Dhaarlings...

And I just had to show you...

Yes... It's the "Blackboy" Climbing Rose and this year after the decent rains is covered in a prolific show of large wonderfully scented blooms...

You might also notice the new "Revamped" garden bed which runs alongside   the "Pathway to Nowhere"

I transplanted a row of about 12 "English Box" plants from where the new row of bricks edging the garden bed now are.... across to the garden bed on the right of the pathway. Which I hope eventually... will fill out to form an underplanting of box hedge below the existing row of standard

"White Iceberg Roses"

Most of the box seem to have taken in their new position with only one or two not surviving the transplanting...

I'll post a pic of this when the roses bloom in another week or so and I've had time to trim them up a little...

Meanwhile here are some more roses pic from around "The Palais"...

 along with another shot of the "Blackboy"

And here are some of the other roses starting to show off for spring

The purple climbing rose

Miniature Cream Pink

Close up

The Red Climber...

And finally the Yellow Banksia Rose...

A Native Climbing Rose

Thornless with prolific clusters of dainty pale yellow blooms.

There is also a White version of this plant.

I'ts very hardy and robust and seems to thrive on neglect...

This one manages to climb it's way up about 30 feet into the calistamon tree

Then sprouts showy cascades of lemon blooms about 6 foot long in all directions and sprawls out over the roof of the outdoor area.

And I'll be buggered if I'm climbing up that high to give it a trim!...

Princess Ripe for the Picking....

As you know Princess just loves getting down and dirty,

 and this week things are in full swing

in the "Palais De Steff " Kitchen Garden.

The farmhands have been eager, ready and waiting....

 To assist Princess in the Plucking...

 

The Tomato vines are heavy with fruit

As are the Zucchini

and Squash...

Not That Sort of Squash Boys....

I said "Not that sort of Squash"

Did you not hear me the first time now back to work!

There are root vegetables to be gathered...

Radish..

Beetroot...

And...

Carrots to be pulled....

I see one of you have already found a carrot top...

And yes Benjamin, I know that you are very proud of yours...

 But again I did not mean that sort of Carrot!

I mean't these carrots.

Now boys, When you are quite ready...

  It's off to harvest...

My...

Watermelons...

Remember .....

When handling Princess'  melons...

Maintain a firm hand....

I dont want any breakages!

Now after all that hard work...

 I think Princess has earned a drink...

Cocktails Anyone?