Awash with Purple Native Irises

Bush (purple flower
at bottom)

You would never notice the little purple flowers in the picture of the bush to the left if you didn't know they were there (they are, right down the bottom) but the camera doesn't always catch what stands out for the eye.

Many Australian native flowers are small and go unnoticed by people used to European flowers but these native Irises stand out even if you don't have an eye for flowers. They are a Patersonia sp. and I have never seen so many flowering at once in the bush near where I live. Maybe our recent 4 day extreme heat brought them all on at once?

Patersonia sp. on the bush path

Springtime in my Mother's garden

Irises on the day of my Mother's farewell

At the end of September winter gardens begin to stir in Taihape. The first daffodils flower but leaves are still furled and the dominant colour is still green/brown. Then in October gardens burst into flower with an unexpected abundance. I had been in my mother's garden in October when it was showing the first signs of life; the very first daffodil was out and the tulips were growing. Three weeks later I was there again to bid my Mother farewell (previous post) and the change in her garden was astonishing. Huge irises, luscious cherry blossom, flowers of all shapes and sizes. Suddenly I realised I had not been there in spring before.

Springtime in my Mother's garden, 1 November 2013.

Cherry blossom on the day of my Mother's farewell

Azaleas not music

My predecessors in this house must have had a particular liking for azaleas as there are a lot of them in my garden, each one different and although I have lived here for some time  this is the first time I have seen them flower.

In fact this is the first time in five years that I have not been on my way to the Maribor Music Festival (Slovenia) in August. I am sorry to miss Maribor and the music this year but I am very pleased to be at home this August and able to see the azaleas bloom.

There are also irises, originally from previous gardens, given to friends during my nomadic years then transplanted again into this garden.

Spring flowers don't last long in Sydney because the weather has a tendency to change from winter to summer in a single day. You have to be here in August!