Added Cheer

Wanting to find a new home for some Jonquils I have planted them on the inside edge of the white
agapanthus square border, located on the road verge. I wish it was Daffodils that I had a surplus
 of but they are cheery anyway.

Day 2 - 19 more Roses Pruned

Today was a beautiful sunny winter's day, just perfect for working in the garden. In an effort to get as many roses pruned in the same week in order to maximize synchronized flowering I achieved 19 plants. 8 standards and 11 climbers. 

Before - Standard Ambridge and climbing Iceberg.

A couple of Ambridge blooms.

Afrer - Much better! Just need to go back and replace the stakes for stronger
 metal ones that I have ready and waiting.

Standard Molineux and climbing Graham Thomas

Standard Molineux. These standards have already had their stakes
replaced out of necessity earlier in the year
.

Climbing Pinkie

Using the large loppers I was able to remove some rather old and thick canes.
I still have to go back and tie the remaining canes to the fence. 

The start of this season's rose pruning

Today I pruned 8 roses including 2 climbers. I love how tidy the garden appears once the bushes are trained back into shape and the arch looks like an arch again. Once all the roses are pruned I will need to have a big weeding effort to be ready for my favourite season - spring.

6 Francis Dubreuil Bushes

2 Kathleen Harrop climbers on the arch.

Winter Snowflakes

My Leucojum aestivum bulbs have multiplied quite significantly. First planted in 1991 they are a mass of lush green strap-like leaves with a sprinkling of snowflake flowers.

The flowers are small and bell-shaped, white with a green spot
at the end of each tepal. 

Snowflakes are native to central and southern Europe. 

Moto Guzzi Madness

Rod's first restoration project will be to make one or two worthy bikes from these 3 'need of attention' bikes. The nearest bike he purchased from his brother Peter, the middle bike is the latest one added to his collection, sourced from Ebay and freighted from interstate. The last bike was the first purchased and was brought to Rod's attention by myself after noticing an advert in our local paper. 

Rest in Peace Ros

Today I pay tribute to a remarkable woman who lived life to the full, achieved much and inspired many. Roslyn Kaye Thompson (nee Blight) passed away 19/07/2013 aged 52 after battling Secondaries Breast Cancer for 7 years.

This photo was taken almost a year ago. Ros was undergoing treatment so
another round of hair loss was part of the course. The look captured here is
natural and very much representative of her bright and enthusiastic nature. 

Ros and I shared: the experience of becoming first time mother's- to- be, a love of English China, 32 -the same house number, the appeal for T2 Blue Mountain Tea, Breast Cancer stories and a priority for family first. I will be working towards dedicating an area of the garden or a garden feature to her memory.

Lichen it!

Yesterday whilst having a quick look out the window on a wet winters day I spotted this intense growth of lichen on our Apple Tree. Again the beauty of nature reminds me we need to take the time to stop and look.