It is a gorgeous sunny day here in Wellington. The skies are blue, the cicadas are singing and it really doesn’t feel like autumn. The seedlings in the propagator/trough are waving their little green leaves and I’ve just gathered some chicken thyme and chives to add to our dinner. Thanks once again to The Propagator for allowing us to share what is going on in our gardens.
So first up, the weather, which as you can see, is still (mostly) lovely. I’m back to watering in the evenings.
I picked up some more Jet Fire miniature daffodils after several of you told me to get some more. I also got some muscari bulbs (a favourite) and some anemones for a bright splash of colour. Now I need to plant them!
Three nasturtiums have popped up in different places, where I least expected to find them. I’ll repot them rather than leaving them where they are, and look forward to seeing some more flowers.
To my pots of herbs, and the sage plant which had been looking sad for a while is now doing well, the lemon balm is flourishing, and I am keeping my eyes on the basil which may have to come inside in the next few weeks.
The Japanese anemones are still blooming, filling spaces in the garden with their lovely pale pink flowers.
And now a question…what is the plant below? No-one can agree/decide. Anyone of you knowledgeable folk out there know? We have a whole lot of them outside one of our downstairs windows. The tallest one must be about 1.5m high and gets what looks like a type of berry in the winter.
So that is all from me this Saturday. Hope you have all had a lovely week and look forward to seeing your gardening stories.
You can find Thistles and Kiwis on Facebook, and also on Instagram@thistleandkiwis. As for Twitter….am totally inactive these days. If you want to get in touch, email me on thistlesandkiwis@gmail.com
Unknown plant looks like mahonia. Does it have yellow flowers in Winter? Lots of #mahonialove on Twitter. Nice mix of bulbs. I’ve just planted Japanese Anemone root cuttings. I hope they take off. If not I’ll end up buying a more established plant.
Yes it does have yellow flowers – just Googled the picture and you are spot on – thanks!
No worries. I’ve been considering adding one to my garden but not sure it’ll tolerate the sea breeze. The ones in my neighbourhood are mixed between looking spectacular and utterly miserable.
I thought Mahonia too when I saw the photo – comments above think so too.
At last I know…!
I think your unknown plant is a Mahonia or a Cyrtomium. Not many differences btw them.
Thanks for replying. I knew all you experts would know!
It is such s thing to see you with your bulbs in packets whist ours are blooming. Isn’t nature brilliant!
I know!
…and that you are referring to autumn and for us Spring has only just sprung! Your sage is looking nice and healthy. 🙂
I’ve just picked some sage to use later in the meatballs I am making for dinner. I know…we are upside down here 🙂
Jetfire is the best daff in my garden by a country mile. Can’t go wrong getting more. I will top them up this autumn I think.
So glad I got some more!
Very sunny but cool here too, wondering how cold it’s going to get up here as it’s our first winter in the far north.
I don’t think it will be too cold – maybe wet?
Agree with others it definitely looks like a Mahonia to me. So lovely to see your garden in late summer/ early autumn – gives us something to look forward to, while hopefully seeing our spring bulbs come up is the same for you.
Yes it is lovely to see all the spring flowers!
I see you already have the answer to your mystery plant. Mahonias can have the most spectacular leaf colour in autumn too, with reds and yellows. Yours does look quite a large one! Plus the flowers are scented. Jetfire has been popular with the SoSers this year, I may have to buy some for myself in the autumn.
Yes they do turn red and yellow. There is quite a large clump of them beside the house. Must remember to smell the flowers! Planted some of the bulbs yesterday – looking forward to seeing them pop up.
In Maine, we are in mud season, which is the beginning of spring. So fun to see you getting ready for fall.
I love seeing the different seasons in different places.
Oh, me, too! Such a pleasure.
I enjoy nasturtiums as it makes great ground cover in the garden. I never thought about planting it in a container…
We’re pretty much restricted to container gardening, but you are right nasturtiums make great ground cover.