:: arthropodium cirratum ::

I was very doubtful that the plantings of these seemingly-delicate 'rengarenga' lilies at a crossing by our local river would survive, and I definitely did not believe they would thrive...with the ducks, dogs, small hopping (and mega-mulch-disturbing!) birds and children on various modes of wheeled transport all passing closeby or through their newly-planted beds.

And the NZ Rock Lily or maikaika or Renga Lily as they are also known are fairly prone to frost and snail-attack, so I thought from this perspective the really small plants the council planted were just plain doomed...

...however, I am, and quite like to be in cases like this, proven wrong!

Two Springs later they have clumped up well and are blooming beautifully :)

:: rosa xxxvi ::

there is an abundance of these lush, ruby red roses along the road parallel to our local river at this time of year...a long wait for them and they are magnificent when they bloom...yum!

:: petroselinum crispum ii ::

 the alluringly-coloured fly sits atop what look like tightly-bunched fists...

...that open slowly, slowly...many days here...

...and then the teeniest of white and yellow parsley (Italian) flowers appear...

:: acca sellowiana ii ::

Looks a bit like pohutukawa (or NZ Christmas Tree)...but it's...a feijoa flower! Bring it on!

:: cynara cardunculus v ::

A party - in an artichoke! Three, beautiful, big, fat furry bumbles and one spritely honey bee all fully engaged in the pleasures of this pretty light purple artichoke flower.

I know we are growing these as a multipurpose plant in the front garden and that one of the purposes is as a perennial food-source...

...but I haven't quite gotten my head around how to cook these - so any tips will be welcomed for easy prep and eating!

Service may have been interrupted due to another party held yesterday and I may have allowed myself to be a wee bit distracted...

...as one of the other Mums commented: "You don't realise how tired you are until the last event (in a string of lots of events in the past term of school) is over and it hits you!"...this just about summed up the feeling upon the inevitable collapse onto the sofa last night...

...and I can't quite believe we then put the projector on to watch a beautiful anime movie (Wolf Children) with Miss P - but we did and it was beautiful and probably just what we needed before falling swiftly and soundly to sleep straight after :)

:: rosa xxxv ::

Two more rose photos and that would make ten percent of my flower photos this year roses - maybe there are lots around or maybe this is one of my favourite blooms?

...this one has been coming back to good health since we have been here, actually watering, feeding and pruning it...

...I like to believe that it enjoys the climbing frame in its West-facing position and basks the afternoon away, exuding subtle rose fragrance...and tones, of course, splendidly with the PINK Summerhill Stone cladding ;-)

:: zinnia ::

sometimes life gets a bit nibbled around the edges...still interesting and quite fascinating...

...I had higher hopes for the beauty aspect of these zinnias, but apparently something out there was hungry!

...lovely bright injection of colour, though :)