Hello GPOD!
Today we head to the Southern Hemisphere and revisit Lynne Leslie’s garden in Wellington, New Zealand (check out her previous entries: Lynne’s Windswept Garden in New Zealand and Late Spring in Lynne’s Garden). Getting updates from Lynne is a double treat. Firstly, Lynne grows some amazing plants with a huge range of gorgeous flowers that will wow no matter where she is. Secondly, while we Northern Hemisphere gardeners are dealing with a heatwave at the height of summer, New Zealand is going through their winter. We get to see some interesting and completely unfamiliar plants growing and blooming on the other side of the world.
Even when the temperature hovers around 14 degrees, the weeds continue to grow! Gardening means a lot to me. When I walk around the footpath, people stop to chat and I often exchange cuttings to encourage others – sharing plants brings me so much joy.
There are so many varieties of Hellebores these days with new ones appearing in stores every year. I like the traditional ones, but the newer ones can have such interesting foliage. At the end of the season, I cut off all the spent foliage and flowers as they spread seeds indiscriminately and aphids love to make the plant their new home.
Another winter favorite is the fire vine. (Pyrostegia seductionRegions 9–11). It grows very fast so I have to prune it hard after flowering. Great for picking and a bright plant in the garden.
Primrose Jasmine (Jasmine mesnyiArea 8–11) brings back memories of my grandmother, a wonderful gardener. Picked for the vase when the buds first appear, the flowers then gradually bloom to brighten up the house.
Alstroemeria is a really tough plant – easy to grow and long lasting. I give the old stems a good tug to encourage new blooms. The leaves of the new varieties can be very attractive, but the old varieties can spread all over the place here.
My First Camellia Blooms – Guilio Nuccio (Japanese Camellia ‘Guilio Nuccio’, Zones 7–9). I love stamens and so do bees.
Spanish Iris (A little rainbowRegion 6–9) is a wonder covered in water droplets.
Anything with perfume I like – luculia (the pink flower is pictured here), Daphne, daffodils, primroses, osmanthus, etc. The roses have been pruned and oiled, so now I am looking forward to the next exciting season with bulbs, annuals, perennials. Gardening is a wonderful hobby.
Thanks Lynne for sharing your wonderful garden with us again! While there is a great diversity of climates and conditions across North America, it is special to see gardens from afar.
Do you have a garden you would like to share?
Do you have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular plant collection you love, or a beautiful garden you’ve had the chance to visit!
To submit, send 5-10 photos to [email protected] along with some information about the plants in the photo and where you took the photo. We’d love to know where you are, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you’re proud of, failures you’ve learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden.
Do you have a mobile phone? Tag your photo on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with #FineGardening!
Have you received your GPOD via email? Sign up here.
