plants

The Changing Seasons, October 2019

/ Su Leslie / 61 Comments

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Kakabeak seedling No. 1. Image: Su Leslie 2019

I just looked back over my past few Changing Seasons posts, and this will be the third consecutive month I’ve talked about how cold and rainy and windy it’s been.

Consequently, once again I haven’t strayed far from home, and have taken very few photos. The silver lining though is that I’ve spent time extra working on the horticulture course I’m taking and have passed the first paper.

If I had to sum October up, I’d say it’s been a growing month. Lots of the seeds I’ve planted have germinated — including a second kakabeak. New plants that we’ve been able to shelter are thriving and we should be able to pick the first tomatoes quite soon. My gardening knowledge has grown, and with it my confidence.

I’d still really like some sunshine soon though. Especially as I’m off to New Plymouth tomorrow to explore the Taranaki Garden Festival and Sustainable Backyard Trail.

So apologies in advance if I’m a little slow to update the Changing Seasons blogroll. With luck I’ll be filling my brain with free-range, sustainably grown, nutrient-dense ideas (and my tummy with yummy produce).

Second kakabeak seedling. Image: Su Leslie 2019
Apple blossom — not my garden though. Image: Su Leslie 2019
Cherry blossom. Image: Su Leslie 2019
Cherry blossom. Image: Su Leslie 2019
Hibiscus. Image: Su Leslie 2019
Photo-editing play-time. Image: Su Leslie 2019
New growth on the fig tree. Image: Su Leslie 2019
Plums in time for Christmas? Image: Su Leslie 2019
Plums in time for Christmas? Image: Su Leslie 2019
New fruit on the yuzu tree. Image: Su Leslie
Solitary iris. Image: Su Leslie 2019

About The Changing Seasons

The Changing Seasons is a monthly challenge where bloggers around the world share what’s been happening in their month.

If you would like to join in, here are the guidelines:

The Changing Seasons Version One (photographic):

  • Each month, post 5-20 photos in a gallery that you feel represent your month
  • Don’t use photos from your archive. Only new shots.
  • Tag your posts with #MonthlyPhotoChallenge and #TheChangingSeasons so that others can find them

The Changing Seasons Version Two (you choose the format):

  • Each month, post a photo, recipe, painting, drawing, video, whatever that you feel says something about your month
  • Don’t use archive stuff. Only new material!
  • Tag your posts with #MonthlyPhotoChallenge and #TheChangingSeasons so others can find them.

If you do a ping-back to this post, I can update it with links to all of yours.

Update

Pauline at Living in Paradise

Jude at Life at the Edge

Little Pieces of Me

Tish at Writer on the Edge

Joanne at My Life Lived Full

Tracy at Reflections of an Untidy Mind

Lani at Life, the Universe and Lani

Sarah at Art Expedition

Ju-Lyn at All Things Bright and Beautiful\

A Wonderful Sheep

Donna at DJ Ranch

Brian at Bushboys World

And a huge welcome to …

Amy at The world in a Book

Tatiana at Travelways

Margaret at From Pyrenees to Penines

Horse Addict

… all of whom are joining us for the first time this month.

 

Regular Random: five minutes with banana passionfruit flowers

/ Su Leslie / 21 Comments

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Banana passion-fruit flower. Image; Su Leslie 2019

Like so many plants and animals introduced to New Zealand, banana passion-fruit has proved to be incredibly invasive and damaging. It grows easily and abundantly, smothering other species. Indeed, it is illegal here to cultivate, sell or distribute the plants.

The Big T likes the fruit — which really does look like a small banana with the inside of a passion-fruit — so he was quite pleased to find some growing by the roadside recently.

I find it quite astringent, but was very happy to tear out a length of vine to bring home and photograph.

Banana passionfruit flower. Image; Su Leslie 2019

Regular Random is a photo challenge hosted by Desley Jane at Musings of a Frequently Flying Scientist. Please pop over and take a look;  and if you’d like to join in:

  • choose a subject or a scene
  • spend five minutes photographing it – no more!
  • try to not interfere with the subject, instead see it from many angles, look through something at it, change the light that’s hitting it
  • have fun!
  • tag your post #regularrandom and ping back to Desley’s post.