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Sunday, 15 January 2012

January flowers

 Flowers and arrangements from January.

 A special shout out to two of my new roses - Sexy Rexy (left) and Queen Elizabeth (right). Finally they have put their hearts into blooming! I sniffed them both and sadly couldn't detect much of a scent. The flowers are gorgeous though.

What is your favourite rose for fragrance?

 In the back yard, I've been chipping away at the grass to make the curved bed. It's taking ages now because the ground is so hard. I also had to remove the sleepers which were edging the beds, and those things are h.e.a.v.y.  But I need to keep going because I have a growing collection of pot-bound plants which need a place to go! The bed is edged with salvaged bricks from my friend's chimney.

 This is the bed next to the patio. Petunias and godetia are going mad in this bed - pretty much stealing the show! (The blue daisy wind spinner in the background was a Christmas present, and it's been getting a good workout with our persistant winds this summer!)

Here is what I created with the salvaged sleepers - a bench seat. It's tucked around the side of the house - you can see it in the photo above. I just stacked the sleepers on some concrete blocks. Rustic right?

This is a nice little nook because it's sheltered from the easterly, and has a bit of shade till about 1pm. I'd like to get a table and some more chairs and an umbrella, and have a nice little eating area set up. Ideally I'd like a patio with french doors leading inside, but that will be far in the future if at all... we don't even know when the earthquake damage will be repaired yet. In the meantime I'm doing the best I can with what's on site, and I'm quite pleased with my recycling effort here.

(Linking up to Garden Bloggers Bloom Day hosted by Carol at May Dreams Gardens)
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15 comments:

  1. DarlaMonday, 16 January 2012 at 00:37:00 GMT+13

    Love how you are curving your flower bed...how cool that the edging is from your friends chimney. What a wonderful idea for that bench, Imight just have to borrow it!

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    1. Ruth @ Camellia RoseTuesday, 17 January 2012 at 20:22:00 GMT+13

      Thanks Darla, just make sure you have some nice plump cushions on the bench!

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  2. RoseMonday, 16 January 2012 at 03:48:00 GMT+13

    Such a beautiful collage of all your blooms! Good to see all your lovely blooms--we're under a blanket of snow here at the moment. The rustic bench is a great idea and looks like the perfect place to take a break from all the digging you've been doing. The curved bed looks great!

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    1. Ruth @ Camellia RoseTuesday, 17 January 2012 at 20:24:00 GMT+13

      Thanks Rose! Yes I really have been needing to collapse on that bench during all the digging! Can't wait till it's all finished (but will it ever really be finished...)

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  3. HolleyGardenMonday, 16 January 2012 at 05:26:00 GMT+13

    Look at those roses! Just gorgeous! Love the sweet delicate pink color. Two roses that I love the scent of are 'Souvenir de St. Anne' (bourbon, semi-double) and Ebb Tide (a purple modern). Your curved bed looks wonderful! You have a lot of blooms to show - I really enjoyed seeing them.

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    1. Ruth @ Camellia RoseTuesday, 17 January 2012 at 20:25:00 GMT+13

      Holley, I knew you would have some suggestions for a scented rose or two! I'll write those ones down - thanks!

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  4. LarryMonday, 16 January 2012 at 10:22:00 GMT+13

    I've often thought of New Zealand as a gardener's paradise based on several episodes of Victory Garden shot there many years ago... It must be beautiful and your blooms look great! Larry

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    1. Ruth @ Camellia RoseTuesday, 17 January 2012 at 20:27:00 GMT+13

      Haha, well what can I say, it is a paradise :) I'm just trying hard to make it even more so!

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  5. bookwormMonday, 16 January 2012 at 12:24:00 GMT+13

    Yes, you do look like you have a gardening paradise. We are under a small blanket of snow here in upstate New York (United States) with more wintery weather due tomorrow night (including possible freezing rain.) Happy GBBD to you and enjoy your summer (4 more months until spring here...)

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    1. Ruth @ Camellia RoseTuesday, 17 January 2012 at 20:28:00 GMT+13

      Brrr, I feel cold just reading your comment! I wish I could bottle up all this summer warmth and light and release it in winter. Keep warm!

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  6. Pam's English GardenMonday, 16 January 2012 at 16:46:00 GMT+13

    Dear Ruth, I so much enjoyed visiting your January garden. That bench looks such an inviting place to sit and enjoy your blooms. Happy GBBD! P. x

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    1. Ruth @ Camellia RoseTuesday, 17 January 2012 at 20:29:00 GMT+13

      Thanks for visiting Pam! And yes I do quite a bit of pondering on that bench :)

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  7. Robbie PalmWednesday, 18 January 2012 at 02:51:00 GMT+13

    Your garden is looking just beautiful. I have not been reading blogs the past few months. We are under snow here in the midwest( USA). I only have knock out roses, not enough room for too many roses. It would mean giving up my crafting flowers, vegetables etc. Just love the roses in your picture...very beautiful. I will have to visit your blog more often in the next few months since we have nothing growing in our garden! Too much snow and ice-:-) robbie

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    1. Ruth @ Camellia RoseThursday, 19 January 2012 at 21:28:00 GMT+13

      Hi Robbie, hope you are keeping warm under all the snow and ice! I've enjoyed visiting your blog too and seeing your potager pictures. I haven't been able to leave a comment for a while though!

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  8. flower bed bordersWednesday, 7 March 2012 at 20:08:00 GMT+13

    If you are into gardening, you obviously know what a difference a border can make to your flower bed. It is not just about giving your garden a polished look. It is about improving visual appeal and creating your own style.

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