Central Plateau, North Island

Central Plateau, North Island
View from a friend's farm

Sunday 11 November 2012

Raindrops on Fennel

 

This morning was fine, then after lunch the rain fell, good for the lawn,  the garden, and the birds, as the worms are easier to pull . And for me as well, the outdoor work can wait for another fine day.

Susan, here is the bird feeder on a spade handle. Too wet to stand out and get a photo of the blackbird, the first to try out the new

“ Dinner Table Setting”

 Bird feeder on the spade handle

In a shaded patch, the fennel thrives, and has a lovely scent/smell/aroma when you crush the fine leaves. It is a great accompaniment with a fish dish.

Fennel after rain

I have been busy planting out more “Yellow Submarine” tomato plants, and Hugh’s vegetables are thriving.

Tomato plants 

Chives,radish,strawberries and silverbeet

Solomon’s Seal, or Polygonatum fascinates me, The shoots appear a bit like asparagus spears, then the tall stem, then it droops over and these beautiful white flowers hang under the leaves. Nature at its finest.Solomon's Seal flowers

The rain is a good time for all cats to be indoors, and no better place than on a fleece blanket. Here is “ Poppy on Purple

Poppy on Purple

Quotation of the day,  from Cecil Frances Alexander,1818-1895

“ All things bright and beautiful, All creatures great and small.

All things wise and wonderful, The Lord God made them all”

Greetings from Jean

16 comments:

Susan Heather said...

That bird feeder is great. Love that rain and hope it is coming our way tomorrow.

Razzle Dazzle Quilter said...

Hi Jean

Your garden looks picture perfect!
Solomon’s Seal, a plant I have often seen in garden books and never tried to grow.
I have taken on looking after the vege garden here. Something I haven't doen for some time. I've even had the good old Yates garden book out!

Love the bird feeder.

Cheers

Linda

Nancy J said...

Susan, they prefer it on the grass!!! Linda, I have lots of Solomon's Seal, would you like me to save some at the end of the season for you? Raining now, fire going, cats know where to sit. Greetings from Jean.

Lindsjö taxar said...

Very nice pictures....we have to wait some months to grow tomato plants...our winter is coming. Hope for a mild winter like last year. Then we can train/hunt with our dogs to end of January. Today we are in Norway. Hunting trial with Tyra tomorrow. Hoped for good wheather today for photographing but its raining.

MandaBurms FarmStay for Cats. said...

Lovely photos of your garden and Poppy too!
Love Leanne

Nancy J said...

Lindsjo, hope your weather stays fine, It is hard to get good photos and keep your camera dry!!Leanne, I always marvel at new leaves, flowers and all else in the garden,nature is wonderful ,truly. Greetings from Jean.

Michaele said...

Your gardens are so neat, tidy and organized. And I just LOVE the color of the kitty : )

~Kim at Golden Pines~ said...

Our growing season is done for the year, but in your post I'm reminded of the feeling of having the rain on the growing garden, I already miss it!

I hope you've enjoyed your Sunday!!

Georgia said...

It's autumn in Florida and for us, the weather is cool. Wishing I could curl up with Poppy.

Dachshund Nola said...

Lovely garden!
As for your questions:
1. I'm not sure if it's an annual event; I've only lived in my town for 6 months!
2. All the dogs we saw were local, as our town is pretty small.
3. We had to pay a $15 entry to take the test, and it''l be $8 to get my certificate from the AKC
Kisses,
Nola

Nancy J said...

Probably for the first time in my life, I take great interest in the weather around the world, specially where my blog friends live, and it is great to see the "other"season up North.Nola, I sent you an email.Jyojia, did you fare well with Sandy? Michaele, I do NOT photo all the weeds!!Kim, you did not fare so well with Sandy, hope you carry on with wonderful memories. Greetings from Jean.

fromsophiesview said...

Our solomon seal is so stately when it's flowers are in full bloom just like yours...so nice to see them again...next spring for us...May! What a crazy mixed up world we live in!
Cheers!
Ron

Jim said...

What a lovely and cheerful post, Jean! Love that shovel feeder too! I remember Soloman Seal as a child growing wild in the backyard, have always liked it.

Nancy J said...

Hi Sophie, Ron and Jim, when we first came here, I wondered what the green shoots were in the flower garden, then when they grew taller, looked them up in a book. Solomon's Seal, which gets that name from the roots whose leaf scars resemble the seal of King Solomon, is very poised, delicate and beautiful all at the same time. I remember "Chinese Lantern' bushes, snowdrops, and fruit tree blossoms on the farm where I grew up. Greetings from Jean

Gayle said...

I love the bird feeder. I was trying to see it larger, but my computer is not cooperating at the moment.

Great quote... I haven't heard that in awhile.

Here I Am Carrie said...

What a great looking bird feeder. We have so many old parts and pieces of stuff I have always wanted my hubby to get creative and weld some together to make interesting stuff out of the piles of junk here and there. Your gardens seem to be thriving. I grow the solomons seal in my shade garden it has been coming up for 20 years. I had transplanted it from some property we had before that.
I find it so strange to visit those whose summer is just beginning. I can see by your photos how happy everything feels with the rain. Yes and don't you just love the break it gives you from work outside.