A Fairy Garden

With the rain comes a mass of growth in the garden. As we have no gardener much of the garden has become overgrown - I like it that way - natural and one never knows what one will come across as one wanders about looking in the crooks and crannies.

this is what i came across yesterday - flame lilies climbing into our wild gardenia and growing among a mass of 'Mother in Laws Tongues'. We have never seem this display before - perhaps because our gardeners have always - kept the place tidy!!!!!!!

I really think I prefer the garden untidy!

Dorset mega

This little chilli plant looks Innocent. Don't believe it!!!!

We planted the seed - which came from England in July - everyone said far too early - anyway it has thrived and we harvested our first chilli two days ago.

I thought I was used to hot chillies - this one tops the scale - I took a bite of the bottom of the fruit and mentioned that it was not hot at all what was all the fuss! Then I bit further into the flesh - not taking any seeds. I have never tasted anything so hot - it has no flavour just heat that bi=urns. My husband had the same experience.

We went and opened a container of ready made custard - something I never eat as i have a reaction to milk products - well I downed two plates and never had a reaction. i could still feel a slight burning sensation yesterday.

Just beware if you plant this chillie it is really hot!

Cycads in our garden

The cycad is a prehistoric dinosaur of the plant world. We are lucky to have a number in our garden and this time of year they are producing the cones which give us the seeds. We have so many seeds that they fall on the ground around the plants and start to shoot - every year we give away cycad seedlings to anyone who wants them. Many people have to have their plants fertilized artificially but ours just reproduce on their own!

Flame lilies at the end of a year.

It is the end of the year and our rains have transformed the dry dust bowl of a garden to a lush green haven that requires constant mowing. In among the green lush grass and cycads are growing a selection of out Christmas flowers. the national flower - the Flame Lily. Happy new year to everyone and may 2009 be better!

The rains have come!

The rain has come at last. A pleasant change to the dry and dusty season we have just been through! With the rains cvome the weeds and with no gardener we spend our time weeding the vegetable garden and trying to keep the garden tidy.

This year we will plant vegetables in pots to save the extra work!

Hidden away

I am always amazed as I walk around the garden what I find in hidden away. This little orchid was attached to a tree and flowering away quite happily with no care at all - except for perhaps a spray of water every now and again.

Walking around our garden is always a pleasure as one comes across the unexpected almost everyday.

This lovely lily came from the Zambezi Valley but seems to like our rockery.

Ground Orchids

This orchid grows on our rockery. We give it no attention whatsoever but it flowers each year at this time - a great addition to the garden.