Seasons Greetings

Wishing all a Happy and Peaceful Christmas and a Joyful and Healthy 2012

Garden Blogger's Bloom Day December 2011

Callistemon  or bottle brush in bloom

 Christmas candle (cassia alata) doing their thing in my garden.

 I discovered this lovely new nursery in the east of the island last week.

I was driving by this wall and had to do a second take with this Garlic vine in all its glory

Hello and welcome to Garden Blogger's Bloom Day where gardeners from around the globe show what is blooming in their garden and in their part of the world.  We had monsoon weather the latter part of November and that hindered me in the garden.  I have been busy working on another project that will soon be completed. My next post will feature this project. 

To see more of what is blooming in other gardens please take a stroll over to Carol at may dreams gardens . Have a great day gardening!

Garden Blogger's Bloom Day November 2011

 Mangoes are back in season an unusual occurrence for me with a second crop in a year. They should be ready to eat around Christmas ....yummy. 

  White Begonias and  white mussaenda 

 Mr lizard  posing for me on an anthurium

Hello and welcome to GBBD where gardeners from around the globe post what is blooming in their gardens. We have been getting frequent rainfall and the garden is alive with colour and greenery. Last Saturday and Sunday we had very heavy rainfall and of course the lowest areas in the garden was flooded. The water has receded and hopefully there will be little damage to trees and plants. 

To see what is blooming in other gardens around the globe please go over to Carol at may dreams gardens  and check them out.  Have a great week and happy gardening!

Pond project

 I was asked to build this elegant pond for clients who wanted a home for their Victoria water lilies

 The site was breathtaking and HOT

 Work was interrupted several times by heavy showers

 The pond was finally completed and the Victoria water lilies were installed by the owner

I was busy a few weeks ago managing  this pond project on the south coast of the island. The owners wanted a home for their two Victoria water lilies. The pond was built on a concrete base that measured 9 ft x 9ft and the pond measured 8ft x8ft x 2ft deep. This is quite an easy project for a beginner and this is a great pond for small gardens. The materials used were 2x8 for the sides and 4x4 pressure treated pine lumber for the supports.  Foam was used to cushion the liner on the bottom  and roofing felt on the insides. So stop moaning about wanting a pond for your garden, just make it happen!

David's Garden

 Anthuriums in bloom

Plumbago, cordylines bougainvillae  hibiscus and acalypha inferno all add colour to this path

 Leopard lilies thrive in this garden

 

The pool deck is surrounded by many flowering shrubs and grasses

 One can spend the whole day just relaxing in this pool

 and gazing and gazing and gazing

My friend David has one of the most beautiful gardens on the island with  a view  and a pool to die for. His partner Norman is also an avid plant lover and gardener as well. I raise my glass to you David and Norman  and to the next time we meet.  

Have a wonderful weekend my friends!

Weekend Bouquets

 A stunning arrangement that will light up any table

 Some of these gingers produced several mini flowers on the original flower and I thought how neat!

 These gingers reproduce in their flowers as well as by root divisions.

 These mini gingers are great for mini bud vases and squat vases.

 Shampoo ginger is the main ingredient in  the Aussies brand shampoo. The flower head is filled with a beautiful scented thick liquid, just squeeze it and you will see and smell it.

Gingers are fabulous for cut flowers, they last a really long time and are so colourful. I have several varieties growing in my garden and it is a wonderful feeling cutting ones own for table arrangements.  I also have an excess of limes and I had seen some arrangements on a blog that used them with flowers. So I decided to do the same.  Have a great weekend my friends!

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day September 2011

Monarchs are back in the garden after several years of  absence.

 These night blooming lilies  are a true baby pink colour.

 White  mussaenda will remain  in bloom for several months.

 Dwarf powder puff  shrub well is suited for containers. 

Hello and welcome to Blooms day  where gardeners from around the globe post what is blooming in their gardens.  It has been a very hot and humid September so far. Yes and the raindrops kept falling all over my garden giving the weeds an excuse to misbehave.  For those of you in the tropics, it is time to start cutting back your plants for the winter/Christmas season. Because of the dampness please pay attention to fungus on your plants, it is deadly if not caught early.  To see what is blooming in gardens around the globe please visit Carol at may dreams garden . Have a wonderful week and happy gardening. 

Landscaping adventures part 3

 left front entrance before

after

right front entrance before

after

pathway towards back before

after

pool deck before

 villa's right side  before

 after

Golden criniums, purple feather grass, heliconias  were used to create a dramatic display of colours.

I was asked to renovate this garden that had been neglected. Many of the plantings were old or not suited to the garden. Major surgery had to be done by way of removing vegetation that was not needed. Additional soil was brought in to renovate the existing beds. My client wanted a bit of drama and I gave her colourful foliage where they were best suited. Begonias were used for colour and fillers at the front entrance until the larger plants grew. Tropical gardens require lots of  maintenance in the rainy season since every thing grows twice as fast.  Many neighbours came over to have a peek at the garden and I was told by another landscaper months later that garden was the prettiest he had seen.