I”m back from a lovely three week vacation, I know, you missed me right? Steve and I had a fantastic time in South Australia, doing an Outback Adventure in an area that we couldn’t do 14 years ago with the road closures because of the rain. The first few photos are of my favorite, Australian flowers. When I was living in Australia I would gather armloads of these and stick them in spaghetti jars, (much like now with the spaghetti jars). Back then one would never see Australian native flower bunches for sale. Thankfully that has changed. I bought a bunch for our hotel room the first week were in Glenelg just cause I could. The staff must have thought I was nuts.
We were able to go to the Adelaide Botanic Garden our second? day in Australia which was wonderful, but even more so because Dale Chihuly, the glass artist, has an exhibit there of his work. I am only posting one photo because it is floral, but the installation was just amazing. The colors and designs and how they fit into the gardens…but enjoy this one.
After a week catching up with friends, doing museums, wine tasting, doing touring, we set off on our adventure. What an adventure it was, a truck converted into a tour bus driving the outback of South Australia seeing the sights. The only sight you get to see is of the Sturt desert pea, that was still blooming in Coober Pedy and is South Australias state flower.
But as you can tell, we are back. Arrived home after a 26+ flight on Wednesday evening. Thursday I cut back and dug all the dahlias, got them in crates and into the cave because it was gong to get cold. Friday got all the rest of the tender stuff I needed to get out of the garden. Saturday I rested and today all the dahlias are safely put to bed in the cooler.
Next week the rest uf the garden gets cut down, netting stored, landscape fabric lifted, folded, labeled and stored. Irrigation then gets lifted, labeled and stored. Then, it will be tulip planting time. Yay. After that? spreading compost and mulching the beds getting ready for spring.
I did an experimental planting of chrysanthemums this year, cause I could. When I had ordered the cuttings I didn’t realize we were going to be away for the month of October, but last Friday, this is what I harvested that hadn’t been affected by the freezes that had occurred when we were away. Looks pretty good I think. Planning to do more next year so all you flower lovers will have more to enjoy.
So enough of me rabbiting on. It is good to be home.
Until next week. Allie. I dream of flowers. Do you?