SOME MIDWINTER FLOWERS

The winter solstice passed last Monday in the southern half of the world. In the north, Midsummer's Day has a long history and was celebrated in many cultures. What I have learnt today (!) is that there is a modern tradition celebrating Midwinter's Day among workers on the Antarctic research stations. The first celebration was held in 1902. Have a look at the Wikipedia link above for more information.

I was a little late pruning the Cecile Brunner Rose this year and so, rather than cut them off, I left a small stem of buds that had formed.

This morning the first of them had just begun to open. These buds are particularly beautiful as they begin to open. The fragrance of the opened flowers is also delightful and has a slightly spicy note.

The first flower of my two potted Camellias opened recently (name unknown) and I could not resist taking a photo. At this stage I am not brave enough to plant them out in our very dry hydrophobic soil.

Joan's white Japanese Flowering Quince, Chaenomeles japonica, also started to open its first bud this morning.

Among the Australian natives in the garden the Cootamundra Wattle, Acacia Baileyana, is so covered in buds that the leaves are hard to see. Over the next couple of weeks it will become a mass of soft golden balls.

I was surprised by the Swan River Pea, Gastrolobium celsianum, which seemed to suddenly have flowered quite prolifically. This photo was taken with the sun coming through the beak-like flowers. In the garden it cascades down a bank beside the Cootamundra Wattle and a, now large, Coastal Banksia. 

On the other side of the house is another red flower. The first of the Japanese Flowering Quinces that I planted. Because of its suckering habit it now extends for about three metres along the side fence. The intense red flowers on bare branches seem to emphasise the coldness of winter. Of course they make a beautiful subject for ikebana.

I have set four stems of the Japonica in an asymmetric naturalistic style, paying attention to the space that has been created in the centre of the ikebana. At the base, the green leaves are from the tall-growing Nandina domestica. The green ceramic suiban is by John Campbell who was active in the early 20th century in Tasmania.

Greetings from Christopher

26th June 2021