Well into winter

This week has been a cold one in the garden. Not as cold, I hasten to add as any we ever had in Murrumbateman.... no frozen pipes or frozen over bird baths.

The camelias have started to bloom, gorgeous reds and pinks. They are going to be a sight in a few years time. My favourite tree has decided it is Spring and is blossoming already. When we moved here it was a stick and almost bare rooted. Now it is a 4 metre high tree of year round beauty.

We've cleared the way for the grasslands out the back ready to plant in Spring and I already have my eye on a gorilla statue that will nestle there hiding amongst the grasses. The pond is well established. We have accepted that the fish don't like water lilies or bottom oxygenating plants and are accommodating them. The frogs have loudly taken up residence. Two ducks are toying with the idea of living there too.....ducklings would be magic.

One of the things I truly love about this garden is its bird life. The blue wrens invade our deck daily. The kookas are back and the black cockies are ever present. (They like our banksias and bottlebrushes a bit too much!) Currently there is a lot of activity getting ready for Spring. Different birds are vying for space and putting in claims for nesting rights. Boys are showing off their plummage to the girls and the girls are rightfully ignoring them. Smaller birds are doing their best to chase bigger birds away......it's all happening.

Although it is still cold (snow on the mountains), the days have that magic look of Spring and parts of the garden are tempting me to get my hands dirty again, but icy mornings helps me get over that!