My Iris unguicularis is doing so brilliantly! I’m very excited about it – the nurseryman who sold me the baby plant said he grows his under a big Totara tree facing the sun. Mine is at the base of a tree at the edge of a path and it has spread to about 18″ wide after 3 years, and has been flowering since late Autumn. I’ve combined them in the vase with some native cultivars : leaves of the Cordyline ‘Magenta Rays’, and a pink flowered Tea Tree (Leptospermum).
A few little stocks add scent, although the Wallflowers (Erysimum) have the strongest scent, and the Dill flower and Nutmeg pelargonium smell strongly if touched even lightly. Rose ‘Gertrude Jekyll’ will add more scent as the buds open during the week.
There are two true Geraniums here, the beautiful pink Geranium macrorrohizum ‘Ingwerson’s Variety’, and ‘Rozanne’ – large violet blue flowers with a white centre. I included some Lavender ‘Sidonie’ to remind myself how brilliantly it flowers at this time of year and how important they are to bees. So far, my plants grow huge during the Summer and flower continually until Spring, when several of them have suddenly died. So I need to take some cuttings soon.
Citrus fruits are ripening, the last Feijoas have dropped, and I’ve harvested some more ginger from the pots which I’ve moved into the greenhouse to keep them a bit dry now that they have lost their leaves. I hope I get a chance to try some Lime and Ginger Marmalade this week.
Over at Rambling in the Garden Cathy has beautiful peachy coloured Dahlias this week.
Absent Gardener 
Lovely arrangement. Thanks
Thank you 🙂
Your last image is worthy of any magazine cover Cathy, fantastic. I really don’t understand your climate at all. I always imagined that NZ’s climate was similar to that in the UK but then you have Fejoa fruits and GINGER!!!!!! It is also fascinating that your Leptospermum is flowering at the same time as the Iris; I have both and they never flower at the same time. If the lime and ginger marmalade is good, do give us the recipe.
Thank you 🙂 NZ has a lot of climate variety for a small place – because it is long North to South, and has lots of coastal but also mountainous areas. This Leptospermum is earlier than most of mine. I’m new to the Iris so all I know is that it should flower in Winter. So far haven’t managed to start on the marmalade…
My Iris flowers from November to April so it is a great plant. You’ll love it.
It’s always interesting to see what things you have flowering at the same time – your seasons are certainly not just the opposite to the UK and you always have such intriguing bedfellows in your vases 🙂 The shape of today’s vase is perfectly matched by the leaves of the beautiful cordyline – everything works so well together. Thanks for sharing
Thank you Cathy I added the Cordyline and Tea Tree at the last to give it some contrast. It seems that all climates are quite unique, and different plants flourish in each place. (and we all want what’s difficult 🙂 )
Fall flowering Iris! The season differential is interesting and the flowers, beautiful, the Lime Ginger Marmalade sounds wonderful. I grew some Ginger and it was really spicy. Mangoes in my garden are tormenting me. Not getting ripe.
Oh Mangoes so yummy, what a difficult wait it must be. This ginger is spicy, not too much so though. Delicious sliced and stir fried with Kale.
Yes, I keep asking people for Green Mango recipes!
A lovely arrangement Cath, your photography and composition in the last shot are fantastic. I too was fascinated to see what you have in flower at this time of year- and I have to say I’m very jealous of the variety of blooms you have in your garden in winter!
Thank you for commenting 🙂 This is just the start of winter so the choice will be dwindling soon, but we are lucky here on the coast, the winters are fairly mild.
A wonderful picture of your harvest. I love seeing how different people’s climates are. You have a lovely bit of drama in your vase with the cordyline and all the perfume is a bonus.
It is fascinating hearing about the different growing conditions even in places which seem relatively similar.
Those irises are beautiful Cath! I love the pink geranium and rose as contrasting colours. I am constantly amazed at what grows when in your part of the world! The Cordyline looks great too. Thanks for sharing the most wonderful winter vase! And enjoy that marmalade. Sounds delicious. 🙂
Thank you Cathy, the roses are holding the vase now as they open completely. The Iris are fading already, but the Cordyline will last for ages. I have still not started the marmalade, too much work this week I think so maybe next week.