Hollyhock foliage feasters......you win

I am usually persistent.

I usually hang in there.

I can tolerate a bit of insect damage.

But I refuse to spray. There's too many anyway.

The unsightly foliage on the hollyhocks has worn me down. 

Earwigs, flea beetles and who knows what else.......they all come in at different stages and do their own mutilation.

I will gradually remove them after they flower. The strangest thing is, the flowers are not affected. Go figure. 

There is one in a pot with no damage at all. 

The little critters have too many places to hide in the mulched garden beds.

The removal of all the hollyhocks will create huge spaces in the beds. 

In fact that's a bit exciting really now I come to think of it.

 What did I do with those catalogues!!

Very few undamaged rose blooms to be found at the moment.

Is that from aphids do you think?

 

Or heat? Or wind? Or lack of water? 

So heartbreaking.

Newer buds don't seem to have this damage. Maybe pruning late has proved to be a good thing.

Just enough unspoilt ones for some pretty posies.

The little white-flowered grey-leafed plant ( snow- in- summer) has been perfect in the flower jars. It just adds a softness to the posies and is an ideal foil for the pink roses. Must dig it up and spread it around a bit to make sure there is always some out there next Spring.

Amy has been harvesting snow peas and lettuce.

She turned them into this......

Baked salmon and salad.  Delicious. Thanks lovely girl.

Around the garden path today.

A rhododendron about to come into bloom....

Very exciting. Thanks Ibby. You gave us this.

Amazed to see still more shoots on the forgotten lilium scales.

Garlic bulbs....nearly ready to be harvested.

Apricots. Nearly a hundred according to Farmer Bill!

Beautiful Albertine ready to burst into bloom.

And pretty rose Veilchenbleu .....the first flower.

Amazing cloud formations tonight at dusk.

One of those 'take your breath away' moments.

It's been 40 degrees in Karratha.

Water and toddlers..... goes without saying.

Oh and a bit of mud just makes it fun. Red mud.

No words.....

Bless you little boys.

Just as I thought

Just as I thought. It's a weed.

Which begs the question......how is it that so many weeds can look so pretty?

I was hoping it might have been a type of "cornflower" too anonymous, just as you suggested in the comments, but further research ( like a dog with a bone research) came up with salsify.

Also known as Tragopogon porrifolius ( mmm, think we'll stick with salsify). In fact I was very lucky to get a photo at all considering that it closes up after a morning's display. 

It's from the Asteraceae family, grown for its edible roots that are harvested in Winter and apparently taste like oysters. Hence the common name of oyster plant. Its other common names are.....purple goat's beard and John-go-to-bed-at-noon !! Still pretty in my eyes!

Some new signs for the Farmshop.

Out for sale today.....some roses at last. We (Bill) pruned quite late in the season but I think that the unseasonal heat, wind and lack of rain has "spoilt" many of the first blooms. The aphid population hasn't helped either. Often we don't have such a problem with them, just an odd few, but this year they've been dreadful.

Amy's been harvesting from her vegie patch too.

And I bought this single tomato plant after reading that it was a shared winner at the 2015 Melbourne International Flower and Garden show tomato taste testing stand. ( tested by 40 judges)

Amy has also put a variety of heirloom tomato seeds in some seed raising mix.

We love tomatoes so we're hoping they will produce some  bumper crops.

Around the garden path today.......

Couldn't help taking another photo of these gorgeous white irises.

It's not a mystery plant but it has never flowered before so we ( I ) are watching with great interest!

It was planted in October 2011.

It's called yucca recurvifolia. It has fragrant white bell flowers on 200 cm stems, apparently. We shall soon see.

Sunflowers are starting to make their move with a bit of extra watering.

And yes, that's some garlic making itself at home in the path. 

Amy and Flynn. 

Both have an acute sense of wonder and fun and play. 

And sweetheart Archer ......

We have been watching and listening to a murder of crows here all day ( always wanted to use that word). To be honest, I think they're actually ravens which would then be an unkindness or a conspiracy of ravens ( don't you love how someone has come up with a group of birds being called an unkindness !!!!!!) The funny thing is, we haven't seen them around here for months. There is something weird going on out there in the bird world but we don't know what.

Hope everyone is getting some of this rain. 

Just checked the rain gauge..... 1 mm. 

Mmmmm....

So much can happen in a week

So much can happen in a week.

While we were away.........

The irises started flowering their heads off.

Judy's little box plants doubled in size.

The liliums went crazy.

Bill's cherry tree grew cherries!

This wattle tree finally burst into yellow. It's the last of the wattles to flower. But oh, so worth the wait. I adore it.

The wildlife decided to take up residence in the roundabout garden.

Jennifer's bromeliad flower speared its way up to the surface.

Amy's vegie patch bolted into life.

Ned's lettuces and Pa's broad beans took on a life of their own.

And the mystery plant burst into glorious flower.

Does anyone know what it is?

Could be a weed for all I know......pretty though.

My little Farmshop had a holiday too, but now we're up and running again. 

These gorgeous blooms were keeping cool in the laundry waiting for the hot wind to disappear yesterday.

They are all back out there now......

Bill has been mowing and watering since we arrived home. We have practically emptied our tank on the garden to quench its thirst, but everything is starting to look so much happier.

We miss our little family terribly and keep remembering and talking about all those funny little moments that took place while we were there.

Archer is a sweetheart.

He and Flynn are so alike at this stage.

Archer is on the left and Flynn is on the right.

We adored the three year old chatter that never stops.

Aunty Amy was the favourite of course.....( or should I say SpongeBob and Gary!!!) 

Thank you again Ben, Sam and Kiann.

We think the world of you guys.

Brothers White.