TODAY'S GARDEN

Just a few photos from today's midwinter garden. 

A small patch of parsley

Some calendula in the vegie beds

a very ripe lemon on our tree

The sprouting broccoli are starting to form. I also have Romanesco cauliflower/broccoli but they are not starting to form yet.

Two or three years ago a lady in the next street asked for some of our Lachenalia bulbs and asked if I would like some bluebells and snowdrops.  I had thought it was too warm here for snowdrops.  They are in an old  pot so that they don't get lost and are just coming into flower.

and the Pieris is coming into flower.

There are a lot of other plants in flower but I just took a photo of these few.

MIDWINTER FLOWERS

 I always like to have flowers on the dining table. For several weeks we had this potted chrysanthemum but it was nearing the end so I had a look in the garden.

 and I found these 

The oranges aren't ours but from a friend.

SOLAR

 We are pleased with our Solar panels in spite of some very cloudy days (it is winter after all).  A couple of days ago I discovered another use for the solar panels.

CRO

 Cro tells me he is fine but has been locked out of his own blog. His eldest son will sort things out for him when he visits in about a fortnight.

I tried to put another comment on his blog but was unable to.

TODAY'S WALK

We had a pleasant walk today with the Parkinson's Walking Group followed by our morning coffee and cake at the home of one of the ladies who recently moved house.

Showers had been forecast but, luckily, there have been no sign of them.  It is a lovely sunny day but there is a chilling wind presumably from the ice and snow in the South Island.

Joined by a friend on the walk.

MORE WEATHER

This was the sky first thing this morning.  I know the colours are never as bright in photos and just pushed my phone through the venetian blinds but it shows the idea.  We have a severe thunderstorm watch from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. so short and sharp.  The centre of the country (Wellington area and the north of the South Island) had severe thunderstorms last night with many power cuts.

 I have just walked down to the pharmacist to pick up a repeat prescription.  It is just 750 metres away so a pleasant 20 minute walk there and back.  I wanted to make sure I got home before the rain hits. We have had a few heavy showers but, luckily it was dry for my walk.

At least it looks as though we are in for a good week weatherwise after this storm.

I cancelled this week's Parkinson walk, the heavy rain hadn't started but with the strong wind and light rain it was most unpleasant.  Luckily it looks as though we will have a good day this coming Monday so I have scheduled a bush walk.  It is a few weeks since I started going to an Exercise Class on Thursdays and am starting to enjoy it.  It is quite full on and much more energetic than I had expected but I feel good for it.

MAINLY YELLOW

It is the official start of winter tomorrow and the main colour in our garden is yellow which is nice and cheerful.

Not yellow but a splash of colour.  I can't remember the name of this plant.

There are still a few roses in flower.

These salvias have small flowers but the bees just love them.

There are a couple of these yellow abutilons

and the lemons are starting to ripen

Things will change tomorrow with a heavy rain warning.