Friday

Friday was almost hot; 28 degrees, an 'indian summer' day. Late in the afternoon, a flock of silver eyes flew in to feast on the aphids that are covering any soft new growth on the roses. They’re noisy little birds, and kept up a constant trill as they flew back and forwards through the roses, onto the low branches of the tallow and lemon trees, and into the tangle of jasmine on the fence, all the while inspecting every leaf, stem, nook and cranny for potential eats.

I stood and watched them through the kitchen window for a good ten minutes, not only because it’s a pleasure to see them in the garden, but also to keep an eye out for Indi or Bertie. Not that they were anywhere to be seen, it’s just that like all cats, they are both very good at hiding in full view, and with this much noise and goings on, if they were within earshot, I knew they’d be watching too.

The tallow tree that jostles with the lemon for space and sun, is only just showing a hint of its eventual autumn colours. The fruit however have ripened and are starting to crack, exposing the white soft interior that gives this tree it’s other name; 'popcorn tree'. The ‘twenty-eights’ love these tiny morsels, and visit several times a day to eat their fill, sending minor storms of outer shells raining onto the wood shed and paving below. These hard outer casings make a pleasant crunching sound when walked on in winter shoes, but are as hard and unforgiving as oyster shells on bare summer feet.  

Early May

The Celtic festival of Beltane which is also celebrated as May Day, fell on the weekend. Half way between the spring equinox and summer solstice, it marks the first day of summer. Here in the Southern Hemisphere, as it falls half way between the autumn equinox and winter solstice, I guess May 1^st  (or there abouts as the exact astronomical date is a day or two later), is the first day of winter. 

  

     

Three degrees Monday night, our first fire of the season and a request for flannelette sheets on the bed.  Yeah, I think winter is here.

Autumn Goodness

The potted roses and tomatoes have become such a tangled mess, that it is difficult to tell where one starts and the other ends. This doesn’t mean however, that they have given up doing what they do best. There are still a few tomatoes ripening and the roses are still blooming. 

 

 And we’re not the only ones enjoying this autumn goodness.