Ornamental Kale

We are still doing  winter pruning and cutting but signs of spring are beginning to appear.  The grasses look like giant pincushions lined up in front of the house. The Phormium have been cut back and there are rose bushes near the arbor waiting to be pruned. Some very frosty mornings have finished off whatever hearty flowers were still blooming, but the kale looks like a giant corsage in its pot, making a nice spot of color.

The narcissus by the driveway are swelling with intention, although they haven't quite bloomed yet. I gather huge bouquets of them when they bloom, but I have to put them outside the door on the porch because I can't stand their fragrance.

The grevillea is a magnet for the hummingbird who calls by at least twice a day for a sip of nectar and a bath in the fountain. Although the old grevillea  flowers are mostly gone, I see that there is a whole new batch about to burst forth. 

In the back, the streletzia have all been cut, but the daphne is beginning to bloom* and the arbutus, like the grevillea, are producing loads of bell-like flower sprays* since we cut back the bamboo that was smothering it.

The beautiful weather of the last few days appears to be succumbing to clouds and the threat of rain, which will give us a chance to binge watch The Crown. So far we've seen off King George and watched the young Elizabeth struggle with the fact that she is Queen. It's definitely addictive.

*extras