Too Late for Camellias

 As sit, work and ponder in my study I am privileged to have a view of our large front garden.

It's not too often that I take a walk around that garden. On returning from an outing on Saturday I made the time to take a stroll around and admire the work Mr GeniAus does to maintain this space.

Down on of our side boundaries we have an avenue of mature Camellias that are magnificent when in bloom. I'm sorry that I didn't do this walk a month ago when they were at their best. The few roses we have haven't woken up yet either and the gardenias are also sleeping. There was still plenty to see. 

Please take a virtual walk with me and view some upclose shots. I'll leave wider views for another day.

Upclose at Coleton Fishacre

Sometimes, when travelling, one comes across a site that is a gem.

We have a membership of the National Trust in Australia which gives us reciprocal access to National Trust sites in the UK. Having visited Greenway on our last trip to England and with a few hours to spare we looked around for other National Trust Properties in  that vicinity. We found Coleton Fishacre, a 20th Century country house by the sea: it was just fabulous.

Armed with our cameras we took some #Upclose photos inside and outside of the property. We learnt how the privileged lived in the 1930s.

We started with soup in the cafe

This chap was sad that he wasn't allowed in the house

Most rooms had a garden view

The furniture was typical of the era

The bathrooms were copies of those in Claridge's hotel

When smoking was cool

Not Upclose but what a room

Martini Madam?

Tropical and desert plants thrived

Upclose in the Garden

Although I appreciate our lovely, large front garden I don't often walk around and look at the various plants. Between the spring showers today I wandered down from our street frontage to the house with my phone in hand. As I did I took a few Upclose photos.

The camellias, gardenias and magnolia have lost their blooms but the azaleas and wisteria are bursting into bloom.

Looking down from the letterbox

The first row of azaleas

 A corner of cliveas

These azaleas match my hot pink glasses

Dainty groundcover is taking over

An orchis lives on a tree

An old slow coach has a sunny spot

The last of the camellias

Another clump of azaleas

Dainty and white ??

Yellow cliveas

These pretty blue things are coming up all over

The lavender is scraggly but the perfume perfect

No need to buy lettuce this week

Silver beet is doing well

The very first lemon on our tree ever

I think we'll be getting more lemons

Waiting to be planted out

I think this is a pest

Another old duck

Hedge in desperate need of a trim

Looking back up the drive to the letterbox