Gardening.

This morning we had a frost. We don't get many but the low temp is good for killing off bugs. While we have been enjoying some fine Winter days I have been gardening every afternoon. I looked around the garden to see what plants were already providing some colour and polyanthus was one things already doing that.

 In other areas I have red ones being a bit slow and another area has lemon/ yellow ones.

 The sun is too bright in this photo to show the colours up, but that's tidied that area.

Yesterday I spent all afternoon trying to fix a sloping bank that has partly collapsed onto the shell path. Birds make dust baths in the soil and the rain washes it down. I am probably the only person who will notice the difference. It involved a lot of digging and shovelling.as well as some new plantings - 2 white azaleas  and some poppies.

 Other areas of the garden that have Winter flowers are the Ifafa lilies that I have been growing here since 1980. A lady gave me a few bulbs back then and as they are happy I now have several clumps.

 I spotted this now uninhabited paper wasp nest in the Itty Bit camellia bush, when I was taking photos.

This morning while I was eating my breakfast 4 large native pigeons - Kereru sat puffed up and jumped about in the Copper beech tree. One then drank from the bird bath but was frightened off by a Tui who wanted a bath - he was showing off cause the water must have been near freezing.

 My photos didn't come out well as it wasn't light enough and I was too far away.

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 Felt ball # 25 is well under way. It is for Belinda's first baby girl, due any day now so I have been hurrying.

 The 12 pentagons in 2 halves that make up one ball outer.

 The 2 halves with a pin holding them where I need to join them. It is important to sew the right seams together .

 Elizabeth, Yes I do have a pattern and set of instructions with pictures that I have given to interested people. Only one ever sent photos back and she had made a very poor effort of it. It is best to be shown I think. Patience is a major requirement too.

 Last night I made 2 more motifs ready to put on so progress is good.

 I have also started the next baby quilt - no photos yet.