The black and white of it.....

These past 3 days the temperature has been in the high 30s (90s F) and yesterday we cracked 40 (104).

It was danged HOT.  And as I wilted the world of nature exploded.


My Black Hoya erupted in dozens of glorious pods with a delicate aroma.  This plant has been in a 50cm square pot for 15 years.  It is root bound beyond comprehension and yet every year this is what I get.  I want so much to repot or transplant it but I am scared I will destroy it.  Is it possible to feel sad for a plant.  I worry that it is suffering in the pot. I worry that it sometimes dries out and doesnt exactly look healthy each year.  It has covered the wall of the front porch and has even woven itself behind the gutters.  I don't care.  I love it and it stays!



At least I had the presence of mind to put up a trellis when I first sited it there.

Hoya flowers from the same flower spike every year.  The spike (no idea what the proper word for it is) grows by one layer each year.  So you can see in the pic below here that I do not lie when I say it has been there for 15 years.

new growth flowering as it hangs in the air looking for purchase.

  In contrast is this white hydrangea flowers from new growth each year. It needs to be pruned and pruned hard but it gives its all in gratitude.

When I am sad I turn to plants.  When I am mad I turn to plants.  And when I am happy I return to plants.

What a wonderful planet we have.  These next 3 pics are from a friend's house where I spent the gap between christmas and New Year.  These are her views......... what bliss!