The first day of winter

​I have had the most wonderful afternoon, First day of winter and 12 months since Harry had his huge operation, He has been out all afternoon with the inevitable balls and has recovered well for an old chap!!!!!

​So here is my beautiful lemon tree covered in lemons, however don’t looks too close. No, they are not wired on, they are real, but the poor tree is inflicted with citrus gall wasp. I have cut it back to a stick twice, but now I have given up, I hate buying lemons.

My fabulous son in law has been over and worked his magic on dear old Downderry. He has blown and cut and turned it into fairy land again. The giant old oak had finished but the copper beech has really just started and the same with the mighty elm and the linden,

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​The dear old kookaburra was a gift from an old friend. He spends a lot of time lost under the Virginia creeper, but it’s nearly finished and he has made himself available again. I was so pleased to see him peeping out again, looking for lizards (too cold), or frogs. Nooooo

​Pan has presented himself again. He has been lost in the alstroemerias, but has surfaced none the worse for wear, so it’s been a heavenly afternoon of old friends appearing, 

I just love this time of the year. The two ginkos which sit either side of the drive have finished, I call them Jenny and Ian as they gave them to me while they were living here. I love them and even though they are only little, they bring me lovely memories of my family.

Glen working like a mad man. Thankyou darling. The birds have been amazing today, I bought a new bag of wild bird seed and they have all been playing in the garden. The king parrots have been amazing and the rosellas too, They all seem to be nesting - in particular the butcher bird - and the magpies fly in and out calling for more food, They are just wonderful. Yes I know I shouldn’t encourage the cockies but they are so funny and such fun. Mac always had a theory that if you feed them they won’t eat your house! They make me laugh out loud so this is winter at Downderry - soooo beautiful