Fabulous February

summer's here - and i'm not  for that. i am never ready for six months of dry searing heat, interminable dust, phantom water supply, a tired looking garden and for toiling under a relentless Death star. plants like ixora, oleander, bamboo, alamanda, that don't mind a bit of sun, all do very well and seem to actually enjoy the scorching, masochistic 50 shades of light and heat. other anti-sun heliophobic creatures (including myself) like ferns, heliconia, philadendrons, crinums - we just pout and suffer till the mothership does its thing around the great ball of fire and restores our favorite seasons - monsoon and winter. the past few months of cooler temps after a wee bit of rain was lovely for the garden (and this gardener's disposition). the relatively mild sunshine, generous watering, cool nights and gentle breezy days kept the garden somewhat green and "normal". (in my mind i must garden somewhere where the daffodils flutter and dance in the breeze) yet all things must pass and now its February.

it's the eve of summer - i tell myself that there's watermelon, soon to come mango and lots of al fresco dining outdoors (along with what appears to be every mosquito on the planet) baggy shorts, cold juice and an impressive arsenal of cuss words will be my accessories for enduring the desert- like arid, conditions at home. the garden will have to suffer in silence however - show its resilience and patience with the unkind seasons in the sun. for now however, in the very last days of pre-summer, the garden is a beautiful mix of colours - plenty of falling leaves, new buds, fruit and a variety of flowers.

heliconia

eranthymum

 hibiscus

portulaca