March was beautiful with a blessed 140mm of rainfall in Mudgee. Temperatures remain fairly warm and my garden has shown its gratitude in April. Some summer-flowering plants are staging a last hurrah, even as the elm leaves are turning yellow and the usual autumn flowerings begin.

Following my last blog post, my gorgeous single white Camellia sasanqua is radiant in my shaded garden. I love the fragility of its crinkled petals.

There are other lovely pink sasanqua camellias too.

Salvia leucantha “purple velvet” has taken off since I had some trees removed to provide more sunlight.

Loropetalum “Plum Gorgeous” will be giving me joy with its sweet tousled flowers as winter approaches.

The samphire flowers are fading and developing seed heads.

The hippeastrums have surprised me with a late flourish.

My roses have saved their best for autumn- Princess de Monaco is a star.

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My new order of spring-flowering bulbs- daffodils and Dutch Iris- and the tulips which I lifted last spring, are getting their pre-planting chill in the crisper. This weekend I will be preparing the beds for planting in the next few weeks, once the weather cools down a bit more. The violets have begun flowering.

Pied Currawongs, on their annual journey from the high country to lower altitudes for the winter, flock and swoop through my garden, calling their friends to join them as they pass through.

I hope you are enjoying the delights of the season in your garden, wherever you may be.