Insects in the garden

This is one of the more interesting creatures(a Lepidoptera) which turned up in the garden. The pattern on the wings is quite unusual.
However with the recent warm days, the dreaded cabbage white butterflies have been active and are making an unwelcome return as are the green vegetable bugs. Better know as stink bugs they seem to hide in mulch and amongst weeds .It's a case of search and destroy now to avoid problems in the vegie patch later in the season.

Lamium galeobdolon 'Herman's Pride' with Dicentra formosa 'Langtrees'

Dicentra formosa 'Langtrees' (left) with Lamium galeobdolon 'Herman's Pride'
These two shade loving perennial ground covers do quite well on the coast even though their origins are more temperate. I like the silvery blue combination and the flowers of the Dicentra always look so delicate. Both are non invasive easy care perennials.
2017 update: short lived in my climate and best in cool temperate region

Abutilon megapotamicum variegatum

Abutilon megapotamicum variegatum Weeping Chinese Lantern

This is a really versatile shrub from Brazil. It grows to about 2 metres but because the stems are quite lax, it can be either trained as a climber flat against a wall or even used as a standard. As a tall standard it makes quite an impact because of the pendulous flowers and brightly splashed ivory /yellow /green foliage.It flowers from late winter through to autumn, will tolerate a range of climates and can take full sun or shade position. It does not have any particular water requirements either.It's a real winner.
2017 update:Makes quite a good standard or espalier.

Leschenaultia biloba

Leschenaultia biloba

Blue-----blue--as if the sky let fall

A flower from its cerulean wall

W.C Bryant

When this little W.A. perennial comes into flower about now I always long to see it massed planted by the hundreds .The exceptional blue flowers are an intense colour. The plants habit though tends to be on the limp side and it often has its thin stems tied to a stake in a pot to prevent it from looking too forlorn,hence the suggestion for mass planting. In a garden bed it needs some strong structural plants around it such as Agaves or Aloes to maintain a fluent structural picture for the time when it is not in flower.

Some Spring Flowering Annuals

Blue Anemone with navy blue pollen

Tall Poppies

Stocks with their strong fragrance

Pansy

Prunus persica 'Lilian Burrows',Peach Blossom Tree

Prunus persica 'Lillian Burrows' ,
Ornamental Flowering Peach

This is a favourite Spring flowering tree. It grows to about 4 metres and the branches make good cut flowers if you want to try your hand at an Ikebana arrangement.

The only down side of these trees is that you have to deal with the masses of rotten fruit which litter the ground under the tree during summer and they are always full of fruit fly larvae.

2017 update: Sadly I no longer have this tree

Amyema cambagei,a Sheoak Mistletoe

Amyema cambagei ,a Mistletoe on Casuarina glauca

The long pendulous leaves of this Mistletoe perfectly mimic those of its host Casuarina,
The word Mistletoe is derived from Mistletan .Mistle =dung and tan = twig, This describes the germination of seeds from the droppings of birds that have fed on the fruit. The tiny mistletoe bird is a delight to watch .All you see is a brilliant flash of red amongst the dense foliage.Also attracted to this plant are the honeyeater birds which pollinate the club shaped bright pink flowers.