Thursday, August 18, 2011

Spring Blossoms at Carrick Hill

It is still officially end winter here in South Australia. But for some people it is already the beginning of spring season. I am celebrating spring and thinks winter season has already ended. We have mild winter here at Adelaide plain. When I was living in Japan, cherry blossom season is about to enter mid-spring. I am not complaining as we can grow all year round now just depending on warm and cool season crops. Thanks to Maggie email, we got to visit this lovely place at Carrick Hill last weekend. I never heard of this place before so I was really curious. Last weekend we were away for a fishing trip and after a rest we drove to Carrick Hill in the afternoon. Some of the plants made me reminisced spring gardens in Japan. I always like garden that has water flowing through it. 
Surprised to see Momotaro the Peach Boy from Japan folk legend statue in this garden.
Do you know what is the name of this flower plant?
Last weekend we had very fine sunny weather.
Hopefully this weekend will be full of sunshine too.
Hope this weekend will be nice weather for you too.

28 comments:

Sunray Gardens said...

What a lovely place to visit. Made for a wonderful day.
Cher Sunray Gardens

Jennifer@threedogsinagarden said...

Such a beautiful spring garden! The pink flowering shrub is lovely. I am not certain, but might it be a flowering almond?
P.S. I really like the picture of your baskets filled with home grown produce.

Cat-from-Sydney said...

OMG! MKG dear, are those nectarine blossoms? purrrr *giggles*

Sue Garrett said...

Spring is my favourite season so ull of promise!

One said...

This is beautiful. I love the second shot with all that white flowers!

tina said...

I second Jennifer on the mystery plant. Either a flowering almond or perhaps plum. Both prunus family. Maybe even a mume? I can't believe it is already spring there! Still summer here.

Katie M said...

Do you mean the one with bare branches and big plum-cloured flowers? Second to last photo? That's a magnolia but I'm not sure which one.
I've never been to Carrick Hill, not yet anyway!

Makarimi Abdullah said...

So beautiful. Really hope to be there in future ;)

cikmanggis said...

cantiknya...selalu impikan bercuti ditempat yang sungguh cantik begini...

Jody said...

I'm sorry I can't help you learn what kind of tree that is, but the garden is beautiful. I'd really love to see the pictures from you fishing trip!

Kelli said...

A really pretty garden, the blossoms are great!

Mark Willis said...

What a lovely place. A little oasis of Japan in Australia! I think the unidentified tree is a Magnolia or Tulip tree.

rainfield61 said...

I cannot not enjoy the changes in seasons, I see everything the same from beginning of the year to December.

Daphne Nicole & Lynda Cade said...

Everything is beautiful, especially love all the pinks!
Daphne

kitchen flavours said...

What a beautiful place! Do not know the pink flower, but they are simply gorgeous! Wish you a lovely spring!

kitchen flavours said...

Wanted to ask you about frozen bendi.
How do you freeze them and do they stay fresh after defrost? Thanks! :)

kitsapFG said...

Thanks for letting us join you in seeing this lovely garden - even if it is through the lens of the camera. I love spring flowering trees - such a splash of much needed color after the dark days of winter.

The Seasonal One said...

Its so beautiful! I would love to be there to see all those blooms. Thanks for sharing.

~TastyTravels~ said...

Pretty photos. I second the magnolia tree guess. I remember the Momotaro stories when I was little. I think I had the book. LOL!

Judith said...

Every year we talk about going to Carrick Hill and we've never been yet. Will have to make a big effort this time to get there as it looks pretty. I'd agree with Magnolia tree if it the photo where the tree looks bare and just unopened blooms.

Chloe m said...

I love spring! Those are some superbly designed gardens!

shaz said...

What a gorgeous garden. I love magnolias, wish I had space to grow one.

Stevie said...

beautiful!

littlekarstar said...

Hi D, that garden is gorgeous! I love magnolias, I've been seeing them everywhere this week - they are so beautiful. Do you have one? I was thinking of you as I was pulling up another florence fennel today and I planted my first crimson okra seeds ever! You inspired me to try growing them :)

Sue Catmint said...

Hi MK, don't know the name of the blossom but the one underneath looks like Magnolia grandiflora. Lovely Japanesey gardens with blossom, rocks and water. The weather was lovely today. it's been great for the garden, first rain and now sunshine. cheers, c.

Malay-Kadazan girl said...

Cher~It was a really lovely day :).

Jennifer~It is almond flowering season at the moment.

Cat-from-Sydney~ I am not sure whether that are nectarine blossoms. But my neighbour peach tree is not flowering yet at the moment. So I can't compare.

Sue~ I smell spring now. But I have not started our spring sowing yet.

One~I don't know what that white flower name is. But now I know that it start to bloom end winter here as I recalled some of the trips we had to Parks last year around this month.

Tina~Oh what is mume? We seems to skip winter here as our winter is only mild compared to other countries that have 4seasons.

Hearts_in_asia~Thanks. I have a hunch that is magnolia but wasn't really 100% sure about it. I only seen the white-coloured magnolia in Japan. Its nice at Carrick Hill at the moment, I am sure you will enjoy it.

Orchid de dangau~Its very lovely this month here in South Australia. All the plants are waking up.

Cikmanggis~Marilah datang lawat tempat kami.

Jody~I did not take that many pictures from our fishing trip :). Maybe next time.

Kelli~We are excited to leave winter now and looking forward for more spring blossoms.

Mark~I was happy to find a liitle oasis of Japan in Australia. Since I really missed spring in Japan.

Rainfield61~Ah but there are changes with dry and monsoon season.

Daphne~I love the pinks too. Nice after bare-tree and greens to see through winter we had.

Kitchen flavours~I freeze bendi quickly after I harvest them. Some suggest to blanch it for 2 minutes and freeze them. But I don't blanch them but freeze them directly. It can be kept frozen as long as 6~8months. But after thawed, must be used straight away. I cook our frozen bendi for assam pedas and still taste better than the ones bought from stores. I am not sure about using the frozen one for frying. But for assam pedas or curry is nice.

Malay-Kadazan girl said...

KitsapFG~Looking at the splash of colours, I can't wait for summer crops now. But I have not even started to sow any summer seeds yet.

The Seasonal One~Thanks for enjoying it with us too.

Holly~Momotaro made me remember "momo"-peach in Japanese.

Judith~Its not to late for a visit yet to watch those lovely blossoms :). I really like that magnolia tree blossoms colour. Hope you enjoy your visit.

Rosey~It must take years of patience and TLC to create that garden.I wonder if I have that patience.

Shaz~I wish I have the space to grow magnolia as well. I also have my eyes on camellias too.

Stevie~It is beautiful.

Mrs Bok~Lucky you. I don't think magnolia tree is common here.Wow you already sowed your summer vegetables. I have not started any except for potatoes and carrots this month.

Catmint~Its nice to hear that this weekend we have lovely weather. Thanks for the name Magnolia grandiflora. I hope your garden will flourish with the rain and ready for the Open Garden Scheme.

lena said...

look so beautiful! wish i was there!