Chokos

The choko bush on our back fence appeared a few years ago, most likely courtesy a passing bird. It settled in and being the hardy plant it is, hasn’t looked back. Some years the fruit has been more abundant than others, no doubt helped by rain at the right time.

This year the bush was covered in flowers; small, white and bell-shaped, with a tinge of pink inside the bell. The time arrived when the fruit started to set and some of the tiny flowers withered away.  Only so much energy in the plant and the fruit set gets the larger portion.

I investigated this fruit (or is it a vegetable?) and pondered over the idea of maybe cutting one and seeing how it looks inside. Chokos are apparently related to marrows. 

Marrows! Yerrk!

The plant hasn’t been watered enough this year, maybe the fruit won’t be at its best.

Wait a while.  A further report might appear on the blog.

Tree trickery

That crafty tree next door with its overhanging branches has completely pulled the wool over my eyes.  What I see is not what I think it is. I had me fooled when I wrote this.

Those so-called ‘flowers’ are nothing but seeds, which the tree has produced in abundance this year to ensure survival of the species.  This will not happen, all the ground below is covered in concrete.

The wisteria had been growing through the tree and has been axed by the gardener from next door. Stuart and I pull as much of the dead wisteria out of the overhanging branches as we can manage.

Eventually weather, in the shape of wind, rain and sun, will disperse the rest.

Unfolding

The monsteria is unfolding another leaf. 

Alas, this one will also grow out over the path and in time will need to be trimmed back.

These plants need lots of space, the area where it is growing is shaded but it is really too narrow.   In spite of all this, I persevere with growing it in this space.  

Stuart knows the penalty is death if he so much as trims one leaf back.

Quickly. Can you identify this flower?

So, this is the question.  Do you know what this flower is?

It arrived courtesy a passing bird, grew up between gardener's visits and as it was looking well established and happy I allowed it free rein.

The gardener wasn't all that happy and mumbled about creepers that went everywhere and were hard to control.

We have been rewarded with these flowers and the other day I came across another similiar creeper growing below the railway embankment, alongside the path leading from the railway station to the university.  None of its companions in that place were  rare and exotic plants.

I think it must be of the common weed variety.

Deciding what to do next

Deciding what to do next; this happens every single day, sooner or later, within the 24 hour cycle of a day at the Trash Palace.

There are days when I do have a plan.  A plan, which is put into practice and goes merrily along without too many hitches. 

Today was not one of those days; the plan lasted only as long as it took for the gardener to arrive and park his van in the shade of a tree.  In the course of standing under the shade tree and talking about the plan, I discovered the climbing vine which had taken over the tree was flowering.  Pale green flowers which looked very like wisteria blooms to me. 

I had plans for this vine.  It was to undergo a serious pruning. Whether it is flowering or just tricking me, the decision was made to give the vine a pruning reprieve while it is flowering. 

When the gardener arrives in four weeks   for the next garden tidy I will then decide what to do next.

Do these look like flowers to you?