How long do the roses last, js? Here they sometimes flower until late autumn, although I've only noticed that in recent years. I think you said the feijoas are your Christmas trees. Are they autumn/winter flowering?
I remember you saying, in previous years, that you were longing to get into the garden as spring approaches, ley.We have purple and yellow crocus and daffodils in our garden at the moment. The snowdrops are nearly over. We have cyclamen coming up but I can't wait to get out there and tidy up
The purple and yellow mix of your bulbs sounds beautiful.I planted some snowdrops this year, but only two flowered. However some tulips are beginning to come through, but only one of last year's hyacinths is showing any growth. 
I love spring time. I think I am going to try and get some help in the garden this year.
How long do the roses last, js? Here they sometimes flower until late autumn, although I've only noticed that in recent years. I think you said the feijoas are your Christmas trees. Are they autumn/winter flowering?
I love the spring bulbs and also the buds appearing on the trees and shrubs. Everything looks so green and fresh too.Our tulips are beginning to come through now
I haven't started sowing any seeds yet.
Do you always sow seeds Ley? My father used to, but I've tended to buy bedding plants, except years ago when I grew veg from seed.How lovely! I used to enjoy picking fresh veg, and herbs, from the garden back in the day!
Oh I can see where I made my mistake, js, looking back at your earlier posts. The picture of the pohutukawa tree is amazing.Roses over here can flower well into autumn too, Sue.
Well, the pohutukawa is NZ's Christmas tree. The feijoa tree produces miniature versions of the pohutukawa flower. Both types of tree flower in early summer, around December and the feijoa fruit is ready in late autumn/early winter.
The Lord's creation continues to amaze me. 
What do the feijoas taste like, js? Does your tree keep you in fruit throughout the summer? I like camellias too. Are they winter-flowering in NZ?
My tulips are doing well, but everything else is not flowering yet. I'm planning to do hanging baskets soon.
The fruit is ready in autumn, I've discovered, as I'd forgotten when the fruit was ready last year.
It's hard to describe the taste of feijoas, Sue, as I can't think of anything that tastes remotely like them. They are quite sweet and have a slightly grainy taste is the best I can say.
Yes, camellias flower around June/July over here, in winter. I love camellias because when I was little, my nana and grandpa had a beautiful red camellia on their front lawn. I loved it and have done ever since. We've had at least one camellia at almost every house we've ever lived in and not having a camellia just seems wrong to me.
I wonder if any are exported. I'll have a look in the supermarket next time I'm there.
So many flowers I love - pansies with their smiley faces are a firm favourite and poppies are beautiful when planted en masse. Really love them.
They have been trained to resemble standard roses, which is a bit different. I've never seen the shrubs trained that way before. I don't really like it much, but as long as they flower, it will be good. We also have a couple of flax bushes. Most NZ gardens feature a flax bush somewhere. There are a couple of planter boxes as well, so I may pop some seedlings into them.
I hope you enjoy your new garden and that the camellias flower - strange how they have been trained. Also that you have fun with your planter boxes. I've enjoyed growing things in tubs and troughs. This is a small garden too, but I've found it enough to deal with, and have added more planters each year as time and finance permits. The bulbs have finished now and I really must do the hanging baskets and buy a few more new plants!
The new person was very excited about moving into our old home. Hope he still feels that way after clearing away tons of fallen feijoas as the tree was still loaded with fruit when we left. Perhaps they will be folk who turn them all into jams and puddings. Not my buzz, I'm afraid. 
