Common and Beautiful

Resting upon a leaf, of the star jasmine that runs itself rampant along one of our fences, was this brown-winged butterfly. It is a Common Australian Crow Butterfly (or Oleander Butterfly).

 Common Australian Crow Butterfly rests on our star jasmine.

While not as colourful and boldly patterned as its showy cousins, and a much more common sight in our garden than some others, it is none the less beautiful. Fine and delicate with white spots that look like a painter has dabbed them on, oh so precisely!

Flying away.

It might be common but, like so many things, very beautiful too when one looks closely and with wonder.

Have a lovely weekend. 

Meg

Roaring Meg: A Native Climber

Roaring Meg is a beautiful native climber. It's planted at the base of the retaining wall that leads to our front steps and is wending and winding its way happily up and along its wire mesh trellis. In Spring, it greets everyone who visits our home with stunning clusters of tubular, magenta flowers. What a welcome!
 

 "Roaring Meg" in bloom this Spring.

Originally, non-natives like mandevilla and wisteria were planted where Roaring Meg is now. But they faltered in the hot, South-Westerly position where this native climber is thriving. (Yes, it's true, I even managed to kill off a wisteria vine!)

A cluster of spectacular magenta blooms.

There's so much to adore about this native climber. It's reasonably fast-growing without being too vigorous. It responds well to a light pruning once it has finished flowering. It grows well in full sun and isn't overly thirsty. It has lovely deep green leaves and, of course, there are these beautiful blooms. 

These blooms are an open invitation for little native bees.

Planted in a hedge, at the base of Roaring Meg's trellis, are fragrant Gardenias. These are all in bud and I can't wait to see the deep pink of these blooms offset by the pure white petals of the Gardenias when they open. (There's always something to look forward to in a garden, isn't there!)

With a name like Roaring Meg, I'm sure there's no way I could've gone wrong with this gorgeous native climber. Even if your name's not Meg, it could be a lovely choice for your garden too.

Meg