Resting in a Zen garden

Resting in a Zen garden
Originally uploaded by curli

Another step has been achieved with my daughter and son-in-law hanging this plaque of the Resting Buddha.
This plaque has been patiently sitting in the office since last March,as I was not going to tempt fate,and builders by hanging it too early in the makeover.
This can also be viewed from the kitchen and dining areas;One either side of the plaque is a square terra cotta pot home to Jasmine,which I hope will eventually form a flowering cone each side of Buddha.

Hibiscus sabdariffa

I thought that after my earlier comments re planting Rosella plants,you might like to see what they look like!
(Isn't the colouring so rich...and lush!

Rosella ia a robust many branched shrub-like annual that gets 4 to 7 feet tall in optimum conditions.

The dark green leaves are about 6 inches across and deeply dissected into five narrow lobes.
The stems,branches,leaf veins and leaf stems/petioles are reddish.

The hibiscus -like are yellow and about 3 inches in diameter;
At the bottom edge of the flower eclosing the bases of the five petals is a fleshy ruby red "cup"/calyx which develops as the seed covering after the flowers is pollinated.

These calyces are used to make juices,sauces,jam ,wines and pies...the pie being similar to a rhubarb pie.

Storm lilies

After last night's rain,the storm lilies are "bloomin' luvverly"

Another spot for contemplation

Whether it's good feng shui or not,
I like this little spot in my home........

A moment of Zen

In the past months as Ken's ill health consumed so much of my time,
my Zen Garden attempt has not had too much attention apart from watering .

But it did it's own thing and grew and is flourishing.

The garden was conceived as being for moments of quiet reflection,
and hearts- ease in time of turmoil:
and it is succeeding in being an oasis of tranquillity for me.

There is still work to be done,apart from weeding---

To my mind it needs a few more splashes of colour: maybe a few more broad-leafed crotons that have a splash of orange or yellow.

Yesterday I planted out a couple of New Guinea Impatiens,with deep variegated leaves and deep scarlet flowers;
As none of my Cliveas are blooming at the moment I'm hoping the Impatiend will do a bolt and grow and bloom quickly as we roll into our Wet (and growing season)

In the top picture on the left hand side,and about halfway along is a clump of 'Storm Lilies':
I'm not sure of the botanical name,but their beauty lies in the fact
that after the first thunderstorm of the season it starts blooming
with palest pink lily like blooms.

A couple of weekends ago,on the right hand side of the path,I planted out a few Rosella seedlings
(Hibiscus sabdariffa)

These plants are prized in Queensland for jam/conserve making ,giving a ruby-red,slightly tangy result.
Being of the hibiscus family they have a lemon coloured hibiscus type open flower
with a dark centre.
The fruit are glossy ruby-red 'pods'(looking a bit like a closed rose bud)
and enclosing the slightly hairy seed pod.
Even if my Rosellas don't provide sufficient fruit for jam making
I KNOW I will love having these beautiful plants in my garden

I also added a bird bath to the lower end of the garden;
but looking at the picture,I'm sure it needs to be more level.
More labour ahead.but it's worth it I think!