Secret blooms

This morning as a walked past the lounge room window, a small pink camellia flower caught my eye. It was hanging low, almost unnoticed. I went out for a closer look and found some more new buds hiding at the back of the plant, against the fence. I must remember to keep and eye out for them. When they open, I will pick them and put them beside my bed.

It had been a while since I had been out in the garden. I went for a wander and made some lovely discoveries, all hidden deep in between the dark green foliage.



Yes, that is a baby pineapple.



Bright orange heliconias, lost in a sea of green leaves



I needed to peel back the layers of a mock orange to find these beauties.



One single 'yesterday, today and tomorrow' flower, at the bottom of the bush.



New basil, found far from the vegetable patch.

And sadly, a beautiful coral coloured torch ginger that had been missed. Discovered today, when it was too late.

Secret blooms, butterflies and dragon flies.

What's hiding at the bottom of your garden today?

At my house......

I have always wanted a English-style cottage garden. Rambling roses and a sprawling walled kitchen garden. It has taken me about 20 years to realize, that where I live, that is simply not possible.

So, it is with new eyes that I look today at the blooms in my own subtropical garden. It's grey, rainy and miserable here, but as I walk around our garden, delightful jewel coloured discoveries are being made.......

And they are brightening my day.

Go over to Buttons by Lou Lou to see what is happening at other people's houses.

Tomatoes

Our poor vegie garden has really suffered over this hot, hot summer. We had some good lettuces for only a week or so before Christmas, the rest have been either, burnt or eaten by grasshoppers. Our sorrel has had heatstroke and our rocket is only just hanging in there. So I was happy to go out this morning to find these tomatoes, red ripe in the morning sunshine.

The perfect end to a lazy Saturday was to make this easy tomato pasta for dinner. I clipped it from a newspaper when I was living in London about 15 years ago. I remember the first night I cooked it for friends, when I was still living there. Yummo! I have cooked it many times since and it is still a big favourite of mine. I hope you like it too. Be warned, you may eat more than one bowl of this pasta. Tonight I ate 3. I think that's bordering on gluttony.



Mmmm! real tomatoes, these taste just like the ones I ate on my Nana's farm when I was growing up.



Pasta with Tomatoes and Chickpeas

serves 4-6

• 500 grams dried penne
• 4 tomatoes (diced) or 1 punnet of cherry tomatoes (halved)
• 2 cloves garlic (crushed)
• 1/2 red onion (diced 1 teaspoon chilli (finely diced)
• 2 tablespoons basil (torn)
• salt and pepper
• 6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 x 400 gram tin chickpeas (drained)
• juice of 1/2 a lemon
• 4 tablespoons parmesan cheese (grated)

to serve

• extra parmesan cheese (grated)

Bring the water to the boil and cook the pasta until al dente. In the meantime, in a bowl combine the next 6 ingredients and set aside. Season to taste. Add the chickpeas to the saucepan 1 minute before pasta is ready. Drain and transfer to a warm serving bowl. Spoon over the raw sauce and lemon juice and mix well. Add the cheese and serve immediately. Serve with extra parmesan on the table.