I know most of you are celebrating summer (particularly Gimper66 ), but here we have just had our coldest day in forty years and the mountains to our west (Orange, Katoomba, Oberon) are snow covered.

But we are lucky, whilst still cold, the sun is shining and my garden is alive with colour. These are all Australian native plants which continue to flower through or only flower in winter. Thought I would post some examples I took just after having lunch.

Winter1 contains a Banksia (yellow) and two Grevilleas.
Winter2 contains two Grevilleas an Epacris Longiflora (Pan Pipes) and a Hibiscus Geranoides -

You have so nice garden OMG.
Enjoy your "Winter" that looks like our Summer
JK, it's hot enough now and I can't get even sleep because of the light.

Are there any cross-country skiers snowboarders on the mountains?

Nidhogg - the snow this far north is not deep enough for skiing but there may be some areas where snow boarding is possible. We do have some winter resorts with large ski slopes further south in the Snowy Mountains and there the ski season has formally commenced.

OMG
I would like to be in Australia...Here 30°1 at 15h

Winter is closing in on spring now, but there are still many winter flowers to enjoy in my garden. Here are four different Grevillea flowers, all but the top left (Caloundra Gem) are just a couple of centimetres in size on 1 - 2 metre shrubs. The Caloundra Gem is 4 metres high and the pink, gold flowers are as large as a fist.

OMG, you make us all enjoy such beauties. Flowers make our lives so happy. These that you have shared are really spectacular in colour and shape.
Your garden is surely a beautiful place where you can relax. Thanks for sharing.

Issabella - thank you. Yes I love my garden and although shooting into the sun, I also took a shot up into the lemon tree - good harvest shortly. Our neighbour makes terrific lemon curd.

Lovely native flora except the lemon tree

Two orchids, the first, a native Dendrobium with much smaller flowers, just budding and the second, alien to Oz, in full display .

A very grey, windy day today but which allowed me to take some close up shots the bright sun does not normally allow. As I post this a couple of colourful Rainbow Lorikeets are sucking away at the nectar on a Grevillea ground cover just outside the window. Just love nature in lock down

OMG, how lucky you are to have such a beautiful garden during the long lockdown.
Beautiful flowers even in winter.
And soon spring in Australia, another beautiful colour palette.
Thanks for letting us enjoy your wonderful nature

Hello everyone,

I'm completely new to gardening and I've seen some discussions here about landscaping (even though it was in a graphic context, it inspired me). I'd like to get started on my small balcony, which is in the shade most of the day.

So, simple question: what hardy, undemanding plants would you recommend for a beginner? I love ferns, but I wonder if other colorful or aromatic options could survive with little sun.

Thanks in advance for your insights! (And sorry if this is off-topic, the enthusiasm's getting the better of me haha)

@Emilia75

Firstly thanks for posting in my thread ; I'm probably not the one though to give you an answer for a 'small, shady balcony' as I deal with wide open, sun filled spaces and Australian native plants.

Typically though plants will depend on location, aspect (for sun) and weather. My suggestion is to find a garden centre near you that can help you out.

Assuming you picked this topic because your in Winter right now. ChecK out this link https://www.hgtv.com/outdoors/landscapi ... e-pictures