The month of May is at a close and so too most of the trees in our garden have shed their autumnal foliage. In the house, the wood fire heater has been cranked up and we have braced ourselves for some wintry weather. Here at 700 metres altitude we sometimes get snow, certainly we experience ice and frost. However, the garden copes very well. This year autumn has been very dry with some trees going into distress. Now, the rains have come, and it always amazes me to see the first pop of camellia buds.
I am in the garden every day no matter the weather. Last weekend we set fire to some very large mounds of debris, accumulated throughout the summer. The Country Fire Association sets the fire season and we cannot light any outside fires, but once this is lifted, usually the end of April – this year it was the 3rd of May, we can begin to burn off. Our neighbours gather around, and we celebrate the arrival of cooler weather and banish the thought of bushfires from our minds – albeit until next summer.
We have a saying here on the Mount – “all summer we fear seeing smoke and all winter we create smoke” – smoky mountain indeed. Happy gardening everyone – no matter the season where you live.
crabandfish garden 
It is always interesting to see what is happening on the other side of the world. Our summer is beginning and we just had 12 inches of rain in one day, but living in a city, we are never allowed to burn. No bonfires for us.
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Thanks for your comment – it’s always good to see the seasonal changes in other parts of the world too. Love your posts 😊
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Happy fire-warming!
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Thanks! There’s something quite engrossing in watching a fire burn and shed its warmth. Happy gardening to you. Flavia
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It’s so fascinating to read about the change of seasons in your part of the world. Here, in South Florida, we’re in our “rainy season,” which is a fancy way of saying hot & humid (as opposed to winter’s dry season, which is warm and rainless).
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Hi Kevin, I always enjoy your sub-tropical garden posts, it reminds me of my youth in northern Australia. The plants are so vigorous and colourful. Winter is setting in here fast. Happy gardening to you. Flavia
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