The December garden

There can be few flowering plants that are more forgiving than the drought and frost hardy lupins Lupinus polyphyllus.

Their root nodules fix nitrogen in the soil, and so the smaller varieties are grown and dug in for many agriculture crops.

Their pods, if not removed after flowering, will spread seed for new plants to grow and fill the bed. New seedlings transplant readily to establish new beds.

They are just one flowering plant among many thousands that flower in November and December.

The photo shows lupins growing alongside magenta coloured Cistus incanus (Mediterranean Rose), C. villosus and the prolific white daisy bush, Chrysanthemum ptarmicaeflorum (Canary Island Pyrethrum).

In the vegie garden

December is the best month for sowing frost tender dwarf and climbing beans, and in well-manured soil, seedlings of cucumbers, pumpkins and zucchinis.

Zucchinis should be harvested when small, and when pickled, make delicious ingredients for summer salads and sandwiches.