Maraya (Mock Orange)

The leaves (greenery) of the maraya is very popular with florists. The small leaves are a brilliant green and quite shiney, and they do enhance the look of many arrangements.

The delicate white flower has a wonderful fragrance and in the early evening the air is filled with the fragrance, which I find very pleasant. However, many people get hay fever when the flowers are in bloom, and as they are very popular garden plant, I have some sympathy for folks who find them troublesome.

It doesn't help that the flowers bloom for many months of the year.

Hippeastrums

I remember that 12 months ago when I was house sitting at Manly, the hippeastrums were flourishing and they are doing so again this year. Perhaps the dry weather has helped them. In my garden some have just started blooming, but others where I don't get to water are not blooming and there's hardly any evidence that the plants are still alive.