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‘tiny happy’ was a journal of my handmade life from 2006-2025.

silver-leaf

Native 1

Native 3

Native 2 

We have this native New Zealand shrub growing in our garden, and I love its tiny, slightly silvery leaves. Today is very rainy and grey, but these leaves shimmer against the garden wall. I wish i could remember the name of this particular plant, but it escapes me. (do you know it?) (The top image is from my 'botanical NZ plants' diary, and it's a painting of a kakabeak branch.)

I did some embroidery today, inspired by these tiny leaves, all the while thankful for our beautiful native plants that remain green and lush even in wintertime.

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18 responses to “silver-leaf”

  1. amelia gamble Avatar
    amelia gamble

    maybe its beech tree?

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  2. gardenmama Avatar
    gardenmama

    Your photos are lovely, it reminds me of a hydrangea tree flower yet the stems are too delicate.

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  3. Molly Avatar
    Molly

    So beautiful, this. Reminds me of a plant we used to have as a child in the Northwest, which we always called “the money plant”. I suppose because the shimmery circles looked like silver dollars. Such a lovely thing, in a soft gentle breeze.

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  4. Karina Avatar
    Karina

    I think its a coprosma. I may be wrong though. xx

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  5. tinyhappy Avatar
    tinyhappy

    aha- that sounds right- thank you x

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  6. Jennie Avatar
    Jennie

    beautiful work, and a belated happy blog anniversary
    please promise to keep blogging for at least the next four years – xxJenniexx

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  7. allie Avatar
    allie

    kakabeak is my all time favourite plant i have 3 of them in my garden one of which is flowering right now oddly enogh

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  8. Francesca Avatar
    Francesca

    I’m so grateful for evergreens in wintertime! Does it get very cold there? I like your embroideries on black.

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  9. Lucille Avatar
    Lucille

    I have something like this in the garden, just finished flowering so the discs are still green and purple, not yet dried to silver tissue. I call it Honesty – also Lunaria because of its resemblance to the full moon. But looking again, I’m not so sure.

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  10. Tinylovely Avatar
    Tinylovely

    What lovely embroidery. I think it might possibly be Lopohomytus bullata. New Zealand native plants are great they have amazing depth and texture while still being quite subtle. One of my favourites is Muehlenbeckia astonii

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  11. Margaret Oomen Avatar
    Margaret Oomen

    i just adore the colors in these last two posts melissa
    xo

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  12. Jacilyn Avatar
    Jacilyn

    A beautiful set of photos. That middle one of the plant is gorgeous. And love your embroidery, lovely, lovely!

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  13. holly c. Avatar
    holly c.

    I love the way the embroidery turned out.

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  14. Patricia Reiff Avatar
    Patricia Reiff

    I agree with Molly, it looks like a money plant.

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  15. Eyecatchers Avatar
    Eyecatchers

    Just LOVE the simple design of the embroidery on the black – really catches the eye!

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  16. Jessica - Domestic PDX Avatar
    Jessica – Domestic PDX

    Lovely collection of photos. The embroidery is so beautiful in its simplicity.

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  17. Christina G Avatar
    Christina G

    Lophomytus bullata is correct.:)

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  18. Eliane Avatar
    Eliane

    sweet name kakabeak! it has been growing abundantlty here in the southwest of ireland but the last horrible winter killed them all. such a beautiful plant.

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