Friday, July 22, 2011

It's Another Mid-Winter Friday Flower Flaunt.

Let's see what's in flower this mid-Winter's Friday here at my place here in the north-east of Australia.  As I don't really have lovely garden beds or borders, there won't be vista shots or garden views.  I can however show off some of the blooms on display right now on the potted plants or shrubs out in my garden.

In the courtyard, I'm very pleased to finally see the bracts and flowers of this dwarf variegated Bougainvillea. 


It has done nothing for nearly a year now, other than sit quite happily in a huge container under an Aralia. It's the slowest growing plant I think I've ever had.  But, despite being quite short and stunted, this climber is showing its first bracts.  They start off as white, then they develop a pink tinge around the edges.  The flowers are in the middle and remain closed today.

The Lonicera japonica or Japanese Honeysuckle, which was a new plant this year, has showed it's first spray of flowers.  These dainty tubular flowers begin as pure white in colour and then turn a buttery yellow.  They are gorgeous and have such a beautiful fragrance.  I can't believe this little plant has already flowered.


The Violas are showing their first blooms for the year.

There are blooms appearing on the two Impatiens hawkeri or New Guinea Impatiens I planted under the Cycas revoluta a little while ago.  Both these New Guinea Impatiens are from the 'Celebrette' series, but I can't remember the specific varietal name.  They do have these lovely pale pink blooms with a darker pink blush.

My great survivor, a Pelargonium from the 'Caliente' series (again I don't know the specific varietal name) is still throwing up lovely flower sprays.

My favourite Salvia splendens hybrids, the 'Dusky Hues' series is starting to grow taller and taller.  Fabulous colours!

The winter-blooming Rhododendron simsii or Azalea indica is gradually showing more and more blooms.

In the shadehouse, my white Impatiens hawkeri is finally blooming again.

The Aechmea gamosepala or Matchstick Bromeliad still has its' one lovely flower spike.


There's always a Hibiscus flower to be seen somewhere in the garden.  This is Hibiscus rosa-sinensis 'Roseflake'.

This winter-blooming Azalea shrub is putting on a very pretty display right now.  I'm not sure of the varietal name for this, but someone suggested it could possibly be a Satsuki Azalea as it is a dwarf-sized shrub and has never grown any taller than a metre in height.  Whatever it is, it's a welcome sight in our winter time.

There's also always Pentas blooms somewhere to be seen.


The Euphorbia pulcherrimas continue to bloom.


Finally, a shot of my favourite Torenia fournieri.

For loads of fabulous Fertiliser Friday / Flaunt Your Flowers posts, please visit our host Tootsie at Tootsie Time


I'm also joining Today's Flowers where you can see some beautiful flowers blooming in gardens all over the world.


19 comments:

  1. Oh Sweet Bernie!!!! I wish my winter was a beautiful as yours!!!
    I thank you so much for linking in this week. It is an honor to host Friday's Flaunt and meet new friends and visit the regulars (who are like old friends) who share. I am always excited to tour each post and see the different flowers/ projects and garden art that everyone flaunts. It is a pleasure to tour and see all the gorgeous blooms...and I appreciate each and every link and comment! I hope you will link in again soon!
    (¯`v´¯)
    `*.¸.*´Glenda/Tootsie
    ¸.•´¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨)
    (¸.•´ (¸.•´ .•´ ¸¸.•¨¯`•.

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  2. Hi Bernie,

    I finally grew Torenia this year after many years. I did not have much luck with it previously but this year it is doing great. I think I finally picked the right place. It looks beautiful and strange to see Poinsettia in the garden when we just buy it for the holidays.

    Eileeen

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  3. Oh Bernie ~ I just love all of your blooms. You have such a wonderful, colorful variety. My favorite this time is ~ Hibiscus rosa-sinensis 'Roseflake'. Enjoy your winter blooms. It must be such a joy to walk around your place seeing and taking in the scents of all that beauty that is surrounding you.

    FlowerLady

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  4. How odd to see Euphorbia pulcherrimas (poinsettia) blooming, I always associate that flower with snow and have NEVER saw it growing outdoors like this! Beautiful!

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  5. The Bougainvillea is stunning and I just love the Torenia. I miss them in my garden this summer.

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  6. Bernie, your garden is so lovely. To think this is your winter! Wish ours was like that!

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  7. Hi Bernie. Girl I love that Hibiscus. What beautiful foliage it has.Your Rhododendron and azalea are so lovely.I just always love seeing your pelargonium blooms. I adore those pink and white blooms. Have a wonderful weekend.

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  8. Love the poinsettias - they look very happy in your garden. I can't believe your bougainvillia is starting to flower. They only do that here in the summer! What a beautiful winter you are having - so much is blooming. I'm amazed!

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  9. Hi Glenda, yes the winters are fantastic. It's just a shame we have to endure the summers! Thankfully it's the memory of our winters that gets us through those horrid summers.

    Eileen, so glad to hear you've got Torenia to flourish. They are such lovely flowers and the colours available now are wonderful. Yes our Poinsettias grow very well outdoors here. They're such heat and sun hardy plants, that they can get through the summers and reward us with their fabulous show in the winter.

    Flowerlady, yes it's a real joy to be able to wander around without sweating, over-heating, getting sizzled or drenched ... as would happen in the summer. Winter is just the perfect time to be out in the garden here in north-eastern Australia.

    Wanda, Poinsettias are a fairly common sight in gardens here, especially the old fashioned red Poinsettia.

    Sue, never mind your garden still looks terrific. Maybe next summer.

    Shirley ... yes the winters are great, but you wouldn't want our summers!

    Lona, the variegated foliage on that Roseflake Hibiscus is definitely something to see. It is just stunning. Of course, we do rather take it for granted as it is such a common shrub in gardens here.

    HolleyGarden, I have a couple of Bougainvilles around the place and they flower intermittently throughout the year and not just in the summer.

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  10. Your blooms are gorgeous. I love the pink poinsettias.

    My entry.

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  11. ohh..those are beautiful flowers...lovely collection you have of plants.

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  12. the salvias are stunning--gorgeous colors! it's hard to pick a favorite...your garden is simply amazing.

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  13. Beautiful! We're a bit spoilt with our warmish winters aren't we.

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  14. Thank you Modern Mom. I did pop over to visit your entry and I was so glad I did.

    Nayana Donga, thank you very kindly for your comment. I do so love my gorgeous flowering plants.

    Luna, I grow these Salvias every year. That's how much I just love them. As you say, the colours are gorgeous.

    Pieces of Sunshine, we are indeed very very spoilt with our glorious winter weather here in the north of Australia. It's definitely my favourite time of the year.

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  15. Hi Bernie! You have some stunners today! That azalea only grows vegetatively here. Your pelargoniums are lovely.

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  16. Beautiful flowers, very lovely colors.

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  17. Oh wow Bernie, thank you for sharing this amazing variety of flowers with us today. So very beautiful. I find it hard to pick a favorite.

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  18. You have the best of both worlds...tropical as well as temperate plants.Lovely colours and great photos. I can almost feel the warmth of the sunshine in your garden.
    Rosie

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  19. Very fine collection of shots -- helluva garden you have!!! Congrats!

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