Friday, October 4, 2013

It's Flower Flaunt Time ... On This Mid-Spring Friday.



October, our mid-Spring month, has been hot and humid so far, and feels more like summertime.  Considering how warm our tropical winter was this year, it does seem like there's a trend towards more warmer conditions all year round.


We're in the depths of our dry season, with not a drop of rain falling since mid-May.  Everything in the garden is pretty much in 'slow-go mode', as is usual for this time of the year.   Many of the trees and shrubs are looking a little bare as they've dropped much of their leaf load to cope with the dry conditions. 

The flashes of colour that you would notice at the moment would include the gorgeous purple flowers of my Petrea volubilis, or Sandpaper Vine.


It's climbed up through the native Sterculia quadrifida tree out in my courtyard, and has spread out across the canopy.  It's wonderful to see the bare-branched Sterculia brightened up by the gorgeous purple Petrea flowers.  It's difficult to get close-up shots of the flowers though.


Each Petrea flower has 5 petals and 5 sepals.  The petals drop to the ground after a day or two.  They float down like a whirling propeller, thus one common name for the blooms is Propeller Flowers.  The sepals remain on the vine for a couple of weeks.


At the moment, the steps down under the pergola are covered in little purple stars.


The entrance to the pergola sits under the shady branches of two rather large Corymbia torellianas or Cadaghi Gum Trees.  Both are covered in creamy-white blooms at the moment and there's a delicate honey-like perfume in the air, emanating from the clusters of flowers.


There are flocks of Rainbow Lorikeets coming in every morning and evening to feast on the blooms, and the concrete driveway under the two trees is always scattered with little pieces of tree branch and clusters of flowers as these birds gorge themselves and make a complete mess.
 

Under the Cadaghis, in amongst the Giant Sword Fern, this poor half-strangled Brunfelsia has just begun blooming.
 

The flowers start off as this dark purple, but then change to mauve and white as they age.  That's always a pretty sight.


One of my pass-along Hippeastrums is flowering for the first time.  I've never grown these before and I'm looking forward to adding them to a section of my new garden beds.

My new Hemerocallis 'Taken By Storm' has started blooming for the first time.  It's growing in a pot out in the courtyard right now, but I'm also planning on adding this to the new garden beds as well ... when they're finally finished.


I purchased a new Salvia from Tesselaar earlier this year, and it's now begun its springtime flowering display.  This is Salvia azurea or Blue Pitcher Sage.  I'm loving the delicate sky blue flowers of this Salvia.  I can see this would pair well with the Black and Blue Salvia.  Hmm, another planting choice for a corner of one of the new garden beds!


Elsewhere, the old, old, double red Gerbera plant is blooming,


and so is the scrambling old red Bougainvillea.


The dwarf pink Euphorbia pulcherrima is finishing its blooming cycle,


whilst the pot of mixed Asiatic and Oriental Liliums are just beginning to show off their fabulous flowers.  I only have one pot of Lilies this year, but I know they will satisfy my Lily cravings for the spring.


Potted Nasturtiums are flowering in the courtyard,


as are the potted Violas.


Out in the shadehouse garden, the first ever blooms are appearing on my Indian Rope Hoya.  I can't wait for the flowers to finally open.  They're almost there!


The flower sprays have started appearing on the Stromanthe in the shadehouse garden as well.  I adore the colour of these blooms.


I'm joining Tootsie for Fertilizer Friday / Flaunt Your Flowers

23 comments:

  1. I love all your flowers, but I think the lorikeet stole the show this time. Happy Weekend!

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    1. Those Lorikeets are making regular visits every morning and early evening at the moment. They do make a bit of a noise though!

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    2. Bernie its so beautiful there...I love the flowers that we normally do not see here as well as the colourful birds!
      As our gardens fade and the blanket of winter takes over our gardens we will be thirsting in yours!

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  2. That photo of the multicoloured lorikeet feeding on the nectar is simply stunning! I love it.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Stiletto. Those Lorikeets do make great subjects for photos. My old camera doesn't do a bad job of capturing their beauty.

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  3. All of your blooms are lovely and how neat to have the Lorikeets to visit your gardens.

    We're just coming into our great time for gardening and I am looking forward to it.

    Happy Spring to you ~ FlowerLady

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    Replies
    1. Oh yes, Lorraine. The Lorikeets are regular visitors every year for most of the year. I guess we do rather take them for granted and should enjoy their raucous presence more!!! They are terribly noisy and make a bit of a mess, but I'd certainly miss them if they didn't turn up.

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  4. Aqui nossa primavera está muito chuvosa,
    esta pássaro que lindo e belas flores.

    bom fim de semana.

    http://eueminhasplantinhas.blogspot.com.br/

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    Replies
    1. Simone, we've only got a couple more months to wait now until our short wet season arrives. It's always very much appreciated when it finally does come. Hopefully it will be worth the wait this coming year.

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  5. Lovely collections of flower!

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  6. I love the intense blue sky and star spangled paving stones. Your part of the world looks so beautiful and colourful.

    Happy weekend!
    Ruby

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    Replies
    1. We see those blue skies for at least around nine months of the year here, Forest Dream Weaver. Clear bright blue skies go hand in hand with our long dry season. We do get a little tired of them, would you believe it, and actually get excited when we start seeing a few grey clouds!!!!

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  7. Bernie, your garden may be dry but there are some lovely blooming things! Speaking of the Lorikeets making a mess ....we have squirrels everywhere and they are eating the acorns off the big oak trees and dropping them onto the roof and gutters. Bang, ping.....pop....sure gets your attention and then the mess on the porch and the steps to clean up! I would love to have even half of your pretty stuff!

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    Replies
    1. Sounds like your squirrels and our Lorikeets could whip up a very decent mess between them. Imagine if they were working together in the same neighbourhood!!!!

      Yes I'm very lucky to have flowers somewhere here for the entire year. It's a blessing really.

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  8. So many different blooms. Enjoying them all.

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    Replies
    1. I'm very glad to hear you've enjoyed popping by, Lina.

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  9. Yes, our spring is so flower filled I don't know which way to look first. Nice to see your show from up further north.

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  10. As usual a plethora of colours and plants. Just beautiful.

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  11. I like your flowers and plants. The rainbow lorikeet stole the show though.

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  12. what an abundance of beauty!!!

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  13. The leaves in my garden are starting to turn as we go from fall to winter...it makes your spring photos even more special. They are so enjoyable and such great fun.

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  14. Muito Boa noite
    Que linda postagem!
    uma linda semana para você, coberta de muita paz e alegria!
    abraço amigo!
    Maria Alice

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