Now while in other parts of the world the solstice indicates the beginning of a new season, here in Oz our seasons officially start on the first day of the appropriate month. So our Winter began about 3 weeks ago.
The temps. have become decidedly cooler here though, as our first Winter month gallops towards a close. I don't want you all to worry too much however, as our Winter temps here in the tropical north are rather mild compared to so many other corners of Australia, and indeed the world.
The mercury has been dropping down to between 10-14 deg C (50-57 f) overnight, so we've actually had to turn on the electric blanket for a couple of evenings this week.
It's been difficult getting up early in the mornings, but I try most days just so I can take in the stunning sunrises we get at this time of year. It always seems to me that the sunrises and sunsets during our wintertime are just far more fabulous than at any other time of the year.
The daytime temps have been a lot warmer, between 23-27 deg C (73-80 F), which means I haven't as yet had to throw on a jumper or cardigan during the day.
Out in the courtyard garden, the native Sterculia quadrifida or Peanut Tree has been busy dropping most of its leaves, being a winter deciduous tree. The leaves have been carpeting the courtyard pavers and creating a bit of a mess out there lately. No sooner do I finish sweeping up piles of them, then I turn around to see more of the blessed things.
Never mind, it means I'm forced to spend more time out in the courtyard where I can enjoy the lovely potted flowers and foliage.
There are a few things blooming out there right now, like the Salvias, the Cleome, the Marigolds, the Impatiens, the Angelonias, the Celosias, the Violas, as well as the Ixora.
The first flowers have appeared on my Petunia 'Bumblebee'. It's one of my all-time favourite Petunias. I'm afraid the poor light out in the courtyard today means this bloom looks rather purple and green, when in fact it's black and yellow. Never mind, I'll take a better shot for next week's flaunt when hopefully it will be a brighter, sunnier day.
My particular favourite at the moment if the brilliant Justicia carnea. I adore the white plumes of this plant.
Another favourite is the Salvia glechomifolia, but you need to get up close and personal to see its beauty. It does get a little lost in amongst all the other plants.
The Cleome spinosa 'Senorita Rosalita', on the other hand, demands attention from appreciative eyes.
The Salvia splendens have been attracting quite a few visitors lately, like the Yellow-bellied Sunbirds ....
.... and our native bee, the Blue-banded Bee. These bees are loners, and this morning this little chap was busy feasting on the nectar ...
... as well as drinking the waterdrops that remained on the plant after I had watered.
Well at least, that's what it seemed to be doing to me.
Elsewhere in the courtyard, the winter-blooming Euphorbia leucocephala or Snowflake Bush, is still putting out bracts and blooms behind the Cycas revoluta and Cordyline 'Morning Sunshine'.
There are also a couple of flower spikes on the Dracaenas that grow under the pergola.
I'm joining Tootsie for Fertilizer Friday / Flaunt Your Flowers
So beautiful Bernie! I can relate to your leaf problem as we've had a wet cool season thus far... perfect for apple scab which appears to be affecting more and more cultivars of flowering crab apples. Leaves are dropping like crazy... I blow them from the beds to the lawn and mulch them with the mower... probably not the prescribed way to deal with a fungal disease but it's relatively a quick project and keeps things looking better... Larry
ReplyDeleteThanks Larry. What a shame that your beautiful Crab Apple Trees have been affected by that fungal disease. Fingers crossed the diseased leaves prove to be no problem for your lawn.
DeleteHere the Sterculia leaves are swept onto the built-up garden bed at the back of the courtyard and provide a great mulch for that bed. It's getting rather thick though as more and more leaves are swept onto the piles already there.
Still lots of colour in your garden. The leaves add character to your courtyard. ITs freezing and wet down here today.
ReplyDeleteHi Diane, it got a little cooler yesterday and I did put on a jumper after all. It's not quite as cool today, but still a dreary day. We didn't see sunshine yesterday at all. I imagine you've got your winter woollies out by now down there.
DeleteHow gorgeous! The sunbirds are pretty little birds; love them. Our Neem tree is such a tease - I sweep the fallen leaves, and when I'm almost done, the tree drops a few more leaves. Ha ha...
ReplyDeleteAsha, we have a stand of Neem trees here too and I know all about the leaf drop from those trees. Thankfully our Neem trees grow at the end of our cement driveway where you really can't see them much. I don't bother with cleaning up that area as it's out of the way.
DeleteIt's all beautiful and your temperatures sound wonderful.
ReplyDeleteFlowerLady
Yes Lorraine, we really do have the most marvellous winter weather here. For us of course some of the days are rather cool, but it's nothing to complain about at all.
DeleteBernie your winter sunrises and sunsets are beautiful. It seems here in October the sky is so blue and clear. I think from seeing your collection of pots we have been shopping at the same store! A friend of mine in the nursery business planted a pot of the bumble bee petunias and the green sweet potato vine to give me. Those two together are beautiful. Mine is a bit brighter than yours because it is getting more sun. Lovely garden as always Bernie!
ReplyDeleteJean, I have lots and lots of those pots. They are just plastic but so easy to move. My Bumblebee Petunias have not been getting a lot of full sun lately, so they're not quite at their best. They really are the most wonderful looking things though, aren't they?
DeleteThey are until you notice that someone has been lying in the pot. Half of mine was flattened yesterday and I think the culprit was a certain calico cat!!!
DeleteI almost missed your beautiful Yellow-bellied Sunbird he blended in with all your other pretties..
ReplyDeleteIt's heating up here your 50's sound nice.. Well wait I need a little flip flop weather before I start wishing for cooler temp's ..lol Happy Friday hugs, Cherry
Cherry, I hope you get some fabulous summer weather. Our summers are rather horrible, so I really really enjoy this time of year.
DeleteFiz também um post sobre essas flor cacto, ela é linda, aqui no dia de hoje começou oficialmente o inverno,
ReplyDeleteque frio.
Bom fim de semana.
http://eueminhasplantinhas.blogspot.com.br/
Simone, I popped over to your blog to take a look at your Schlumbergera. I love that common name of 'satin bows' and I think I'll use it from now on.
DeleteHello Bernie! Thanks so much for dropping by! I only added you (and everyone else) to bloglovin this morning - I am a complete clutz where computing is concerned and am adding everyone with the fear I'll lose my blog friends with this scare about google reader.
ReplyDeleteI had full intentions of introducing myself and letting you know I am quite in awe of your garden! Being in the same locale I may even be able to learn a lot from you and end up with a garden one day!
R.
Hi Rose. It was terrific finding another north Queenslander, so I just had to visit your blog straight away. I'm looking forward to comparing notes. I've only just become a recent convert to gardening really. Up until about four years ago I was rather uninterested in gardening here on this property and really only gave the original garden a passing glance. Now I'm much more interested and caring, but I'm still learning!
DeleteGreat to see a Christmas Cactus bloooming in June -- Satin Bows does seem more appropriate. Mine are all the crab leaf one that most call Thanksgiving Cactus but blooms for Christmas. I moved them to a dappled shade today as they were getting too much sun. Now I can hardly wait for blooms again.
ReplyDeleteYour garden looks wonderful.
Yes Nell Jean, I agree that 'satin bows' is a much nicer common name for the Schlumbergera. I keep mine in dappled shade during our autumn-winter-early spring and in full shade during our summer. They really can't survive direct sun at any time of the year here. I only have two of them at the moment, but I'll be propagating more this year as they've both matured quite a bit now so I can break off a few claws.
DeleteI admire all your pots and interesting plants we do not have here in Canada. Today on the first day of summer we have a high of 18 and low of 11C. What a difference in climates. Enjoyed your post and thanks for visiting my blog. : )
ReplyDeleteNell, your first summer day's temps would be a very chilly winter's day here in the tropics. I'm shivering just thinking of it!
DeleteBeautiful flowers in the garden.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting, Rajesh.
DeleteWhat a lovely garden! Great bee shot.
ReplyDeleteI got lucky with the bee shot, Karen. I took about ten photos, but only this one was good enough to share.
DeleteYou have a lot of flowers in your garden!!! I really like the cleome - the only ones I see here are pink and white, not that lovely purply shade you have! And you Christmas cactus is doing wonderfully!! here, they are still dormant, waiting to blossom!
ReplyDeleteI too just love the colour of the Cleome, Judy. I prefer the purple shades to pink. I've never seen the white variety sold here, so I'll have to look out for it as I just adore white in the garden.
DeleteWonderful...your winter is more like my summer and I have air conditioning on. Love your native bee...cool colors.
ReplyDeleteReally spectacular sunset! I have a medium pink justicia that I root and share with the locals. I personally think the little black things on the tips of the flower petals are probably seeds but no one ever talks about growing it from seed because it is so easy to root.
ReplyDeleteI can't help smiling when you have 23-27 deg C on your winter solstice, that would be beautiful summer’s temperatures for us! I love the Schlumbergeras or Christmas cactus as I call it, and I am determined to find a proper red one this year, I tried last year but all that was available were pink or purple. I know you can get red ones, I just have to be a bit earlier this year.
ReplyDeleteThe last picture of the bumble bee is hilarious, looks like it is taking a nap :-)
It is really very fantastic, especially your native bee .
ReplyDelete