Friday, August 24, 2012

Friday Flower Flaunt ... On This Nothing-New End-of-Winter Day.

Nothing much has changed in the way of bloom variety over the last two months or so, and of course the dry season conditions means even the year-round blooms are not quite as plentiful at this time of year.


All-year-round bloomers like the red-flowering Hibiscus continue their show as usual, but with fewer flowers on the shrubs.


Wintertime bloomers like the Calliandras are still flowering, but the number of powderpuffs on each shrub is becoming less and less each week as our winter draws to a close.


The white Bauhinia, which blooms during the winter here, is looking fabulous.  My poor stunted recovering tree is doing so well and throwing out loads of flowers,


but I'm particularly enjoying the display on the two white Bauhinias that droop over my fence from my neighbour's yard. 

Another of the wintertime bloomers, the Tabebuia impetiginosa or Pink Trumpet Tree, has now finished flowering but, on the other side of the coin, both my Zygocactus, which are usually well finished their wintertime display by now, have started throwing out buds again.


Yes ... those are flower buds on both my Schlumbergaras or Zygocactus plants.  I can't remember either of them ever having a second flowering cycle in one year before.  Maybe it's because they're more mature and this is going to become part of their regular flowering life from now on.  If that's the case, then I'm well pleased!


My two Plumeria rubras, which are deciduous during our winters here, are beginning to show signs of re-growth.  In another month or so, the two trees will be covered in leaves once more.


My sole remaining Euphorbia pulcherrima, the dwarf pink, is still showing its winter colours.


The lovely little variegated Serissa foetidas, commonly known as Snowleaves, are all covered in their teeny weeny pure white flowers.  


These flowers can only really be appreciated with a close-up view.


Of course, out in the courtyard, the Petunias continue their show.  The three potted Petunias have now become quite leggy, after a couple months on show, and I really should trim them way back.  They've had one trim back already since they were planted out as little seedlings back in April, and I really let them go too long this time.  The problem is I always find it difficult going without their bright cheery flowers for a couple of weeks until they fill out again.   But I will make it my first gardening job this coming weekend to get the Petunias ready for a springtime display now.


The potted Begonia semperflorens or Bedding Begonias are always showing their lovely faces.  They are year-round bloomers out in my courtyard.


The two potted Azaleas, which flower from late Autumn through our winter, are still throwing out blooms.  They've been putting on a great show this year.  I'm thinking of getting another variety now and adding it to the wintertime flowering mix.


My gorgeous Salvia splendens carry on without too much help from me.  They too bloom pretty much all-year round.  In a few weeks it will be time to cut them right back though, and I will have to wait for them to throw out their new growth and begin blooming once more.


Then, there are the Snapdragons, which are a must for me as part of the wintertime flowering display out in the courtyard.  This particular dwarf variety has been spectacular.  I love the colours!


The Streptocarpus caulescens or Nodding Violet is gearing up for another great springtime display.  Whilst these plants do bloom all-year round, the best display is definitely in the Spring.

More year-round bloomers out in the courtyard that are on display right now include ...


the double white Impatiens walleriana,


the Impatiens hawkeri 'Celebrette', which as the weather heats up will both have to be moved from their spots into more shady corners of the courtyard,


and there's the potted Portulacas.  They, however, will enjoy the stronger fiercer sunshine and the more exposed spots.


There's also a lovely display of  Angleonias and Salvias out in my potted courtyard garden right now.  They are all enjoying the warmer conditions as our winter temps. are now well and truly over.


Finally, the potted Asiatic and Oriental Lilies have started popping up at last and, with the arrival of Spring in September, I'll be counting down the days until the flowers appear.


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


Tina for Weekend Flowers,


and Nix for Floral Friday Fotos




Friday, August 10, 2012

Flower Flaunt Time ... At The Start of our End-of-Winter Month

With the arrival of August, the departure of our glorious Winter season is in sight.  Right now the garden is in a sort of limbo.  It's 'dry' season so there's not much growth at the moment, and the same 'ole things are blooming that have been blooming all Winter long.  I'm now waiting patiently for the arrival of the Lily blooms to provide something new.  But that's a way off yet.

So here's a glimpse of the same-ole, same-ole!


A few Pelargonium blooms.


Some lovely Antirrhinum blooms that start off as a tightly packed purple bud and then burst upon to show off a wonderful orangey, yellowy, pinky combination.


My favourite Impatiens hawkeri or New Guinea Impatiens.

A Pansy or two.


A Bromeliad inflorescence.


There are still masses of creamy Corymbia torelliana or Cadaghi Gum flowers at the top of these very tall trees.

My gorgeous white Pentas lanceolata,


and my beautiful white Bauhinia.


There are some lovely Salvia flowers ...


... and blooms on my trusty winter annuals, the Petunias.

I'm joining Tina for her Weekend Flowers meme,

Nix for Floral Friday Fotos,




and Alicia for Open Gardens


Monday, August 6, 2012

Mosaic Monday ... Down By The River.

Over the weekend, I found myself enjoying a leisurely Sunday breakfast at a park beside our local river.  This particular park is found in the city down by the Melaleuca and Eucalypt-lined Ross River.  It was a glorious Winter's day, with wide expanses of blue skies and fabulous sunshine.  The view was fantastic.



I'm joining Mary for Mosaic Monday


Friday, August 3, 2012

Friday Flower Flaunt ... The Rose Show.


Now I admit I have never grown Roses in any of my gardens over the years, so these are not flowers from my garden.   But I became the carer of the Rose Garden at my school, when my team and I were re-located to the room right behind this garden area.

I can not unfortunately offer any varietal names for the beauties that grow in this area, as no labels or tags were ever kept after planting, but I can wax lyrical about their beauty and the perfume from a couple of the Rose bushes.



This particular bush is covered in spectacular looking white Roses that have a wonderful perfume.  There are two of these white Rose bushes growing in the garden, and they the spots where my white-flower-adoring eyes are drawn to every time I walk up the path towards my building.


The headiest perfume though, comes from the two bushes that have the delicate pink Roses.

Now for some of the other Roses that make up for their lack of scent with their spectacular colour.









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


Nix for Floral Friday Fotos ,


and Tina for  Weekend Flowers.


I'm also joining One Mother Hen for her new meme Open Garden.  Do pop on over and join in the fun.


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