Saturday, October 15, 2011

Mid-Spring Snapshots ... October 2011 ... On This Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day

Continuing my 'Snapshots' series for this mid Spring month.  Yes, October Downunder is the middle of our Springtime.  In my north-eastern corner, Summer has gate-crashed the Springtime Weather Party.  It's heating up and the sun is practising its fierce glare.

Conditions during October?
It's our 'dry' season here, and the grand total of rainfall during Spring so far  .... 0 inches ... 0 mms.  The last rainfall recorded was mid-April (mid-Autumn), so we've had six dry months since then.  That is the usual pattern for this part of our great country at this time of the year.


The heavy wet season we had earlier in the year, accompanied the destructive cyclone that hit this area, left a lot of debris and thick grass lying around on the ground of the bushland in the mountain ranges and foothills here.  We've experienced almost non-stop bushfires raging in those ranges for nearly three months now.


Whilst that's quite some distance away and poses no threat to our suburb, it has meant many, many hazy days and some spectacular looking sunrises.

Daily temperatures during early Spring (September) were delightful, with the mercury rarely reaching 28 deg C (82 F).  Summertime temps. arrived suddenly on the first day of October though.  The high was around 35 deg C (95 F) that day and since then the daytime high has remained around 30 deg C and above.  It's getting decidedly steamy as well, with humidity levels up around 70%.

So here's the round up of what's been blooming since the beginning of our Spring and are still in bloom today.  There are no fabulous long views or fabulous garden beds to see ... that is not my garden.  Most of my plants grow in pots or in a few rather ugly looking beds on this challenging hillside spot.

Starting with the trees around the property ...
On this topic, I do have to mention that so far this Spring, as most trees continue their recovery efforts, there have been some noticeable abscences from the bloom parade.  The Corymbia torellianas or Cadaghi Gums are usually in bloom and so are the Planchonia careyas or Cocky Apple Trees.  But so far, they have both been bareft of flowers.


The damaged, recovering Bauhinia variegata 'Alba' has been throwing out  a few flowers here and there.  It's odd on two counts ... firstly, because it's usually a winter bloomer and secondly, each bloom is slightly marked with brown spots.  It's almost as if the tree is saying "This is hard work, given that it's the dry season and I'm still in shock from that horrid cyclone earlier this year."


One of the three enormous Tabebuia heterophyllas has only just started to bloom once more.


New bright green leaves are now appearing on all the Delonix regias and some flowers have appeared.


The deciduous Plumeria rubras are both showing off their new leaf growth as well.  One of these trees has even thrown out a flower spray, which is a delightful sight.


The star trees of the garden through early and mid-Spirng have definitely been the Eucalyptus platyphylla and the Corymbia torelliana, but not for their flower display.  Both have been shedding their old bark and showing off their new trunks.

Now onto the shrubs ... what's blooming?


The recovering Duranta repens shrubs are still mostly bare of blooms.  They is just the odd exception, so there's a couple of flower sprays if you look hard enough.  The dwarf Azalea out in the front garden has only just finishing its flowering, and the Euphorbia pulcherrimas are coming to the end of their display as well.


Pentas are now back in bloom after they were cut back severely last season.


The all-year-round blooming Hibiscus show flowers of course.


Out in the Shadehouse Garden ... what is blooming?


Right now the fantastic Asiatic Lilies are putting on their great display.


The Begonias, Impatiens wallerianas, the Costus, the Anthurium and the Stromanthe are all in bloom as well.

Now, out in the Courtyard Garden ... what is flowering?

Well, given that the hordes of hungry wallabies have been doing their darndest to nibble their way through most of the plants out in the courtyard, there have been some great shows from the potted annuals and perennials out there.


I've been pleased with the show from plants like the Petunias, the Pansies, the Nasturtiums and the Pelargoniums this year compared to last year.  The sunny, dry days have obviously made a difference with these plants.  I didn't bother with any Zinnias, Dahlias or Calibrachoas this year and I haven't really missed them.  It's been heart-breaking enough watching the overnight disappearances of so many plants, and I couldn't possibly fit any more potted annuals on the outdoor table in my efforts to keep them safe from nibbling night marauders.


There's all the usual suspects in their pots sitting out on or hanging around the courtyard ... Osteospermum, Salvias, Pelargoniums ...


... Streptocarpus, Tabernaemontana, Cleome, Bracteanthas, Crossandras, Impatiens hawkeri, Torenias, Spathiphyllums, Cane Begonias and Azaleas.

Elsewhere ...

If I wander around the other garden spots on the property, I can also see ...


.... Spathoglottis plicata, the first of the Hemerocllis for the season and the brilliant Ozothamnus.


The Neomarica longifolia or Yellow Walking Iris clumps are all in bloom as well.


I'm joining Carol's Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day meme today, so head on over there to see what's blooming in gardens around the world.


I've only just realised that it's also two years ago that I began this blog with a very brief post.  I found myself with little to do that weekend, and decided to give blogging a try, just to see if I could actually work it out all by myself.  I did ... and it's been such a fun activity ever since.  Thank you to all those who have read my posts and have left comments since that first intrepid step into the garden blogging world.  You've made this whole journey a fantastic experience. 

25 comments:

  1. I hope you're spared the worst of the bushfires. In Southern California late October has been our trouble month for erratic, hot weather and the fires that accompany them. I've enjoyed your garden display. The Asiatic lilies, in particular, are quite amazing.

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  2. What a wonderful post, incredibly full of glorious shows of lovely flowers despite your initial warning to the contrary! You have so much variety and I was enchanted to see a few of our own indigenous species represented among your collection. Streptocarpus are among my favorites! You have a delightful way of expressing yourself, providing not only a visual treat but a most enjoyable read, too! Thank you. I really have enjoyed my visit!

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  3. aloha bernie,

    i love your variegated lillies, fabulous and your flowering trees looke wonderful, i especially love the white bauhinias...wow!

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  4. I loved my little tour again this month Bernie. What I'm most impressed with are your Salvia plants. Those plants are bedding plants here that I really never see thriving in our summers. Your display or should I say your large drift of them looks wonderful and I can see a few purple ones amongst the red too.........lovely.

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  5. Despite your dry season, you do have an abundance of lovely blooming color. Some plants I am quite familiar with, others are quite exotic beauties, aren't they. I enjoy seeing your garden on the other side of the world. Blogging is fun, isn't? I have been blogging for a little over a year now; it is one of my favorite things to do.

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  6. James, the bushfire threat is set to continue for some time yet, at least into the summer, so we're not out of danger just yet.

    Desiree, so glad to see you dropped by to visit again. Yes there's still quite a few flowering plants around, I just don't have fabulous garden beds to show. My garden is definitely not a show piece and that's why I concentrate on mainly the plants.

    Noel, the white Bauhinia is a favourite of mine and I was so pleased to see that it was going to recover from the destruction it suffered during Yasi.

    Rose, I've only just discovered Salvias in the last two years having never grown them before. The varieties I do have all seem to thrive in the climate and conditions here.

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  7. Jeg kom lige forbi din blog.
    Gode billeder.
    Mange smukke blomster.
    Tak for rundvisningen.

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  8. I always love coming here on GBBD to see what's going on on the other side of the world. Happy Anniversary to your blog and Happy GBBD.

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  9. I am so sorry to hear about the fires nearby. The sunset photo is breathtaking. However, I am glad it has not taken away from the beauty of your garden...lovely! Hope things improve...happy GBBD!

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  10. Hey, Bernie! Your garden is looking great as usual. Such an eclectic collection of blossoms and I love your music!

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  11. Bernie, your garden is like an oasis in the dry bush. You must have good soil and a good watering routine as well as a green thumb. It's amazing the variety of plants that are all thriving.
    I'm sorry the bauhinia seeds didn't germinate for you. I've never tried to grow it from seed so I wasn't sure if it would work or not.

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  12. You have an amazing amount of flowers in bloom!

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  13. Dear Bernie, Thank you for describing your seasons so clearly. I cannot begin to imagine 6 months without rain. Like you I love trees with peeling barks - yours are beautiful. I'm glad the wallabies spared some of your courtyard plants and its fun to see I grow many of the same flowers. But you have the added interest of some very exotic plants not found here. Happy blogaversary! I am so happy you experinented with blogging that day. Happy Bloom Day, too. P. x

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  14. "Gardens and flowers have a way of bringing people together."
    Please visit my Guildwood garden in Toronto, Canada.
    Thank you for your wonderful pictures!!
    - Cheers,

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  15. Happy second birthday Bernie, I'm so glad you didn't have much on that weekend and decided to give blogging a try ... I particularly love the bark on the eucalypt. Amazing how much is blooming without water. cheers, catmint

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  16. Landbohaven, I'm happy to hear you enjoyed your first visit.

    Carolyn, thanks for visiting. GBBD is indeed a great way of hopping around the world to see some beautiful flowers.

    Sage Butterfly, the dry season always gets me a little down. Hopefully we'll get some rain in the not too distant future to brighten up my mood.

    Dorothy, yes 'eclectic' is a great way of describing the plants I have in my garden. I love the variety.

    Missy, most of my place is dry and barren. The soil is really poor. Thankfully my potted garden areas provide me with my gardening fix.

    Thanks EG Wow. They do brighten my world.

    Pam, I love it when the trees start shedding their bark too. I think it's a fantastic sight ... a little messy, but wonderful.

    Guild-rez, I'll pop over and visit as soon as I can. I'm looking forward to seeing your garden.

    Catmint, I'm busy with the hand-watering every day, but of course I'm hanging out for the rain.

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  17. I like everything I see today Bernie! Awesome plants and flowers!! OMG you have beautiful trees also. Your garden is rewarding you for your labour of love :-D

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  18. Happy blogaversary! I am so glad you started blogging so that I have something to aspire to! we have been having the same weather as you lately . Had a sprinkling on Saturday night, 5ml, but it didn't even soak in.

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  19. Phew, such high temperatures, 70f is a hot Summer day here in Scotland. The blooms in your dry Spring season are quite something. The Tabebuia heterophyllas looks very special, and I love the peeling bark of the Eucalyptus platyphylla and the Corymbia torelliana. Keep safe from those bush fires. Alistair

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  20. That is a lot of flowers! With such a long dry spell it is hard to understand how anything blooms. Why do you grow so much in pots? You must spend a lot of time watering. Wouldn't things stay more moist if they were planted in the ground? Nancy

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  21. Beautiful post...that Eucalyptus bark is outstanding!

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  22. Hello Bernie, your conditions very well described our summer months in Mar-Apr. However, with your lovely blooms i can't seem to feel there is the very high temps and drought. Six months is really long. How do you impound your water for the garden? Also i want to see a wide angle shot of your shade house, if i may ask. If those Asiatic lilies, hemerocallis, pansies can grow there successfully, then probably they will thrive here too! What do you think? BTW, we have little Australia here in the country as many highway sidetrees are Eucalyptus like yours, and the center island at the street just in front of our office is planted with them. I just don't know what species they are, just know the barks are just like your photos! But they are weak during typhoons though.

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  23. Six months since it rained????
    I love seeing all the beautiful plants we can't grow further south and/or inland. The plumeria photo is lovely, and I like the bark photos too.
    Happy blog anniversary!

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  24. I have just found your blog and will be following as your garden looks most impressive. I have also just begun to blog & spend way too much time reading everyone else's blogs rather than attending to my own, thanks for sharing!

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  25. HI Bernie: Just saw you wondering around my blog so thought I would wander over and take a look around. Nice blog hope you keep it up as I will be back to look around some more.

    Have a wonderful day, John

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