Saturday, February 15, 2014

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day ... February 2014


February is our mid-Summer month here and today is yet another hot, steamy, bright-blue-sky-fluffy-white-cloud day. 


We are coming to the end of a rather disappointing wet season.  There's been some rain, but we haven't had the weeks of monsoonal downpours that usually characterise our short wet.   I think we've had somewhere around one-third of the average wet season total so far.

Still, at least the liquid sunshine has brightened up the garden somewhat.  ('Liquid sunshine' is our affectionate term for rain here, as we have a lot of sunny days ... around 300 rain-free, sunshine-filled days every year.)


The surrounding bushland is certainly looking fairly lush and green, so we have a rather picturesque outlook at this time of year.   There are a few blooms to be found here and there around the garden, so let's take a quick wander around.

Out in the courtyard garden there have been some changes.  I've planted out many of the potted plants in my new garden beds near the end of our driveway.  As a result, there are very few potted plants left out in the courtyard, compared to this time last year, or indeed the couple of years before that. 



There are a couple of Begonia semperflorens.


My Globba capicola is still growing in a pot out in the courtyard,


as is my Costus productus or Orange Spiral Ginger.


One of the potted Azaleas remains and is showing off just one pretty pink bloom at the moment.


There's still a pot of Torenias


and my potted Clerodendrum ugandense is still sitting out on the pavers in the courtyard.


The Jasminum officinale, which is slowly returning from the dead after Cyclone Yasi, has starting spreading out over the top of the pergola next to the courtyard garden.  It started flowering with the arrival of the summer rain.



The Water Lilies growing in the small pond under the pergola are always blooming and attracting some interesting insect life.


In the garden bed at the back of the courtyard garden, my old stalwart, the Hibiscus rosa-sinensis 'Snowflake' is blooming as always.


In the same bed the last of the bracts and flowers of my Mussaenda philippica 'Aurore' are showing



and the fabulous Phyllanthus multiflorus or Waterfall Plant is covered in pendulous flowers.  This shrub really springs to life with the summer rain.


If you look high above the bed at the back of the courtyard garden, you will see there are still some golden racemes hanging in the Cassia fistula, or Golden Shower Tree,


and there are little gorgeous white flower sprays on the Citharexylum spinosaum, or Fiddlewood Tree.


If you walk under the pergola, up the stairs towards the hillside driveway, you will see flowers on both of the Hibiscus schizopetalus, or Japanese Lantern Hibiscus shrubs.


You will also notice lots of blooms on the huge Hibiscus rosa-sinensis that grows under the Cadaghi Gum trees


and there are a few flower sprays to be found on the Plumeria obtusa under the same Gum trees.




In the new garden beds I found the Hymenocallis blooming for the first time,


the Plumeria pudica is throwing out more and more flowerheads ...


and there have been Zephyranthes popping up with the arrival of some summer rain.

In the tiered garden beds,


the blooming Mussaenda 'Calcutta Sunset' and the Duranta repens make a great pairing ...


and underneath, the Pentas adds some contrast.

In the driveway garden beds,



the Thunbergia erecta 'Tru Blu' is looking fabulous ...


and the Turnera subulata and cream Russelia make a great combination.

In the front-of-house garden beds there are splashes of gold ...


on the Galphimia glauca and


on the Allamanda cathartica 'Sunee'.

Elsewhere ...



the very tall Tabebuia heterophylla have begun another blooming cycle ...



and there are Pelargonium flowers to be spotted on the side stairs.  That is a sure sign that our true monsoonal wet season has not arrived this year.  I have absolutely no luck keeping Pelargoniums going through a true wet season.  The steamy, humid temps and torrential downpours of a true wet season is not to the Pelargoniums' tasts, and they usually shrivel up and turn to mush.



It's a rare thing seeing Pellie blooms at my place in February.  They've been enjoying the 'slightly damp' summer.  Let's see how long they keep on keeping on, as it looks to me like they're going to make it all the way through to the arrival of our long dry season.  That usually happens around mid/end of April. 


I'm joining Carol's fabulous Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day  meme.


31 comments:

  1. You have some remarkable large trees and bushes, the waterfall Plant is amazing, never seen anything like that before. As always you have some wonderful blooms, some I have never even heard about, but some are familiar. I tried growing Hymenocallis some years ago, but despite coming up and flowering, they never returned in subsequent years. I have a new hibiscus on my shopping list for this spring, my old one died in the drought we had in 2006. Strange to think about now, when we are drowning in rainwater – that’s probably why you haven’t had much rain, it’s all falling on us!
    Have a good week-end, take care, Helene.

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    1. Thanking you kindly, Helene. The Waterfall Plant is just a spectacular sight after a bit of decent rain. You can see why it was named that. This is the first time I've grown Hymenocallis in this garden. I've been very pleased to see it take off so quickly. What a shame you didn't see yours return.

      You are definitely getting your fair share of rain over there. The flooding events are making the news over here. Today I also saw reports of the damage from some quite frightening wind. It looks rather wild and woolly!

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  2. I feel like I have walked through your whole garden! Fantastic photos, just love those waterlilies. I have spent many hours drawing them over the years. After a few cool days at the end of the rain, back to the hot, sticky humidity for us. Before we know it Autumn will be here.

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    1. Thanks Fion RK. The pond area needs quite a bit of work, but for the moment the Water Lilies do brighten up the mess. It's been quite hot and steamy here and I'm certainly looking forward to the cooler conditions of the Autumn.

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  3. You have some beautiful blooms in your garden this week. I have just a lonely yellow winter flowering Jasmine. We had another ferocious storme again last night with winds of over 145 km per hour it was very frightening. We lost part of the garage roof earlier in the week, Steve's repair held up thankfully. Many parts of our town is flooded although we are still dry.

    It's lovely to see blue sky's and flowers when all here is so wet and cold.

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    1. Sue, I've been seeing reports in the news today of some very wild and woolly weather over there. The wind seems to have whipped up to cyclone strength in some areas. It sounds like you've had your fair share of all the horrid weather. Hopefully you'll get a break from it all very soon.

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  4. Once again , quite the collection of beautiful bloomers in your post. I love your place and all of the beauty you have surrounding you there. Everything looks so lush and healthy.

    Have a lovely weekend ~ FlowerLady

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    1. Things are rather nice and green at the moment, Lorraine. The outlook from the verandah over the bushland is just lovely.

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  5. What an amazing selection of flowers you have, I think last month I told you that we were having torrential rain, it hasn't stopped. The country is flooded, houses are flooded and businesses flooded, when will it all end, we could certainly send some to you!
    You have certainly made a stunning garden, it must be wonderful to wander among all your beautiful flowers, I wouldn't get any work done!

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    1. We wouldn't mind having some of that heavy rain, Pauline. It seems to really be affecting quite a few places around the world at the moment.

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  6. I am so smitten with your blooms...many are summer annuals for me as they are not hardy especially the torenia...Happy Bloom Day!

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    1. The Torenia is a self-seeder for me. This entire pot came from a couple of seed pods. I love Torenias and these old faithfuls never let me down.

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  7. Your garden is always beautiful and now is particularly wonderful, love your flowers and the Hymenocallis ( I´ve never seen it before) we don´t have this in my country ,it´s really special. Have a great weekend.besos. Lilián.-

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    1. Thanks for visiting Lilian. The Hymenocallis is a very popular plant here and can be seen everywhere across the city and suburbs, in suburban gardens, in public parks and even as sidewalk plantings. It thrives in the conditions here.

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  8. a nice blogging walk into lovely tropical garden . I am quite familiar with most flowers shown, but they are so well looked after, healthy and thriving. Have a nice weekend..!!

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  9. This was such an enjoyable visit. The bushland is so lush and green and your blooms of ginger, hibiscus and water lillies are so beautiful! You have such a tropical paradise there. We are the opposite here in the midst of winter under a blanket of snow with spring on the way...soon! Happy GBBD!

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  10. Absolutely beautiful Bernie. So much here that I could only ever grow under glass.

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  11. You have so much in bloom, Bernie. The garden looks just lovely. I love that bright blue thunbergia. It gives such a pop of colour.

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  12. Wow Bernie. Gorgeous as usual! Everything is looking so lush and green!

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  13. I was throughly fascinated by your array of flowers. I particularly covet Clerodendrum ugandense and have been looking for a specimen from the local nurseries.Its truly amazing to see tropical flowers flourishing in your part of the world. It almost feels like your garden is located in tropical Asia.

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  14. Bernie your blooms are spectacular as usual.....I enjoyed every single one of them.
    The Thunbergia erecta and the Hymenocallis are lovely specimens.
    My Clerodendrum ugandense is still growing and continues to flower intermittently.
    I hope your courtyard garden hasn't been left too too bare after all your transplanting to your new beds. The courtyard garden is my favourite area in your home so please don't leave it too bare.

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  15. HI: John was here. Enjoyed my visit.

    Have a wonderful day,
    John

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  16. I cant get over how beautiful your garden was. I feel like I have just walked into the most enormous greenhouse. I'm glad you have finally got some rain and hope you get enough.

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  17. My goodness, there's so much information here! We also had a very wet season, but now it's drying up. We have Thunbergias and Golden Shower Trees here too. Thanks for sharing these treasures!

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  18. Bernie, I always enjoy visiting your blog. It is wonderful to see your beautiful summer blooms! Your Waterfall Plant and your Hymenocallis are fascinating exotics to me.

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  19. It all looks gorgeous, Bernie. Some of the plants you have now, I also have in my garden in our summer but some I have never seen. The Hymenocallis is particularly outstanding.

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  20. Hi Bernie, just stopping by to say how delightful your blog is. Thanks so much for sharing. I have recently found your blog and am now following you, and will visit often. Please stop by my blog and perhaps you would like to follow me also. Have a wonderful day. Hugs, Chris
    http://chelencarter-retiredandlovingit.blogspot.ca/

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  21. Hi Bernie: Love your Blog. Enjoy every time I visit.

    Have a wonderful day.
    John

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  22. Great collection of blooming plants, Bernie. We grow so many of the same plants! Like minds? :)

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  23. What an awesome collection of flowering plants you grow, Bernie! Some are familiar, not all though. I'm especially drawn to your Thunbergia erecta that's flowering profusely. Would be great if our potted plant will present us a flowering flush like yours soon... ;-)
    Thanks for sharing the lovely photos of your gorgeous flowers.

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  24. Hi Bernie, Absolutely love the double Impatiens ballerina hybrid, I have been chasing this plant again for awhile. Years ago my mother had this plant or very similar in a hanging basket (red and white). We have been unable to track it down since. Do you know where we would be able to get hold of it?
    Thanks Jo.

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