It's An Early Spring Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day ... August 2012

Spring has sprung Downunder.  September is our first month of Spring.  Here in my north-eastern corner there are not many discernible seasonal changes, and certainly not much of a noticeable change between our Winter and early Spring.  One small difference though, is the flowering of the many native Eucalyptus platyphyllas or Poplar Gums on the property and in the surrounding bushland.

These fluffy white flowers are everywhere.  They're dripping with nectar, and there's a sweet honey-like perfume in the air early in the mornings and late in the evening.

There have been flocks of Scaly-breasted Lorikeets feasting on the creamy white flowers.

The Corymbia torellianas or Cadaghi Gums that grow beside our hill driveway have both been in bloom for many weeks now, and the show continues on into early Spring. 

Both the Scaly-breasted and the Rainbow Lorikeets have been enjoying the nectar of those blooms as well.

One other noticeable change is the appearance of coloured bracts on the two Bougainvilleas that grow on my property.  It's time for them to begin their long blooming cycle once more.

They both take a break over late Autum-Winter, but I'll see the bracts and the tiny white flowers well into January now.

The Dietes have also begun another blooming cycle.  I've had the Dietes bicolor for some time now, but this is the first ever bloom on my Dietes grandiflora.  I'm just over the moon about that!

The only spot at my place that has lots and lots of colourful blooms right now is my courtyard garden.  The container plants are all in bloom, but there's nothing much new out there though.

Everything that was blooming this time last month, is still blooming now.

Out in the courtyard garden ...

Salvia farinacea 'Strata'.

Osteospermum

dwarf Azalea

Cane Begonia

Torenia 'Violet Magic'

Impatiens hawkeri or New Guinea Impatiens

Spathoglottis plicata or Ground Orchid

Neomarica longifolia or Yellow Walking Iris

Streptocarpus caulescens or Nodding Violet

Antihirrinum - unknown variety

Angelonia angustifolia 'Serena series' - pink and white

more Angelonia angustifolia 'Serena series' - purple

Bromeliad

Petunia 'Hot Lips'

Petunia 'Stars Mixed'

Saliva farinacea 'Victoria White'

At the back of the courtyard,

the Sansevieria trifasciata is blooming.

Elsewhere around the place ...

The dwarf Azalea shrub in the front garden bed is coming to the end of its blooming cycle now.

There are still flowers on my white Bauhinia variegata down the long gravel driveway, and they're attracting lots of insects, including bees and green ants.  The leaves are starting to turn yellow though, and they will begin dropping very soon, which means the blooming cycle will be coming to an end.

 There are lovely double blooms on this red-flowering Hibiscus in the driveway garden bed as well.

 Out in the front tiered garden beds,

the Iresine herbstii 'Blazin Rose' is still blooming,

as is the dwarf Euphorbia pulcherrima.

There are blooms appearing on one of the Adenium obesum ... seen here under a shower of droplets from the hose.   Hosing is a daily job at the moment in a couple of spots around my place, as our dry season rolls on into its sixth month now. 

The only other job I've had to do lately is finishing off cleaning out and repairing the pond area.

That's finally done, and I am ready to look for some water plants now.  The pond has always been just a spot for fish to swim around in, so adding water plants is something new for me.  I have a beautiful black-leaved Colocasia ready to plunge in, but that's it so far.  More to come ...



I'm joining Carol for her monthly meme Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day