It’s almost Winter in Two Gardens for Garden Bloggers Bloom Day

Brrr … Winter is officially two weeks away but it’s feeling decidedly cold and ‘wintry’ already. There’s not really much blooming in our gardens right now but a little planning means we have a few pretty blooms so that we can still take part in Garden Bloggers Bloom Day – this being our 15th time!

Thank you for joining us for our late Autumn show of whats flowering in our South African gardens.

Here’s whats blooming in Christine’s Garden in May 2012 …

I’m not loving Autumn as much as I did last year. I think it may have something to do with some of the plants maturing in my garden and not acting all “fresh and new” as they did last year this time. I’m noticing variegated foliage returning to type (more about that in another post) and just in general I can see some plants need replacing or a severe cutting back (aka a complete makeover). Or perhaps its the change in weather patterns? We seem to be having more rain this year, which is a good thing, but it does change the way some plants behave. But lets see what I have to show …

[one_half]Looking for blooms under a sea of leaves 🙂[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Yay! There’s one! It’s Barleria obtusa[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Mandevilla splenens flower all year here[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Abutilon has flowered for months[/one_half_last]

[one_half]A few Azaleas are flowering now[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Camellias are flowering en-masse[/one_half_last]

[one_half]I love these pretty little daisies[/one_half]

[one_half_last]My new Salvia greggii ‘pink’[/one_half_last]

[one_half]And Salvia greggii ‘white’[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Japanese anemone ‘Honorine Joubert’[/one_half_last]

Also flowering are some indigenous beauties that I will share soon on a ‘Wildflower Wednesday’ post.

That’s it from Claremont in Cape Town, lets see whats happening in Barbie’s garden in Philly …!

Here’s what’s blooming in Barbie’s garden in May 2012

The autumn is ending on a cold note, but I still have the feeling that the warm sun is there to bring life to new seedlings. I have a little meadow patch that will delight me next Bloomers Day, so I look forward to sharing that. There are blooms in special corners, so the mass of colour may not be there, but I do delight in the hidden treasures. Here’s a few colourful corners …..

[one_half]Cosmos looking for the sun[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Gerbera and Alyssum still friends[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Cleome still delight me[/one_half]

[one_half_last]My potato bush amass with flowers[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Salvia Coral Nymph[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Rosemary full of blooms and bees[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Yarrow plant[/one_half]

[one_half_last]White Salvia[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Tansy back in bloom[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Love the blue-face lobelia[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Such a great ground cover – fleabain[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Spearmint flower[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Apple blossom already?[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Pineapple sage delights the sunbirds![/one_half_last]

[one_half]Protea bush is full this year[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Roses are not spectacular this year[/one_half_last]

[one_half]But have a few beauties[/one_half]

[one_half_last]The pink roses smell devine[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Hot lips Salvia and Powiss Castle[/one_half]

[one_half_last]and Alyssum hidden in the grass patch[/one_half_last]

About Garden Bloggers Bloom Day

Join Carol and friends over at May Dreams Gardens for Garden Bloggers Bloom Day in May to see what other gardeners around the world have blooming in their gardens today or see Seepferds Garten for the German version. And if you haven’t joined yet and have some blooms you’d like to show off, please join in the fun of showcasing your blooms! We’d love to see what YOU have blooming in YOUR garden right now!

Thank you for joining us!

PS: Please join us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter – we’ll be so happy if you do!

[note_box]If you are new to blogging and want to get involved in a Garden Blog Meme, see the list of Garden Blog memes we recommended.[/note_box]

Happy Gardening!
xxx