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Mid-winter in the Two Gardens for July Garden Bloggers Bloom Day

It’s really fun to think about this – Right now, around the world, there are about two hundred gardeners busy posting photographs of the flowers in their gardens to share with others for the monthly Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day – the “online gardening event of the month”, the day to show off what you have blooming in your garden!

So its mid winter here in Sunny South Africa and in the two gardens, and what do we have to show? Regrettably not a lot – certainly not as much as Diana of Elephant’s Eye who’s lovely garden in Porterville is a profusion of colour right now. Interesting how the different areas and gardening styles all in relatively close proximity differ so greatly. Without further ado, here are our mid-winter offerings.

Here’s what’s blooming in Christine’s garden in July 2011

There are hundreds of Camellias and Azaleas blooming in my winter garden and it’s full of pinks in various shades, from bright to pale and everything in between. After a month of rain (in June) and the lovely sunny days we’ve had for the last two weeks there is plenty of growth and everything is turning lush and green. Bulbs are popping up all over and I am excited about Spring … not that long to go now.

[one_half]Hundreds of Camellia bloomsI have hundreds of Camellia blooms[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Almost as many AzaleasAlmost as many Azaleas[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Icebergs are in flowerIcebergs are in flower[/one_half]

[one_half_last]The Potato Bush (Solanum)Potato Bush (Solanum)[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Japanese CliviaJapanese Clivia[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Clivia x cyrtanthiflora*Clivia x cyrtanthiflora*[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Mandevillas flower 365/365 hereMandevillas flowering all year long[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Photographer’s helper looking for bloomsPhotographers helper looking for blooms[/one_half_last]

*Clivia × cyrtanthiflora is the  name given to hybrids between Clivia miniata and Clivia nobilis with narrow pendent flowers. (Just in case you were interested).

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 July 2011

This is a green month in my area! The farm fields that surround the village are lush and the labours of the local farmers are producing ankle-high shoots! Soon, this will be covered in yellow canola! I love the country!! My front garden is also lush and green and the thirsty ground is enjoying the rains and warm sunny days. I have little in the way of blooms, but I did see some interesting new-comers! The Bulbinella, given to me in an old pot, was transplanted and is now showing signs of life. My month by month reliables – lavender and violas – are always a pleasure. The Nasturtiums have taken over the empty veggie patch, but this is expected and actually I enjoy them. The Fuschias are so pretty now and love the space given to them that the roses usually take over. They always remind me of candy drops. The Blueberry bush is coming to life – it is so neglected in the corner – I really need to give it more love. Christine, my bulbs are growing. I put them in the empty raised bed you gave me so this will be a beautiful show come spring. I have a strange looking onion that is going to flower – I have never seen this so I am curious as to what it is!

Like you, I can’t wait for spring – my favourite time of year! But I do love the lushness of July here in the country!

Happy Blooming Day to all! xxx

[one_half]Good ol’ lavender still blooming[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Nasturtiums going wild[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Something new here! Bulbinella[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Fuschias in full bloom! Pretty, hey?[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Like candy drops![/one_half]

[one_half_last]My blueberry bush has buds![/one_half_last]

[one_half]My bulbs are sprouting![/one_half]

[one_half_last]I think this is Sparaxis[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Gentle coriander blooms[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Have you ever seen an onion flower?[/one_half_last]

[one_half]My pretty violas[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Pansy or viola? I’m not sure[/one_half_last]

About Garden Bloggers Bloom Day

Join Carol and friends over at May Dreams Gardens to see what other gardeners around the world have blooming in July and then pop over to ‘Garten Blogger Blüten im Juli‘ over at Seepferds Garten for the German version of Garden Bloggers Bloom Day! 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!

Happy Gardening!
xxx

By Christine

Dominated by large trees on a medium sized property, my garden is very shaded. With no “full sun” areas I have to plant shade and partial shade loving plants. I love shrubs and flowers including camellias and azaleas but Roses and Irises are my favourite and getting these to thrive is a challenge …

46 replies on “Mid-winter in the Two Gardens for July Garden Bloggers Bloom Day”

Hi Christine. Thanks for visiting my Bloom Day post and saying hello. Sorry it’s taken me so long to return the visit.
So you’re all the way over in sunny South Africa! How wonderful to have roses blooming in winter!
My Clivia bloomed in June and July, later than usual, after I moved it outside. It usually blooms in the house in late winter. Thanks for explaining the hybrid Clivia. I haven’t seen that one before. Its trumpet shaped blossoms are lovely.
Both you and Barbie have beautiful winter blooms. I love the vibrant colour of the violas!

Christine, your Winter garden with so many Camellias is hardly short of flowers, and does the Clivia really flower outdoors in Winter? Think I will find a spot for the Iceberg Rose it is such a pure white.

Thank you for visiting me recently … and following, as well! 😉 Sharing the blog with a friend is such a fun approach to blogging. It’s a great idea and “double the fun” for me (us as the readers), too!! It is amazing when you think of the number of GBBD posts that are created at the same time. Have a great week!

It’s quite an eye opener to see how different both of your gardens are and your lovely blooms. I can relate very much so to Barbie’s garden plants as most of them would be in flower just now in my garden – while in your garden Christine it’s far more tropical with the Clivias. Here they are houseplants but their flowering time is always around Dec/Jan each year.

Interesting that you call your Clivia, Japanese Clivia. I always thought it was a South African plant in origin. Happy GBBD to you!

Madevilla blooms all year long? Now I’m jealous! Love those Nasturtiums…that little red marking at the throat of the blooms is so eye-catching.

Wow, your gardens are both producing beauties. But i love most that photo in Christine’s of the photographers guide, haha. Thanks for being a follower of my site.

It’s fun to see what’s in flower all over this big beautiful planet of ours. In Dutchland the gardens are a riot of colour as it;s summer. I enjoyed looking at what’s in flower chez you.

I just love the GBBD – the worldwide scope is fantastic and fascinating, with all the seasonal variation – and those camellias are gorgeous. That’s what I appreciate – it will be seven months or so before I see mine here in Wales…

(And I love the gardener’s helper, btw – my ‘helper’s’ contribution mostly consists of leaving dead things for me to find. I suppose it’s organic. Hm.)

I can’t imagine Winter filled with such beautiful blooms! Thank you for the tour, and thanks for your nice comment on my site. Happy GBBD!

You certainly have lots of blooms for mid-winter! My mid-winter garden is usually white–as in covered in snow:) Love your little helper.

What pretty flowers in both gardens. I do like those clivia. I’m only gowing a yellow one…so far! And everyone needs a garden helper! Cute picture!

Lots of colour! Amazing camellias, and violas are one of my favourite flowers. I like so many colourways of them, but if I was absolutely forced to choose, the velvety purple would probably be it. I also really like that Japanese Clivia, though I fear it is not a plant for the UK climate…

Both gardens have gorgeous flowers! I love Christine’s camellias, iceberg rose, azaleas and the bright Japanese clivia and your garden helper is so cute! Barbie’s have beautiful purple blooms especially the cute and sweet fuschias and violas plus the bright nastrutiums! Happy weekend to both of you!

Love the helper! My little green visitor stayed stuck to my kitchen window for an entire day, was he sunning or watching me as much as I was watching him?

@Christine–Cutest photographer’s assistant ever! That’s a very sweet photo. You have a beautiful winter garden. I especially like the bright orange blooms.

@Barbie–There’s a lot sprouting in your garden! It’s exciting to see blueberry buds. I’ve never seen an onion flower. I hope you post picture of it as it develops.

Happy GBBD to you both!

I have to agree with Barbara, this time of year in Philadelphia and surrounds is too beautiful. The canola is literally growing and yellowing as we watch it! All the above pics from both gardens are really lovely – it hardly looks like winter at all! I am going to link this post to the Neutrog Facebook page – we are currently taking photo submissions of ‘beauty in the winter garden’ and these certainly qualify! I’m sure our fans will love them.

Ah, Camellias – one of my favourites – but I won’t be showing mine off till the sasanqua starts blooming in November to start the winter – early spring season. They still make a good backdrop for the rest of the year.

Encouraged by a run of mild winters I tried Clivia outside a few years ago. We promptly had the worst winter in years and they didn’t survive. Your climate is a lot warmer than mine!

I have a co-worker who grows clivia as a houseplant. She really likes it. I have often thought of trying it…the color is so beautiful. I have seen an onion flower. It is usually a bloom such as yours camouflaged in between the stalks that I miss snipping. 🙂 Happy GBBD!

Hi Michelle – Clivia’s like shade and seem to love being in clumps under trees where not much else blooms. They also do well in pots so if you have snow or frost you could move them inside in winter.

Fabulous flowers. Both gardens have terrific colour. Loved the Clivias and those lovely Fuschias. What is kitty doing? … sniffing out the best blooms for photo day? Great little shot.

Hi Bernie, I’ll have to do a post one day about it, but my Cat LOVES carrots and celery – he was sniffing the celery and carrots in the veggie patch! He accompanies me on my garden walks, too cute!

You have so much going on in your gardens! It is fun to see all the winter blooms – – I grow so many of these plants too, but I won’t see flowers on my camellias for quite a while yet…

Both beautiful gardens have beautiful blooms for GBBD. The kitty is such a great photo subject and those purple violas, stunning. So vibrant.

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