The sun is up early and the earth is warming up day by day, now that we are midway through Spring. Some blooms have come to an end but this only makes way for bigger and brighter flowers. Trips to the well-stocked local nursery are frequent to get all that is needed for a burst of colour with new seedlings and flowering plants.
Here’s what’s blooming in Christine’s garden in October 2012
The warmer days after all the rain means I have a garden full of beautiful colour, lots of buds already in bloom and loads more about to burst into flower. At last it feels like spring and I am again loving all the surprises in my garden. My pride and joy is the Japanese Crabapple which is in full bloom. To me it is the most exquisite of flowering trees.
My biggest surprise of all came today when I spotted the Japanese Cherry – it was a gift from a friend last year – just a twig. And guess what? It has started to sprout buds and one new shoot has started to flower. In about two weeks time the entire shrub should be covered in blossoms. A preview of the blossoms below. Here is my mid-spring show …
[one_half]My Japanese Crabapple (malus floribunda)
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[one_half_last]One of the Lilies (Lilium longifolium)
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[one_half]This Dahlia is massive – but looker closer!
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[one_half_last]House guests in the Dahlia
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[one_half]A lovely new creeper (Clematis montana)
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[one_half_last]Asiatic Lilies flowering in the Alley way
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[one_third]Yellow flag iris in the pond
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[one_third]Murraya exotica in full bloom
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[one_third_last]I love the Salvia ‘Mystic spires’
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[one_third]Louisiana Irises going strong
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[one_third]Another look at the Crabapple
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[one_third_last]I love the Salvia greggii too
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[one_half]Babiana are a favourite indigenous bulb
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[one_half_last]Another South African beauty – Ixia
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[one_half]The awaited Japanese Cherry blossom
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[one_half_last]A lovely yellow Asiatic Lily
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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 October 2012
My garden is looking so bright and colourful with all the new blooms. All the hard work and attention given to my garden during the year is being rewarded with gorgeous new growth and flowers galore. My idea of adding flowers in amongst the vegetable garden, has given it a burst of colour as well as a host of good bug-a-boos. The butterflies, bees and birds are a welcome sight and enjoy the many treasures – come have a look…….
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The Purple Patch-lavender, borage and Irises[/one_half]
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My beautiful Irises-the show stoppers![/one_half_last]
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Lobelia hiding under the Lavender[/one_half]
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Lilies nearly there![/one_half_last]
The Babiana are just my favourites this month!
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Strawberry blooms -can’t wait for the fruit![/one_half]
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Lobelia as ground cover works well[/one_half_last]
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Love my lavender[/one_half]
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Cornflower in the meadow still stands[/one_half_last]
The Quince tree is in full bloom – such a pretty tree, but I don’t eat quince!
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Sparaxis coming to an end but still bright![/one_half]
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Delicate Viola next to new Calendula shoots[/one_half_last]
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Jasmine hanging on the fence-delightful![/one_half]
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Ixias cascading over the raised bed[/one_half_last]
More Sparaxis growing in the veggie patch.
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Ixias are so pretty[/one_half]
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Dianthus in bloom – last years purchase[/one_half_last]
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Flowers in the grass bed[/one_half]
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Hot Lips Salvia now in bloom[/one_half_last]
The next Iris group is now in full bloom – how gorgeous is this yellow!
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Roses are budding – it will be a colourful spring![/one_half]
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Feverfew or Crysanthimum?[/one_half_last]
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The colour in my garden brings magic and happiness – this is the colour of Spring. I love taking a walk around and taking in all the beauty.
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 September! 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
16 replies on “Mid-Spring in Two Gardens for Garden Bloggers Bloom Day”
Thanks for the views of spring! It all looks lovely!
Really pretty blooms, but I stopped cold at that orange bird. What a gorgeous bird it is!
Isn’t is amazing! It’s a Red Bishop. A weaver bird that only goes red (the male only) like this when mating season is on, between September and November (or there abouts).
Hi ladies – it looks so fresh and promising compared to our Autumnal gardens. I really like the Japanese crabapple and the sparaxis
Thanks Helen – Its a joy to include more blooms in my garden year on year!
Wow, your gardens have really woken up! Everything looks so beautiful. Enjoy!
I loved all of your photos. Here in upstate New York (United States) it is fall and the leaves are turning. It is so refreshing to relive spring. I loved your photos, and have followed you on Pinterest. Happy GBBD from the States.
I was also thinking how dahlia and glads bloom with iris and lilac…so out of sync for us here in the US…but what I wouldn’t do…such incredible blooms…so many gorgeous flowers to think about until our spring.
Chrysanthemum, feverfew has more delicate ferny leaves.
Thanks Diana – I remember planting both and not sure which one reseeded 🙂
Always great to get your help!
It is so wonderful to see both of your spring gardens. Fall is wonderful for blooms here, but truly nothing like spring! Looking at your pictures makes me long for next year, and winter hasn’t even set in! Christine – I adore crabapple blooms, too. And I am so jealous of your cherry blooms! I had to cut down my cherry tree here. 🙁 Barbie – I love the purples and yellows of your garden. So cheerful! I predict, though, that your iris obsession will soon turn into a lily obsession when they start blooming! 😉
You both have so much going on. Love the Ixia and Sparaxis! Christine’s crabapple looks lovely. Barbie, your “hot lips” Salvia must be something else, as ‘hot lips’ is white with red “lips” — still love it though! Also that doesn’t look like feverfew, as feverfew has frillier, more ferny leaves I think.
Beautiful stuff both of you!
Thanks Alan – I got help with the feverfew – NOT! It’s Chrysanthemum 🙂
The Hot Lips Salvia is coming out all red, that is weird. But I heard about this possibility! Something about the soil? Will do some research.
What a lovely selection of blooms. The bug in the Dahlia eats the centre of the flower, you should think about trying to pick them off. My Molineux rose was devastated last spring. Christina
I can’t imagine having Roses, Lilacs, Irises, Glads, and on and on — all blooming at the same time! That never happens here. Your gardens are truly stunning!
Thanks so much – I tried a variety of bulbs this time and they just did not disappoint!