It’s the coldest winter we’ve had in the Western Cape here in South Africa for as long as we can remember. There’s snow on the mountains nearby and everybody is talking about how cold it is. The promised storms we were warned about passed us by and hit further inland with snow falling in places in South Africa where it has never snowed before. Around here we had a lot of rain, fairly strong wind but not much else to get excited about. Gardening between downpours has started again in earnest as we prepare for spring and look forward to sunny skies once again.
There’s not a lot blooming in either of our gardens right now but lets see what we can show on this very cold winter’s Bloom Day.
Here’s what’s blooming in Christine’s garden in July 2012
I’m really surprised at how many blooms I was able to find for this Garden Bloggers Bloom Day. Some of my plants seem to think it’s nearly spring and while there are no mass displays of beautiful flowers, it seems at least one of each has decided to excite me with a few blooms to show me whats coming in the next month or two. A single Iris, of all the ones I have planted has a single massive stalk with four stunning blooms! I can’t wait for the rest to wake up and start to flower. And the Tulips (that I vowed not to plant again) are starting to open … and now I’m so glad I planted them again. They really are a joy to behold.
[one_half]Can you believe this Iris?
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[one_half_last]A low growing Camellia
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[one_half]The gorgeous Tulips
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[one_half_last]A new addition; Nemesia Nesia white
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[one_third]A pretty pink Camellia
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[one_third]Strobilanthes and Impatiens
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[one_third_last]No bloom, but beautiful colour
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[one_third]The stunning early Iris
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[one_third]Some early flowering Azaleas
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[one_third_last]A perfect Tulip bloom
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[one_half]One of many new blooms; Osteopermum
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[one_half_last]Last of the roses – pre-pruning
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[one_half]This Clivia alawys blooms first
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[one_half_last]New Tibouchina looks good here
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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 July 2011
I have been stung by the flower bug this week because I went nursery shopping to bring some colour to my garden for Bloom Day (yes, I have to admit this!) I have two empty beds that needed “dressing” so with no further ado, here are the new additions as well as what is really blooming in my garden!
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Brachycombe-purple daisy[/one_half]
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Arctotis-On Fire[/one_half_last]
Argyranthemum – Daisy Bush – this grows to 15cm in height so it makes a lovely border flower
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New addition-Chasmanthe[/one_half]
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Marigolds for the veggie paych[/one_half_last]
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New Lobelia bushes[/one_half]
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Carnations will be new to my garden[/one_half_last]
My little wonder meadow – with tons of different flowers
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Lamiums everywhere-is name correct?[/one_half]
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Phlox in all sorts of colours[/one_half_last]
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Marigolds and Phlox[/one_half]
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Lots of Alyssums in the meadow[/one_half_last]
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Gentle blooms – look like buttercups[/one_half]
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Hey – these are new![/one_half_last]
The Cleomes still shine bright over the meadow
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Some interesting “weeds”[/one_half]
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These little daisies are all over the fields[/one_half_last]
The front garden needed some colour, so I added Decorative Kale to the bucket trio – my hubby’s choice for the garden! I love it when he gets involved!
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The last rose of winter[/one_half]
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Fuchsias are about to bloom[/one_half_last]
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Deadly Night Shade still in my garden[/one_half]
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Violas a feature in my veggie patch[/one_half_last]
The heirloom Broad Bean flower – exquisite!
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Marigolds and Violas live in the veggie patch[/one_half]
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Gerbera and Alyssums[/one_half_last]
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Gladiola[/one_half]
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The Azaleas are blooming![/one_half_last]
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I still think the meadow wins![/one_half]
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Blooms and blooms and blooms![/one_half_last]
Even though the weather is cold and wet and miserable, the garden still offers delightful blossoms and blooms.
Happy Bloom Day!
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
27 replies on “Mid winter in Two Gardens for Garden Bloggers Bloom Day”
OK ladies I don’t know which is lovelier…both are amazing and you have even more blooms than I do in summer…your winter gardens look like my spring garden…both gardens would be perfect displayed in a garden magazine.
I think there is more growing in your late Winter gardens than there is in our Summer one. At the moment we have some Gerbera which we grow as annuals. It looks very much like your Arctotis, is it from the same plant family.
You both have more blooms than I do in summer! Your gardens are so fresh and GREEN – lovely! Christina
Oh thank you! I love the green!! I miss it in simmer :0(
Your coldest winter looks warmer than our summer!
We are lucky, I think!
Beautiful blooms in both places! Love those early Iris…what a great purple. I’ve never heard of Chasmanthe before…they remind me a tiny bit of Crocosmia.
So strange you say this – I thought so too because CHristine has Crocosmia. I am loving them – the sunbirds too 🙂
Pretty blooms despite odd weather. I especially like the Kale in the the three buckets. This is a great combo and fun idea.
So funny – I walked right past these plants at the nursery and my non-gardening hubby stops and says we need to rescue these! 🙂 So These are “saved” kale!
What a great idea for planting Kale–I’ll have to remember that! I still can’t get over that these are your winter gardens. All your plantings are looking lovely and very healthy!
Thank you – I am so enjoying all the fruits of my labour -my garden is so enjoying the rain 🙂
Christine, I’d take your cold and all those delicious blooms any day if I could get some relief from the unrelenting heat that now has reached America’s New England. Thanks for showing those images from two gardens that aren’t burned to crisps. (I still am fascinated by the flip-flopped concept of a camellia in winter – and the last rose of winter.)
Lots going on as usual. It is funny that you added flowers for bloom day but “confessed” to it. The weather patterns are odd and disturbing. Of course, our expeience is no more than a blip in time but still it seems like no part of the world is having “normal” weather.
Both your gardens are a welcome sight. Even though it is the middle of summer where I live, it is hot and dry. We have blue skies and everything is a bit parched. Hopefully we will get some needed rain, and cooler temperatures, soon.
Thank you Mary, I know those hot summer days too well. This rain is welcome all over our country because of droughts. I also welcome these wet days!
I like the sculptural quality of the chasmanthes. And it looks like the azaleas don’t realize it’s winter. Happy Bloom Day to both of you!
I am loving the idea of having them in my garden. I saw them en masse on the side of the road today and they are spectacular! 🙂
So they are an indigenous plant – so this will bring the birds.
You both have so much in flower for mid-winter. It is winter here too. Ours has been unseasonally wet this year, and we have had a few really chilly days like you, but sadly none of garden seems to think it’s spring yet. It was a bit of a challenge finding blooms for GBBD. Hope you both have a great one!
Hi Marisa – well, I cheated abit and bought in a few of mine to add colour to my GBBD! 🙂
Christine – you have so many blooms! I was expecting you to say it’s been so cold there, that everything was dormant. But, instead, you have lovely blooms that can’t wait until spring!
Barbie – haha Buying more blooms for Bloom Day – definitely a gardener’s trick! 🙂 But you have so many blooms anyway! Love the cleomes – what a beautiful picture!
Thanks Holly – any excuse to go nursery shopping. 🙂
I love the colorful kale accents in buckets. Very clever and a simple idea. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Patsy – the Bucket Trio are a great hit! I can change this every seaon with a new idea and the front garden deck looks new again! 🙂 love the sharing!
Hey Chris – those Irises, hey?? It seems they got their clocks mixed up! What a lovely show though! Can’t wait for mine! 🙂
Beautiful, both gardens!
I know it’s all relative, but your “cold” weather looks so refreshing. I could go for a little bit of cold and wet right now, and my garden can too. 🙂
I know, I sometimes revel in the rain because it is so needed in my area. Come summer it is so dry and hot. I love each season with its changes! 🙂 But I would hate for it to snow here! 🙁 I love snow – from a distance!