Tag: buds

Love in my garden

[one_half]Love in my garden[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Homemade fence[/one_half_last]

I stood on my deck this morning looking out into the garden and marvelled at all that has been achieved this past year and had 100 ideas of what I still want to do. I always thought that there was an end to what you do in a garden, once you have ‘landscaped it’. This, I have now learnt, is not so. There is continuous change, always new growth and even more new things to try. I have come to understand the way I work in my garden. It comes from love and it comes from trying something new. It starts with an idea. I have the freedom to do as I please – thanks to my non-gardening hubby who is always there to help – when I ask! I build and dig and play and through all this a wonderful place emerges.

[one_half]Wild flowers in my back garden[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Buffy wanting a picture taken[/one_half_last]

My gardening friends always on the ready. Sometimes too enthusiastic but always by my side when I am playing in the garden.

[one_half]New rose buds -with pesky critters to boot[/one_half]

[one_half_last]My fig tree is in bud[/one_half_last]

Everything is starting to bloom – all brand new. Here are my two favourite plants – my roses and my fig tree. You can feel the love! Here are some more new growths.

[one_half]Guara in bloom[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Lavender still a winner[/one_half_last]

[one_half]A brand new corn flower[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Jasmine’s are everywhere[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Planter full of love and bulbs[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Quince tree with new leaves[/one_half_last]

I love spring xx

Happy gardening

Tags buds, flowers, garden, love, new blooms

Annuals Christine's garden Gardening Home page features Perenniels

The first Asiatic Lily and other Joys of Spring

Post author By Christine
Post date September 2, 2011
27 Comments on The first Asiatic Lily and other Joys of Spring

“If you’ve never been thrilled to the very edges of your soul by a flower in spring bloom, maybe your soul has never been in bloom” – Terri Guillemets

Plant, care, watch, wait, stand back and admire … repeat.

How immensely satisfying it is to plant a bulb, seed or seedling and watch it develop and finally bloom. Had I known all this 30 years ago I may well have made very different career choices in life. How I envy those who chose the road of Horticulture or gardening as their profession. Don’t get me wrong, I love my work, but oh my! I admit to loving my garden a whole lot more! What a Joy it is to step outside on a Spring morning and discover new blooms and fresh new shoots on plants. From bulbs that are blooming to plants specially selected for foliage … add some loving care, a good downpour and then a bit of sunshine and … Ta Da!!

And here we have today’s surprises …

[one_half]First Asiatic Lily in bloom[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Freesias wherever you look…[/one_half_last]

[one_third]Ixias about to flower[/one_third]

[one_third]Sinfonietta Iris bud[/one_third]

[one_third_last]Lemon tree covered in buds[/one_third_last]

[one_third]Sigh, I love them … so pretty[/one_third]

[one_third]The first Lily in all her glory[/one_third]

[one_third_last]All these colours on one plant[/one_third_last]

Today the first of the +/- 80 Liliums I planted is blooming, and how gorgeous it looks. Of all the bulbs I planted I am finding the Liliums the most satisfying. All the bulbs have come up, some are standing 1.5m high and all are covered in buds. The Lilium Longiflorum (St Josephs Lilies) bulbs were planted towards the back of the bed and the slightly shorter Asiatics were planted slightly forward. The overall look of the bed is fabulous – even without the flowers.

The individual plants are strong and standing proudly upright (no staking required although I’ve read it is sometimes required) and I enjoy the shiny green foliage that has filled the bed and makes it look most promising. (I will do a post soon to show before and after photographs of this bed – It’s an amazing transformation – my absolute favourite right now).

Wherever you are, I hope you are enjoying the fruits of your labour, regardless of the season!

Happy Gardening
xxx

I’m linking this to Weekendflowers # 10! Click to visit!

Tags asiatic lilies, buds, flowers, lilium, spring

Christine's garden Gardening Home page features

Happy Spring Day

In South Africa we celebrate the first day of September as Spring Day marking the coming of the spring season. It is the only day that most schools allows casual dress instead of the normal school uniform and many primary school children will be taking flowers to the eldery in homes, young girls (and some older ones) will pin a flower in their hair and generally we all welcome the anticipated coming of warmer weather with a spring in our step (pun intended!). Birds are making nests, and deciduous trees are sprouting new growth and love is in the air!

I’ve finished my fertilising, most of the composting and I’ve spent the last few mornings checking all the flowering plants for new buds and flowers and I’m being richly rewarded. To celebrate the the first day of spring I’m sharing my favourite buds – the ones I’m most excited about seeing in bloom …

[one_half]First Oriental lilies in bud[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Ixia buds[/one_half_last]

[one_half]More Ixias in bud[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Ranunculas in bud[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Buds and berries on the Nandinas[/one_half]

[one_half_last]The Clivias are about to bloom[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Murraya Exotica covered in buds[/one_half]

[one_half_last]First Delphinium blooms[/one_half_last]

[one_half]First blossom on the Prunus sp.[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Tibouchina bud[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Makhaya Bella buds[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Mandevilla Splenens[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Love all the new foliage[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Freesias are in bud or flowering[/one_half_last]

PS: According to Wikipedia, In South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand, spring begins on 1 September, and has no relation to the vernal equinox.

Happy Spring Day to all!
xxx

Tags buds, flowers, spring

Annuals Christine's garden Gardening Home page features Perenniels

Buds galore and my first ever Tulip. Could it be …

Post author By Christine
Post date August 7, 2011
23 Comments on Buds galore and my first ever Tulip. Could it be …

… that Spring is on its way?

When I look past all that still needs to be done in terms of preparing my garden for the imminent arrival of Spring and Summer, it gladdens my heart to see buds, buds and more buds all over the place! If you had told me two years ago that I would get excited about seeing buds on plants, I would have asked you what you were smoking, but that’s exactly how it is right now. I’m like a child in a candy store, jumping around from bed to bed and getting excited about the buds I see and the promise of things to come, just a few short weeks away!

Buds are everywhere and in my enthusiasm I must have taken about 200 photographs yesterday of all “my buds”. Whilst not all the plants and bulbs I planted are “budding” yet, most are and I am really thrilled.

I thought I would share some of my favourites with you …

The promise of things to come …

[one_half]The first Ranunculus Bud[/one_half]

[one_half_last]On the Lemon Tree[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Murraya Exotica buds[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Cinerarias (I think thats what these are)[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Nandina (heavenly bamboo) blossoms[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Heliotropium arborescens ‘Marine’[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Madevilla splenens always in bud[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Pink Azaleas are everywhere[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Yipee! Tulip buds …[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Oh my … what have we here?[/one_half_last]

[one_half]The first of the Tulips opens[/one_half]

[one_half_last]So excited about my first ever Tulip[/one_half_last]

I’ve excluded photos of the buds on the lime tree, the snow drops (Leucojum aestivum), Freesias, Dietes grandiflora, Viburnum tinus ‘Lucidum’, Impatiens, Liliums and the Camellia buds which are not giving up just yet. Also flowering are Hellebores, Violas, Dianthus, Alliums and Lobularia.

What’s “budding” in your garden right now? What are you excited about?

Happy Gardening
xxx

Tags buds, bulbs, flowers, spring