After two weeks of warm spring weather—highs in 60s and low 70s, today 75°F—we have quite a few blooms in the front yard. Aloes that have been in a holding pattern since December, as well as some of our South African bulbs, are finally in flower. I can't get enough of this boost of color and energy. I try not to get too exuberant for fear nature might punish my hubris with an unexpected cold snap, but I think we're out of the woods as far as winter goes.
I know I should hold these photos until the 15th, the official
Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, but I'm so excited, I just can't wait!
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| Narcissus among the agaves |
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| Silver lady fern (Blechnum gibbum) with flowering Tradescantia × andersoniana 'Blushing Bride' |
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| Grevillea 'Superb' |
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| Good old-fashioned jade plant (Crassula ovata) |
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| Cape cowslip (Lachenalia aloides var. quadricolor), still a few days away from peaking |
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| Cape cowslip (Lachenalia aloides var. quadricolor) |
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| Lachenalia aloides (species) |
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| No flowers here, but Leucadendron 'Jester' is colorful enough without them |
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| Leucadendron 'Safari Sunset' in its yellow phase. Soon the bracts will turn bright red. |
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| Leucadendron 'Safari Sunset' |
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| Leucadendron 'Safari Sunset' |
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| Euphorbia characias 'Glacier Blue' |
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| Ceanothus 'Julia Phelps' |
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| Ceanothus 'Julia Phelps' |
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| Felicia aethiopica ‘Tight & Tidy’ |
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| Aloe excelsa |
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| Aloe arborescens 'Variegata' (with the species behind it) |
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| Aloe ferox, so happy it's started to push another inflorescence from the center of the rosette |
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| The first of three Aloe 'Moonglow' |
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| Aloe 'Moonglow' |
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| Aloe petricola |
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| Aloe petricola |
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| Aloe hereroense, not quite there yet |
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| Aloe 'Moonglow' #2 |
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| Aloe 'Moonglow' #2 |
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| Aloe 'Moonglow' #2, Aloe petricola, and Aloe 'Moonglow' #1 |
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| Aloe glauca |
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| Aloe capitata var. quartziticola |
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| Aloe capitata var. quartziticola |
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| Aloe capitata var. quartziticola |
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| Aloe 'Erik the Red', not quite there yet |
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| Aloe 'Erik the Red' and Aloe 'Moonglow' #3 |
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| Aloe 'Erik the Red' and Aloe 'Moonglow' #3 |
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| Aloe 'Moonglow' #3 |
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| Aloe 'Moonglow' #3 |
As wonderful as this early spring weather is, the soil is getting drier by the day. I've already started watering my potted plants; soon I'll have to turn on the drip irrigation for the in-ground plants. I can see the specter of another drought...
Wow, it does look like you're entering Spring in hyperdrive! I love the cape cowslips, bulbs I've yet to find. My Freesias are coming on but most of my other bulbs are just beginning to poke up through the soil. I looked back at my 2017 Bloom Day post and the garden was quite floriferous, probably due at least in part to all the rain we got last year. This year, it looks as through Bloom Day here will be more muted despite regular use of our irrigation system.
ReplyDeleteThese aloes were in a holding pattern for so long, but now they're going gangbusters. The weather has been so nice, all I want to do is be outside instead of chained to my desk.
DeleteEarly spring weather, wow! Although not sure about the potential drought though, hope you get some rains soon.
ReplyDeleteIt’s so nice to get all that colour and blooms at a time of the year when most gardens are still lacking in it.
I'm enjoying the aloe flowers so much. I check on them every day :-)
DeleteBeautiful, Gerhard, despite the disappointing winter. Your 'Safari Sunset' is getting quite tall.
ReplyDeleteLOL, 'Safari Sunset' was my first leucadendron. I was much too timid when it came to tip pinch and pruning. Now it's getting a bit out of hand. I'll try to take as much as 1/4 off when it's done flowering.
DeleteYou've talked me into Erik the Red!
ReplyDeleteGetting others to buy plants is almost as good as buying plants yourself :-)
DeleteMust have 'Moonglow' though I have no spot and can't find it !
ReplyDeleteKathy, I'll see if I have a 'Moonglow' pup I can separate...
Delete