Bloom Day January 2012

Red  Kalanchoe 

Snow on the mountain (euphorbia leucocephala)  making clouds around the garden

 Starburst clerondendron (clerodendron quadriloculare) making its debut this month

Hello and welcome to Garden blogger's Bloom day where gardeners around the globe show what is blooming in their gardens. It has been a cool month so far with frequent sprinkles. Our dry season starts this month and am hoping that it won't be too dry. For more of what is blooming in gardens around the world take a stroll over to Carol on may dreams gardens

Wishing all a happy, healthy and peaceful 2012!

Bloomsday Saturday

white begonias

mixed pink and white begonias

star burst clerondendrum

bougainvillea

purple ground orchid

red gingers

red hibiscus

pink and red hibiscus

red, white and peach hibiscus, sometimes this plant will bloom two distinct colours on one plant, red and the mixed one shown

pink ginger

Heliconia rostrata

My garden is very colourful this month and will continue to be for few next months. We have had a very wet month, very unusual for January since it is supposed to be the start of the dry season. My mother in law left last week after a wonderful visit. It is very quiet and lonely without her. I can truly say that I have one of the best if not the best mother in law in the world. She was just happy to putter around the garden helping and spoiling her son with his favorite foods. I am already looking forward to her next visit next year. Love you Barbs!

It's beginning to look a lot like christmas

poinsettia beginning to bloom the actual flowers are the tiny flowers in the centre surrounded by red bracts.

star burst Clerodendrum (clerodendrum quadriloculare) that will be in bloom around mid to late December

snow on the mountain ( Euphorbia leucocephala ) not yet in bloom but will soon be in another four to six weeks

fruit of the Christmas palm

Christmas will soon be here and am looking forward to seeing my daughter who will be coming home from cold Illinois. I am looking forward to seeing my youngest sister Valerie, her husband Mark and my nephew Matthew. They will be coming in from Ontario Canada and haven't been back since they emigrated five or more years ago. My mother will be coming in from the USA where she has been for the past six months visiting her sons and grands. It is from her that I have inherited a love for gardening and plants. I am also looking forward to seeing my mother- in- law Barbara from Miami in January. She is also a very gifted gardener and we always have a great time when she comes. Christmas time in my garden is very special to me, there are many plants that only flower at this time of year. The garden takes on an ethereal feel, the poinsettia will be in bloom, the snow on the mountain will be in all her glory and the star burst Clerodendrum will be in her element. Since the nights will be cooler the plants take on a perkier attitude. I usually buy a real pine tree imported from North America I am not really sure if I will this year. I have always sworn off artificial trees but as the old saying goes I may have to eat my words.