It's the middle of our last winter month here in Australia. In my north-eastern spot, Winter is very very mild and my favourite time of the year. Here's some of the blooms I see when I wandering around the courtyard on an end-of-winter blue-sky day. 'Super Swiss Giants' Pansy 'Super Swiss Giant' Pansy ( photo / image / picture from Bernieh's Garden ) Another 'Super Swiss Giants' Pansy Another 'Super Swiss Giants' Pansy ( photo / image / picture from Bernieh's Garden ) Viola 'Petite Citrus' Violas 'Petite Citrus' ( photo / image / picture from Bernieh's Garden ) 'Ecklonis' Osteospermum 'Ecklonis' Osteospermum ( photo / image / picture from Bernieh's Garden ) Red 'Elatoir' Begonia and white Begonia semperflorens or Wax Begonia 'Elatoir' Begonia and Begonia semperflorens or Wax Begonia ( photo / image / picture from Bernieh's Garden ) Cane Begonia flowers Cane Begonia flowers ( photo / image / picture from Bernieh's Garden ) Purple 'Ecklonis' Osteospermum 'Ecklonis' Osteospermum ( photo / image / picture from Bernieh's Garden ) Azaleas or Rhododendron simsii Azaleas or Rhododendron simsii ( photo / image / picture from Bernieh's Garden ) Nasturtium 'Alaska Mix' Nasturtium 'Alaska Mix' ( photo / image / picture from Bernieh's Garden ) 'Kiss Vanilla' Gazanias 'Kiss Vanilla' Gazanias ( photo / image / picture from Bernieh's Garden ) 'Bumble Bee' Petunia Petunia 'Bumble Bee' ( photo / image / picture from Bernieh's Garden )
Well, I sure did like seeing those flowers, Bernieh! It looks like you are loaded with blooms at the moment. That Petunia 'Bumble-Bee' is quite a looker, isn't it. I particularly liked the Nasturtiums as well. The flowers are pretty, but the composition I found near perfection.
Thanks Sjoerd. I don't have as many potted annuals and perennials on show this year as I did last year, but I'm pleased with the ones I have. That Bumble Bee Petunia is definitely something to see. It's hard to capture its true colour, but the photo comes close. There are just so many terrific varieties of Petunia these days.
Gosh it's hard to believe that you have so much colour in your garden in winter. All my flowering plants will soon die back in preperation for our winter. Such a contrast between our two climates. I do love to see pansies in a garden and yours are lovely. That Bumble Bee Petunia is a real eye catcher and I'd have it in my garden any time. I also like your 'Ecklonis' Osteospermum and all your other plants.
Eileen, we're lucky here in that our gardens don't ever really die back or die down. We can have year-round colour and I just love having annuals in my garden as well. Of course, the summers here can be very very hard on plants, including the annuals.
Lovely blooms Bernieh ... we can't grow anything here in the winter, unless it is indoors. I have some of those blooming here now
Hi Netty. The end of Autumn, into Winter and onto Spring is the best time for annuals here in my corner of Australia. The summers are just too fierce.
It is lovely with its variegated foliage isn't it, Cayuga Morning. It's the only Nasturtium I bother with these days.
Such a lovely "winter" garden you have! I've never seen anything like your Bumblebee petunia. Don't you love this site? Your winter garden pictures, and Netty's summer garden pictures posted at the same time. How international we are!
G'day Marlingardener. Yes that is one of the fabulous things about the site. It really opens our eyes to how different our conditions and climates are, yet how we all love our gardens. That 'Bumble Bee' Petunia is a new hybrid just released this winter over here. It's fast becoming a favourite of mine. It's so different to all the usual colours.
Very pretty Bernieh, I saw that petunia in a trade mag just recently, so I suppose, if it's not yet, it will be out in the spring for us here. I think I will keep my really cold and snowy winters instead of the really hot summers and huge animal life you have collected over there. I don't mind the spiders and snakes as long as they aren't poisonous. BUT you have waaaay too many of that kind for me.
Carolyn, I'm not a big fan of the summers up here in the north. They're horrid, even with air-con! Of course I'd probably complain about your really cold winters as much as I complain about our summers. I'm not sure I would cope well with your temps and conditions in the depths of winter. Some of our wildlife is pretty cute! The snakes and spiders are not high on my cute list, but we just have to live with them. As I live close to bushland, they're a pretty common everyday garden visitor here ... but I'm pretty quick at retreat!
Bernie... very pretty collection of photos you have there! And I too just love the Bumble Bee Petunia... and the 'Kiss Vanilla' Gazanias is super gorgeous.
Thanks Cherylad. I've grown Gazanias for so long now that I do rather take them for granted and perhaps don't appreciate them as I should. They are such a common plant in so many gardens here that their beauty is often not appreciated all that much.
