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Bits and bobs about my life in my lovely home, Thatchwick Cottage, Pretoria, South Africa.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Tuesday, 1 September '09: Happy Spring Day from My World

Today we celebrate the first day of spring although the vernal equinox is still about three weeks away. This year, after a particularly chilly winter, Spring Day in My World has dawned warm and sunny with a high of 30 degrees Celsius predicted. Straight out of the winter woollies into sandals and short sleeves! Spring means my garden is transformed into a spectacle of orange as the indigenous clivia miniata bloom and the tiny lilac blossoms on the buddlia draw the bees.
I divided the clumps of clivia in autumn and have made several new beds. Some gardeners say clivia take four years to bloom again after division. Not mine!

Watering began early this morning.


I live on a busy street - who would guess?

This is better than the gloomy underworld, isn't it Persephone?

Primulas add a note of purple.

The roses are shooting and the compost is rich and home-made.

Visit others in other climes at My World Tuesday.

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh, what gorgeous spring flowers!

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Your clivias are starting to look wonderful Eleanor and the rest of the garden too. Now if only we could get some rain to take the dust off everything and to make it green!!

Janet said...

Oh what a lovely garden! Jeanette just told me about some organic fertilizer on sale at Life Style! I can't wait for my work day to end - going to rush off to the nursery and buy some - straight home and an hour or so work in the garden - heaven!!

SandyCarlson said...

Your flowers are lovely. As our summer cools of, I begin to remember what spring was like! Your world is really lovely.

Gwendolyn L said...

Thanks so much for sharing your pics. It would be hard to guess that you are half a world away. We are just getting ready to start fall. Spring is a great time of the year.

SmilingSally said...

Ah, I love spring! My world is still summer, with temperatures 90º.

Louise said...

Happy Spring! And what a beautiful one you have. How very warm!

Euroangel said...

wow you have a very lovely garden..i love it..thanks for the visit ..take care always!have a great start of the month!

Carol Murdock said...

Eleanor...how wonderful that to you September is Spring and to us it brings Fall! :0)
Your flowers are gorgeous!! xoxo

Janice / Dancing with Sunflowers said...

I can see you love your garden and I enjoyed taking a stroll with you around it!
Janice.

dulcy said...

Beautiful garden photos! We're both in the same spot, because even though our fall is beginning soon, so much rain has kept the gardens lush and spring like. We've become spoiled this summer!

Gaelyn said...

Your garden is gorgeous and definately speaks of spring.

Jo said...

Hi Eleanor; I felt like I was strolling through your garden in the cool lushness. I need it being in the sweltering 42 deg heat. Your clivias are STUNNING. Happy spring day to you and all in Sout Africa!

Vicki Lane said...

What is more charming than a walled garden -- a secret place hidden away from the passing crowd?

Mark Kreider said...

Wish we were heading for spring instead of fall. You have such a beautiful garden.

Annie said...

Ah, a lovely garden...we had some clivias flowering in the back yard in Toowoomba when I was there last week...very striking...!
Thanks for your visit to My World also this week. It was fun to spend time with the number eighth grandchild before he had to fly back to the States!

Glennis said...

Spring is just starting here too,. yours looks lovely

Betty said...

Your flowers are gorgeous...our summer is waning in the southern part of the USA...although we don't usually have frost until last of October, we look forward to cooler days late September.

Blessings to you...Betty @ Country Charm

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Oh what a beautiful garden, and spring blooms. Those clivia are lovely - I do like those colours. Here Autumn is on it's way with that slightly melancholy wistful feeling that is rather pleasant!

Mary said...

I knew it was time for your garden to burst into bloom - remembered how astounding it was last year. Just when our gardens are ratty looking yours comes along and adds color to our lives. Thanks for sharing Eleanor.

alaine@éclectique said...

Eleanor, your Clivias are beautiful! It's nice to share the same season with someone in bloggyland; the only other one is Delwyn (a hazy moon) at Noosa on our Northern coast.

We have a courtyard here that faces South-East and one of the corners doesn't get any sun. I planted two Clivia last year as I'd read they they like a shady spot. I've noticed that they're putting up new shoots and look forward to the bright flowers. I have a yellow and an orange. Thanks for the tip of dividing them in Autumn. They share the spot with Hellebores, the winter rose.

My roses are looking so healthy with new leaves. I enjoy cutting and arranging a posy for friends who don't have roses.

Morning's Minion said...

The world turned upside down! I've just been in New England which is very heavy with the end of a wet summer, but no turning colors to the hardwoods yet. Back home to Wyoming where evenings are drawing in and mornings are cnilly. I will "visit" you often to enjoy the colors of your summer.