My Garden in Bloom – February 2019

Looking through my february photographs I am amazed at the number of different flowering plants.

The weather in February was a mixed bag of sun and rain, and our in-house weather station recorded temperatures as low as 4C at night while rising to over 22C plus on several occasions during the day.

Spring Bulbs – February

It is  heartening to see the experiment of leaving the bulbs to die down in the pots then storing in the dry earth during the summer paid off. In previous years I’ve lifted the bulbs, stored in the garage and they’ve rotted in the high humidity.

Freesia

In October, I emptied the pots, changed the earth and replanted the bulbs along with any newly formed bulblet..(or whatever baby bulbs are called).

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These daffodils were disappointing. Insignificant flowers on long stalks not worth valuable display space. Free to good home.

I loved this one.

I much prefer Growing bulbs in containers
than planting directly in the ground

Succulents and Cacti in Flower – February

I was surprised to discover just how many succulents flowered in January and February!

Aloe Ferox or Cape Aloe

 

Kalanchoe daigremontiana – Mexican Hat Plant 

This succulent spreads like an invasive weed. This particular plant is over 5ft tall!

Kalanchoe daigremontiana – Mexican Hat Plant

 

Kalanchoe Fedtschenkoi Variegata –  Variegated Lavender Scallops

 

Species Unknown?

Lithops –Living Stones

I’d given up on this living stone succulent when it rotted due to overwatering. I let it dry out, then let it fend for itself in the nursery. I’d completely forgotten its existence when I happened to notice this beautiful flower. What an unexpected surprise!

Cotyledon orbiculata Pig’s ears or Elk’s horn

This first started flowering in December!

 

Species Unknown

The name of this succulent eludes me at the moment. Any suggestions? I know it seems to thrive in dappled shade.

Delosperma Cooperi (Ice Plant)
These colourful succulents have flowered since December. I do remove the faded flowers so perhaps this helps to extend their flowering period.

Flowering Plants

Cymbidium orchid

This cymbidium orchid first flowered in December. It lives outside under the terrace, in partial shade. (Early morning sun)

Strelitzia reginae – Bird of Paradise

For years this bird of paradise teased us with only one or two flowers per year. Last summer we added to the irrigation system, rather than let it fend for itself or water as and when we remembered, and it paid off.

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Winter Jasmine

The scent is divine! This grows in dappled shade on the edge of the terrace.

Petunia

Much to my surprise this plant, left over from one of my summer displays, was still flower in February.

Rockery

The Cape Daisy (Osteospermum) provides a stunning winter display!

Also in bloom.

Red hibiscus
Gazanias
Lavender
Jade plant

That’s it for this month!

Related Post: My Garden in Bloom – January 2019