It was a grey, drizzly day today. My Algarve garden in hardiness zone 10a needs sprucing up - shrubs need cutting back and the grass, overrun with common yellow oxalis, needs cutting. I only prune the roses in February or March. If I do that job now, the frost may damage the new growth. Some are still flowering.
The lone bloom on the aloe I showed you in December looks like this now.
My little lemon tree is still sharing the same planter as the lobster flowers and cheering up the back patio.
The creeping rosemary continues to produce its little pale blue flowers.
Then there is the lavender, my favourite plant of 2013!
This one has been flowering for ages but now it is begging to be cut back. In recent months it has attracted more wildlife than any other plant in my garden.
I guess the garden looks very similar in December and January. In southern Portugal it is surprisingly easy to have blooms every month of the year! I have learnt a lot from reading garden blogs and I hope to make the colder months even more colourful next year.
Now I'm off to May Dreams Gardens where Carol hosts GBBD. Why don't you join me?
You've got lots of beautiful blooms on show. The Aloe flowers is magnificent, and I do love the Lobster flowers that sit under your Lemon tree. Your Lavenders have certainly done well.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteBeautiful lavender! I lost mine last year over the winter. I will try again - maybe in a pot that I can store in our cellar overwinter. Love those lobster flowers you called them? How fantastic to be able to grow lemons! I plan to spend winters in Florida in the not too distant future - citrus heaven! So nice to see green and beautiful blooms.
ReplyDeleteI live in citrus country!. The lobster flower is Plectranthus neochilus.
DeleteOne of the reasons I love Bloom Day is the trip around the world to see wonderful gardens and landscapes - SOME of them without snow. Friends travelled through Portugal last summer and brought back stories of great food and delightful landscapes.
ReplyDeleteI love the world trip too. I'm glad your friends loved their visit. Portugal does have great food and beautiful landscapes.
DeleteHow lovely to be able to grow lemons outside. That is a beautiful Aloe in flower. And roses still in bloom! When do they get to have a rest?
ReplyDeleteChloris
Some of my rose bushes bloom until they are pruned in February/March.
DeleteI love your garden. Your lavender is amazing. I keep trying to grow them but not with much luck. Any ideas on what I might be doing wrong? I am a new follower.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing ... I loved your lemon tree & creeping rosemary companion planting.
ReplyDeleteIt was all very pretty and makes me long for Spring :-)
~Val