October Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day

This is my first posting for Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, which showcases blooms and gardens around the world on the 15th of each month. It is mid Spring here in Brisbane and there's so much to love in my garden at the moment, it's been difficult to choose which favourites to share.

I have been very impatiently waiting for this bromeliad to flower, and it was definitely worth the wait.

Guzmania 'Giselle'

This is a recent addition and I am absolutely smitten. It is the most beautiful cherry colour with a purple cast to the centre of the flower. I only planted it in my front garden about a fortnight ago and it is thriving.

Cuphea 'Vienco'

This is an Australian native known as Flowering Lignum. It was a chance purchase about 18 months ago and is also doing very well in the front garden. According to the description card attached, it grows in clay soils on flood plains, so that might be what suits it here. I have patches of clay and rock in the front. (I think the landscapers took too much of the topsoil when I had the front yard terraced.) It also says that it is suited to arid areas, so it will be interesting to see how it fares if this summer is as wet as last year. It is a very straggly shrub with spindly leaves, and masses of these speckled flowers.

Eremophila polyclada

I have taken a number of photos of this pachypodium but none that feature the whole plant show the true colour of the flower - a bright citrus yellow. And yet I don't have the same problem with close ups, which are always true to colour as you can see below. I guess there's a scientific reason for this, but it certainly eludes me.

Rondeletia amoena

Finally, an early morning shot of walking iris blooms before they open for the day.

Neomarica northiana

For more Garden Blogger's Bloom Day posts, please visit Carol at May Dreams Gardens.