May Bloom Day

May Bloom Day

Summer is here, mercury topped 48 celcius this month. Nevertheless the summer annuals are in full bloom. Zinnias, Balsam, Portulaca and Sunflower. Perrenials such as Gardenia, Lagustromia Indica etc. are also in action. Considering the adverse conditions, garden is in great shape.

Balsam (front) and Zinnia (back)

Balsam

Zinnia

Portulaca - These shy bloomers are perhaps the most beautiful of all annuals

Sunflowers - Just starting off

Petunias - Still tottering along for the third month running

Gallardia - These are also just starting.. these flowers are leftovers from my seedling nursery

Cosmos

Dwarf Cockscomb

Statice

Amaranthus Tricolor

Phlox- Its been a great year for these guys, lots of flowers in this border.


Perrenials - The most delightful Perrenials are blooming
Almost all trees are in flower, I feature the two best.
Lagustromia Indica - This has to be the grandest Indian tree

Gardenia - The most delightfully fragrant tree that i have smelt.



Bulbs - Two bulb varieties flowered in May

Day Lillies

Zepyranthes

Hydrangea - They are still thriving even though the temprature is above 45 C.


Carnation, Cochia

April Bloom Day

Late again this month,... have a lousy connection here.. Sorry

The highlight of April are the various kinds of Lillies. The amaryllis is the grandest...

Amaryllis






Iris

Oriental Lillies

Zephyranthes

Some of my annuals are still flourishing. Petunia's thrive in heat as long as they are well watered. These guys will give me flowers till the end of June. Definitely one of the integral parts of my garden; added to their visual beauty they also diffuse a lovely scent in the evening.




Gazanias - These are also called treasure flowers. Once the sun is out, they open their ugly heads to reveal a revitalizing profusion of color.

Phlox- Still going strong, die when the hot winds start next month.

Hebaceous Border - Foreground has double stock (the staked pink flowers). Then there is a line of different coloured Petunias, here they are purple and mauve, then two lines of statis (they are still not in full bloom in this photp. Further back is gypsophila (the white flowers) and in the centre are four hollyhocks. Makes a great effect, however statis should be replaced by larkspur or asters, as statis flowers later than stocks.

Geraniums - These are one of my favorites, due to the color of their flowers. These are some truly vivid pinks, reds and whites. Now the problem of growing them here... I got the seed and planted it in October (seeds were good quality from England) they germinate slowly and then grow slowly in the cold so the first flowers they get are in April. However they get weak in the hot weather of May and for some reason or the other they get diseased in July when the monsoon breaks and die. So lets see, my plan is to strike cuttings when the rains start and then hope they take and grow vigorously during the hot weather so that i have mature enough plants to flower all through winter.

Carnations

Dahlias


Some of the Later flowering varieties haven't done too well because of a cold winter. Like the hollyhocks

Larkspur also flowered a bit late, will plant earlier next year.


Sweet Allysium