Yes, Still At It

Yes, still cutting back roses.  

Moved 'Yves Piaget' to this spot, finally.  Didn't get a chance to get it done last year--it might have been too rainy.
Lovely change of color as Aloe aculeata flowers open.

Aloe marlothii about to start opening, too. 
Behind A. marlothii, Grevillea 'Moonlight', of course
That one inch of rain we got a couple of weeks ago brought flowers out of Geranium 'Tiny Monster'.  Looks like the rest of January will be dry.  We're expecting hot dry winds for the next few days and there is a Red Flag (fire) warning in effect. 
With the roses above it cut back, Aloe ellenbeckii has a chance to get direct sun for a few weeks.  I was looking at a South African Aloe experts website, on which he said A. ellenbeckii's greatest virtue is that it is very hard to kill.   Yep. 
It's a very dry winter, so the garden seems dormant--even the winter growers--those blooming included--are waiting, on hold, expectant. The gardener feels the same. 

Comments

  1. Cutting roses, I am eager to start but it's still too early here, there might yet come severe frost, so I have to wait another few weeks......
    Wonderful Grevillea you have and I also like that big Aloe marlothii.

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    1. No use pruning until the severe frosts are done for the winter. In the meantime you can relax! :)

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  2. I can't imagine pruning all those roses! We're close to 82F here right now and it's bone dry. Even the flowers I cut early this morning were drooping despite my immediately plunking them into water. Last week, AccuWeather took most of the rain previously in the February forecast out; yesterday a good deal of it was back; and today it's still there but the expected levels have dropped. Weather forecasters are sadists.

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    1. I don't mind all the pruning (too much). It's a garden reboot every year. I like the renewal aspect of it.

      90F predicted for today. Can't even think about the weather--don't want to start crying.

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    2. watching the forecasts day by day. Today was supposed to be some heavy rain, then 4 mm, eventually we got one.

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    3. Diana your Capetown's water crisis is in the news here--a situation far worse than here at the moment--my heartfelt sympathies.

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  3. but your garden is well-dressed while it waits

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    1. It's nice to look at the bright side! Thanks!

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  4. I conquered Sally Holmes and Eden today, Both are shells of their former selves, having been way overdue for a reno-prune. Next weekend will be 4 days , and Sombreiul is on the agenda . Aloe m. is quite splendid !

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    1. Four day weekend might be almost enough for a 'Sombreuil'. You get any rain?

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  5. I know what you mean. I looked at the 2-week forecast as well and it looks depressingly dry. The last thing I want is to turn on the irrigation this early in the year.

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    1. Got to shut it off here for two weeks. Back on. :(

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  6. Those aloe blooms look so pretty. The other plant with the white blooms is so unusual. I have never seen that bloom before. Lovely.

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    1. Australian plant. Nectar-rich, the bees and nectar-feeding birds love them.

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