Bloom Day January 2019 And It's Raining

'Tamora' 
This month's Bloom Day will be rose-heavy.  Summer was a disaster for roses in 2018 due to Chili Thrips.  Thankfully Chili Thrips don't like winter--even the mildness of a Southern California winter--so I'm enjoying what I very much missed back in July, August, and September. 

We're predicted to get off and on rain all week, so most of these photos are from dry Sunday.  
'The Ambridge Rose'

  
 'Wildfire'

 'Bolero'
'Golden Celebration'
'Moondance'--disease on the leaves, because this is January after all, but the flower is pristine.
'Windermere'

'The Endeavour'
 'Sombreuil'
 'The Prince'
 'Barcelona'
 'Bishops Castle'
 Though the roses are having a great January, Aloes are are the usual stars of winter here.  This emerging stem from Aloe petricola is this plant's very first flowering.  Purchased from Arid Lands in 2014 as a tiny (2"/5cm) seedling.  Currently about 16"x16"(40cm). 
 Aloe ferox is struggling a bit because its too-close neighbor is a massive Agave marmorata.  The Agave is now sending up its flower stem and within a year, or probably two, the Aloe will have root space again.
 Not including the flower, Aloe ferox is six feet tall, but it is dwarfed by the Agave, which is three times as wide as the Aloe.  

Aloe rubroviolacea flower visible at lower right:
  Aloe rubroviolacea is named for the violet tones the foliage can take on under stress.  The flowers are a creamy tangerine.
Just emerging Aloe marlothii's candelabra behind Aloe ferox.
 Elegant Aloe vanbalenii against a pretty background of Agave, Yucca, and Kumara 
 Recently planted Erica speciosa continues to bloom heavily.  Either it is thriving due to the conditions the grower gave it, but hasn't yet noticed it is not at the grower's anymore, or it likes the place I gave it. 
 Aloe cameronii with orange flowers and dark red winter foliage, and golden flowered Aloe aff. megalacantha to cameronii's right.  We've gotten decent rain so far this rainy season, already more than we got all of last rainy season, so the front slope is looking healthy. 
Aloe cameronii flowers create a charming scene, resembling a miniature forest of orange conifers
There are many other plants in flower--Geranium 'Rozanne',  Gazanias,  Bougainvillea, Salvias, Iochroma, Gerberas, and so forth--the usual stuff.  I'm distracted by the remodel this month.  The bathroom remodel continues, but we're fearing a rain delay, because the tile guys have been cutting their tiles outdoors, which they can't do when it rains.  We're trying to work out a safe, covered location for them...

Happy Bloom Day!

Comments

  1. I love apricot roses especially if they are scented. I have 'Tamora' but the leaves aren't even out yet. I just bought 'Brandy' and 'Abbaye de Cluny'.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 'Brandy' has a color like no other. The fragrance of 'Tamora' is a favorite of mine--sharp and strong, atypical.

      Happy rainy day!

      Delete
  2. Happy Bloom Day to you too! So many beautiful roses. Hooray for rain.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Incredible what a scourge the chili thrips have become. The setting for A. vanbalenii's blooms is perfect!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Terrible scourge--one hopes predators will develop a (large) appetite for them.

      Vanbalenii got the best background ever. Makes it easy to take a picture.

      Delete
  4. Roses and aloes aren't a pairing most people would think of but it works. Each and every one of your roses is perfect. I had no chili trips but my roses were poor performers this summer and they haven't done much of anything as the weather cooled - I'm hoping they'll respond positively to pruning and all this rain we're getting. Few of my aloes have ever bloomed but your photo of the progress of your 2014 aloe seedling gives me hope that'll change - eventually. Happy GBBD!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Once upon a time it was Camellias and Aloes. Poor Camellias get destroyed by the Santa Ana winds here. I was a little taken aback by how long I've had petracola. Should have bought a bigger one for $2 more!

      Happy GBBD--and rain day--Kris.

      Delete
  5. Gorgeous roses! I regret not having bought Tamora last winter, it's just stunning! Chili Thrips had seriously attacked my roses in late spring but then summer got very rainy and they are gone, they dislike rain.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 'Tamora' is very very prickly, but a vigorous grower and bloomer. I like it a lot.

      Chili Thrips don't like rain? Good to know--thanks!

      Delete
  6. Oh those Aloes, such a treat for my eyes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. For mine, too. And for the hummers, bees, warblers, orioles...Happy GBBD!

      Delete
  7. Your roses are gorgeous. That first rose has so many thorns. It is amazing that anything would bother it. Your collection of aloes is amazing to me. I didn't know that there were so many kinds. The difference in the blooms is nice too. Happy GBBD.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 'Tamora' has nasty thorns. I certainly don't bother it!

      There are about 250 species of Aloes and many cultivars and hybrids!

      Happy GBBD, Lisa!

      Delete

Post a Comment

Always interested in your thoughts.

Any comments containing a link to a commercial site with the intent to promote that site will be deleted. Thank you for your understanding on this matter.