Blooms January 2023

Aloe 'Moonglow' 

January flowers.  Very few roses are flowering now.

'Firefighter':

'Pink Gruß an Aachen', dug up and potted, adjusting to the change.

'Queen of Elegance':

'The Ambridge Rose':

'Molineux':

The flowers largely sustaining bees and hummingbirds this month are those of nectar-rich Metrosideros 'Springfire':

Though the locally native Ceanothus macrocarpa's first flowers probably won't be of interest to bees until the plant matures a little more...

...there are signs the plant may put on an impressive show one day.  A one gallon size planted in August of 2021, these are its first flowers:

The three young Arctostaphylos 'Austin Griffiths' are also nectar dispensers:

As are Grevilleas.  Including...

...'Spirit of ANZAC':

'Scarlet Sprite':

G. nudiflora 'Medusa':

'Robyn Gordon':

 'Peaches and Cream':

 'Moonlight' is getting tall again:

Cupheas are a reliable fall-back for the younger and more timid hummingbirds unwilling to provoke dominant males guarding nectar-rich Grevilleas. 

With all the recent rain, the odd Fuchsia feeds the hummers, too:

Gerberas mostly just feed this gardener's eyes:

Gasteraloe 'Green Ice':

Aeonium arborescens:

Helleborus argutifolius:

Protea 'Sylvia', past prime, and this flower appeared long past the main bloom period of early autumn:

A moment taken to admire blooming Agave 'Joe Hoak' and Leucadendron 'Reverse Polarity':

Leucadendron 'Harlequin' decided to go blonde for the winter:

'Wilson's Wonder' is most especially winter magic, lighting up a grey day.  Note the flower stems in Aloe 'Hercules', and the echo of 'Wilson's yellow in the centers of low growing Aeonium 'Kiwi':

The Aeonium will gain pink tones when the sun returns.  (No rush!)

And Aloes.  They are slowed this year by our multiple rainstorms and many cloudy days over the past two or three weeks.  Many showing color  have remained closed, waiting for sunshine and pollinators to return.

Homemade hybrid of A. capitata:

Aloe vanbalenii opening, mingling with Agave 'Mr. Ripple':

Aloe vanbalenii:

Aloe ferox and Aloe 'Moonglow' on the front slope:

Senecio vitalis lives next to 'Mr. Ripple'.  Its small flowers not charming to the gardener, are beloved by bees, moths and tiny butterflies:

Aloe taurii will finally flower for the very first time:

White flowered version of Aloe ferox is looking better.  The Opuntia was fighting with it for space.  I removed part of the Opuntia.

In the back garden, the candelabra form of Aloe ferox:

Aloe hardyi nearly perished on the front slope when it was out-competed by both Aloe cameronii and Agave marmorata.  I pulled what was left of hardyi and replanted it in the back where it has recovered.  A piece of A. cameronii removed to save the hardyi is flowering in the backgrond:

To end the post, majestic A. thraskii:

More Aloes to come through Spring, but this is a good sampling for January.  

And rain!!!!!!!  Wheeeee!!!!!!!

 Update:

 

Happy Bloom Day!   Hosted by Carol J. Michel.