Sunday, August 15, 2010

GBBD August 2010




Today is Ferr'agosto, the Italian feast of the Assumption but in fact a very ancient festival dating back to Roman times. All of Itali is on holiday today.
This August has been very different from past years: after an impossibly hot dry July with temperatures reaching near to 40C, we were plunged into gloom and yesterday it was only 18C and torrential rain and thunderstorms. Only by unplugging and disconnecting every electrical connection in the house did we manage to avoid the total meltdown caused by the massive storm a week ago.
So those few stalwart plants that might have been in bloom are struggling to pick themselves off the ground, although with any luck we will see a fresh flush of blooms in coming days. Right now the brave pink Salvia microphylla is holding its head up but with only a few blooms remaining whilst the luminous creamy Oleander which has flowered longer than usual has been bashed about. The only rose properly in flower is Blush Noisette but the intensely blue Perovskia soldiers on undaunted. I have found that Tulbaghia combines well with the ornamental grasses and also lends a welcome splash of violet in this difficult month. Finally, a new discovery (which I can't remember the name of but probably comes from Australia?) has put on a spurt of orange flowers and is cheering up my desolate gravel garden.
Buon Ferr'Agosto a tutti!
Y

5 comments:

Carol said...

Lovely light and airy blooms Yvonne! Greetings from New England where we could use some of your rain... without the lightning please. ;>) I always unplug too! In fact I go to the box and turn the circuits off.

Viooltje said...

I wouldn't agree with you claiming to be unsuccesful gardener, I very much like your lovely blooms from central Italy. And by the way, Happy Ferragosto, also in Croatia we celebrate it as well, together with our italian guests on the Adriatic coast ;-)

Anonymous said...

Hello from Niagara Falls,USA. Your photos were lovely and the rain did not do to much damage to the flowers that you pictured. I love your water lily photos on the more recent post.

my hesperidesgarden.wordpress.com said...

How amazing, we are really only a few miles apart but we haven't had a drop of rain, even though thunder has been rumbling close by and I, too, unplug everything. Your garden blooms look lovely, and you'll have many more blooms with all the rain. Christina
Here's the link to my bloomday blog:
www.myhesperidesgarden.wordpress.com

Shannon Fricke said...

I would love a few of those gorgeous flowers at my farm!