Tuesday, February 24, 2015

G IS FOR.....GROWTH

It's that time of year.  Our plants and trees are in the growing mood.  We do already have flowers which for our climate is not unusual.  Some flowers are blooming almost all winter.  But we look forward to the new growth on trees and shrubs as true signs of spring.

There are buds beginning to open on our myrtle tree.  We have two of them and they are quite young. They are not planted in the best place in the yard.  They don't get much sun and the soil in that small area is not good.  In addition, because we have had so little rain in the two years in which we have lived here, it has been a struggle to keep them alive.  But here they are budding to leaf already this year.


The liquid amber tree that the association planted in the fall, on the bank of the creek at the bottom of our small stretch of yard, is doing really well.  Big fat buds beginning to break out into leaf.


This weird looking thing is actually my plumeria which has some green growth at the end of the stumps with tiny little shoots on the tips.  It will not actually bloom until late summer, but large green leaves will hopefully appear before then.  Early spring ice plant flowers in the background.


When we moved here two  years ago, we brought with us several cuttings from our Jade plant.  Jades are plentiful around here so they weren't a priority for us.  We stuck them in a bucket with some water and there they stayed for almost a year.  Finally we got around to planting them at the edge of our property on the bank of the creek.  We planted three small clippings hoping they would develop into three small bushes making a kind of hedge.  Then if we liked that effect we might plant more and develop a low hedge defining our property from the bank of the creek. Well they have tripled in size and this little one even has the tiny pale pink flowers.  Jade plants flower in the winter and are very easy to grow and to propagate, but I wanted at least one plant from our old house, just for memory's sake.

This is my entry to ABC Wednesday, the project set up by Mrs. Nesbitt and continued by Roger Owen Green.  We are now in our 15th round.  Click HERE to see what other members of this fine group have chosen to represent the letter G.


15 comments:

Gill - That British Woman said...

lovely to see things alive and growing. Everything is still covered in snow here in Southern Ontario.

Anonymous said...

You have so many nice plants. I grew up in Southern California and understand things growing all year long. Love the Spring Ice Plant!

Photo Cache said...

Out here in NorCal, the flowering trees have bloomed, or are blooming. We didn't have any winter.

My ABC WEDNESDAY

Hildred said...

Isn't it wonderful to see those soft green stubs venturing forth!

claude said...

Beautiful ! Yesterday I shot the first spring flowers.
Flowers are godd for our spirit.

snafu said...

Nice to see your spring arriving. Ours is still a bit further off, with only snowdrops so far. Since my last post nothing new has happened except snow falls. No deep snow, just showers but the continuing cold had held back spring a bit longer.

Gattina said...

You are lucky first spring signs !

Gattina
ABC Team

http://gattina-keyholepictures.blogspot.com/

Roger Owen Green said...

I've seldom been so ready for spring!

ROG, ABCW

Unknown said...

Wonderful pictures !!

I've read your 'profile.. makes me wonder why you have a blog with extension nl ...
i first thougt that you might be a Dutch person...

Black Jack's Carol said...

Your post is full of colour and new life, Chris! Just beautiful. I've been putting a few thoughts together in response to your message, but in the mean time, I'm so happy to see that you were out and about with your camera, capturing the beauty around you. Sending Haley and Jasmine my very best.

Reader Wil said...

Thanks for this happy and cheerful post. I hope that you will have a great and happy week and that your relatives in hospital will soon be better.
Wil, ABCW

Trubes said...

Hi Chris, greetings from a wet and windy Liverpool UK,
I love your pictures of the various buds sprouting forth.
The stout little shrub in the tub looks interesting, I bet it'll be a lovely plant when it blooms.
best wishes,
Di. ABCW team.

Louisette said...

Everybody waiting spring ,and flowers back to see ;wonderfull fotos,have a nice end week,Greeting from Belgium in Mons

http://louisette.eklablog.com/

Ann said...

Weather People are predicting snow for this weekend, so we have awhile to wait.
Ann

Obsessivemom said...

Watching plants grow is like a little miracle isn't it? I love those Jade plants. I don't think I've seen them before.