Pride of Madeira in my backyard

Pics of my very own Pride of Madeira coming to flower. The violet tones are intensified by being situated between the Myrtle-leaved Milkworts (Polygala myrtifolia). The name Polygala is Latin from the Greek word polugalon for "much milk" because of the belief that cows grazing on milkwort increased their milk production.

Pride of Madeira at Carlton Gardens

Paid a visit to the Melbourne Museum and walked through the Carlton Gardens. The sunny weather has brought about a spectacular display of blues and violets from the mass planting of Pride of Madeira.

The one I have at home only has about five flower spires, but it’s only about a year old, and it backs onto a fence so it’s only getting half the amount of sunlight it requires. After flowering I will need to cut it back by half, to a node and it will shoot. Perhaps make more cuttings for friends with the discarded branches. It’s fast growing, drought, salt and frost tolerant.

Here are more pictures of the parterre garden beds of annuals and shrubs at the Carlton Gardens.

More about Carlton Gardens:

http://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/places/world/royal-exhibition/index.html

Spanish lavender

My recent purchase from Aumanns Nursery http://aumanns.com.au/, a pink flowering Spanish lavender (Lavandula stoechas ) bush. The two tufts at the top of Spanish Lavender flower blooms are actually sterile bracts and they are cute in that they resemble rabbit ears.

Hellebores

I had previously planted an azalea in this dry and shaded area, but unfortunately due to lack of sunlight, died soon after. I wanted a perennial plant with lots of foliage (flowers would be a bonus). I re-discovered Hellebores (commonly known as Winter Roses) while browsing through Bulleen Art and Garden http://www.baag.com.au last winter and bought this double white spotted - red spotting on a white background on a double flower. This is the first time it has flowered.