Winter growing bulbs signal the approach of fall

With the cooling weather and some recent rains (after about a 6 month dry spell), our winter growing bulbs are surging to life. Arums, Chasmanthe, Tritonia, Dracunculus, Freesias, Drimia (Urginea), Muscari, Sparaxis, Amaryllis, Gladiolus, Zantedeschia, and others are reminding us of their presence by anxiously sending up new shoots. Sometimes we have clearly forgotten about them and are now clearing beds or moving previously dormant pots into more sunshine.


Mia, our tortoiseshell cat, recently decided that a small ledge created by a planting bed containing some of these dormant bulbs was the best possible place to appreciate the last few rays of the setting sun. You can see that she is not the least bit bothered by the new Freesia shoots rapidly trying to reclaim their place in this corner of the garden!