Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON
Yes, it’s winter here in Melbourne, Yes, there have been mornings when I’ve had thick ice on my car. Yes, there have been heavy frosts. Yes, my rose bushes needed to be pruned.
But despite the visible signs of winter everywhere, there are still pockets of colour all round the city. We have terracotta planting boxes of all shapes and sizes that are blooming in a very healthy fashion. How so, you might ask? Because they are cunningly placed under a verandah, so they are shielded from the frost.
And we’re not the only ones who enjoy a splash of colour – these pansies were a riot of colour a few days ago on the Crown promenade beside the river. Victoria used to be known as The Garden State a couple of decades ago – for good reason.
Visit Luiz Santilli Jr for the home of Today's Flowers.
I know pansies do better in cooler weather, but I never thought about winter. I think I may try it next winter in front of a wall that gets very warm sun all winter--my roses there never go completely dormant.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures. There's no way I could get a pansy to grow here right now!
We have pansies here all winter long and usually they last way into spring. Yours are just beautiful David and so healthy, so I'm sure they thank you for placing them so strategically.
ReplyDeleteI love pansies. Great display.
ReplyDeleteThey must be winter flowering pansies. I usually rely on those for colour during our winter.
Great chunks of ice come off our roof in the winter and squash our poor little pansies. Lucky you to still have some around!
ReplyDeleteI love pansies because they do hang in there. I live in the Pacific Northwest and my pansies never die. They leave briefly but are the first peeps of spring and the last fall hurrah.
ReplyDeleteThat's some heavy yellow, man.
ReplyDeletePansies are sweet little flowers. So happy. Your winter pansies in Victoria look better than mine right now - summer in the northeastern U.S.A. Around here they become somewhat leggy by now and then we've had so much rain...but in springtime they were looking very good in four of my large planters.
ReplyDeleteMy post depicts Foxglove.
So how cold is winter down under?
ReplyDeleteVictoria looks good in yellow.
ReplyDeletePanies are the perfect winter flower, that is such a beautiful yellow.
ReplyDeleteI also am curious, how cold is your winter?
SQ
I do love pansies. Alas, our 100 degree days have pretty well wiped all of ours out, but I am harvesting veggies from my garden! Long time no visit, hope things are well with you!
ReplyDeletetm
Lovely colour. Our flowers are way behind this year do to our cold summer probably almost as cold as your winter. We have had to fire up the wood stove.
ReplyDeleteThese are beautiful, David! Gorgeous and cheerful. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteHey, have you been over to Smitten Image? She has a wonderful post that I nominate for POTD!
http://thesmittenimage.blogspot.com/2009/06/along-way.html
Lovely photos. We were walking along the Thames Embankment today and most of the flowers seem to have wilted from heat and lack of water. It's a shame, as they would have looked great.
ReplyDeleteHere New Jersey is known as the Garden State and with good reason as it has a rich horticultural and agricultural history. It also has an industrial legacy.
ReplyDelete:lol: I think we have two different opinions as to what winter is. Yours looks good.
Yes, pansies do like cool weather. These are great.
ReplyDeletePansies look really beautiful and I am sure they sing well too!
ReplyDeleteAh, a lovely splash of color for a winter's day! Thanks David.
ReplyDeletepansies withold the cold even the snow I love their happy faces sandy
ReplyDeleteHere in the high desert we certainly don't have showy flowers like that in wintertime, not even on covered portals. We have snowy flowers.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous colors--the yellow against the purple.
Beautiful shots of the pansies. The colors are so vivid. I'm wishing it was a little cooler here. My air conditioner has been running all day.
ReplyDelete:-(
Pretty pansies.
ReplyDeleteI love pansies for just that reason. Here in SC they flourish up by the house in planters all winter!
ReplyDeleteSweet little Peter Pansies. What would early spring and late fall be without their happy faces?
ReplyDeleteThick ice on your car? I want to see a picture of that!
(Say, just wondering if my nominations are getting through? Haven't seen any on-my-ways of late?)
Be well!
That's such a rich shade.. lovely
ReplyDeleteClassy colours. Gold and royal blue. A combination fit for a king!
ReplyDeleteI suspect Australia's "Garden State" is far more deserving of the title than America's (New Jersey). Pansies, I had occasion to learn last winter, are tough little beggars in just about any weather. I have photos of them struggling up through the snow in a planter by the front door of my office. Which, I hasten to add, is not shielded from the frost.
ReplyDeleteWonderful yellow flowers!
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting for TODAY'S FLOWERS.
Luiz