Skywatch Friday: Swimming Season

My kids tried out the pool for the first time this year. Very cold was the conclusion and so it was on to the trampoline to warm up. Beautiful clear skies and warm weather during the first month of spring.

Skywatch Friday: First Day of Sailing

Last Sunday was the first day of sailing for the year. Blustery, but very beautiful.

Skywatch Friday: First Leaves of Spring for One Tree

More skies at the Skywatch Friday Site.

Skywatch Friday: Large Gum Tree in our Neighbourhood

We have had one of the wettest Augusts for a long time here in South Australia. Some miserable and cool days. Now that it is spring we can expect warmer weather.

More nice skies at Skywatch Friday

Cherry Blossom and a Bee

Pelargonium Blooms a sign of Spring in Adelaide

Pelargoniums in our Garden Early Morning after the Rain.

One of the early markers of Spring in Adelaide is the sudden arrival of Pelargonium blooms. They are everywhere, gardens, parks and roadsides in a variety of colours and forms. We have them in our garden.

Pelargoniums are cousins of the Geranium and are very robust, particularly given our hot and dry climate. All or ours were grown from branches that I snapped off established plants. We have a wide variety, but I like the lilac and pink ones. They even have some scented varieties, which you just have to walk past to smell.

Some background from Wikipedia.

The first species of Pelargonium known to be cultivated was Pelargonium triste, a native of South Africa. It was probably brought to the botanical garden in Leiden before 1600 on ships which stopped at the Cape of Good Hope. In 1631, the English gardener John Tradescant the elder bought seeds from Rene Morin in Paris and introduced the plant to England. The name Pelargonium was introduced by Johannes Burman in 1738, from Greek πελαργός pelargos = "stork", because part of the flower looked like a stork's beak.

Other than grown for their beauty, species of Pelargonium such as P. graveolens are important in the perfume industry and are cultivated and distilled for its scent. Although scented Pelargonium exist which have smells of citrus, mint, or various fruits, the varieties with rose scents are most commercially important. Pelargonium distillates and absolutes, commonly known as "scented geranium oil" are sometimes used to supplement or adulterate expensive rose oils.

That said, they are lovely for the short time that they flower.

Cross Posted at Sicily Scene

Spring in Adelaide -An Ice Cream at Largs Jetty

 

More Wordless Wednesday Here

Spring Flowers in Adelaide

This succulent gets very fine star like flowers in the spring if it has enough sun.

One of the highlights of spring is the Jasmine, which has similar flowers and a great aroma. This one I planted a couple of years ago from a small pot and it has spread along the fence.

Spring in Adelaide

I am always surprised how quickly spring turns up in Adelaide. From my Scottish experience, spring definitely turns up around the beginning of summer. Here it is always just after the middle of winter. There have been blossoms blooming for a couple of weeks, the geraniums are in full bloom and the Calla Lily's are just coming out.

Not that winter is so bad in Adelaide, it is just that warmer weather is going to be around more often now.