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January 2008 is proving to be a mild month with just enough rainfall to forestall the need to water. The good weather has meant that I have been out weeding and pruning almost everyday. This has not only resulted in a tidy garden, but has left me with a huge pile ready for the chipper/shredder.

Here are a few photos of plants that are in bloom at the present time:

This Nandina domestica has been growing for about 5 years and is now in all its glory.  Also known as Heavenly bamboo, it is actually a member of the berberis family. It sports tinted foliage and the panicles of small white summer flowers produce red berries in late fall and winter.

The Iris Cretica is native to many parts of Greece, grows in clumps which should be divided every two years..  It has narrow elongated leaves and the blue/violet flowers are produced steadily all winter long.  In the garden it is used to line the pathsways.

 Salvia leucantha also known as the Mexican Bush Sage grows to about 4 feet/ It blooms nearly all year round in my garden and is cut back once a year to keep it from getting leggy.  Needs good drainage and full sun.

Another drought tolerant plant which flowers during the fall and winter is Eriocephalus africanus.  It has rosemary-like gray foliage and grows into a 3'x3' mound .  Also known as the Kapok Bush, it remains neat looking all year long.