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   February had been cold and rainy and seems to have slowed down the onslaught of spring.  The daffodils, hyacinths, and iris which are usually well over their peak are only now coming into their own.  

 Tulips should begin blooming by the middle of this month. Purple tulips, growing in full sun,  reaching a height of  30cm can be seen growing against the wall.  At their feet grows a mat forming pinkish-purple verbena.

  Benefiting from  lots of sunshine are the Cape tulips (Homeria.collina) which are also late to bloom this month.  They best show off their orange flowers when grown in clumps. Reaching a height of 40-60 cm, they will bloom in succession for weeks to come.  

 Growing  in semi shade, Irises and Clivias come into their own. 

 Iris.japonica  reaching a height of 50 cm has graceful white flowers touched with orange and fan-shaped evergreen leaves. Allowed to multiply, they will form a dependable shade ground cover. 

Clivia.miniata  with its sword-like leaves and brilliant orange blooms  enliven  the area beneath the orange trees. It took this clump 3 to 4 years to reach the flowering stage.

Besides bulbs, many shrubs are in bloom. 

Polygala.myrtifolia  with its purple pea-like flowers  has been continuously in bloom since the Autumn.  

The Brooms belonging to the Cytisus family and also sporting pea-like flowers are coming into flower.  This dwarf form with yellow blossoms is looking its best.

Photinia fraseri is a highly ornamental, fast-growing, vigorous shrub.  Juvenile foliage is red which turns to dark green as it matures. .  In the early spring it is covered with white flowers. 

Two other shrubs which have begun to flower this month and are  grown in a corner of the garden that receives no additional watering all summer long are: are Anisodontea capensis and Cistus x purpureus. Anisodontea capensis reaches a height and a spread of one meter. It has pink mini-Hibiscus like flowers and can be left to grow as it wants or trimmed to a low evergreen hedge.  Cistus x purpureus, the evergreen rock-rose, forms a tall rounded shrub reaching a height and spread of 1.5 meters. It sports pink flowers with yellow centers.

Many of the ground covers are showing off their flowers during March:

•  V.odorata or Sweet Violet has evergreen leaves .  It reaches a height of 15-20 cm and spreads indefinitely by stolons. Dappled shade is its preferred habitat. 

• Geranium macrorrhizum also known as Bigroot geranium does well in both full sun and partial shade. Dark green leaves beautifully offset its brilliant magenta flowers. It reaches a height of 30-40 cm and a spread of 60 cm.

• Vinca.minor  grows anywhere.  There is a green leaf and a variegated leaf type.  Both types have similar five parted  violet flowers. It reaches 10-30 cm in height and spreads indefinitely.  

• The African daisies either belonging to the Dimorphotheca or Osteospermum families are fast growing perennial ground covers with a height of 20-30 cm and a spread of 40-50 cm. There are different varieties, some with white petals and dark blue centers, others pink with dark centers, and still others with magenta and dark centers.  I have just acquired a yellow variety and am anxious to see how well it prospers in the garden. These flowers are in bloom throughout most of the year.  

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