It seems that my garden has stalled a bit. It was showing amazing recovery from the cold, non-tropical winter and was progressing remarkably fast due to the unseasonably early rains and modest temperatures (75-80 F). However, the last 3 weeks has been hot (90 F) and dry, thus stalling my progress. However, there are still some nice blooms to report on...
The cannas are in full bloom throughout my property.
C. Wyoming with its dark purple leaves
C. Tropicanna Gold
Dwarf Peach Canna
The hibiscus are also blooming up a storm!
Presidential Hibiscus
I don't know the name of this one but it sent out it's first bloom of the year this week...it's bright red with yellow streaks...beautiful!
The bougainvillea is spectacular!
Here's a closer look...
And really close...
The new Alamandas are growing fast...I'm in need of a trellis or arbor!
The Dwarf Powder Puff bush seems pretty happy right now.
And the Caladiums are popping up everywhere
I'd forgotten about this Caladium nestled among the Rhododendron and Oxalis in my shade garden.
This Caladium is snuggled underneath the Star Jasmine bush, giving some light to an otherwise dark space.
My mango and citrus fruit are in the process of growing and ripening (I'm hoping for a huge harvest this fall!) while my fig bush is producing it's first fig of the season. This fruit is much larger than those produced last year!
The Snapdragon is still in full bloom.
Although my Star Jasmine is blooming, I didn't take a photo of it because it's in great need of a trim. But before I'm labeled a "slacker", note that there's good reason for it's unkempt appearance...
This is at 3 days old. Notice the one on the end has it's eyes open!
Mom and Dad get mad when I get this close!
Mama - with food, of course!
Daddy Mockingbird is doing a song and dance before he dive-bombs me!
Or perhaps he already spotted the danger lurking only a few feet away...
Although Corn Snakes (also known as Rat Snakes) are non venomous, tend to be docile and unwilling to bite readily, we decided he didn't need to be in our back yard near our precious young brood. He was relocated to the vacant lot across the street where he can find a morsel without fighting with a broom stick.
Back to the flowers...there's two plants that are oh-so-close to displaying some gorgeous blooms, but close only counts in horse shoes and handgranades!
Back to the flowers...there's two plants that are oh-so-close to displaying some gorgeous blooms, but close only counts in horse shoes and handgranades!
This Fire Bush was all but lost last winter, but my friend Florida Girl at Peace in the Valley (a Florida native) told me not to worry and not to cut it back...she said it would come back in force after the cold...and it has!
Soon, these buds will be open and the shrub will earn its name!!
This is only one of six frangipani / plumeria I have throughout my garden. Judging by those already blooming a little further south, I'm guessing this bloom will be white with yellow centers...these seem to be the first bloomers in this region (vs. the yellow, pink or red varieties).
The buds are pretty little spirals right now.
I'm counting on full frangipani blooms next month! I guess we'll see! Until then...be sure to check out what's growing in everyone else's garden at May Dreams Gardens where garden bloggers post garden happenings on the 15th of each month.
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Happy GBBD Everyone!
15 comments:
Kimberly: You have lots of beautiful flowers blooming in your garden. Love the canna lilies and powder puff. Very pretty! I bought one canna lily, with green stripped leaves, but seems quite tall. Can not wait to see it flowers for me! Those baby birds are so cute, glad that yor relocated the snake away the babies.
Agree that we so need some rains!
Hmmm... That doesn't seem like a stalled garden at all to me. Hibiscus, canna, and a huge bougie in bloom! What more could you ask in a tropical garden? Love those mockingbird babies. What a great photo! Good luck relocating your snakes. Back in the old days, I used to try taking my snakes into a nearby grove, but I swear the same snake would be back the next day. So I just gave up and decided to live with them. That is a beautiful snake! I bet you're excited to see those plumeria blooms. Mine have leafed out nicely, but no buds yet. I'm just thankful they survived the cold.
I love seeing what's blooming in everyone's garden. You have lots of orange hues - my favorite. Just love that canna! And so fun to have a bird nest! My robins just hatched. I love mocking birds. Really interesting plants and beautiful flowers.
Kimberly considering your heat and dry conditions you have a wonderful tropical garden - oh I just love the name dwarf powder puff - how cute! and I see my favourite little oxalis houseplant growing in there too. Have a lovely weekend. :) Rosie
Your Canna are really spectacular! I like the Mockingbird pictures also. They are great additions to a Florida garden. The two Mockingbirds that hang out around here have declaired the Squirrel that aTe my Orchid buds as there new enemy. They both now chase the Squirrel down the powerline now in full attack mode whenever he comes around. Great fun to watch!
You have a lot of gorgeous flowers in your hot weather. I just love seeing you hibiscus blooms. And girl that bougainvillea is just a beauty. Eck, on the snake though LOL! Those baby birds are all mouth. When they are wide open they disappear LOL!
Have a great weekend Kimberly.
Wow you have so much to see at your house. Not only amazing flowers but wildlife everywhere. It will be noisy there soon when all of the birds start mocking.
Lovely blooms and colorful leaves. The little mockingbirds are adorable. The corn snake is quite handsome too, but glad he found a better place to hang out for a while.
I love seeing your garden. It always seems to be several weeks to a month ahead of mine, which means I can see canna blooms soon. Love the baby birds. I know we have had a mockingbird nest and a cardinal nest recently because I see the parents with the babies learning to fly. I never have found the nests though. Great photo!
You have some wonderful blooms to share Kimberly. That Presidential hibiscus is stunning. I'm glad you were able to relocate the snake safely and keep the nestlings safe. I would have freaked!
I love all the canas. A lovely garden, thanks for sharing whats' blooming for GBBD. Take care:)
Wow, Kimberly, your garden has really sprung back after this winter. The firebush already has blooms! Just reminds me how much further south you are than us. I'm quite familiar with the red and grey rat snakes around here. They always startle me but then I let them be. I'm glad you were able to get that one away from the babies... surely those cuties would have made him a happy meal.
Are you sure your bougainvillea ever had freeze damage? It is beautiful. Meems
aloha,
wow, your plumerias are almost there...yeah..what a scary looking snake, thank god we have no snakes in hawaii :) i love the series of cannas you have on display.
kimberly, check out my sari blog, i did a dish with plumerias as decoration on the dish - its the ones with ravioli.
I can't imagine it being 90 already. It hardly gets that hot here at all during the summer. I love seeing all your exotic looking flowers!
I bet mother bird is happy the snake has been relocated too!
I love your bougainvillea. I want one for my garden many years
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