Early Birthday Pitcher Picture

Pitcher Picture...reminds me of Mr. Rogers Picture Picture from my childhood!  For anyone who may not be familiar with Mr. Rogers, Fred Rogers hosted a children's program on PBS.  One of his segments included video clips of various factory processes, helping children understand how things are made through a process with a beginning, middle and end.  (Gee...could you guess that I have a teaching degree in early childhood and elementary education?!) 

Courtesy PBS.org

Here's my Pitcher Picture...

This Pitcher Plant, or Nepenthes,

has been on my wish list. 

I can now scratch it off

since this beauty is an early birthday present! 

Woo Hoo!!!

HAPPY DANCE!!!!

courtesy of wikipedia.com

I'm intrigued with this interesting plant.

It's shape and color are truly unique.

This specific genus, Nepenthes, has 120 species

with additional numerous hybrids and cultivars.

Mine is known as an old world variety,

where the pitchers grow from the ends of the tendrils

that extend from the leaves.

In this photo, a young pitcher is forming from the tentril.

The "lid" hasn't formed yet

and the pitcher is still small and green.

The foliage is nothing to write home about.

The pitchers are the show stoppers.

This photo shows the back of the "neck" of the pitcher and its lid. 

The "lips" or top of the pitcher opening has an interestingly ribbed texture.

The plant grows in moist areas and does not like to be dry.

The pitchers contain a bit of liquid or water at the base, as pitchers do.

Insects are attracted into the pitcher by pigmentation or smell.

The sides of the cavity are slippery ensuring the bugs cannot climb out. 

Once inside, they are trapped at the bottom to drown.

The body of the insect is gradually dissolved and absorbed by the plant.

Here's a glimpse into the belly of one of the pitchers

where some bugs have met their demise.

Yes, the lovely pitcher plant is a carnivore.

Courtesy istock

I noticed a little bug crawling up the tendril of a pitcher.

I wonder if it knows my plant's secret?!

For me, this is the perfect addition to my poolside patio!

Organic bug control!!

And pretty at the same time!

I'm participating in Noel's monthly

Hot! Loud! and Proud! meme

(on the last day of each month). 

I think my early birthday gift is extremely HOT!

and I am very PROUD! of my new addition!!

Join in the fun or

just check out the other Hot Loud and Proud entries

at Noels blog A Plant Fanatic in Hawaii!

Flaunting My Favorites This Month!

I'm cheating a bit...

killing two birds with one stone, if you will. 

However, birds are my favorite animal and

Lola would not appreciate this term,

so I'll stick with "cheating".

I am participating in Tootsie's Fertilizer Friday / Flaunt Your Flowers

as well as Susan's My Favorites THIS Month. 

So what's going on in the Garden in Paradise?!

First up is my beloved Dendrobium, my first orchid, given to me as a birthday gift several years ago.  As always, it is showering me with gorgeous blooms in time for my upcoming birthday!  I look forward to these blooms, usually twice a year.  She's sending out 4 spikes, so she's especially happy this year.  I think that's a sign of good luck for me!!

I'm also thrilled that my Lady Margaret Passion Vine not only recovered from the Gulf Fritillary caterpillar plunder, but is blooming again!!

And I have loads of Gulf Fritillary butterflies to boot!

The butterflies love the pretty white blooms of the Spinach Tree,

but I've already posted about this so I won't go on and on.

My new Dutchman's Pipe Vine bloomed

and has new little buds forming!

Additionally, my friend Cindy gave me some Gold Rim Swallowtail caterpillars to munch on my new vine.  I hope I have as good of luck as she did (my Butterflies and Pipes post).

The pretty Balloon Flower has many balloon buds and blooms on it.

I usually have loads of purple Angelonia, but this time I also have pink.  Sweet!

This little tubular bromelaid is especially interesting to me.  I love it's form.

The pretty purple berries of the American Beauty Berry is still a favorite this month.

As are the cheerful pom pons of the Gomphrena. 

Here's another brom in full red color.  Beautiful!

The Duck Potato bloomed again.

I love this bloom...it appears so delicate and crepe-like.

I was also surprised by this new volunteer pink-form Lantana. 

I didn't have this variety, so the birds must've decided I needed some.  How nice!  Thank you!!

I'm really enjoying my new Bird's Nest Fern, too!

Thanks so much for stopping by to see my current favorites! 

Happy Gardening!!! 

My Wish List

Every gardener has a wish list...those coveted blooms that we "must" have!

It may not be a formal list...maybe just something kept quietly in mind. 

Regardless of the method of record, every gardener

has some sort of a wish list.

Here's a few items on my wish list...

Pitcher Plant (Nepenthes)

Courtesy of Wikipedia.com

This is numero uno on my list...must have!!!

Pitcher plants are carnivorous.

They actually have a "lid" on top of their "pitcher"

 to trap curious or thirsty insects inside the pitcher.

I just like the way they look.

Musseanda

This plant has great interest to me...

look at the vibrant green color of the leaves,

the amazing white bracts and the bright orange  blooms.

So much going on here!

Here's the yellow version...

The bloom appears embossed. I love it!

Another "wish" is the Blackberry Lily.

Courtesy Wikipedia.com

Susan of Simply Susan has generously offered seeds,

as well as Meems of Hoe and Shovel.

I can't wait!!!

Another "must have" was spotted at the

 Tropical Ranch Botanical Gardens...

Yellow striped Allamanda. Very striking and unique!!

Another I spotted at Tropical Ranch, although not for sale...

 

The ZigZag Cactus, also known as the Fishbone Cactus.

I have a soft spot for succulents, and this one really pushes my buttons!

I'd also like a couple of Florida natives...

Courtesy of http://www.floridata.com/ref/r/rhod_aus.cfm 

Florida Native Flame Azalea - Beautiful!!!

And the native Spider Lily!!  Angelic, isn't it?

There are others on my list, such as the Trick or Treat orchid...

This orchid is a mix...L. Icarus x L. Chit Chat

Fantastic combination!!

Courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/burtonandy/3886309677/sizes/o/

This one is not a Florida native but it's still really amazing...

The Australian Rock Orchid. I love it!!!

This list is certainly not all-inclusive, and the list grows daily. However, this is a sampling of some of my favorite "wish list" blooms.

Identity Crisis

I'm certain the purpose of
Carol's monthly Garden Blogger's Bloom Day meme
is to post what is currently blooming in your garden...
that's the obvious, correct?  However, in South Florida,

where the weather is conducive to year-round blooms,

much of my landscape does not change from month to month,

with a few exceptions...

Giant White Bird of Paradise!

This is only the 3rd time these birds have bloomed since I've lived here!!

VERY EXCITING!

Another exception is this colorful heliconia...

Lady Di (I think)

New to my garden right before last winter's frosts

and finally blooming! Beautiful!

Identified as H. Orange Parrot by One.

The Red Porterweed is in bloom

attracting butterflies and dragonflies alike!

This Dreadlock Croton is new to my garden...

I purchased it on the clearance rack for $2

after it was neglected and dried out. 

Crotons are not drought tolerant so it shed it's leaves. 

All it needed was a drink!

And although my crinums bloom throughout the year,

this bunch is so beautiful and huge, it's worth featuring!

It's larger than my hand!

Although most of the blooms are the same throughout my landscape,

this is NOT the case along my neighborhood roadside. 

However, I'm having a CRISIS

as I'm not able to IDENTIFY most of them,

 even after researching the web!! 

For instance...

This red seed pod is amazing!  It caught my eye immediately. 

This is the shrub.

Indentified as Jamaican Caper by Myamuhnative.

I have no idea with this peachy cassia-type bloom is. 

This tree is really spectacular. 

It might be the Carolina Willow, but I'm not sure. 

The leaves are similar as are the bristley blooms.

NOTE...I was able to identify this tree as an EARLEAF ACACIA.
It's a fast grower with a very strong root system.

I DO know what this one is...

The native Spanish Needle

And another native...

Goldenrod

Is this a form of Goldenrod too?

This is a close up of the bloom.

Identified as smooth rattlebox (Crotolaria pallida)

by Floridagirl. She informs us that

it is host to a very unusual and

striking diurnal moth--the Bella Moth.

Another seed pod that caught my eye...

I THINK it's called Momordica Charantia, or Bitter Melon. 

Here are some better pictures I found on the internet.

Courtesy of http://www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org/forums/showthread.php?t=9068  

I also found this vine with the prettiest bunches of white flowers.

These photos were taken at dusk, so they're a little on the dark side.

These are the leaves of the vine. 

However, my Daddy taught me, "Leaves of 3, let it be!"

so I didn't touch it in fear of some type of poison ivy.

Still unidentified although

Myamuhnative and Floridagirl agree

that this may be a form of Hoya,

even though it's not thick and waxy.

Further research is required!

UPDATE...my friend, Floridagirl

identified this variety as a

WHITE TWINEVINE, native to Florida

 wetlands and hammocks.

It is host to butterflies

in the Monarch and Queen family.

Thanks FG!!!

And this lovely pink spike.

All assistance is welcome to alleviate my Identity Crisis!!

And if you'd like to see what is blooming in other gardens around the world,

please stop by May Dreams Gardens and say "HI" to Carol! 

Happy Garden Bloggers Bloom Day!!