Fall in Paradise

Although it's been 3 month's since my last blog post, and my blogging had slowed considerably prior to that post, I'm happy that I have spent my time outside in my lovely garden in paradise.  Since the move to our new property almost a year ago, it's been fun (and sweaty) creating our new paradise and watching it take hold.  The new additions are still small and dwarfed by the mature landscape, but in time it will all blend beautifully!

Some of the new additions have bloomed for the first time.  The two Dwarf Poincianas, Caesalpinia Pulcherrima actually, struggled through the dry season but have tripled their size since the rains came and are now in glorious bloom!

The exotic blooms hypnotize me!  They're still just 2-1/2 to 3' tall and the blooms are heavy on the tips of the thin branches.  The giant Royal Poinciana can reach 30' in hieght with a 50' spread, so my dwarf versions are perfect for my yard that already has its fair share of mature trees and shade.

The bromiliads made a spectacular display this summer.  One is still in bloom.

Various orchids are in brilliant bloom right now!

Potinara Hoku Gem 'Freckles' has turned out to be a real prize.  This guy requires little attention and has been in constant bloom since early summer.  More bloom spikes continue to appear.  I moved the pot to a premium spot at the front entry in order to enjoy the show when it first went into bloom.  'Freckles' seems to thrive in this space, and has earned its position at the front door!

The non-native but naturalized Monk Orchids, Oeceoclades maculata,  have been blooming for a couple of months now.  They have very sweet, small flowers that are best admired up close.  Since many argue that this orchid is invasive, I keep two in pots and dispose of the seed pods.  I do not worry about the couple that grow wild in my yard as some critter seems to favor their flavor, munching the leaves down to the ground. My friend Prem Subrahmanyam authors a fantastic website featuring Florida's native and naturalized orchids, as well as his own photography.  You can read more about the Monk Orchid on Prem's site here.   

This fantastic specimen, Miltassia Charles M. Fitch 'Izumi', was a raffle prize won by my daughter at our local orchid society meeting one evening.  Beautiful, isn't it?  The hybrid was made by crossing Miltonia spectabilis to Brassia verrucosa. The Miltonia imparts the purple colouring, the Brassia imparts the long narrow tepals.  Interesting heritage, but really, I just like the pretty flowers.  And, to boot, this orchid has attractive foliage!  I must admit that I'm not a huge orchid lover when they are not in bloom.  Kind of a fair weather fan, I suppose.  

I've written about this gem before, and it's definitely one of my favorite orchids.  Christiera Sharifa Alsagoff is a vanda hybrid.  Its permanent home is among the palms in my front tropical Bromiliad and Orchid island.  When in bloom, the cheerful purple blossoms stand out amidst the lush green foliage beautifully!  I only wish it would stay in bloom all year round! 

And finally, the orchid I wait for all year is my prized Dendrobium.  Its stalks grow bigger every year, producing huge, beautiful flower spikes.  This year, I have 4 spikes blooming at the same time, boasting 12 blooms each.  I would love to show it off at a show or something, but the plant itself is really not a site for public admiration.  However, I prize this beauty and look forward to it's spectacular display every year! 

The Heliconia FINALLY sprouted new shoots and blooms.

This is one that I brought with me when we moved last year.  Recently, at our local Master Gardener Fall Plant Sale, my daughter spotted some lobster claw Heliconia (rostrata).  Of course, I couldn't pass it up.  I wonder how long it will take to establish and bloom? 

Speaking of the MG Plant Sale, I found some other goodies I couldn't pass up either.  My favorite purchase of the day was a Rosella, or Hibiscus sabdariffa.  The burgandy color and maple leaf shape caught my eye immediately!

Apparently well known for it's numerous medicinal purposes, the shrub grows 7-8' tall, produces large blooms similar to it's cousin, Hibiscus cannabinus, and bright red fruit used to make tea and food coloring.  The leaves are edible, consumed as a spicy spinach, and the stem is used to produce a bast fibre.  In my landscape, this colorful addition is simply an ornamental next to my pond, although I may give the tea a try.

This Buddha Belly Jatropha, or Jatropha Podagrica, peaked my interest, since I'd never seen one before.  Hmmmm....unusual, strange and full of interest...I must have it!  Once I brought it home, I did some research, praying it wouldn't grow to a crazy 50' or something.  No fear.  This little pot bellied wonder should remain on the smaller size, growing to 2-3' tall.  The bulbous stem produces a cluster of bright orange and yellow flowers along with a crown of fun and attractive lobed leaves.  It prefers moderately fertile soil which means it will remain potted in my landscape. 

My final purchase at the MG plant sale was a native Wild Coffee plant, or Psychotria nervosa.  This shrub will tolerate shade or sun, growing to 10' tall with an 8' spread in the shade while full sun keeps it smaller and more compact.   Wild Coffe produces shiny green leaves, fragrant white flowers that attract butterflies and bright red fruits that attract birds.  Perfect!! 

Speaking of fragrant white blooms, I found this lovely vine growing along the fence. Most of what I find along the fence row is not permitted to stay (ie poison ivy).  However, this White Twine Vine produces an intoxicatingly lovely fragrance and sweet little bouquets of white flowers so it's OK to  stay!

Other blooms creating a fall paradise right now include the pretty Jatropha integerrima...

the exotic Hoya...

The waxy Hoya blooms are so interesting they deserve a closer look...

the Clerodendrum paniculatum, or Pagoda plant....

the pretty Desert Rose...

and this dainty succulent display.  I love the bell shaped bloom with green tips and orange base...such fall colors!

Finally, the dock my husband built during the dry season...

has been christened by this seasons rains!! 

Our latest project is not finished yet, but we've started creating the front walkway.  My husband's muscles come in handy!  The path, unfinished at this time, will continue down to the entry drive. 

This photo was taken before we added the stromanthe in between the grassy liriope.

The choice of variegated liriope with the bright colors of stromanthe create light, color and interest to the border.  Now that the cooler weather is upon us, we'll be able to do more work outside without fear of heat stroke!

Finally, some wildlife photos. 

The beauty of having such a variety of plants ("weeds" included)

is the variety of wildlife that we are able to experience!

These "twin" Zebra Longwings seemingly hatched from this single chrysalis!!

The Peacock Butterflies are primarily attracted to wild flowers in the lawn and along the pond bank.

The Fritillaries enjoy the butterfly garden (Pagoda blooms in this photo) and Lantana.

I was fortunate to catch this Swallowtail shortly after emerging from its chrysalis.  It was fun to watch his wings grow before he flew away to nourishing Pentas.  The hungry lizard I saved him from wasn't as happy with me!

Hopefully I won't take as long between blogs,

but on the flip side,

that means I'm out in the garden

where we all like to be! 

Happy Fall Everyone!!!