Sunday Review

The garden has been resting, but activity begins with a bit of rain and warm temperatures. Look what's blooming:

Bougainvillea, a Florida favorite, is blooming in abundance. I've always had purple, but rooted a cutting of the bright red/fuchsia for this property.  The light, bright color will add interest in the dappled light around the pond.

The Hawaiian Ti plants are in bloom.  Their leaves are usually the show so the small blooms are an added bonus.

Spathiphyllum has over 40 varieties. The one I purchased at last fall's high school plant sale has recently sent out some new "rat tails", although they haven't bloomed yet.

Another new addition, the sweet almond, seems to enjoy the comfortable 75-80 degree afternoons.  It produces the most amazing almond fragrance!

Several Bromeliads are in currently in bloom.

Vriesa erythrodactylon has been in fiery bloom for months.  

I didn't know it produced small yellow blooms as well.

My Billbergeia bromeliad has finally bloomed after 2-1/2 years!

I recently planted a  Weeping Bottlebrush tree next to my pond ( Callistemon viminalis)

Although mine is still young and a bit unimpressive, 

it will grow to a lovely medium size with 

weeping branches and puffy red blooms that resemble a bottle brush.  

You can see a mature tree in bloom by clicking here.

Another new addition to the landscape is an unexpected coconut tree!

This is the first one in my yard!

Many orchids are in glorious bloom, like this peachy Cattleya.

And these candy stripe Phalaenopsis.

This Phal grows in the palm trees and blooms 3-4 times a year. 

And another Cattleya in bright purple...

This 'surprise' orchid showed up this year.  

It's a Zeuxine strateumatica, or lawn orchid, introduced from Asia.

And the reed orchids, Encyclia radicans!

The Dutchman's Pipe vine is blooming again!  I love the little beard.

This is one of the weirdest blooms...that's why I like it!!

This is such a beautiful time in South Florida, 

and this is truly my Garden in Paradise!  

For my friends still snowed in, spring is not far..

I hope these photos warm you a bit!

July Already!

Is it July already?  I guess I've been busy, like everyone else.  Most of my gardening at this point has been watering, weeding and composting the sand...I mean soil.  When the ground you're trying to grow in is pure sand, it takes a lot of work...more than I'd originally counted on.  Thankfully I enjoy it!  So, a brief show of what's been going on...

The Beauty Berry has been flowering

I hope to see bright purple berries this year,

before the birds and squirrels get them!

We watched a black and blue pipevine butterfly

lay eggs, although she was not happy to be photographed. 

However, her eggs successfully hatched!

The Dutchman's pipevine is the host plant to these caterpillars.

Here's a pipe getting ready to open...such an interesting bloom!

Meanwhile, my daughter, Sophia, exhibited her cheer talents for the first time.

I can't help being a proud mom!

Meanwhile, my Mini Me ginger bloomed for the very first time!!!

One of my Hoya pots was blooming non-stop!

I usually post macros of these bouquets

but it's nice to see several clusters in one shot.

The Pagoda Flower, Clarodendrum paniculatum,

is intoxicatingly beautiful in my opinion.

Here's the roadside view...

Purple Showers decorate the fencrow as well.

One of my favorites,

Clematis crispa (swamp leatherflower),

bloomed along the fencerow. 

I hope it successfully reseeded

so I can enjoy more of these beautiful little bells!

Although considered a weed,

I let the Duck Potato grow next to the pond. 

I think it's pretty.

My two young dendrobiums from the Phillipines

are showing great promise. 

I'm excited for them to mature and bloom!

I purchased both from Max's Orchids

at an orchid society meeting/sale. 

The stalks hang down from the trees

and produce magnificent cascading blooms.

I missed my cactus in bloom due to vacation.

But it was worth it! 

We enjoyed a trip to the midwest to visit family.

The Ohio River Valley is beautiful this time of year. 

Loved some hiking at Clifty Falls State Park,

although the falls were just a trickle during this dry season.

Of course I had to stop for some fungus...so cool!

Then back to hiking the limestone cliffs.

Not every day was filled with hiking, though. 

I found this sweet antique sink posing as a planter

outside a cafe in Nashville, IN.

Vacation doesn't last forever though.  Back in paradise...

The Hibiscus are in beautiful bloom.

The giant orange bromeliad blooms are almost ready to burst open!

And the Crinum lilies look like a battered flag after war...

the lubbers are chewing them to shreds!

So we had no choice but to just go fishing!

Bonita isn't as tasty as it is beautiful so we practiced catch and release.

More to come...the summer's just begun. 

Happy 4th of July!

Lola is Home!

After being rehomed for 7 months due to a family situation, Lola is back home! She was very excited to revisit our daily garden inspections.

These two Acalypha godseffiana 'Firestorm', also known as "Threadleaf Copperleaf", are new additions at the front entry on either side of the walkway.  Lola approves.

They add interest, color and form in the shady entry.

Lola hasn't seen these bromeliads in bloom before so she's inspecting as she knows how. 

I saved the bloom!

I love these baby air plants growing on the dried seed pods of the parent!

My son's tillandsia ball is in crazy bloom again.  Looks like fireworks!!

Lola prefers to go for a bike ride so I'll continue my walk-about without her.

I'm very happy to have a Dutchman's Pipevine in my collection again. 

This is the coolest bloom and is host to the black and blue swallowtail butterfly.

The "pipe" is behind the huge bloom. 

Attracted flies fall into the neck of the pipe and

accidentally collect pollen before finding their way back out. 

Pure genious!



The Caladiums are popping up underneath the Saw Palmetto stand.

They add great color!

My beautiful phalaenopsis is huge! 

This is one of the many orchids I've recovered from curbside garbage. 

Amazing, isn't it?

I did some research to learn about this "Wolf's Milk" slime mold. 

I'm not sure if I find it interesting or gross.

 

 Epidendrum orchids add cheerful color.

Another bromeliad bloom adds more firey color.

These blooms are so long lived and interesting!

And FINALLY I have pineapples!

I never knew they grow little purple flowers.

Pretty surprise!

My gorgeous desert rose looks like a bridal bouquet!

And since Lola has been distracted,

a resident firefly steps in to bid adieu for now!

Happy Earth Day!