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!!! 

ER and Therapy

My life is not always action packed.  Sometimes it's downright boring...well, not really, but there's quiet times and there's times of much action in my household.  Lately, we've had plenty of action...injuries, extended family situations, big fish,

preteen drama, work-related hurdles, personal goals and challenges,

and early morning emergency room visits.

This photo shows my husband being transferred from the local ER branch to the hospital where he was admitted for an allergic reaction to prescribed medication.  He woke up to his throat swelling closed and choking.  It was a dramatic start to our weekend.

After all this hubbub, I needed a quiet walk through my garden to regroup.  I was not disappointed.  Cheerful, colorful faces greeted me from every direction.

Pretty, happy Vinca Punch pops with color and excitement.

Vinca Titan Pure White adds an elegant brilliance that is soothing and calming.

This Fuschia and White Vinca blends the energetic vibrance of fuschia with the soothing, classic color of white.

I'm not sure if this is the pretty Purple Halo Vinca, but it definitely wraps me in comfort as it reminds me of the country and my parent's farm.

The purple vincas surround the pink Mandavilla vine.  These buds remind me of something I'd get at Dairy Queen!   Hmmmmm.....comfort food!!

As I continue my garden walk, I'm encouraged by the survivers in my garden.  This croton all but completely gave up this last winter.  Crotons are not cold hardy and we experienced several hard frosts.  But, just like Old Glory, she now stands tall in full color!

I kept my fingers crossed for my young Firebush when it's branches turned dark brown and brittle.  But it bounced back and displays a lovely show this summer.

 

These Heliconia were new additions just before the frosts plagued tropical South Florida.  I thought they were lost for sure.  But this one sent up a bud this afternoon!

The various Caladiums popped up throughout the garden.

Lovely colors!

And so many different kinds!

Heartwarming!

The Butterfly garden is a tough rival.  The Lantana is a favorite of mine as well as countless varieties of butterflies and bees.

The vibrant Tropical Milkweed...

is a Monarch Butterfly magnet!

No butterfly can resist the Gaillardia Fanfare!

Or the Gaillardia Mesa Yellow!  I love Yellow in the Garden!!

Yellow Bulbine is a tiny bloom, but I love them!  What a happy little lass!

The happy pom pons of the Gomphrena, my newest addition, also attract butterflies.

The Heliconia Aemygdiana, another new addition, is thriving in a brightly lit space in my garden.  The twirling red stem is a bright contrast to the variegated green and white leaves.

These purple berries are hanging on the American Beautyberry bush I am rooting.  Who can resist a smile when faced with bright purple berries?!

What Dairy Queen delicacy is complete without a cherry on top? 

This Tillandsia bloom was just that in my garden today!

So I checked out some of my other air plants...

Seems like it's contageous!!

So is the joy that lives in my garden...just the therapy I needed!!!