May Flowers Finally!

Although I am blessed with blooms and green foliage all year in South Florida,

the early rains this year have brought on some fabulous blooms!

I have several Frangipani in my yard, all young starters.

This one bloomed for the first time and is spectacular!

The bromeliads are in bloom.

The blooms are easily missed

They're like little gardens inside a garden!

The Hibiscus are also in bloom.

This pure yellow is always a show stopper!

This peachy Hibiscus reminds me of the northern Peonies that I miss so much!

I'm always intrigued by the Stapelia Giganta bloom. I looks like a starfish on land!

My passionvine is in full swing again, and is decorating the fencerow.

I planted 24 more bulbs last fall to help fill in the Caladium garden 

underneath the Saw Palmetto stand in the front yard. 

They're popping up beautifully!

The Easter Lilies are better late than never!

The Powderpuff blooms look like the tips light up with fiberoptics!

Rudbeckia is always cheerful!

I'm so excited that my little native coffee starter has blooms!

Both of my Hoyas are in bloom with multiple bouquets gracefully waving in the breeze!

Although not a bloom, I must show off my new Colocasia that is thriving next to the dock.  I found it in a rubish pile.  I planted it in a space that will be underwater by the end of the season, so I will probably relocate it.  However, the roots were wet with moss on them, so I wanted to plant it in a familiar setting.  I think it was a good choice.

I have brand new Dendrobium blooms. 

I don't know the name of this one, but I LOVE it!

The vegetable garden is in full swing! First pepper of the season!

I've recently been given a cutting of a vine, but I do not know what it is.

Any suggestions?

And since we're always working on a project, here's the latest...

This is the rough remains of a friend's much used party pontoon boat.  

After some rehabilitation, the boat will be given a new life as the "Pond Tiki",

residing on our lovely pond. 

The slide and side rails have already come off,

and the deck was painted yesterday. 

Now onto constructing the tiki! 

Stay tuned for project updates! 

Tropical Hibiscus

Nothing says "tropical" quite as well as the beautiful Hibiscus bloom! 

Hibiscus Sanibel Single Yellow

These sizzling and cheerful colors are brilliant in the garden!

Part of the Mallow family, this genus is particularly large with hundreds of species native to warm-temperate, tropical and subtropical regions around the world.  Even in areas where Hibiscus cannot live outdoors, this pretty shrub can be grown easily in a container and enjoyed indoors or on a seasonal patio. 

Presidential Hibiscus

Lived in a pretty container on my screened porch

for 3 years before I transplanted it to the garden.

The amazing array of colors range from pure white to yellow, orange, red, purple and pink and every combination in between. 

Hibiscus rosa sinensis

This beauty was given to me by a good friend. 

I like to call it Hawaiian Punch.

There are double blooms and single blooms, ranging in size from 4 cm wide to larger than hand size.  There's also a variety named "Dinner Plate" for it's extra large bloom size.  Blooms of all varieties will drop in hot weather, though.  This is common.  Most Hibiscus produce the best blooms in full sun and cooler spring and fall temperatures in zones 9-10.

Hibiscus El Capitolio

This showy double bloom proved to be very cold hardy and robust.

Hibiscus Jane Cowel

This pretty peachy bloom reminds me of a peony!

The woody shrubs or small trees grow anywhere from 2 feet in special hybrids to 15 feet.  They can be trimmed back to form a hedge or left to grow in their natural form (hedge pruning will limit blooming as the flowers come from tips that will be cut off during trimming).  The showy leaves are a shiny, medium to deep green color that vary in size and texture, depending on the specific cultivar. 

Hibiscus Painted Lady

This lovely pink variety was a gift from another wonderful friend!

Hibiscus, in my experience, are generally quite hardy.  There are a handful of pests that can chew or suck the life out of them, though.  Watch out for caterpillars, grasshoppers, aphids, mealy bugs, spider mites and white flies.

Aphids

An attack like this one can happen before you know it.

I spray with a strong water stream.

Fun fact: Hibiscus comes from the Greek word ἱβίσκος (hibískos).  There is also a new version of fancy Hibiscus called HibisKISS, grown for it's large, colorful blooms that are grown on their own root stock vs. grafted.

Hibiscus Pure Yellow

I love this variety so much I have two of them in my yard!

For more information or to get involved in an organization specifically focused on the gorgeous Hibiscus, check out the American Hibiscus Society, the International Hibiscus Society, or a local branch in your area. 

Can you pick a favorite?

My Favorites THIS Month!

Joining Susan with my favorites THIS month

is a bit challenging as my new landscape

is still "under construction". 

So much clearing still to be done...

mending the soil - uh, I mean sand...

providing air flow and light in moist, shady,

overgrown spaces...

so many challenges in this new garden paradise. 

Regardless, I have uncovered some lovely specimans to share!

As highlighted in my sidebar,

one of my phalaenopsis orchids

are in beautiful bloom right now

(and a vanda and another phal

are sending up bloom buds for next month's report!!).

I'm completely in love with this beautiful iris.

The wildlife is definitely among my favorites

at any given time. 

Having a pond on our property 

is a real treat as water birds are a constant.

One false move from this Anhinga 

will provide the proof

that my pure breed mutt, Sandy,

has some sort of bird dog in her mix.

Cassia - such cheerful yellow blooms! 

Love the handlbar mustache!!

Hibiscus Jane Cowel double peach...

I have a soft spot for peachy colors!! 

This photo was taken at night...love the contrast!

My daughter used to scold me for not having blues in my garden. 

Now she's happy...

Cool colored Plumbago always reminds me of Old Florida!

Native blue Salvia

I've also been showered with a few house warming gifts...citrus! 

I was so sad to leave my young

lemon and orange trees when I moved,

but now I can watch these youngsters grow.

Navel Orange

Ponderosa Lemon

As spring rounds the corner and temperatures rise on a consistant basis,

I'm hoping more blooms will emerge and surprise me

from beneath the overgrowth and brambles. 

I also hope I won't pull out some wonderful plant that is currently dormant. 

Until then, be sure to check out Simply Susan's

current garden favorites posted at the end of every month!

August Favorites

So much has happened in my little garden this month that's it's not easy picking my favorites.  But, Susan at Simply Susan says I have to choose in order to participate in her Monthly Favorites meme, so I did my best.  Most all of my blooms are among my faves...I suppose that's why they have a place in my landscape. But this time I listed them by color category.  I found there's a large number of reds and only one white...hmmmm.  White is obviously  not a favorite of mine in the garden, but perhaps I need to incorporate a little more.  At any rate, August has been hot so it's only natural that the color of the month is red!

Red Hot Hibiscus

El Capitolio - double blooom with white striping

Red bloom with yellow striping

Traditional Presidential

For the Bees and Butterflies

Tropical Milkweed is a favorite of the Monarch Butterfly,

and an important larvae host plant.

Red Porterweed (also comes in Blue)

Little fluffy Chenille plant is finally ready to leave the nursery!

Dwarf Powderpuff Bush

Bromelaids

This one is showing some beautiful color!

This one just recently turned red - only the tips were red previously.

See how green it was?

I especially love the variegation in these.

I don't know the various names. 

I'm hoping Steve from The Rainforest Gardener can give me a hand.

Tropical Reds

Caladium Cluster -

proudly stands alone while all my other Caladiums inter-mingle with other plants.

Heliconia Lady Di - first bloom!! Love it!!

Crown of Thorns

Red hot?  Let's cool off...

Purple berries of the American Beauty Berry are stunning!

Light Lavender shades of Liriope

Volunteer blooms of the Portulaca groundcover

The purple Pentas are a butterfly magnet! (as are the red ones!)

The pretty bluish purple bloom of the aquatic Pickerel Weed... another butterfly button!

Just a few Shy Pinks...

The Dwarf Pink Ruellia is pretty with it's fuschia "tongue".

Cheerful Tillandsia

Yellow is probably my favorite garden color!

Yellow Allamanda

Yellow Ixora looks like a bridal bouquet!

Happy little Zinnias grow throughout my garden!

I love this Yellow/Red Hibiscus so much, I have two bushes!

One Lonely White Bloom!

The Duck Potato looks more like a dancing angel, to me!

Another aquatic plant, the Duck Potato (surprise) is a popular

food source for DUCKS and other aquatic creatures.

I keep this plant and the Pickerel Weed in muck filled pots...they thrive!

There's FRUIT, too!

My MANGO tree produced its first harvest this month!

Thanks to my friend Deborah at The Consumate Gardener for helping

 me ID this yummy variety!

Non-fibrous and juicy!  YUMMY!!

The Brown Turkey Figs look like they'll be ripe soon too!

And for Good Measure...

I couldn't resist this little guy napping in the crown of a young ponytail palm!