Monarchs and Milkweed

Just a few shots for Wordless Wednesday..

Blooming Flowers (and the Full Moon)

After leaving my culturally rich Chicago homebase, I've occassionally felt a sense of cultural atrophy which is not good for the soul or spirit!  Although South Florida does have cultural offerings, they don't seem to be as prominent as they were in Chicago.  Or perhaps we're too busy living the outdoor Florida lifestyle to take time out for the other cultural aspects of life.  Therefore, I work hard at including culture in my daily life. 

Where am I going with this, you ask?  Well, I felt it necessary to provide some music for this GBBD post and I came up with something fantastic, culturally fulfilling and unusual for anyone interested.  Click to listen to Blooming Flowers and the Full Moon by Zhou Xuan, a popular Chinese folk song from the 1920s and '30s.  "Blooming flowers and a full moon represent beauty, peace, and love in traditional Chinese culture. In other words, it's a perfect scene, in a perfect moment, through Chinese eyes." (quoted by Coco Zhou, a current Chinese artist).

Zhou Xuan, Chinese singer and actress, 1918-1957

courtesy of wikipedia

So, now that you've injested your culture for the day, let's get on to my July blooms as I have much to show for this month's Garden Blogger's Bloom Day, hosted by Carol at May Dreams Gardens.

The pink Mandavilla vine is in full swing after the rains!

The Mandavilla and Vinca dress up my light post.

The Charmed Wine is so vibrant after the rains. It is always pleasing!

Although I didn't plan this interesting combination,

the philodendron, charmed wine and caladium mix 

create an unexpected and unique display. 

The Caladium popped up in the midst of the charmed wine this spring.

These caladium were purposly planted under the Presidential Hibiscus.

I like how the caladium peak out from under the large hibiscus,

brightening up the darker underside of the bush.

The Purple Showers enjoyed the rain too,

providing the butterflies with plenty of blooms!

Speaking of butterflies, the monarch caterpillars are happily

munching on the milkweed. 

No blooms left to show you...they were eaten!!

Nothing is munching on my pretty little dwarf Powderpuff, though.

I love this bloom, and think it's funny how the

little "berry" looking bud (left in the photo)

becomes this poofy bloom!

The Ponderosa Lemon is blooming again.  It blooms year-round.

One if it's gigantic lemons is almost ready to harvest.

The few fruit on the young mango tree will be ripe soon too!!

Around the corner, the purple cone flowers welcome visitors at the front entry.

The cones fascinate me!

Dwarf Ruellia reside near the cone flowers.

This one is interesting with both purple and pink blooms on the same plant.

This yellow Ixora is also a mystery,

displaying two colors on the same bloom cluster. 

I don't have red ixora in my garden,

and there's none in the nearby neighborhood either.  ?!?!  

The Allamanda is always so cheerful, especially after a rain!

One of my Tillandsia is in full bloom.  It resides in one of my Pygmy Date Palms.

Somehow, it ended up on the ground overnight. 

There's been a lot of mysterious happenings in my landscape lately,

and this is one of them. Tillandsia don't fall out of trees easily.

This yellow hibiscus bloom is half open...pretty, isn't it?

Both of my colorful cacti are budding.  This one is more yellow than the other.

This one is decidedly pink.

Although not blooming, my new Costus ginger is really thriving in it's northside location.

One of the crinum lilies is in bloom

It has a second bud ready to burst!

The little trumpet blooms of the lantana are covered in rain droplets.

As is a lovely Frangipani (plumeria) bloom!

This beautiful Gulf Fritillary, or Passion Butterfly, poses as she dries her wings.

I found here right next to her host plant, the passion vine!

This is what she used to look like!

The Orange Jasmine bush is FULL of beautiful white blooms

creating an intoxicating fragrance!

This is what they look like close up...dainty little bridal bouquets!

The Balloon Flowers are excellent nector plants for the butterflies.

Pretty purple stars!!

I happened upon another resident relaxing on a Ti leaf.

His markings are beautiful, aren't they?

What a sweet face!

I'm not sure if he's posing for me or telling me to skeedaddle!

The cheerful zinnia stays dry on the front porch, and welcomes everyone who stops by!

She'll be waiting for you the next time you come by. 

Until then, Happy Garden Blogger's Bloom Day! 

Be sure to stop by Carol's to see what else is going on.

EVIDENCE!!!

After taking a nasty spill, injuring my knee and hobbling around on crutches, I've not been able to attend to my garden as I normally would. But crutches and a swolen knee can't keep me down so I white knuckled my way through my garden, and guess what?!?! A lot has been going on behind my back, ladies and gentlemen, and I'm not very pleased!! How do I know? EVIDENCE, my friends!!!

Evidence, in its broadest sense, according to Wikipedia, includes anything that is used to determine or demonstrate the truth of an assertion.  The law of evidence governs the use of testimony, exhibits, or other documentary material.  Why the need for such data, especially for this gardening blog?  I mean, it's not a crime scene or anything.

Or is it?!  (Key 'Dragnet' music - Duummm Da Dum-Dum)

One of the first pieces of evidence I stumbled upon (literally)...

It's a little difficult to see what's going on here, but the first sign that something was ascew was the disturbed soil around these juvenile gingers.  Closer inspection  provides further proof that readers cannot experience...the distinct smell of amonia.  And finally, the small soil covered brownish clump at the bottom of the photo, just to the right of center.  I believe the neighboring cat has taken a liking to this spot for his nightly elimination.  I'll have to apply some anti-cat tonic to deter Tommy Boy!!

Next...what's this?!?!

And this?!?!

And THIS?!?!

Something...or SOMEONE...is having a FEAST at the expense of my cannas and heliconia!

And whatever is eating my navel orange leaves

decided it was a great place to have kids, too!!

That's not the only pest taking up residence in my navel orange tree.  I usually leave this worm alone, though, as it's mainly just unsightly...doesn't harm the tree or fruit.

But there is a TRUE crime that seemingly occurred right here in my typically happy little corner.

No, it doesn't look good!

 

Feathers stuck in my cactus. 

Certainly a scuffle took place and there were most assuredly witnesses...but no one is talking!

Not a peep!

This little guy can't even see yet...he knows nothing.

Oops...sorry!  I'll ask you two later!

It's a mystery, for sure! 

But there's  more evidence right around the corner!

Why is a branch of my El Capitolio hibiscus laying on the ground?!

It appears that it's been broken, but by WHAT?! 

Hmmm...this IS the side of the house where

neighborhood kids play ball....

DAGGONE KIDS!!!!

What's going on with my recovering passion vine?! 

MORE chewing?!?!

Yup...there's the culprit!  WAIT....

There's TWO big fat cats!!

I hope they get their fill soon so they can sleep off the buzz

and turn into beautiful Gulf Fratillary butterflies!!

You might remember how upset I've been that my daylilies haven't bloomed, and a bud actually vanished without a trace.  Well, I have a sneaking suspicion...

This clump of lilies, liriope and iris are just feet away from the mysteriously missing daylily! 

The rabbit living under the shed looks awfully guilty right about now!!

But after the feathers in the cactus incident

and a bone-dry bird bath,

the birds aren't willing to help me out.  They're holding a grudge.

But it's not all "bad" news...

The Orange Bird of Paradise that I accidently hit with the mower a few weeks ago is rerooting nicely!

And the newly purchased milkweed not only attracted Monarch butterflies but is now feeding a Monarch cat!!  Exciting!  I purchased this plant specifically for the butterflies and Voila!!

That's all the evidence I've been able to uncover thus far.  That's enough, though, don't you think?!  I'm sure I'll uncover more unsavory clues when I start weeding my grossly neglected beds.