Hard Work and Good Karma!

Only a handful of months ago, Florida experienced a record cold winter, devestating tropical plants, wildlife and residents.  Afterall, more than 2 weeks of chilling temps is ridiculous...that's why we live down here. BUT (the big but!!) now we are getting hit by early, HOT, HUMID temperatures.  I mean, it's only June.  Oh well, finicky aren't we?!

This last weekend, during such a nasty hot spell, I decided it was time to complete a few gardening tasks that were suddenly screaming at me.  Of course, the atrocities that needed to be corrected were labor intensive, so I required additional muscle.  Let's just say that my husband wasn't too happy.  In his defense, we were tackling the pointy, overly defensive Agave plant as well as the clingy, strong-willed honeysuckle vine in seemingly 150 degree temperatures.   

The first task was to remove the YOUNG Agave plant that flowered at only 3 years old. I have no idea what happened, but this particular Agave did not live up to it's knickname, "Century Plant".  So, as my friends Noelle of Ramblings from a Desert Garden and Floridagirl of Peace in the Valley informed me, the Agave would slowly decline after blooming.  Indeed it was declining and needed to be removed.  In spite of the spear-like tips, serrated edges and poisonous sap that I'm highly allergic to, we were successful. 

 I also needed to do something with the Gaillardia starts that I'd left unplucked. The space looked weedy. 

I relocated the giant Kalanchoe to fill the empty space, and thinned out the unkempt White Bird of Paradise.  Here's the cleaned up version.

Next on the list was one of our strong-willed children - the honeysuckle.  I had planted the vine between two young crinum lilies in the Rear Side Garden to fill space while the crinums grew. 

This photo was taken almost a year ago.

Now mature, the crinums are large and the space was crowded so it was time for the honeysuckle to go.  Honey wanted no part of this and clung to the fence and soil defiantly.  We finally persuaded her, though.  I filled the space with some Pentas that I'd thinned from the same garden space. 

I continued on my correctional path alone as the hard labor portion was complete.  Oyster Plants and Vincas had become overgrown, choking heliconia, cannas, ground orchids, recuperating crotons.

 

 

Ahhh!  That's better!

This little plumeria can see the sun now!

There's the heliconia!

All this hard work in the middle of a nasty hot afternoon does not go unrewarded, though!  Take a look at what I've recently found...discarded ginger and bromelaids! 

Woo Hoo!

I found this bunch of bromelaids in the curbside garbage, divided them, and planted throughout my garden. 

I found a bunch of ginger stalks on another curbside. I consulted my friend John Goss who suggested they might be a Costus variety which produces those cool red pine cone features when in bloom!

Each stalk had a young shoot growing from the top.

I gently broke off each young shoot from the host.

The shoots already had roots forming.

I gave them a drink before planting, since I had no idea how long they'd been baking in the sun.

And one final prize, found at the end of yet another driveway.

Can you believe my good fortune?

Now, who says hard work doesn't pay off?! 

I believe that's good karma!

Bloom Day and Summer

Ahhhhh...the month of June! What a wonderful month and the official beginning of summer (June 21)!  Thankfully the days are long, providing time to cram additional activities into one 24-hour period. In South Florida, June brings hot, humid days that spark ferocious thunder storms and stirs up hurricanes.

Ladies, never let a hurricane cramp your sense of style!

Hurricane shoes come in all colors and sizes!

June is a time for the beach, boating, swimming pools and monstrous plant growth (especially weeds that seemingly become trees overnight). 

I spent the weekend weeding and cutting back overgrowth, allowing preferred plants some much needed air and space.  However, I took time to grab a few shots for Garden Bloggers Bloom Day.  Caladiums have been all the rage in my yard.  I planted them in shady, dark spots under bushes where they've jumped to life and are quickly outgrowing their bushy ceiling.

These rest under a Star Jasmine bush.

These two enjoy the cool breeze under the Presidential Hibiscus bush.

This Caladium leaf would make a lovely bud vase, don't you think?

The Orange Jasmine sprang into action, providing intoxicating perfume and an abundance of snowy white blooms for the hellaciously hot days.

The sunny yellow Allamanda shows no signs of the harsh winter.

I've featured my canna lilies so many times, but this tropicanna gold never gets boring.

My young mango is providing a small harvest this year...its first!

The honeysuckle made a showing for it's last bloom day.  I extracted the vine this weekend in favor of less invasive plants.  I had mixed feelings about it, but it's a done deal.

The butterfly milkweed is doing it's job. 

The Pentas and Moss Rose help attract butterflies too.

We've enjoyed many varieties of butterflies, including the Monarch and Swallowtail.  I'm not usually fast enough to capture a good shot though.

It's also time for the hoards of dragon flies that dance about the yard every evening.

And the lizards are joyfully running around the yard.

This little guy likes hanging out in the coconut in the shade of the palms and arboricola.

He's taking a closer look at me too.

And this green anole feels safe as he blends in with the White Bird of Paradise stalks.

My little cactus is full of powder pink buds.  Isn't it sweet?

Oxalis Charmed Wine is also in full bloom

Other June bloomers include:

Gaillardia

Purple Cone Flower (echinacea)

Fire Bush

Bolivian Sunset

Red Salvia

Purple Angelonia

Ixora Yellow

Vinca purple, pink, fuschia and white

Hibiscus red and yellow varieties

Lantana gold, red and orange

Purple Dianthus

Firecracker Plant

If you'd like to see what's growing in other June gardens or would like to participate, be sure to stop by May Dreams Gardens for Carol's Garden Bloggers Bloom Day!

Happy Gardening!

Redundancy!

My friend, Joy, at GardenJoy4Me recently published a post titled, “When Awesome is Truly AWESOME”. She discussed how the word “awesome” is very much overused, but she wanted to use it because there was no better descriptive. In Joy’s case, her use of the word was completely acceptable. However, this caused me to consider my own vocabulary, as I tend to overuse quite a few adjectives and exclamations (such as the word "use" in this paragraph). I thought of the comments I’d left for bloggers after reading their “Awesome” posts and viewing their “Amazing” photos. Hmmmm!

So, I stand before you admitting my guilt. I am largely at fault for exploiting expressions, using worn-out words, writing excessive exclamations and expressing redundant remarks. I’m even guilty for using entirely too many exclamation points!!!! See what I mean?!

In my own defense, I AM a typically happy, enthusiastic person and DO become easily excited about gardens and gardening successes. I study the detail in blogger’s photography, soaking in the features of each flower, garden scene, landscape picture, instructional series and even family clips. I read and reread the words of the eloquent writers who put so much work into their prose. And I actually, physically, laugh out loud when those with the great gift of humor share it in their blogs through so many various avenues.

With that said, and considering my allotted time for blogging (that seems to dwindle on a weekly basis), I tend to rush through my comments. I feel the need to express my excitement and enjoyment to the author but have little time to do so. I mean, so many blogs…so little time!! Thus, I am a habitual user of worn-out words.

What are my “go-to” words…my typical phrases and expressions? I’m sure some of you already know, as I really do use them in excess. The list includes, wow, amazing, awesome, gorgeous, beautiful, fantastic, unbelievable, incredible and I love it, to name a few. I’m a little embarrassed to have to admit the obvious, but if I don’t, this ridiculous habit may persist, humiliating me further.

There are a tremendous number of alternatives. I know because I actually completed the exercise of checking the thesaurus for appropriate synonyms. For those of you who may suffer as I, I’ve listed some acceptable remarks:

Splendid, breathtaking, astounding, GRAND, treMENdous, remarkable, AWE-inspiring, humbling, WoNdErFuL, marvelous, mind-blowing, staggering, SUPERB, BRILLIANT, spectacular, out of this world, stunning, striking, dazzling, dramatic and impressive.

I’m sure there are more, but this list provides a good number of alternatives.

What does any of this have to do with gardening? Nothing at all. However, I’m quite certain that those bloggers who appreciate variety in vocabulary will value my attempt at self correction.

Alas, most great attempts fail at one time or another, and I have prepared myself for such. Although success is my goal, I am well aware that poor habits are difficult to break. So, for those unfortunate souls who may receive redundant comments, I apologize in advance. Just know that I have the best intentions and am trying to express my sheer delight for the post I’ve just devoured or the photos I’ve just relished.

May our words be as varied as our flowers!

Where the Wild Things Are!

Where the Wild Things Are! 
What a fantastic children's story written by Maurice Sendak.

As a child, I was fascinated by this story of a little boy's adventure into the wild forest after being sent to his room for causing mischief.  The rebellious little boy, Max, sailed into the wilderness and to the land where the wild things are.  They were terrible fearsome beasts whom Max tamed by staring into their eyes without blinking.  They made him king of the wild things!  But Max became lonely and homesick so he sailed back home. Upon awakening from his dreamy adventure, he was greeted by a warm supper, proving that he's loved even when he's ill behaved.

What does this walk down memory lane and children's literature have to do with gardening?  Well, it reminds me of untamed wild flowers, of course, which I've spotted quite a bit of lately. 

So let the wild rumpus begin!!

 

This Indian Blanket Flower, or Gaillardia,
populates the fields around my house, as well as my personal garden.

White Star Sedge - this lines my roadside.

Bidens Spanish Needle

Cassia Fasciaculata (mimosa)

Here it is close up...beautiful, isn't it?

Here's a white version.

www.ecoyardfarming.com via flickr

This is Blue Flag Iris. 

(My photo turned out very blurry so I've borrowed this one courtesy of www.ecoyardfarming.com via flickr)

I LOVE this one!!!

Tickseed

I think this is wild azalea?  It lines my roadside and is really pretty!

NOPE...not wild azalea, but Tarflower Bejaria racemosa...thankyou Nell Jean!

Echinacea, or Purple Coneflower is native to Florida.
This one grows in my garden as well as my roadside.

Creeping Ox Eye

Fleabane

This is a close up of a Prickly Pear blossom with a bee inside.

Salvia Rubra - this is a macro shot of the tip of a red salvia.

Puncture Weed

I have absolutely no idea what this pretty posey might be...any takers?!

Thank you Myamuhnative and Lotusleaf for providing the identity to this Pink Porterweed!

How 'bout this pretty white unknown?

And while you're at it, does anyone know what this one is?

At least I know what this one is...

Blue eyed Grass

And this one too...

Rattlebox

The next two are Tassle Flowers

This WILD THING fits right in!!