December Garden

After an unusually wet December and night temps briefly in the high 40's, my garden seemed happy to see the sunshine today. As I walked about my property and inspected each plant, I noticed that the blooms were not the only one's enjoying the sunshine...the bees were buzzing about, ants were busily running back and forth, lady bugs were feasting on the plentiful aphids, and even a frog rested on the orange tree.

This little guy is enjoying his spot on the orange tree!  Couldn't help but appreciate his laid-back attitude!!

The fall lemon harvest is almost finished, and new blooms are bursting open while the bananas are still ripening on the stalk.

These Ponderosa Lemons are bigger than grape fruits...a mix between lemon and citron!!!  Juicy and huge!!

Unfortunately my navel orange harvest may not be very tasty this year, if at all. It is the first year the young tree has produced fruit but is not supporting its produce well...the oranges have fallen off the tree prematurely one by one leaving only a handful. However, there are very small buds appearing, preparing for next year's harvest!

The navel oranges started out nicely, then dropped one by one on the immature tree.  Boo!!!

My long-awaited Carolina Yellow Jasmine is blooming, as is the Orange Jasmine and honeysuckle! The air is sweet with these tropical blooms - almost intoxicating! The oleander is also blooming and providing a wonderful perfume.

Other brilliant blooms showing off their colors in my garden include the burgandy and fuscia Ti plants that provide year round interest, the various tropical hibiscus, bright pentas and vincas, and graceful purple fountain grass.

I'm also excited to see some of my transplants are producing new foliage...the plumeria stalks continue to grow new leaves instead of dropping them seasonally like the others; the orange bird of paradise is sending a new shoot proving it's roots have taken hold; the giant bird of paradise I planted along the rear fencerow to provide a privacy screen is producing a new shoot, as are the bananas in the same area along the fencerow; the cacti are sending out new pups, and the agave adult is producing numerous young at it's base; the heliconia that I planted in the new front patio garden are exhibiting new shoots as is the papyrus grass.

Not everything is thriving, though. The new firebush that I planted about a month ago did not fare well during the recent cool spell. I frantically requested the advise of another DTD member who informed me that the firebush does drop its leaves but not usually this early in the year...my plant's youth is probably to blame. My only recourse is to wait and see!

My firebush looked fabulous and healthy a few weeks ago...now it looks sad and may not make it through the winter.  Hang in there, little firebush!!!!

During this winter season while much of the country is covered with cold white powder, I cherish my garden and enjoy sharing it with others! Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

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My First Blog

This is my first official blog. I am a native midwesterner who relocated to the sunny Treasure Coast of Southeast Florida almost 5 years ago. I've always enjoyed gardening and have been somewhat successful, not because of any expertise or official training mind you. It's just that being raised in the midwest and being accustomed to the native plants and climate made it easy for me to succeed at a hobby I enjoyed. After relocating to a dramatically different climate, I'm finding it extremely fulfilling and fun to learn to garden all over again.

As there is a never-ending list of tropical plants and trees, and as I have only a small piece of paradise to exhibit my garden spaces, I must pick my favorites and plant wisely to maximize the limited space and sun/shade exposure. I must also be aware of growth habit due to our pool...nothing messy is ever to be planted in the backyard near the pool unless I wish to assume pool duty. I also have two dogs and two children who have little to no regard to sensitive or fragile plants. Everything in my yard must be able to support itself one way or another.

With that said, I went about creating spaces, choosing specimens, and filling in the overly stark yard we'd purchased. It's been a learning experience filled with both successes and failures...one that is not even close to ending.

My first purchase was a beautiful red hibiscus that is still thriving in the northeast corner of my fenced lot. It was uprooted a couple of years ago by tropical storm winds, but settled back nicely in it's corner of paradise. I've since added to this lone shrub, but am far from finished with my ever-changing space! The list of plants, trees and shrubs include:

• Palms - cabbage, bottle, ponytail, pygmy date, coconut, majesty, and areca
• Hibiscus - Presidential, Fort Meyers, El Capitola, and a red-with-yellow-streaks hibiscus (I obviously don't know the name but really like the bloom!)
• Fruits - Ponderosa Lemon, Meyer Lemon, Navel Orange, Muscadine Grape, Brown Turkey Fig, Mango, Sunshine Blue blueberry, and Bananas

• Excellent Foliage / Bushes / Shrubs - Eugenia bushes / topiaries, Hawaiian Ti, arbovitae, firebush, dwarf powderpuff, dragon plant, elephant ear, ixora, arboricola, Orange Jasmine, and lantana (both mounding and creeping)
• Tropical flowers / perennials / ground cover - White Bird of Paradise, Orange Bird of Paradise, Mexican Petunia, Pink Cone Flower, Gaillardia, Kalanchoe, agave americana, Canna Lily (including dwarf), Crinum lily (Queen Emma), moss rose, pentas, oyster plants, ground orchid, heliconia, plumeria / frangipani, Vinca, orchid, firecracker plant, ferns, etc.
• Misc. - Purple Fountain Grass, Papyrus Grass, Succulents and cacti, mother of 1000s, corn plant, air plants, and Shamrock Charmed Wine

• Vines / Climbers - Carolina Jasmine, Star Jasmine, Bougainvillea, Honeysuckle, Pothos and Mandavilla

I THINK this list is all-inclusive, for the moment anyway...until I purchase or obtain my next specimen(s). At any rate, this blog will serve as my official garden journal as I continue on my path of tropical gardening! I'm looking forward to watching my blog, and my garden, grow!!